Ecuador - Study Tour 2020

The Belgium Study Tour 2020 has been cancelled

March 6-14, 2020

Price: $2,775

INART 001 or INART 499

Tour #6183

Ecuador, the only country in the world that has a geological feature as part of the name, takes pride that the equator runs through its country. Ecuador has four distinct regions: the Andes, the Amazon jungle, the Coastal region, and the Galapagos. In this course, we will visit Quito, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site capital city and San Clemente, a coastal village of about 2,000 inhabitants. This course will study the land, history, economy, and people of Ecuador, including the country’s customs, traditions, beliefs, festivals, religion, use of medicinal herbs, food, and architecture. There are about twenty-seven indigenous groups in Ecuador, and we will study life before, during, and after the Incas. The Incan Empire was the largest and most sophisticated pre-Colombian civilization in South America and their language, Quechua, is still spoken by the majority of indigenous people. We will visit churches, markets, plazas, museums and schools where we will be taught about Quechua, and students will also teach English to young children at a local school. We will also experience a religious ritual, learn about the textile industry, take a cooking class, and drive to one of the world’s tallest active volcanos.  

Course Registration

To register for course credit:

  1. Meet with your academic adviser to discuss how this course will impact your educational progress. Have your adviser sign a drop/add form to add this class. Forms are available at registrar website.
  2. Contact the travel agency (contact information on back panel) to make a deposit or pay the total cost of the trip and obtain a receipt.
  3. Take your signed drop/add form and travel agency receipt to the Office of the Registrar in the Swatara Building to complete enrollment in the course.  

Course Requirements

  • Mandatory pre/post-trip meetings, group reading, journal, etc., during spring 2020 semester.
  • Students must be free of any current conduct reviews or conduct sanctions. Eligibility will be verified, and each participant grants permission for verification by the Office of Student Conduct. Any violation of the PSU Student Code of Conduct while traveling will result in a class failure.

Travel Awards

Award funds are available to undergraduate honors students through the Penn State Harrisburg Honors programs. The University also has funds for students traveling internationally. For details, visit the and select the "Scholarships and Grants" link. A limited number of travel awards are available through the Penn State Harrisburg Office of International Programs. The application deadline is October 25, 2019. 

Ecuador Itinerary 

Itinerary and all visits are subject to change without notice.

  • Day 1 - Friday, March 6, 2020
    Departure from the Penn State Harrisburg campus for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 8:00 a.m. Check in at Avianca Airlines no later than 11:55 a.m. Flight AV399 leaves for San Salvador at 2:55 p.m. Connecting flight to Mariscal Sucre International (UIO) departs at 8:08 p.m.

  • Day 2 - Saturday, March 7, 2020 - Quito
    Arrive in Quito at 12:01 a.m. and meet your bilingual guide to transfer to the hotel. Enjoy a full day of sightseeing where you will see the Yerbatoes market, San Francisco Square, the Cathedral and the Domes, La Compania de Jesus Church, La Ronda Neighborhood, and the Fray Pedro Gocial San Francisco Museum.

  • Day 3 - Sunday, March 8, 2020 - Quito (B,L,D)
    After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning tour of Rumipamba Museum in the middle of the Rumipamba Archeological Park. Then, drive to the Middle of the World, where the equatorial line divides the northern and southern hemispheres. You will have the opportunity to visit the Intinan Museum which is located at the exact crossing of the Equator. Return to Quito to visit la Florida Museum, a cemetery of the ancient inhabitants of the valley of Quito.

  • Day 4 - Monday, March 9, 2020 - San Clemente (B,L,D)
    After breakfast, travel north towards Imbabura, “the lakes” province. Taste exotic fruits in the Guayllabamba valley and cross the equator at Cayambe. Travel next to Cuicocha Crater Lake, which lies at the foot of Cotocachi, an extinct volcano. Afterwards, visit Huarmi Maqui to enjoy a cooking experience, where you will taste delicious dishes from the Andean region. At the end of the day, visit the famous Otavalo Indian Market, where vendors proudly offer a stunning variety of weavings. Meet your homestay family for an overnight visit.   

  • Day 5 - Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - San Clemente (B,L,D)
    Following breakfast, visit a local school to participate in a Quechua language lesson. Spend the day with the students to see what their day of classes is like and learn about a Pamba table and its ancestral traditions.

  • Day 6 - Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - Quito (B,L,D)
    After breakfast, travel to Ilumán to participate in rituals performed by a Shaman. Experience a traditional cleansing, including traditional elements used for rituals, such as candles, guinea pigs, traditional plants, ointments made by curators, and liquor. Travel to Otavalo to visit Peguche Wasi, a group of kichwa weavers who seek to rescue and give life to the fabric left by the taitas and mamas. Participate in a workshop to discover the history, art, cultural and magical process of the Kichwa Otavalo world. In addition, experience an exhibition of the Andean cosmovision based on the history of the artistic process in looms.  

  • Day 7 - Thursday, March 12, 2020 - Quito (B,L,D)
    Following breakfast, drive to one of the world’s highest active volcanoes – Cotopaxi. Once you reach the entrance to Cotopaxi National Park, you will drive through a pine forest to Limpiogungo Lagoon, a glacial Andean lake located at 3,800 meters along the slopes of the magnificent Cotopaxi volcano. If weather conditions allow, you will drive further to 4,500 meters in order to hike up to the shelter at 4,800 meters. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening.

