Post: #1

So I will be completing a 4 week TESOL/TEFL course. There are options in many countries but I narrowed it down to these 3.


Loja, Ecuador
Chia, Colombia
Cuzco, Peru


Where would you guys recommend me going in terms of easiness, women, culture, food, etc...

I will be staying 4 weeks. Thanks in advanced.

Post: #2

There are hundreds of pages among threads about these places and comparison. I'm not sure about Ecuador but Chia is 30 minute drive from Bogota and Cuzco is a backpacker/tourist destination for people going to Machu Picchu. Worth a visit but not somewhere anyone would want to spend a month.

Post: #3

(09-05-2018 08:57 PM)Parras Wrote:  So I will be completing a 4 week TESOL/TEFL course. There are options in many countries but I narrowed it down to these 3.


Loja, Ecuador
Chia, Colombia
Cuzco, Peru


Where would you guys recommend me going in terms of easiness, women, culture, food, etc...

I will be staying 4 weeks. Thanks in advanced.

Let's hope they help you out with your written English!

Post: #4

A stranger enters the old fishermans pub, downs a couple of shots of whiskey and pipes up, so tell me, where are the easiest, fattest fish around these parts..... Perhaps where they will just jump into my net so i dont have to do anything.

Post: #5

Salty in here this morning. Wow. Sounds like a legitimate question and I understand his English perfectly.

There is no way I'd spend a month in either of the locations in Perú or Ecuador. Colombia seems like the clear choice.

Post: #6

(09-05-2018 09:41 PM)Shimmy Wrote:  There are hundreds of pages among threads about these places and comparison. I'm not sure about Ecuador but Chia is 30 minute drive from Bogota and Cuzco is a backpacker/tourist destination for people going to Machu Picchu. Worth a visit but not somewhere anyone would want to spend a month.

Lol, I love this advice. "Don't ask a question in good faith, about extremely specific places & comparisons. Rather, spend hours upon hours reading (outdated) threads to piece together your answer!"

Using this logic, there should be virtually no new threads ever. Nearly every place has been discussed, ergo the entire forum should be locked.

Post: #7

Loja is a nice area in terms of nature and culture, but ugly women and boring, so not the preferred choice.

Cusco has ugly, but very easy women and is a vibrant city with nightlife options nearly every day, tons of tourists and many sites you can visit, even outside of Macchu Pichu. Not a bad option for a month I'd say. You can also try your luck with all the tourist ladies and food etc is quite cheap.

Chia I don't know about, but it will probably be the best place for hot women and given the proximity to Bogota there will be options for having fun, but it might be a bit small to have fun on regular days when you can't go to Bogota.

Post: #8

(09-05-2018 08:57 PM)Parras Wrote:  So I will be completing a 4 week TESOL/TEFL course. There are options in many countries but I narrowed it down to these 3.


Loja, Ecuador
Chia, Colombia
Cuzco, Peru


Where would you guys recommend me going in terms of easiness, women, culture, food, etc...

I will be staying 4 weeks. Thanks in advanced.

Cuzco. Food, young foreign girls, cheap.

Post: #9

(09-06-2018 06:27 AM)markygras Wrote:  Lol, I love this advice. "Don't ask a question in good faith, about extremely specific places & comparisons. Rather, spend hours upon hours reading (outdated) threads to piece together your answer!"

Using this logic, there should be virtually no new threads ever. Nearly every place has been discussed, ergo the entire forum should be locked.

The thing is that so far this guy has given us nothing.... yet wants us to hold his hand an walk him through the pros and cons of different cities that people have talked about over and over on the forum for years. Not knocking OP I actually like him from what I have seen from him... but its tiresome when new members make these kinds of threads. Me personally and prally some other members would be much more inclined to help out a established member who has been around for a bit and contributed in one way or the other, rather then a new poster who "long time lurked/leeched" an just joined to ask a specific question about where he should go.
I think its basic biology for men to be weary of newbies in their ranks before they start bending over backwards to help them. The new guy on the team, the new guy at your school, work, whatever.. they usually have to prove themselves a bit before you start inviting them to your home for the BBQ.

Again nothing against OP.. I'm just talking newbies in general

Kazz nailed it

(09-06-2018 06:05 AM)kazz Wrote:  A stranger enters the old fishermans pub, downs a couple of shots of whiskey and pipes up, so tell me, where are the easiest, fattest fish around these parts..... Perhaps where they will just jump into my net so i dont have to do anything.

