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Travel & Living: Ecuador

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Travel & Living: Ecuador

Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a representative democratic republic in South America bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The country also includes the Galapagos Island (Archipielago de Colon) in the Pacific, about 965 km west of the mainland. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name and has an area of 256,370 square km. Its capital city is Quito and its largest city is Guayaquil.

Contents at a Glance

Land Of Ecuador Table of Contents
Ecuador On Map
Quito - The Capital City
Mountain View of Quito, Ecuador. Photo...
Guayaquil
Banos

Quito - The Capital City

Ecuador has so many attraction. Its capital Quito, is a city full of history where you can walk in downtown, enjoying the beautiful colonial buildings. There is also the "Teleferico" (cable-car), which takes passengers from the highest mountain in Quito to see the city.

There are many welcoming cafes as well as many dancing clubs open every weekend. The beaches in Ecuador are great, the weather is just perfect and the food is delicious and unique.

Mountain View of Quito, Ecuador. Photo by David Berkowitz

Guayaquil

In Guayaquil, an excellent place to visit is the Malecon 2000, offering food, shopping, boat rides and a beautiful view of the river. Except for electronics, prices are quite low; however, almost everything sold with any sort of brand-name is a knock-off. This area is very well-patrolled and quite safe.

For real adventure, it is possible to visit the more authentic, less expensive and far more dangerous Bahia or "Informal Market". It is not advisable to visit it without a native. One can purchase a knock-off of almost anything here.

Banos

Banos, a popular tourist area with both Ecuadorian and foreign visitors, is the perfect city for outdoors visitors, is the perfect city for outdoors or extreme sports enthusiast, offering rafting, mountain climbing and backpacking excursions of all sorts.

Be sure to get all the necessary vaccinations, as it is possible to get some nasty infections from prolonged exposure to the water. Banos also offers a public hot spring mineral bath. Other baths also exist, but are fed from the exact same water. It is best to arrive at these baths as they open, as the water is freshest and cleanest then.

Manabi

Many tourist don't take time to visit the northern part of the country. The north of Ecuador offers the best beaches, Bahia De Caraquez, Manta, Crucita, San Jacinto, San clemente are just a few.

They offer very inexpensive hotel accommodations, great food and even warmer people. In the coast, it is no surprise that travellers find a more relaxed place. Manabi is a providence that you MUST visit.

Galapagos Islands

The Region Insular is the region comprising the Galapagos Islands, about 1,000km west of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean. The climate here is sub-tropical. The Galapagos Islands are very well-known as a region of distinct fauna, famous as the place of birth of Darwin's Theory of Evolution and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, you'll see unending beaches of marble white sand such as those of Tortuga Bay (one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Galapagos Islands), tunnels of lava, spectacular diving areas and a marine reserve,not to mention the pre-historic animals and colorful birds you'll get a chance to observe. There are thirteen main islands that make up the archipelago.

Foods & Drinks

"Locro de papa"

In the sierra, rice almost always accompanies lunch and dinner and the coast, it's potatoes. Soup is also a big part of lunch and dinner. Breakfast often consist of toast, eggs and juice or fruit. Locro de papa is a famous Ecuadorian soup with avocados, potatoes and cheese. Ceviche is a common dish found on the coast. It is a cold seafood cocktail that is usually served with "Chifles" - thin fried plantains.

Encebollado is a hearty-fish soup also found on the coast: a tomato fish soup filled with chunks of yucca, marinated vegetables with "chifles" thrown in for added crunch.

"Empanadas"

In the Highlands, Ecuadorians eat cuy or guinea pig. The entire animal is roasted or fried and often served skewered on a stick.
Empanadas are also a common local food that are usually consumed as snacks in the afternoon. The most common varieties
of this filled pastry are cheese and/or chicken.

Foods & Drinks Part 2

"Aguardiente"

Aguardiente, often made from fermented sugar-cane, is the local firewater. If possible, have some ground freshly into your cup from the sugar-cane. Bottled mineral water is very common and is guaranteed safe to drink; It comes in both carbonated ( con gas) and non-carbonated (sin gas) varieties. Fruit juice is plentiful and good.

