Ecuador
REGIONS
LATITUDDE 0º 00′
The Republic of Ecuador took its name in the early 1800’s from the ecuatorial line that runs through its territory. Known as a kind of giant natural laboratory, the Frecnh scientist La Condamine, the German Alexander Von Humbolt, the Englishmen Charles Darwin and Edward Whymper all published adventure books detailing their adventure travels in Ecuador. These recount a land of fantastic animals, snow capped volcanoes and impenetrable Amazonian jungle.
Ecuador is one of the safest destinations for traveling in Latin America. The ecuadorians are easygoing people, they include descendents of Spanish conquistadors and original pre-columbian inhabitants, many of whom still speak Quichua an maintain traditions from Incan times and before. Add to this cultural wealth, Ecuador’s compact diversity although only half the size of France, it contains the snowcapped Andes, the Pacific coast and expanses of Amazon Jungle and you begin to see why Ecuador is rapidly earning a reputation for being one of the most popular destinations in South America.
MERCADOS
One of the most fascinating and unique things about Ecuador is its markets. In any given region, the market is held on a different day of the week in a different town square. Market day is a grand, colorful fiesta with hundreds of people buying and selling almost everything: food, hadware, clothing, tapestries, with most things made or produced locally. Sellers and buyers travel from kilometers around, in carts, on donkeys, on foot, or by truck to buy, sell or trade.
MERCADILLOS
| Sunday: | Pujilí, Machachi, El Quinche, Gualaceo, Colta, Sangolquí |
| Monday: | Ambato |
| Tuesday: | Latacunga |
| Wednesday: | Pujilí |
| Thursday: | Saquisilí, Cuenca |
| Saturday: | Otavalo, Riobamba, Latacunga, Zumbahua. |
FESTIVOS
| Month |
Day |
Ubicación | Actividad | Descripción | |
| January | 6th | Gatazo (Chimborazo) | Fiesta de los Reyes Magos | Parades, Processions, band. | |
| February | 1st | Mira (Tulcán) | Virgen de la caridad | Processions, bands, fireworks | |
| February | * | Countryside | Carnaval | People play with waterballons, in general with water. (forbiden in Ambato) | |
| February | Ambato | Flowers and fruits party | Street parades, dancing, bands. Similar festivities Riobamba, Latacunga and Baños. | ||
| March | 2nd – 5th | Atuntaqui | Fiesta de la caña de azúcar | Dances, street dancings. | |
| March | 4th – 10th | Gualaceo | Fiesta del durazno | Street dancing, masks, handcrafts. | |
| March | * | Todo el país | Easter week | Processions, masses, all the reflect the ecuadorians’faith. It is very ecuadorian dish. | |
| April | Azuay (Toda la provincia) | Fireworks, parades, handcrafts, exhibitions. | |||
| May | Checa (Pichincha) | Señor de buena esperanza | Fireworks, parades | ||
| June | * | Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Azuay y Loja | Corpus Christi | The most important celebration from the central highlands, music, dances, emborderring customs, plaster masks. | |
| June | 22nd | Sangolqui | Corn Party | Parades, dancers with mask handicrafts, amateur bullfights. | |
| June | 23rd – 24th | Pichincha- Otavalo, San Juan, Tabacundo | St. Juan (corn party) | Parades, music, dances, regattas Lago San Pablo&bull chasing. | |
| June | 28th | Todo el país | St. Pedro & St. Pablo | Dances, parades “bonfires”. | |
| July | Guayaquil | Fundación Guayaquil | Parades, street dancing. Election Miss“Perla del Pacífico” | ||
| August | 15th | Loja | Virgen del Cisne | Tradicional ballet, horse’s races, cricket’s fights, popular singers | |
| September | 3rd – 14th | Imbaburra (Atuntaqui) | Fiesta de la Jora (Yamor) | Folcloric dancers, tipical | |
| October | 9th | Guayaquil | Fundación Guayaquil | Street Parades | |
| October | 7th | Baños | Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa | Processions, bands, fireworks. | |
| November | 2nd | Todo el país | Día de los difuntos | People visit the cementeries, food, drink, lighting ofcandles for the dead. | |
| December | 6th | Quito | Fundación Quito | Festivities start ends of November. | |
| December | 15th | Baños | Fundación Baños | Procesiones callejeras y bailes. | |
TOURS
Although it is unknown to many, lately Ecuador has been discovered by more and more tourists.
It’s dramatic scenic contrasts range from the marvellous green of the Amazon rain forest to the astonishing bright snow of andean peaks along with other countless sites of extraordinary beauty such as fertile coastal plains, colorful mountain valleys and scenic andean plateaus.
A journey around Ecuador permits not only admiring its natural beauty but also its cultural wealth, present in its art, traditions, crafts, folklore and many other expressions of the Ecuadorian people from who settled in the area more than 10.000 years ago.
Discover with us the fabulous scenery of Ecuador.
Discover with us the fabulous scenery of Ecuador.
THE RATES INCLUDES:
– Transfer and mentioned excursions.
– Accommodation outside Quito will be the best available local Haciendas or Country Inn or Hotels.
Programs 2 days 1 night:
– Meals as per each program description.
– English / Spanish speaking Guide.
– Land transportation by car / bus as specified in each program.
– Entrance to monuments, churches, museums.
– Assistance by Ecuador Reisen.
THE RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:
– Domestic Flight Cuenca – Quito o Guayaquil-Quito.
– International Flights
– Tours a Galápagos o a la Selva
– Entrance Fee (Cotopaxi National Park, Antis) Entradas al Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, al Antisana, o al área Protegida de El Cajas
– Any kind of beverages
– Tips for guides, porters and drivers.
– Laundry.
BEST DESTINATIONS offers daily tours on a private or sharing basis.
DETAIL TOUR BY TOUR
