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ECUADOR
ECUADOR

Highlights

Ecuadorian Culture

Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua - an Incan language - is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourism service providers and professionals.

The diverse native cultures of the region had rich musical traditions. Music played an important role in the ancient Andean people’s lives and archaeologists have found some very old instruments, such as, drums, flutes, trumpets and other musical artifacts, in ancient tombs.

Ecuador has some very tasty and very strange combinations in their cuisine. You can expect to find some lemon marinated shrimps, toasted corn on the cob and a huge variety of pastries filled with all types of different stuffing.

If you want the best and most original Christmas celebration, you should go to Cuenca on the 24th of December where the Pase Del Nino is held.

The Ecuadorians have a distinctive type of dress code. The men and especially the woman in each region of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be easily identified by their dress as it is displays specific cultural diversities that are characteristic of that particular region. A major aspect of Indian identity is present in Ecuador. People that are familiar with the native dress can often tell roughly where an Indian is from, based on what they wear.

Regions in Ecuador – Cities, Costa (Coastline), Galápagos Islands, Oriente (Amazon), Sierra (Andes)

Quito is the capital of the country. Beautifully set with a volcano backdrop, Quito boasts a number of interesting attractions. The Historic Center of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage site and visitors here will be able to see the Cathedral of Quito, Basilica del Voto Nacional, Convent of La Merced, Church of the Society of Jesus and more. There are also many fine parks scattered throughout the city and you can spend many days exploring its wonders. Indeed Quito is amongst the top tourist destinations in Ecuador.

The largest city in Ecuador, Guayaquil is a busy river and seaport city in the Costa Region. It is generally considered to be the economic capital of Ecuador and the thriving entrepreneurial spirit of its people give evidence to this fact. Not only is this city located on the coast, but it is also the center of activity for the Lower Guayas Basin – a fertile valley that has a large agricultural yield. Guayaquil is also the perfect place to start your Ecuadorian adventures as it allows for easy travel through the rest of the country. If you are planning to travel, you might be tempted by the exotic flowers and fruits of Ambato, enjoy the beaches of Playas, Baños and Salinas, or head towards the Amazon Rain Forest – all are within easy reach of Guayaquil. And to top it off, the Galapagos Islands are only a two hour flight from Guayaquil.

The Coastline of Ecuador plays a big role in Ecuador's economy and cuisine, delivering tons of seafood daily and entertaining the many tourists that visit each year. Anyone who wants to explore Ecuador should venture a little beyond the highlands and Amazon basins to discover what Ecuador is really about: a beautiful untouched 2000 kilometer coastline.

The Galapagos Islands originated from lava eruptions that came from the bottom of the ocean and rose as much as 2600 feet above sea level. Some of the younger islands still have active volcanoes. Different characters, such as isolation, climate, altitude and texture of the land on the islands have made their distinct vegetation and animal life materialize. Nevertheless Galapagos is not just about the animals and plants. There are a great number of shops, museums, art galleries, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels that will provide even the pickiest persons with ample entertainment. Whether you want to relax with a cocktail on a big yacht, lie in your hotel room, dive with the sea lions, penguins and other marine mammals, or just vegetate on the beach, Galapagos will not fail to meet your expectations. It has an abundance of accommodation, from five-star hotels with hot showers to student backpackers and camping sites. A trip to Galapagos Islands will leave you inspired and relaxed for months, but don't take our word for it - book your flight now and go see for yourself.

Art Museums and Art Galleries,When you visit the country, you might want to consider visiting the many art galleries and museums in Ecuador. The Colonial Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Las Conceptas Museum are all great treasures where you can enjoy the combination of art and history. The Gallery of Antiques Josue is also a great find while the Pacific Bank Museum offers something a bit different. For a different look at religion, the Nuestra Señora del Cisne Religious Art Museum is a must. Why not visit as many different art museums and art galleries in Ecuador as you can? You may discover that they have more to offer than you bargained for. There are a wide variety of interesting historical monuments, buildings and sights in Ecuador that are well worth visiting. Some of them are religious – others take you back to the rituals of the Indian peoples that once lived in harmony with the jungle that surrounded them. Still others are reminders of a grand colonial time when European influence was strong and the people of Ecuador lived as a colony instead of a country. The La Merced Church was originally built in the 1500s and, though much of it has since been rebuilt, you will find both new and old elements in this ancient religious edifice. The Palacio de Gobierno was also rebuilt but today its striking architectural elements are a tribute to the men who collaborated on the design. The El Sagrario Chapel is still very much original and dates back to the 1500s. This Roman Catholic stalwart has been molding the minds of the surrounding community for centuries and many of the people in Cuenca still cling to Roman Catholic traditions.

Beaches,Salinas is perhaps the most well-known of all of Ecuador's beaches. Essentially a beach resort town, Salinas is the place where many locals flock during the high-season for a bit of fun in the sun. Here you can see whales, surf, sea-kayak, skydive, hang-glide, jetski, ski, and yacht. There are also a few thermal baths not too far away that are most enjoyable.

 

Tours of the amazing Amazon should definitely not be missed. Filled with fascinating wildlife and plant life, the Amazon is renowned the world over. Many native communities have called this area home for years. A variety of tribal communities welcome tourists to experience their culture, an adventure to remember.

The Ecuadorian Andes offer tourists endless hours of recreation, with activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking and more on offer. The region is well developed and tourists will find everything they need to enjoy a spectacular holiday in Ecuador. Down in the valleys of the Ecuadorian Andes you can expect to see some gold, amber, lilac and pale purple patterns that change with the shadow cast by the clouds. The different shades of color are a result of the many corn, wheat, barley and quinoa fields in this region. The collage of man-made and natural products, together with each day's unique shadow and lighting, makes it impossible for someone to have the same day each day. The Ecuadorian Andes will surprise you with something different every day. The Ecuadorian Andes, also known as the "Sierra" and the "Highlands", is probably the most visited region of the country and it’s not 

difficult to see why. The region is jam-packed with a certain cultural and natural diversity that brings many visitors back time and time again. Hiking, skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and relaxing are only a few recreational activities that the Ecuadorian Andes will be able to offer you. Whether you want to dive into the thermal springs, exhaust yourself on a weeklong hike or just lie in your five-star hotel room, the Sierra has it all. But don't take our word for it, book a flight now and go see for yourself!


Description

Ecuador is a country in North-western South America, with a Pacific Ocean coastline, lying on the Equator between Colombia, to the northeast, and Peru, to the south and east. Cotopaxi is the world's highest active volcano. Many cities and sites in Ecuador are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Such cities and best known places are the Galapagos Islands, and the city of Cuenca.

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favour of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbours.