Climate of Ecuador

Weather
Warm and subtropical. Weather varies within the country due to the Andes mountain range and coastal changes.

Andean regions are cooler and it is especially cold at nights in the mountains. Rainfall is high in coastal and jungle areas. In the Galapagos the weather is dry and mild.

Required clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens, and rainwear in subtropical areas. Warmer clothes are needed in upland areas.

Activities in Ecuador

Rainforest treks
Travelers wishing to explore the rainforest of the lower Amazon basin and its abundant plant and animal life should head to the Oriente region (see Where to Go section). It is probably best to do this as part of an organized tour, which can be booked with a number of local operators providing tailor-made itineraries and experienced guides.

The presence of hundreds of waterways, many of which are tributaries of the great River Amazon, means that such tours invariably involve traveling by boat. Usually, these are large motorized canoes traveling up the main rivers (such as the Aguarico or the Napo), although trips on non-motorized boats along the smaller waterways are also available, which is a far better way to observe the wildlife.

Several indigenous communities living in the region have preserved their traditional lifestyles and are actively engaged in resisting the ongoing attempts by oil companies to develop and exploit the Ecuadorian rainforest.

Hiking
There are some good hiking trails in Cotopaxi National Park, one of them following the shores of Lago Limpiopungo, located at an altitude of 3800m (12,465ft).

Climbing
Several tour operators based in Banos, Ecuador’s tourist mecca for adventure sports and trips to the rainforest, also offer climbing expeditions to the volcanoes. Experienced climbers may head to the Cotopaxi volcano which at 5985m (19,345ft) is one of the world’s highest and is best reached from Quito.

Wildlife
Apart from the rainforest, Ecuador’s rich wildlife is best represented in the Galapagos Islands, whose most famous inhabitants are the giant Galapagos tortoises (weighing up to 272kg/600lb). Adventure tours around the islands are available, either in large cruise ships or in smaller ships and yachts (advance booking is essential). The amount of time visitors are allowed to stay on the islands is regulated by the Government. For further details on the Galapagos Islands, see the Where to Go section.

Watersports
There are 2800km (1750 miles) of coastline along the mainland, with beach resorts offering various types of watersports. Good snorkeling is available via chartered boat trips around the Isla de la Plata (located in the Parque Nacional Machalilla, Ecuador’s only coastal national park). Fishing is particularly good off the western coast. Whitewater rafting is also popular in and around Banos.

Scenic train journeys
Several of Ecuador’s railway routes, particularly those in the Andes, pass through spectacular mountain scenery, often at dramatic altitudes. The Ecuadorian custom of riding on the roof of the train makes the views even more breathtaking.

One of the most famous routes, whose climax is the precipitous ‘Devil’s Nose’ passage, is from Riobamba down to the Pacific coast. Train schedules are fairly erratic and visitors should check locally prior to traveling.

Tourist Attractions in Ecuador

Quito
Ecuador’s capital (and second-largest) city has a setting of great natural beauty, overshadowed by the volcano Pichincha with its twin peaks of Ruco and Guagua. Quito is located at 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level and some visitors may suffer from altitude sickness during the first hours after arrival. Quito used to be a major Inca city that was destroyed shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.

Although no Inca traces remain, the city has preserved much of its Spanish colonial character, the cathedral in the Plaza de la Independencia (the oldest church in South America) and the many old churches and monasteries being among the most notable instances. Also in the plaza is the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palacio Presidencial.

Many of the city’s famous churches and monasteries contain priceless examples of Spanish art and sculpture, particularly the Monasterio de San Francisco (located in the beautiful plaza of the same name) and the Jesuit church of La Compania. Most of Quito’s colonial churches are located in the Old Town, parts of which have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Perhaps the best preserved colonial street is the historic alley of la Ronda. Other places in Quito worth visiting include the Parque la Alameda (a triangular-shaped park), the astronomical observatory, the School of Fine Arts and the modern Palacio Legislativo.

As the cultural and political capital, Quito has a number of museums of colonial and modern art. The Museo del Banco Central, located in the Casa de la Cultura, has a vast archaeological repertory as well as displays of colonial furniture and religious art. Also of interest is the Museo Guayasamin, home to many fine works of Ecuador’s renowned modern artist Oswaldo Guayasamin.

The Andean Highlands
The Pan-American Highway traverses the country from north to south, a spectacular route which passes through all the principal cities of the Andean Highlands. Tulcan, center of a rich farming area, is the northernmost of these.

