We stayed at Yarina lodge in the Jungle near Coca and we can recommend much this week with Simon Bolivar. First we took 2 weeks for studying Spanish in Quito and then continued our week in la Selva. There we had a very good time for practice, because we spoke Spanish all the time (guide, staff, students…). At home in Austria it would get ages to get this practice. The place is very nice and quiet, every day we had very interesting excursions into the Jungle with a special guide. Muchas gracias!
Helmut and Andrea Joven, January 2005

I am very pleased with my experience at Simon Bolívar. The teachers are excellent and my Spanish has progressed very quickly. The excursions were very fun as well, and are an excellent way to see some of Ecuador. I highly recommend the classes in the Jungle. It is and experience not to be missed!
Keir McIsaac, January 2005

Las clases de español en la selva exceeded our expectations. From the trip down the Rio Napo to the visit with Shaman we had a wonderful experience. The instruction in español was excellent and the treks into the swamp, through the jungle, to the lagoon and up the river were informative and fun! Our guide, was an expert on the medicinal use of plants and shared his knowledge with our group of hikers. In the Yarina lodge, the most colourful birds and mariposas flew over and around many beautiful flowers. The work of the lodge and its guides with the rescue of injured animals provided a close up of the jungle, as well as promoting the ecology. One of the monkeys (monos) amused most of us by looking up the skirts of the señoritas on our porch overlooking the jungle. The meals were excellent (if a bit big for us older folks). Our five days went by very quickly and we left Yarina and our new compadres very reluctantly.
Pablo and Ramona Kimmel, December 2005

I had a week at the Amazon at Yarina lodge and it was just amazing! It's a very different environment and the opportunity to see and discover the Jungle and its people.
Marit A. Brekke, May 2005

After two sensational weeks in Cuenca we did one week in the Jungle. It couldn't have been better than this experience! A mix between excursions, Spanish lessons, and time for relaxing and meeting friends. Unforgettable! We recommend this to all the people. Learn Spanish and go in the Jungle. A perfect mix, good price and a week of your lifetime!
Sven Guggenheim, February 2005

The jungle was a great experience! We went on excursions in the Jungle and learned about different plants and their way of life. The food was great. Very relaxing. It was a great atmosphere to learn Spanish and get to know a different way of life.
Kait Schroeder, January 2005

The Jungle had some really interesting excursions with a remarkably knowledgeable guide. It is not everyday you get the opportunity to take Spanish classes in the middle of the Amazon Jungle.
David Welford, January 2005

I had a wonderful experience studying in the Amazon! Besides brushing up on my Spanish ( I was amazed that I was able to understand all the jungle guides information and instructions, which were completely in Spanish!), I met interesting people from the United States like me, Europe, other South American countries and Australia. The only down-points in my opinion were the mosquitoes, the food (very few fresh fruits or vegetables and a lot of frying), and the time. If you want to seriously study Spanish I recommend combining the study in the Jungle program with a period of study in one of Simon Bolivar's other study locations. This is my fourth language study abroad so I have a basis of comparison. Overall, I definitely give this program a "thumbs up"!
Ilana Blumenfeld-Gantz, March 2005

Hi! I'm from Switzerland and I'm 23 years old. I've been at Simon Bolivar Spanish School for four weeks. I've been in Quito and also in the Jungle for one week. This was a good experience. Studying Spanish in the middle of nowhere half days and making excursions the other half of the day. I enjoyed it!
Gaudenz Tschurr, March 2005