Ecuador Travel Writing & Spanish Immersion Expedition February 18-25, 2012 – Cotacachi, Ecuador

Austin, Texas

“These workshops are a wonderful opportunity to travel to a new locale and explore while learning a new skill.”

-Sandra Manolescu

Travel with a Successful Travel Writer and Explore the Color-Rich Markets and Artisan Towns of Welcoming Ecuador...

Plus Learn and Absorb an Extraordinary Language-Learning Technique – and Master Spanish in a Week

Over Seven Colorful, Adventure-Filled Days:

If you long for a career or sideline that lets you travel whenever you like and wherever you please… and if you're ready to enjoy a truly unique and insider's travel experience this winter… then this is, hands down, the best place to begin your adventure.

Join us in Ecuador February 18-25 and immerse yourself in not only the pursuit of writing the kinds of articles editors want to buy… but in learning Spanish, too. This proven, Super Thinking System teaches your mind to remember and process in a whole new way.

In seven days, you'll be having conversations with the locals in Spanish. No kidding. And it'll relaxing, stress-free, and fun.

Plus, you’ll also discover the professional secrets writers use to travel the world for free... and learn how you can get paid to love your life.

Meet Us in Quito and Explore Ecuador
in the Company of Like-Minded Friends

Ecuador is one of those places where you don't need to speak the language to come home saying, "Those people have to be the nicest in the world."

And visually, Ecuador is just as compelling. The landscapes are jaw-droppingly gorgeous – white clouds settle in thick on the tops of green, vertical peaks. A patchwork quilt of cultivated plots in a thousand shades of green drapes the countryside.

As an attendee in this workshop, you'll see it all – beautiful landscapes, welcoming people, bustling markets… and you’ll do it all in the company of like-minded people sharing a similar goal – to experience this great country before the wheels of "progress" take over.

This workshop will be unlike any kind of tour you’ve ever taken.

We'll meet you at the airport in Quito and we’ll begin our adventure together from there.

Don't have any writing experience? No problem.

Don't know any Spanish? No worries. You don't have to know a lick of Spanish to take the class we've arranged. And you will be amazed by the results that this class produces.

The Schedule

To attend this workshop you’ll need to fly into Quito airport (airport code: UIO) on the night of February 18th. We’ll pick you up at the airport and escort you to Mansion del Angel, your hotel in Quito.

There’s no meeting on February 18th because we’re all arriving at different times. But we’re all staying at the same hotel so you’ll see everyone at breakfast.

On the morning of February 19th breakfast will be served on the patio...

Note: Your hotel room on the night of the 18th is included in your conference fee.  

After breakfast, Lori Allen, the Director of AWAI’s Travel Division, will be in the lobby to greet you. We’ll board our private bus to travel together to Cotacachi… the charming Andean village where we’ll be based for the next six days.

When we arrive to Cotacachi we’ll check into the charming Hotel Tierra del Sol. Your accommodation, along with a hearty and delicious breakfast every morning is also covered in your conference fee.

Over the next few days in Cotacachi, you’ll hear from Kyle Wagner about travel writing.  You’ll have time to write about what you’re discovering in the surrounding villages, take a luxurious spa massage break (on us) and go shopping in a nearby leather village. Kyle will guide you through your articles each day.

On February 25th, we’ll head to Otavalo to peruse the largest indigenous market in South America, and at 4:00 p.m. we’ll head back to Quito.  Or you can extend your stay or visit other parts of Ecuador.

Accommodation in Quito on February 25 is not included in your conference fee but it will be affordable.  Hotels in Quito are not expensive and if you let us book it for you, you’ll get a reduced, group rate.

(Note: We plan to arrive back in Quito by 7:00 p.m. February 25.  You can risk a late night flight out of Quito.  However, I personally recommend you overnight in Quito and leave the next day if you’re not continuing on.

Though we plan to be back in Quito by 7:00 p.m., you just never know in a developing-world country if the traffic will be bad or not.  Ticket changes and missed-flight fees are at you own expense.)

** Classes during this workshop include both travel writing lessons and Super Thinking Spanish courses. No prior knowledge of writing or Spanish is required.

In all honesty, you’ll never have a chance to experience Ecuador like this again.

There’s no other travel writing workshop out there that will offer you this... the opportunity to learn Spanish in six days while you explore the Ecuadorian countryside, photographing traditional markets and villages while you practice your new Spanish skills along the way.

"SUPER THINKING" is a breakthrough Bulgarian learning technique that pairs the musical tempo found in certain Baroque music with memorization – plus a formula that will automatically “convert” thousands of English words to Spanish. It’s relaxing, stress-free learning that encourages clear thinking, improved health, and limitless creativity.

The UNESCO did a study of Dr. Lozanov’s “Super Thinking” in the late 1970’s. They found it effective and advised that it be used the world over. Now you’ll have the rare opportunity to try it for yourself.

With this system, you will discover how to think and learn more powerfully in just a week. And it won't just be for Spanish. In fact, you'll gain seven easy, intuitive techniques that you can continue to use throughout your life to gain any type of skill – from using computers to athletics to conversational languages and even writing – in much less time than with traditional learning techniques.

You’ll be in the classroom every day as well as out and about in the markets, visiting the villages and enjoying the hot springs, too. You’ll have fun with each Spanish lesson – customized to an event to enjoy that day… plus you'll take your notebook along to work on your articles at the same time. You get to put what you have learned into immediate action!