Post: #10

(09-06-2018 05:45 AM)CaddishClive Wrote:  

(09-05-2018 08:57 PM)Parras Wrote:  So I will be completing a 4 week TESOL/TEFL course. There are options in many countries but I narrowed it down to these 3.


Loja, Ecuador
Chia, Colombia
Cuzco, Peru


Where would you guys recommend me going in terms of easiness, women, culture, food, etc...

I will be staying 4 weeks. Thanks in advanced.

Let's hope they help you out with your written English!

Post: #11

(09-06-2018 06:40 AM)rottenapple Wrote:  Loja is a nice area in terms of nature and culture, but ugly women and boring, so not the preferred choice.

Cusco has ugly, but very easy women and is a vibrant city with nightlife options nearly every day, tons of tourists and many sites you can visit, even outside of Macchu Pichu. Not a bad option for a month I'd say. You can also try your luck with all the tourist ladies and food etc is quite cheap.

Chia I don't know about, but it will probably be the best place for hot women and given the proximity to Bogota there will be options for having fun, but it might be a bit small to have fun on regular days when you can't go to Bogota.

Yes. it would have been easier if perhaps it was between 3 of the major cities, for instance Quito, Lima, and Bogota.

But the courses will be taking place in Loja, Cuzco and Chia. 2 cities from the 3 I have never heard about.

I appreciate it.

Post: #12

Chia is a good 45 min drive outside of Bogota WITHOUT traffic.......With Traffic at peak times it could take you 1.5-2 hrs to get to Bogota's Centro.

I would imagine your course is at La Sabana Univ or near there....they have a small group of foreigers that attend that Univ...

Post: #13

Ecuador has good food, warm weather and it's cheap. Most girls are ugly.
Colombia (Bogotá) weather is always changing and girls are nice and approachable.
Peru has fewer nice areas and I spent a week only. Can't give useful advice.

Easy answer. Go to Colombia.

Post: #14

I'd say go to Cuzco. There will be a lot more going on plus you got Machu Picchu, tourist girls exc. Chia is dead during the week and traffic is horrible to go to Bogota. Can't comment on Ecuador as I have not been there.

Post: #15

(09-06-2018 06:04 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I'd say go to Cuzco. There will be a lot more going on plus you got Machu Picchu, tourist girls exc. Chia is dead during the week and traffic is horrible to go to Bogota. Can't comment on Ecuador as I have not been there.

This guy will lead you down........the road less taken

Post: #16

Cuzco has great parties, lots if history, good food, and easy girls -foreign and locals. The locals aren’t great, but the quality of foreigners/backpackers is as good as almost anywhere thanks to Machu Picchu. Relatively inexpensive. I’m sure Columbia has the better locals, but logistics don’t sound great for that city.

Post: #17

I have never been to Cuzco, but it guarantees you a major tourist destination. You can spend 7 days hiking the entire inca trail if you want.

I would also consider which country you would want to return to next time, which country intrigues you long term - beyond your 3 month course. Depending on what that is, this trip could be a jumping off for a longer stay in the future. Wherever you go you will make connections and friends, which will make it easier and more fun to go back there in the future.

They say the hardest choice to make is between positives, they should all be great, so you'll do well whatever way you go.

Post: #18

Peru + Colombia are my favorite Countries out of the 3. I was not a fan at all of Ecuador - too many fatties and nothing too special about the country.

Post: #19

Isn't Loja where all the old expats hang out? I only made it as far as Cuenca when I was in Ecuador, which seemed like a decent enough city. Definitely some hot university girls there. Was just in Cuzco a few weeks ago, but only for 6 days doing a lot of adventure activities. I really cant comment on the bar scene there at all, but honestly if you only have a month, it's probably a good place to be. It's a tourist city by nature, versus your other choices where it would definitely take longer to get situated.

Post: #20

(09-08-2018 12:08 AM)WhatTheFuck Wrote:  Isn't Loja where all the old expats hang out? I only made it as far as Cuenca when I was in Ecuador, which seemed like a decent enough city. Definitely some hot university girls there. Was just in Cuzco a few weeks ago, but only for 6 days doing a lot of adventure activities. I really cant comment on the bar scene there at all, but honestly if you only have a month, it's probably a good place to be. It's a tourist city by nature, versus your other choices where it would definitely take longer to get situated.

