Students are able to receive letter-sized mail to the IES Abroad Center. If you are shipping a debit or credit card, we recommend that you disguise it as regular mail (i.e., put it in a birthday card or use a cardboard FedEx or UPS envelope). Mail should be addressed to: IES Abroad Quito & Galápagos Islands ATTN: Student Name Avenida República de El Salvador N35-40 y Portugal Edificio Athos, Piso 7. Oficina 702 170505 - Quito, Ecuador We urge family and friends not to ship any packages to you while you are abroad. However, if necessary, packages should be sent to your housing address after you...

All costs below are shown in US dollars ($). Food & Drink Breakfast at a restaurant $5 USD Lunch at a restaurant $4-8 USD Dinner at a restaurant $10-18 USD Soft drink $1.50 USD Coffee $1.50 USD Housing Toiletries per week $15 USD Local Transportation Local Transportation per week $20 USD One-way Ground Transportation from airport to IES Abroad Center $30 taxi or $8 bus USD Social Activity & Entertainment Movie $8-12 USD Theater performance $15-25 USD Museum entry fee $5-10 USD Fitness club membership per MONTH $50-60 USD Dance club cover charge $15-25 USD

Making friends in the local community is often a main priority for students. It’s not always easy to meet people, especially people your own age. Doing so will likely require initiative on your part and also courage and perseverance. Never hesitate to ask the staff at the Center for guidance. They will be glad to help you. Think about how you get involved at your home campus and seek out opportunities to do something similar while abroad. This is just one way you might meet people. Ecuadorians tend to be very hospitable, warm, and friendly. Students often regret waiting a month or more to...

Currency The Ecuadorian monetary unit is the US dollar. There are both US and Ecuadorian coins of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and 50¢. Paper money and $1 coins are the same as in the United States. Denominations in the thousands are signified by a (.) rather than a (,). Thus, $1.000 means one thousand dollars and $1,50 means one dollar and 50 cents. Handling Money Abroad Before departing for Quito, you should bring between USD$50 and USD$100 cash in order to cover incidental expenses during your first few days in Quito. During your time abroad, you should plan to obtain currency primarily using an ATM...

Commuting Daily commuting using the city’s public transportation system is a reality for all who live in or near Quito. Like local students, you will commute to classes, either at the Center or a partner university, using public transportation. Commuting time may take up to 70 minutes depending on the locations of your classes, internships, or other daily responsibilities. Public Transportation In Quito, you have access to the public bus system which can take you around Quito and Cumbayá affordably. You also could also hail a taxi, but be sure to get an offical taxi and negociate the price up...

Quito is known for its “Eternal Spring” climate. Despite the city’s proximity to the equator, its high altitude assures mild days and cool nights year-round. Temperatures range from the high 60s°F during the day to the low 50s°F at night. The two seasons are wet and dry. The wet season runs from October to May, though it does rain during the dry season as well. If you are planning to travel to different parts of Ecuador, you may encounter very different climates than in Quito and the highlands. In the coastal region, temperatures range from about 75°F to 90°F. From December to May, the weather...

Cumbayá is located twenty minutes away from the capital city of Quito with lots of restaurants, bars, and other things typical of big cities. San Cristóbal is an island in the Galápagos Islands. You will live in the island's main town, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, which has a population of about 7,000 people who are of middle to low income families. Aside from the stunning views of the beautiful beaches, there is not much to do in San Cristóbal compared to Quito! Most students love the safety, friendliness, and peacefulness of the town. Some students fill their free time with reading and other...

Ecuador’s electricity operates at 110 volts. You will likely not need to purchase a converter. Nevertheless, it is probably best to keep appliances to a minimum. You can buy a cheap hair dryer, alarm clock, etc., on-site instead of packing yours.

The visa is an offiical authorization affixed to your passport, which gives proof that you have the permission of the Ecuadorian government to enter Ecuador and study for the allotted time. ECUADOR ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (updated 11/15/22) Ecuador eliminated its COVID-19 entry requirements in late October 2022. International travelers are not required to present COVID-19 vaccination cards or proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry. Please note that your participation in an IES Abroad program does still require you to have received at least one series of the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally...

As the fifth largest city in France, Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and an international metropolis with more than 160 different nationalities living and working in the region. Because Nice is a European and Mediterranean hub to the world (its international airport is just 5 km from the city center), the city is host to a large number of international businesses and schools, a center for innovation, and a celebrity hotspot. The region’s higher education system is renowned for its innovative capacities and international influence. International business is important in Nice, in...