Ecuador: Cuenca

In cooperation with the Amauta Foundation, Lewis & Clark offers this study program in Cuenca, Ecuador. Academic study will focus on intensive language study, and the history, culture, and socio-economic institutions of Ecuador. Following an orientation program in Quito, the program is centered in Cuenca at the Amauta Spanish School and includes field trips to Jatun Sacha (primary rainforest) as well as local areas of interest, such as Cañar and Saraguro.

Cuenca de los Andes, the third largest city in Ecuador, is located in the southern part of the country, in a broad Andean valley, surrounded by mountains. Cuenca is just 3 hours from Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, and 35 minutes flight from the political capital, Quito.

Cuenca has a “perennial spring” climate all year around. Cuenca de los Andes is Ecuador’s  cultural and handicraft capital. A colonial city, it was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.  With a population exceeding 400,000, Cuenca still retains many features of a small town, particularly its friendly people.  Like most Andean cities, Cuenca has a colonial layout, full of churches and markets. The city is surrounded by 4 rivers, one of them, the Tomebamba, divides the city into old and new towns. Between them they harbor a diversity of lifestyles. The people of Cuenca are called Cuencanos, and they are proud of the culture, traditions and customs that they have maintained.

Onsite Staff: The Resident Director of the Amauta Foundation is Narcisa Ullauri. Mrs. Ullauri is a native of Cuenca, Ecuador. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from Universidad Estatal de Cuenca and two master’s degrees, one in Education Communication from Universidad Politécnica and the other in Cultural Studies from Universidad del Azuay. She has a diverse background in her work experience, ranging from being a professional tour guide in Ecuador, to being a professor at Universidad del Azuay, where she is also a member of the Academic Council in the Philosophy department. Mrs. Ullauri is responsible for all aspects for the program ranging from home-stay placement, arranging academic excursions and assuring the well being of program participants.

The Director of the School and the Spanish Department is Mayra Cardoso. Mrs. Cardoso received her degree in Education from Universidad Estatal de Cuenca from the Philosophy Department. She updates her teaching skills by attending education workshops sponsored by Oxford University Cambridge. She has taught Spanish to Brazilians at Colegio Pitágoras, was the Academic Coordinator for Spanish and English sections at Centro Binacional Abraham Lincoln in Cuenca. She has been the Director for the Spanish component of the Lewis & Clark College program since 1994. Now she is the Academic Director of the entire Lewis & Clark overseas program in Ecuador. She is also responsible for the recruitment and retention of Spanish language instructors, organizing other aspects of the program such as sports activities, conferences, meals and other duties as they become necessary.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits. IS 284 fulfills the Historical Perspectives, or the Culture, Power, and Identity general education requirement.

BIO 115 fulfills the Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning Category A or Natural Sciences requirement (may not be applied to the Biology major).

Major / Minor Requirements - This program fulfills the overseas study requirement for the Latin American Studies and the Hispanic Studies minor (if SPAN 202 has been completed).

Credits: 16 credits (4 courses)

Curriculum:

IS 284: Contemporary Ecuador (4 credits)

This course explores different aspects of Ecuador through an anthropological optic. The main purpose is to provide students with information, conceptual tools, and methods with which to investigate and interpret their Ecuadorian experience. Class discussion and questions from students are very important.

The specific topics covered in the course are chosen anew each semester, in order to address current affairs and new anthropological work. Globalization, Andean prehistory, traditional medicine, identity politics, indigenous rights movements, gender roles, religion and society, race, ethnicity, witchcraft, agricultural economics, transnational migration and Plan Colombia are some of the topics included in recent courses. Social structure and culture in Cuenca are also included.

Some class assignments require students to investigate and report on questions about Cuenca and its environments. Course material is presented in required readings and class lectures. There are films and occasionally guest speakers to complement this material. Grades are based on exams, short writing assignments, and a term paper.

See syllabus here.

BIO 115: Biodiversity in Ecuador (4 credits)

This course is an introduction to Ecuador’s ecology and to conservation biology with an emphasis on Latin America and Ecuador in particular.

