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Language schools in Quito, Ecuador

13 language schools in Quito, Ecuador. Open a profile for programmes, fees and admission details.

  • Atahualpa Spanish School

    Quito, Ecuador

    Atahualpa Spanish School is an independent, privately owned Spanish language school in Quito, Ecuador, founded in 1994. It is run by its founder and director, Martha Oña, who holds a degree in Spanish and Literature and specialises in teaching Spanish to foreigners. The…

  • Ecuaidioma Spanish School

    Quito, Ecuador

    Welcome to Ecuaidioma Spanish School, Are you ready to enjoy a new language?. We will accompany you on this great adventure. We are a spanish school located in Quito-Ecuador, We have more than fifteen years of experience teaching Spanish to foreigners, for this reason, we can…

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is one of the main places in Latin America to learn Spanish. Its language schools are concentrated in the colonial old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in the modern districts of the north such as La Mariscal and La Floresta. Several have been teaching foreigners for more than 30 years: Ailola Quito since 1988, Galapagos Spanish School since 1989, AHStudies since 1996 and Cristóbal Colón Spanish School since 1997.

Many students combine classes with travel. Some schools have branches or programmes elsewhere in Ecuador, from the Andes and the Amazon to the Pacific coast and the Galápagos Islands, so students can move from Quito to another destination during their course.

What the Spanish schools in Quito offer

  • Small group classes: Yanapuma Spanish School, teaching since 2006 and following the recommendations of the Instituto Cervantes, has at most five students per class (three on average), with a standard course of 3 hours a day or an intensive course of 4 hours a day
  • One-to-one lessons: Cristóbal Colón Spanish School teaches mainly one-to-one, one block from a metro station; AHStudies gives one-on-one lessons or classes in small groups
  • Placement and progress: LatinoSchools, which also has schools in Peru and Bolivia, places new students with a written test and an oral proficiency interview and evaluates them every week
  • Exam preparation: DELE preparation at Yanapuma, Cristóbal Colón and AHStudies, and SIELE and DELE preparation at LatinoSchools
  • Specialised courses: medical Spanish at Yanapuma, college credits and faculty-led programmes at LatinoSchools
  • Study and travel: Andean Global Studies runs five schools, in Quito, Ahuano in the Amazon, Montañita, Cuenca and Manta; Banana Spanish School also teaches in Puerto López, the Amazon and the Galápagos Islands

Galapagos Spanish School states that it has been accredited by the Ministry of Education since 1991 and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa purposes, and that it has belonged to the Ecuadorian Spanish Schools Association (AECE) since 1997. Ailola Quito, in the colonial centre, has 16 classrooms and 12 teachers with university degrees. Other Spanish schools in our directory include Atahualpa Spanish School, Elep Spanish Language School, Equinox Spanish School and Bipo & Toni's Spanish Academy.

Most schools arrange accommodation with host families; Galapagos Spanish School combines classes with homestays and free weekly activities, and Banana Spanish School offers a host family or its own apartment in La Floresta and organises weekend trips to the Middle of the World, the cloud forest and Otavalo.

Costs

Schools quote prices in US dollars. Examples from the schools' own price lists:

  • Yanapuma: $112.50 a week for the standard course (3 hours a day) and $150 for the intensive course (4 hours a day), both starting on the first and third Monday of each month; one-to-one lessons $10.50 an hour; DELE preparation $13 an hour; a one-off registration fee of $25
  • Cristóbal Colón: $9 an hour on weekdays, or $180 for 20 one-to-one lessons a week
  • Accommodation: a homestay with Yanapuma costs $22.50 a day with breakfast and dinner; Andean Global Studies offers a furnished student apartment for $120 a week

Practical tips

The Metro de Quito has 15 stations along the city, so check how far your school and host family are from a station. Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants tourist stays of 90 days, which can be extended; students staying longer can apply for a temporary residence visa in the student category. Some schools, such as Cristóbal Colón and Galapagos Spanish School, offer help with student visas.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Spanish course in Quito cost?

It depends on the school and format. At Yanapuma a group course costs $112.50 to $150 a week in 2026; at Cristóbal Colón 20 one-to-one lessons cost $180 a week.

Can I prepare for the DELE or SIELE in Quito?

Yes. Schools such as Yanapuma, Cristóbal Colón and AHStudies prepare students for the DELE, and LatinoSchools for both the SIELE and the DELE.

Do I need a visa for a Spanish course in Ecuador?

Many nationalities can stay 90 days as tourists, with a possible extension. For longer courses there is a temporary residence visa for students; check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling.

Can I combine Spanish classes with travel in Ecuador?

Yes. Andean Global Studies, Yanapuma and Banana Spanish School, among others, run programmes in the Amazon, on the coast or in the Galápagos Islands.