The littlest of the Andean countries, Ecuador is a perfect example of well-known refrain, "small is beautiful". Study Spanish in Ecuador and rolling tropical rainforests, palm tree beaches and snow-capped mountains will all be close at hand.

Land of outstanding natural diversity, this country boasts some 6000 species of butterfly, more species of bird per square kilometer than any other country in South America and the greatest number of wild orchid species on the planet (3500).

The nation can be divided into 3 main geographical regions, the Pacific coastline enjoying a tropical climate and home to vast mangrove swamps, and the Amazon Basin in the east, covered by miles of dense jungle. The Andean mountains run from north to south through the center of the country, featuring more than 30 volcanoes, including Chimborazo, one of the highest in the world at over 6000 meters and Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on Earth.

Approximately 600 miles west of the mainland lie the Galapagos Islands. Make sure you visit this extraordinary region during your Spanish program in Ecuador, birthplace of Darwin's Theory of Evolution and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first ancient civilization to inhabit Ecuador was the Quitus, near present day Quito, followed by the Valdivia and Machalilla cultures on the coast and the Cañari in present day Cuenca. In the early 15 th Century, Inca warrior, Huayna Cápac conquered the land, incorporating it into the mighty Inca Empire. But even the Incas were no match for the powerful Spanish conquistadors, who arrived in the latter half of the 15 th Century and added Ecuador to the Viceroyalty of Peru.