Further south is Chota, still inhabited by the descendants of former African slaves who retain some of their tribal customs (the city’s population being made up largely of Africans). Chota’s Indian market (particularly good for traditional art and weavings) is renowned throughout Ecuador.

The peak of Mount Imbabura signals the approach to the valley of Otavalo (95km/60 miles from Quito), the town of the same name being famed for its craftwork and Indian market (which is at its biggest on Saturdays). Approaching Quito, one passes a granite monument which marks the Equator. South of Quito, the region of Latacunga and Ambato has much fine scenery, marked by an avenue of volcanoes.

Two active ones are located within the Parque Nacional Sangay, a national park of outstanding beauty which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The park is characterized by a variety of landscapes, ranging from rain forests to glaciers, as well as numerous indigenous animal species, such as the mountain tapir and the Andean condor.

Located within Sangay park, the Tunguraha volcano (5016m/16,453ft) is popular with tourists, especially at night, since it became active again in 1999. West of Latacunga, the Parque Nacional Cotopaxi is Ecuador’s most visited national park.

Food and Dining in Ecuador

Best of the jungle fruits include chirimoya, with a delicious custard-like inside; mamey, which has a red, sweet, squash-like meat; and pepinos, a sweet white and purple striped cucumber-like fruit. Specialities include llapingachos (pancakes stuffed with mashed potato and cheese); shrimp or lobster ceviche.

This is traditionally accompanied by popcorn and chifles (thinly sliced and fried green bananas); locro (stew of potatoes and cheese); humitas (flavored sweetcorn tamale); and the national delicacy of roasted guinea pig.

Bakeries offer delicious sweet pastries and empanadas (hot crispy meat-or cheese-filled pastries). Another popular snack is patacones (squashed fried green bananas). You will often find that most Ecuadorian homes have a special pounding stone for making this tasty snack. Restaurants have waiter service and there are cafe-style bars.

Shopping in Ecuador

Bargaining is acceptable in small shops and in markets, but prices are usually fixed in ‘tourist stores’. A few stores around the major hotels have fixed prices. In the Province of Azuay, the cities of Cuenca and Gualaceo offer a wide variety of handicrafts at ferias or special market days.

The top attractions are the ferias of Otavalo, Ambato, Latacunga, Saquisili and Riobamba, most held once a week. They offer the visitor excellent bargains for Indian crafts and silver. Principal silver stores are in Quito. Special purchases include native woodcarvings, varnished and painted ornaments made of bread dough, Indian tiles, woolen and orlon rugs, blankets, baskets, leather goods, shigras (shoulder bags) and hand-loomed textiles, indigenous art and native weapons.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 0800-2100 (times are for shopping malls; local stores may have shorter opening hours). Some shops open Sunday.

Currency Information:

Currency
US Dollar (USUSD ) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of USUSD 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of USUSD 1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The US Dollar replaced the Sucre as the official currency of Ecuador in September 2000.

Currency exchange
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at exchange houses (casas de cambio), the latter being generally the best option. It may be difficult to exchange money in the Oriente. The rate of commission varies between 1 per cent and 4 per cent, so it is worth shopping around. ATMs are available in large urban areas.

Credit and debit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travelers cheques
Travelers cheques are generally accepted in the larger cities and can be exchanged into currency at most banks.

Currency restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the US Dollar against Sterling

Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1330 and 1430-1830; some banks are also open Sat 0930-1400. Casos de cambio are open Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1200.

Quito : Ecuador

Quito is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in northern Ecuador (see NG MapMachine satellite map) in the Guayllabamba river basin on the eastern slopes of the Pichincha [1] (4794 m), an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains.

At 2850 meters/9300 feet above sea level at the Plaza de la Independencia, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world. The population of Quito, according to the most recent census (2001), was 1,399,378. In 2005, however, the estimated population was 1,865,541 (canton). The area of Quito is approximately 290 km².

There is some confusion about Quito’s position as the second highest capital in the world, but La Paz, Bolivia, which is where the Bolivian government functions, is the governmental capital of Bolivia. Sucre is the legal capital of Bolivia.

Quito is located about 22 miles south of the equator. A monument marking the equator is known locally as “la mitad del mundo” (the middle of the world). Due to its altitude and location, the climate in Quito is mild to cool, fairly constant all year round, with a high temperature typically around 70 degrees Fahrenheit on any given day. There are only two seasons in Quito, summer (the dry season) and winter (the rainy season). Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador after Guayaquil.