Cuenca is definitely a retirement place for old US expats on that pension/ Social Security life. I wouldn't blame them for living there - it's a great place to live that is quiet and has lots of farm life. But for OP - don't think it would would fit what he's looking for.

Post: #21

Is Cuenca actually that bad tho? I've been definitely considering going back there recently. Honestly have a lot of options to consider but it's definitely up there. I've known people there who have got rooms in apartments there cheap $150/month. Also the University of Cuenca is located there with let's see.....12,000 students....... Yaa...for those who like hiking the Cajas National Park is a short bus ride away as well too hahah

Post: #22

For the most part, there are extremely gorgeous exceptions but, the girls of Ecuador are not attractive at all. I'm not talking about Miss Ecuador. I'm talking about the grand majority.

The everyday run-of-the-mill chicks in Perú are certainly a step up from Ecuador, but still kind of "not so attractive," in my opinion, especially outside the large metropolitan areas.

I hadn't considered the potential to game on a basically endless supply of Machu Picchu tourist, though. That has potential.

And, just to concur with some of the others, it's not realistic to think if you're going to be living and working in Chia that you'll be gaming in Bogotá, unless you're doing like a weekend trip there. The voyage to and from is not practical for just "an evening out" in Bogotá. The distance on the the map does not correlate with the amount of time the trip could (will) take. I would not be down for that.

Are you sure these 3 options are the best you can do? Surely, you can find better places to study, right?

Post: #23

(09-08-2018 07:22 AM)Dulceácido Wrote:  For the most part, there are extremely gorgeous exceptions but, the girls of Ecuador are not attractive at all. I'm not talking about Miss Ecuador. I'm talking about the grand majority.

The everyday run-of-the-mill chicks in Perú are certainly a step up from Ecuador, but still kind of "not so attractive," in my opinion, especially outside the large metropolitan areas.

I hadn't considered the potential to game on a basically endless supply of Machu Picchu tourist, though. That has potential.

And, just to concur with some of the others, it's not realistic to think if you're going to be living and working in Chia that you'll be gaming in Bogotá, unless you're doing like a weekend trip there. The voyage to and from is not practical for just "an evening out" in Bogotá. The distance on the the map does not correlate with the amount of time the trip could (will) take. I would not be down for that.

Are you sure these 3 options are the best you can do? Surely, you can find better places to study, right?

In Latin America yes, those are the places that peaked my interest.


There's also Buenos Aires, Argentina but the reason it doesn't interest me as much is because I already went there in 2011, be it only for a week and I loved every minute of it, but I want to experience somewhere I haven't been too. Although I won't discard this option. Staying a month in Buenos Aires could be interesting, and things have changed a lot since 2011. Who knows maybe i'll pull the trigger on Buenos Aires. My game really sucked back then and maybe I can redeem myself with the Argie girls.


Another option is in Chiapas, Mexico, but I already live here in Mexico and I could go there whenever.

Another option is Antigua, Guatemala, but Guatemala does not interest me at all.

And lastly Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica which is a national park in the jungle from what I understand. I can't picture myself living in the jungle for a month.

I narrowed it down to those 3. Loja, Ecuador, Chia, Colombia and Cuzco, Peru. Three countries I never been to and that interest me more than the central american countries. Although Buenos Aires is not off the table.

Post: #24

Antigua is actually a really cool city. Good party town, the local girls come in there on the weekends to bang foreigners.. and just a cool city overall with good hiking and stuff. Worth considering, personally I would take that over everywhere but BA. For 2nd place Cuzco wins the tiebreak because it has some of the best party hostels in the world.

Post: #25

Yeah... A good reason I love this forum is you get all perspectives.

I've never stayed in a hostel. I've never partied at a hostel. I've never been so much as provoked by the inclination. There is no way I'd go to Guatemala over Buenos Aires (or anywhere in Argentina). I've done enough forced "hiking" through the jungle, so it does not call to me in the times that I have the choice not to do so.

I'd go straight back to Bs As, if I had that option. But I suppose, if push came to shove, I'd venture to bang out some hostel hippies and see Machu Picchu. I say that out of a sense of "if I were forced to..." Certainly not my first choice.
Guatemala may as well be Mars in this equation. If you paid me to go, I'd still have my demands.