The first part of the course will be an overview of Ecuador’s main ecosystems and will introduce students to the general concepts of conservation biology and biodiversity at the species, genetic, and ecosystem levels before going on to examine in more detail the geographical and evolutionary factors responsible for Ecuador’s outstanding biodiversity. We will then explore the ecology, community structure, and ecological importance of each of Ecuador’s main geographical regions, including the Amazon.

The second part of the course will overview the threats to Ecuador’s biodiversity and the various problems faced by small populations of endangered species. Consideration for conservation strategies will be explored for individual species and for ecosystems both from theoretical and practical standpoints.

SPAN: (2 courses, 4 credits each)

Course level will be determined by previous subject study and placement exam results.

Excursions: Past programs have included a week-long biology field trip to the Wildsumaco Biological Station (Sumaco National Forest) and Yasuni National Park, a weekend cultural excursion to Cañar, a weekend cultural excursion to Saraguro with the opportunity to stay with indigenous host families, and a day trip to Cajas National Park, including a biologist-guided hike.

Housing: Students live with carefully selected host families while in Cuenca. Homestays include meals, laundry, and a private bedroom. Each student will become an honorary member of their host family by participating in the daily life and routine of the household.

Cultural Activities: The Amauta Spanish School organizes cultural activities for students on a weekly basis. Some examples of cultural activities include a city tour of Cuenca, salsa dancing lessons, visits to museums, and cooking classes.

Volunteering: During the semester, students will have the opportunity to volunteer at different organizations in the Cuenca area. These volunteer activities promote cultural exchange between the students and their host country. Apart from learning about the reality of life in different parts of Ecuador, students practice their Spanish through daily conversations in their volunteer activities. Their work can be incredibly gratifying, stimulating, challenging, fun, and motivational, and for this the Amauta Foundation has worked hard to design a diverse and flexible program that suits each student’s interests. Institutions in which student have volunteered include:

• Amaru Zoológico y Bioparque de Cuenca

• Fundación El Arenal

• Grupo de Mujeres de Chilcatotora

• Centro de Salud de San Joaquín

• Orfanatorio Tadeo Torres

• Red Pakariñan

• Aula de Derechos Humanos “Fundación Somos Familia”
• Instituto San José de Calasanz

“You will grow and learn so much, it can be exhausting but also rewarding.”

“Get outside and get to Cajas National Park at some point, it’s only 30 minutes away on an easy bus ride.”

“Don’t be afraid to go to local events or to take the bus, but don’t keep your phone or wallet in your back pocket!”

“You might feel overwhelmed at times, but if you get into the habit of going home to rest every single day after classes, you will limit yourself from exploring such a wonderful city, and may end up feeling depressed. There isn’t that much homework, but if you do it right after classes and get it out of the way, you’ll have so much free time to explore!”

“Be prepared to be outside your comfort zone, it’s gonna be a feeling that’s felt a lot but that’s okay. It’s about actively working through that and expanding what your comfort zone is.”

“Be prepared to hike!!”

“I don’t think there is any way to fully prepare for the program so I think the best thing is to try not to have expectations.”

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to UIO): $600 - $1,000

Estimated Travel Document Fees: Approximately $130

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Please note: the yellow fever vaccine is now required for participating in the Ecuador program. All program participants must have this vaccine before they leave for their program.

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, muddy, uneven, cobbled, or unpaved terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• Exposure to mosquitoes and other biting insects
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities
• Heightened consideration for food and water safety
• Certain vaccinations are required and/or highly recommended. Please consult with a travel health clinic

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: Applications are due one year before the start of the program. The semester before the program, students who have been accepted will meet regularly for orientation. This orientation is meant to prepare the students for life in Cuenca by exploring literature and culture, and provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the logistical details of the program.

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into the Quito airport (UIO), where they are met by a member of the Amauta Foundation staff and transported to the hotel for orientation.  

Visa: Students may be required to apply for a visa in order to participate in this program. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Ecuador.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Ecuador page.