With “Super Thinking”, your whole body and mind will be stimulated to work at its best... in harmony. And you may find you’re doing things you never thought possible – like speaking Spanish in just days and penning some great articles about the places you’ve visited, you'll be amazed.

Plus, each day will begin with a travel writing session. You’re invited to share your article ideas from the previous day’s excursion and have them reviewed. These sessions are invaluable in helping you improve your writing while you’re out and about each day.

And as a special treat you’ll get to experience a spa treatment at the jaw-droppingly elegant, La Mirage Hosteria. This beautiful hotel is set in luxuriant gardens full of tropical flowers and wildlife and you’re invited to spend a half day relaxing at the elegant covered pool and spa area.

Balance is an important part of this workshop. When your body is in balance and relaxed, you learn more. So you’ll spend an entire half day here, relaxing and putting your body in balance.

La Mirage Spa offers 11 different types of massages and treatments, including some with local flavor, like the Shaman Purification Treatment, or the Amazonian Bamboo Massage (who knew rolling sticks of bamboo across your back and feet could feel so good) plus other well-know treatments. Whatever you choose, the treat is on us… just suspend your cares and soak up the tranquility while you luxuriate in this elegant Ecuadorian one-of-a-kind spa.

Activity Level
High activity. A good portion of this workshop will be spent out-and-about on foot visiting local craft markets and villages as well as some of the natural attractions of the region, like Crater Lake. You should pack some comfortable walking shoes for these excursions.

Ecuador is at a high altitude, some people may experience altitude sickness. If you have a heart condition, you should consult with your doctor before you travel to find out about how best to adjust to the altitude when you arrive.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites. This workshop is for people of all skill levels and experience and the photography and language concepts discussed are doable by anyone.

Dates
February 18-25, 2011

Ecuador Travel Writing & Spanish
Immersion Expedition
Cotacachi, Ecuador
February 18-25, 2011

Where: We’ll be staying in Cotacachi, a small, picturesque village about two hours north of Quito.

Pricing and
What's Included:

Full Price: $3,299 per person

Pay-Back Bonus Discount: Save $200 and pay
just $3,099when you sign up before Friday, February 3.

Register Now!

Lock in your spot now, and you can save hundreds of dollars with this special Pay Back Bonus discount. Plus, enjoy an easy payment plan. Here's how it works:

  1. Reserve a seat at the workshop for just $1,549 when you put your name on our attendee list today.
  2. When you do, you’ll automatically lock in the discounted workshop price of only $3,099 – a full $200 SAVINGS for you!
  3. In February, we’ll bill your credit card for $1,550. So you spread out the payments comfortably between now and when the workshop starts.

(Note: Additional discounts may apply.  You can click through to the registration form at the link below to learn more.)

Your Registration Fee Includes:

Note: Schedule, speakers, and locations are subject to change.

Your Registration Does NOT Include:

To register now please click below or call  our office toll-free at (866) 415-1425 or (202) 370-6459 Eastern Time. You may also email at: lori@thetravelwriterslife.com

Register Now!

Cancellation Policy:All our workshops and expeditions are non-refundable. If, however, you are unable to attend - and you give us at least 30 days notice - we will be happy to apply your payment toward a future workshop, minus a $200 processing fee for overseas expeditions or a $50 processing fee for state-side workshops. Cancellations with less than 30 days notice may be subject to extra fees.

Listen to what these travelers had to say about our photography expedition in Ecuador last April…

 
 

Push > to listen to the recordings

“This workshop was extremely well organized from the pre-conference emails to pickup at the airport.  The field trips were well planned and interesting.  The learning sessions were well prepared and extremely helpful for my career.  Fellow attendees were great.  I’m looking forward to the next one.”
– Fred Braun

“This workshop has excellent instructors in an exotic location.  I’d recommend it to others.  Excellent balance between classroom and field trips.”
– Don Kleweno

“This was a great way to experience unique aspects of an unknown culture.  It provided us with great memories and a valuable learning experience.”
– Donna K.

“The daily field trips to local villages and group outings were fabulous.  Thanks!”
– Marianne Graff

More Discounts Here!

Hear what one group we took to Ecuador had to say about the expedition!

Push > to listen to the recordings

Your Instructor

Kyle Wagner is the Travel Editor at the Denver Post and for 15 years was a renowned Denver food critic. Kyle is extremely well-respected in foodie circles and was an award-winning food editor, as well. She’ll share her invaluable insider knowledge of what makes travel editors tick, how to write an attractive query, how to break into newspaper travel sections, and how to add a food element -- ever more indispensable these days -- into your travel stories, making them irresistible to editors. 

“Kyle’s talent for being direct and informative while also being funny is her biggest strength.  It would be hard to find a more knowledgeable or experienced editor.”

— Alicia Dietrich

“Kyle gave an informed, no nonsense assessment of what an editor requires and also what is unacceptable.  I feel this will help me a great deal in my initial queries.”

— Peggy Ann Connolly

“Strength: humor and candor.  This professional editor provides clear guidelines on the do’s and don’ts of submitting your work while eliciting giggles and belly laughs from her audience the entire time.”

— David Elliott

“Kyle has a fabulous sense of humor and is very organized in her presentation.  She keeps her presentation focused and on track.  She is extremely clear about what is expected.”

— Karen Renz