"Batido"

There are pina (pineapple), mora (blackberry),maracuya (passion fruit), naranja (orange), sandia (watermelon), naranjilla(jungle fruit), melon taxo, guanabana, guava, etc. You can get them made with milk if you ask for a batido. Fruit juice and yogurt are available at some street stands. However, not all juices are served cold as many people expect; it's more than likely a lukewarm juice will be served to you.

Ecuador Flickr Photos

120317-Quito Equador Vulcao Cotopaxi (91) by Cecilia Heinen

Reunion de trabajo con el capitán de la policía y los presidentes de las Juntas Parroquiales, tema Transito by Gobierno Municipal de Piñas

Reunión de trabajo con dirigentes de cooperativas de transporte by Gobierno Municipal de Piñas

Apertura del Nuevo Mercado Centro Comercial Popular Piñas / Domingo 13 mayo by Gobierno Municipal de Piñas

automatically generated by Flickr

Respect

Among many other cultural idiosyncrasies, it is considered impolite to use a downward-facing palm as a reference for the height of a person. Instead, the hand is held on its side, and the measurement is taken from the lower edge to the floor. When motioning for someone to "come here", it is impolite to motion your hand with the palm facing up. Instead, use a downward swipe of the hand with the palm facing down.

Acceptable clothing varies by regions of the country. In the mountainous Sierra region, including Quito, clothes are usually warmer because of the weather. On the coast, meanwhile, more casual clothes predominate.

It is the custom not to present the diner with the bill until it is requested. It is considered rude by rubbing your fingers together while asking for bill is to tell your server "La Cuenta, Por Favor".

Stay Healthy

Ecuador is widely considered to be a developing country and health hazards are significant issue. Of the most significant are food-borne illnesses, though they can easily be treated with digestive drugs such as antacids or anti-diarrhoeal.

Bottled water is the kept in Ecuador if you don't want to get sick. This doesn't only apply to foreigners who don't have stomach for Ecuadorian food but also Ecuadorians who know that if they don't boil their water or drink it from the bottle, they can get very sick. As a result, it can be purchased almost everywhere (even in the most remote places). Water bottles are sometimes provided by hostels and hotels, which can be used for brushing teeth.

It is advisable to receive a typhoid vaccination, and possibly a yellow fever vaccination, depending on your specific area of travel.

Outside the major cities and tourist areas, malaria can be a problem along the coast during the rainy season.

Ecuador Tube vids

Ecuador Life at its Purest!! (in English): by caredg | video info

3,578 ratings | 11,968,111 views

curated content from YouTube

Blog From Google (Ecuador)

Ecuador Mission Trip: The Jacoby twins, Ben (left) and Caleb, 10, help to knock down one of the walls to make room for a new bathroom on the mission trip to Ecuador in July 2011. Marta Gouger paints a design on the wrist of a girl from Ecuador on the last day at the school ...
Shareholders Urge Chevron To Stop Fighting Ecuador Judgement: (CVX) to settle a nearly 20-year legal battle pitting the multinational corporation against indigenous people in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Chevron's continued efforts to fight an Ecuadorian court's judgement awarding $18 billion in damages related to ...
Shareholders Urge Chevron To Stop Fighting Ecuador Judgement: (CVX) to settle a nearly 20-year legal battle pitting the multinational corporation against indigenous people in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Chevron's continued efforts to fight an Ecuadorian court's judgement awarding $18 billion in damages related to ...
Ecuador, Iran Sign Oil Products Agreement: QUITO (Dow Jones)--Iran has signed an agreement to supply oil products during 2012 and 2013 to Ecuador, the Andean nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration, Ricardo Patino, said Thursday in a press release. The agreement was signed ...

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Travel & Living: Ecuador

Travel & Living: Ecuador

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Land Of Ecuador Table of Contents

Ecuador On Map

Quito - The Capital City

Guayaquil

Banos

Manabi

Galapagos Islands

Foods & Drinks

Foods & Drinks Part 2

Ecuador Flickr Photos

Respect

Stay Healthy

Ecuador Tube vids

Blog From Google (Ecuador)

Ecuador/Quito Flickr Plexo

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