  • Day 8 - Friday, March 13, 2020 - Quito (B,L,D)
    After breakfast, drive the same route taken by Francisco de Orellana on his way to explore the legendary “El Dorado” in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region, towards the moors of the eastern mountain range. During this trip you will experience the change of scenery due to altitude variations. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape at 3,300 meters, you will discover Papallacta Hot Springs. Enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural hot springs.

  • Day 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2020
    Pick up your breakfast bag and depart the hotel at 2:00 a.m. for transfer to the airport. Check in at the Avianca Airlines counter for your 5:10 a.m. flight AV456. Connecting flight in San Salvador departs for Newark International at 8:07 a.m. AV 398, arriving at 2:40 p.m. Private coach transfer to return to Penn State Harrisburg.

Hotel Accommodations

Park Inn by Radisson Quito

San Clemente Community

Airline Schedule

The exact time of these flights is subject to change and will be reconfirmed. Check-in at the airport is three hours prior to departure time.

  • Friday, March 6, 2020 – Avianca Airlines AV399 Newark International 2:55 p.m. to San Salvador 6:55 p.m.

  • Friday, March 6, 2020 – Avianca Airlines AV457 San Salvador 8:08 p.m. to Quito, Ecuador 12:01 a.m. (+1)

  • Saturday, March 14, 2020 – Avianca Airlines AV456 Quito 5:10 a.m. to San Salvador 6:57 a.m.

  • Saturday, March 14, 2020 – Avianca Airlines AV 398 8:07 a.m. to Newark International 2:40 p.m.

Contacts

Stephanie Ponnett
Administrative Support Coordinator for International Programs
717-948-6062
[email protected]   

Professor Raquel Lodeiro
Instructor in Art and Humanities
717-948-6203
[email protected]   

Price Includes

  • Round-trip airfare from Newark International to Quito, Ecuador

  • Avianca Airlines ticket includes one piece of checked luggage (50 pounds per piece)

  • Round-trip transfers between Penn State Harrisburg and Newark Liberty International Airport

  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharge - subject to increase before ticketing

  • Hotel and homestay accommodations as per itinerary

  • All meals as per itinerary

  • All transfers and sightseeing with entrance fees as per itinerary

Price Does not Include

  • Tuition

  • Single room supplement of $275

  • Service fee of three percent on any amount paid by credit card

  • Excess luggage

  • Additional excursions or activities not mentioned in the itinerary or reserved in advance

  • Gratuities for guides and drivers while in Ecuador

  • Personal expenses (phone, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

  • Passport fees - Passport should be valid until September 15, 2020

Visas are not required for United States citizens traveling to Ecuador. All international students are responsible for determining if a visa is required and should immediately apply for the visa. Refunds cannot be made if a visa is not issued. Also, alert the International Programs office if you are applying for a visa.

Terms and Conditions

Celestial Voyagers' terms are based on contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The terms and stipulations mentioned below are bound by these contracts and will be strictly enforced. A passport valid until September 15, 2020 is required.

Contacts

Travel arrangements

Celestial Voyagers, Inc.
27-28 Thomson Avenue, Suite WS 11 
Long Island City, NY 11101
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 516-829-1525 Fax: 718-729-0306

Program information

Stephanie Ponnett 
Administrative Support Coordinator
International Programs
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike
C114R Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
E-mail: [email protected] 
Phone: 717-948-6062

Trip Registration

Deposit: $500

$150 of this is a non-refundable processing fee to Celestial Voyagers. Your deposit will assure your reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. The deposit must be sent with a copy of your passport as soon as you register online.

Send your deposit as soon as possible prior to December 6, 2019. After this date, space may not be available and a supplement may apply.

Balance due no later than January 10, 2020.

All payments by check must be made to Celestial Voyagers.

Payment Methods to Celestial Voyagers:

  • Online: During your registration, you can submit your payment by e-check (at no extra cost) or by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). There is a three percent service fee for all online payments.

  • Phone: Celestial Voyagers accepts credit card and e-check payments by phone. Credit card payments incur a three percent merchant fee but there is no service fee for e-checks.

  • Post Mail: Your third payment option is to mail in a paper check or money order. Checks should be made payable to “Celestial Voyagers,” and mailed to the address in the contact Celestial Voyagers section. When mailing a check, do not forget to indicate the tour reference number.

Cancellation/Penalties: In case of cancellation, penalties will apply. All cancellations must be received in writing. Written cancellation received before December 6, 2019 will incur a $150 fee ($150 processing fee). Written cancellation received between December 7 – January 10, 2020 will incur a penalty of $500 (loss of full deposit). Written cancellation received on or after January 10, 2020 or no-shows incur a penalty of 100 percent of the total trip cost – $2,775.

Course registration is separate from trip registration.

Upon receipt of your deposit, Celestial Voyagers will send you a receipt that you must present at the Penn State Harrisburg Registrar’s office to register for the course.

Passports

If you intend to travel internationally, apply for your passport immediately. Failure to provide passport information may delay airline ticketing for our group.

Registration

Register for the trip online at Celestial Voyagers > Academic Voyagers > Register 

After registering, you must mail your deposit within 48 hours with a copy of your passport, if available (photos or scans of passports are acceptable).

• Tour # 6183

• Tour name: Penn State Harrisburg Ecuador 2020

Mail your deposit and copy of your passport (if available) immediately to:

Celestial Voyagers, Inc. 
27-28 Thomson Avenue
Suite WS11
Long Island City, NY 11101