History

Pre-Hispanic

Quito’s origins date back to the first millennium, when nomadic tribes roamed the area and ultimately formed a commercial center where Quito is currently located. Early in the 16th century, the Incas conquered the city, hoping to further the reach of their kingdom, but upon the arrival of the Spanish in 1533, those plans were abandoned. Ruminahui, an Inca war general, burned the city to prevent the Spanish from taking it, thereby destroying any traces of the prehispanic city.

Spanish colony

Indigenous resistance to the Spanish conquest continued during 1534, with Diego de Almagro founding Santiago de Quito on August 15 of that year. On December 6, 1534 [2], the city was officially founded by 204 settlers and Sebastian de Belalcazar, who captured Ruminahui and effectively ended organized resistance. Ruminahui was then executed on January 10, 1535. On March 14, 1541, Quito was named a city, and on February 14, 1556, was given the title “Muy Noble y Muy Leal ciudad de San Francisco de Quito” (”Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito”).

The Spanish promptly established the Catholic religion in Quito, with the first temple (El Belen) built even before the city had been officially founded. On January of 1535, the San Francisco Convent was constructed, the first of about 20 more churches and convents built during the colonial period. The Spanish heavily evangelized the indigenous people and also used them for construction, especially in the initial stages. The Diocese of Quito was established in 1545 and was elevated to the Archdiocese of Quito in 1849.

In 1809, after nearly 300 years of Spanish colonization, Quito was a city of about 10,000 inhabitants, and on August 10, 1809, it was there where the first proclamation of independence was heard. The movement was ultimately defeated on August 2, 1810, when Spanish forces came from Lima, Peru, and killed the leaders of the uprising and about 200 inhabitants of the city. A chain of conflicts concluded on May 24, 1822 when Antonio Jose de Sucre, under the command of Simon Bolivar, led troops into the Battle of Pichincha. Their victory marked the independence of Quito and the surrounding areas.

Music of Ecuador

Folk music

Coastal music

The Pacific coast of Ecuador is known for the amor fino, a kind of popular song, as well as a variety of dance music.

Pasillo, pasacalle and yarabi are popular folk dances. El pasillo is played with guitar and rondin, the latter being similar to a flute, and is usually downtempo; it is descended from the waltz. El pasacalle is a form of dance music, while the sentimental el yarabi is probably the most popular form in Ecuador.

Esmeraldas, Carchi and Imbabura

The folk music of the northwest part of Ecuador is most famous for the marimba, a distinctive instrument most common in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi and Guayas; it is a direct and virtually unchanged import from West Africa. The genres bunde and torbellino are part of the Afro-Ecuadorian tradition .

The bambuco is a dance known from Esmeraldas . Esmeraldas is also known for folk instruments like the bombos, conunos, and guasa.

The people of the Chota River valley and the province of Carchi have invented a form of music called bomba, which has achieved some fame outside the region; bomba is accompanied by guitars, maracas and guiros. The Chota are also known for the bandas mochas.

Central Ecuador

The indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian highlands is largely ritual or ceremonial, with many wind instruments like the guaramo horn, and the pifano and pinkullo flutes. Guitars and brass bands are also found throughout the area. Popular performers include Peguche, Benitez-Valencia and Ñanda-Manachi.

Andean music (La Sierra)

The mountainous, Andean region of Ecuador, the Sierra, is home to a style of music called albazo. The music of the Otavalo people are well-known worldwide. A small panpipe called the rondador is the most distinctive instrument, but ensembles are typically groups of wind instruments, guitar trios or brass bands. Folk rhythms include cachullapi, yumbo, danzante and sanjuanito.

Musicians like Huayanay, Jatari and Pueblo Nuevo have helped to popularize Andean-Ecuadoran music.

Folk instruments
cunuca: a percussion instrument similar to a conga drum
bombos
conuno
guasa

Music institutions

The Fundacion de Desarrollo Social Afroecuatoriano (AZUCAR) has existed since 1993, and offers a variety of workshops for all ages in music and dance, as well as handicrafts and other topics.

Music festivals

Ecuador has many annual festivals, with nearly every village celebrating a Roman Catholic Saint. The annual festival in August held in San Antonio de Pichincha is particularly well-known .

Culture of Ecuador

Ecuador’s mainstream culture is defined by Ecuador’s mestizo majority and, like their ancestry, is a mixture of European and Amerindian influences infused with African elements inherited from slave ancestors. Ecuador’s indigenous communities are largely integrated into that mainstream culture to varying degrees, but some may also practise their own autochthonous cultures, particularly the more remote indigenous communities of the Amazon basin.

