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.

Ecuador On Map

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.

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

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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)

Video about Ecuador, a fantastic place on Earth. If you'd like to visit Ecuador and need travel and logistics info: anamavaar@hotmail.com Right on the Equator line, latitud 0deg 0' 0". Visit Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Galapagos Islands. Get to know the warmth of its people in a great journey you'll never forget. Quito, first cultural patrimony of humankind by UNESCO. Cuenca is also cultural patrimony of humankind. Galapagos is natural patrimony of humankind. Quitenos call themselves "chullas" which means "resident spirit" or "inhabitant of this land" in the ancient quitu (tsafiqui) language. The Valdivia culture is the oldest civilization in America. We are proud descendents of that culture. Only in Ecuador one says "me voy a volver" because one always comes back. The most accesible part of the Amazon rain forest is in Ecuador! Panama hats are originally from Ecuador. They are handcrafted in Ecuador. They were brought to Panama in one of the journeys of Eloy Alfaro to that country where they fell in love with them. Native Ecuadorians speak Kichwa or Runa Shimi, which means the language of the human beings. Quito is considered "luz de America" because it was its people who first spoke up and died for independece in 1809. August 10, 1809, Ecuadorian Independence Day. The day it all began for this Republic.

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