Famous people born in Ecuador include painters Tabara, Guayasamin, Kingman, Arauz, Constante, Viteri, Molinari, Villacis, Egas and Villafuerte, poet and statesman Jose Joaquin de Olmedo, scholar Benjamin Urrutia, tennis player Pancho Segura, and speed-walker and Olympic gold medalist Jefferson Perez

The culture of Ecuador is as diverse as the landscape of the country itself. The majority of the Ecuadorian population is mestizo, a mixture of both European and Amerindian ancestry, and much like their ancestry, the national culture is also a blend of these two sources, along with influences from slaves from Africa. 95% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic.

Ecuador can be split up into three parts, geographically; the Costa (coast), the Sierra (mountains) and El Oriente (the east; which includes the Amazonic region). The Galapagos islands, or Archipielago de Colon also belong to Ecuador.

El Oriente is characterised by rainforest, the sierra by the snow-capped Andes, and the costa by lowlands that are highly fertile and used for agriculture.

Family

Ecuadorians place great importance on the family, both nuclear and extended. Unlike in much of the West, where the elderly are often placed in care facilities geared towards people of advanced age, the elderly Ecuador will often live with their youngest son and his wife.

Godparents are also far more important in Ecuador than in the West, and they are expected to provide both financial and psychological support to their godchildren, for example, Ecuadorians with marital troubles will often ask their godparents for advice.

Families are formed in at least one of the following three ways: Civil Marriage (which is the legal form of officialising a bond between a man and a woman and which all married couples are required to undergo), the Religious Marriage (which, Ecuador being a predominantly Catholic country, usually means a marriage ceremony sanctified by the Catholic Church) and the Free Union (or Union Libre, where a man and a woman decide to form a family without undergoing any official ceremony). The Ecuadorian Constitution accords the members of a Free Union family the same rights and duties as in any other other legally constituted family.

Religion of Ecuador

Around 94% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic. Much of the population is practicing and attend mass regularly. In the rural parts of Ecuador indigenous beliefs and Christianity have been fused together.

Like every Latin American nation, Protestant Evangelism has had massive growth, especially in the rural poor areas, though it has been met by many who are reluctant to convert. Other Christian groups like Jehovah’s Witness number over 130,000 members, and is growing rapidly. Mormons have also seen increasing numbers.

There is a small muslim minority numbering a couple of thousand. The Jewish community numbers just over 1,000 individuals and is mostly of German origin.

Demographics of Ecuador

Ecuador’s population is ethnically diverse. Mestizos (those of mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry) are by far the largest of all ethnic groups and constitute over 65 per cent of the current population.

Amerindians are second in numbers and account for approximately a quarter of the people, around 25%. Whites are mainly Creoles, unmixed descendants of Spanish colonist, and account for 7% of the Ecuadorian population. A small minority of Afro-Ecuadorians, including Mulattos and Zambos, constitute the remainder.

Although Ecuadorians were most heavily concentrated in the mountainous Sierra (central highlands) region only a century ago, today’s population is divided about equally between that area and the Costa (coastal lowlands) region.

Migration toward cities — particularly larger cities — in all regions has increased the urban population to about 55%.

The Oriente (amazonian jungle) region to the east of the mountains, and covering about half the country’s land area, remains sparsely populated. It includes the headwaters of the Amazon River. It contains only about 3% of the population, many of whom are uninfluenced and unassimilated amazonian Native Americans who maintain their distance and caution from the recent mestizos and White settlers.

There are nine indigenous peoples present: Quichua, Shuar, Achuar, Huaorani, Siona, Siona, Shiwiar, Zaparo, and Cofan, all represented politically by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon, CONFENIAE. The recent settlers are a result of the small immigration experienced here (mainly mestizo migrants from the Sierra) which occurred during and after the 1970s when government sponsored multinationals began to exploit petroleum reserves in the region.

The industrial expansion, and subsequent settlement resulted in the boom of the town of Lago Agrio as well as substantial deforestation, indigenous population loss and the final disappearance of the Tetete people.

The public education system is tuition-free, and attendance is mandatory from ages 6 to 14. In practice, however, many children drop out before age 15, and, in rural areas only about one-third complete sixth grade. The government is striving to create better programs for the rural and urban poor, especially in technical and occupational training. In recent years, it also has been successful in reducing illiteracy.

Enrollment in primary schools has been increasing at an annual rate of 4.4%–faster than the population growth rate. According to the 1979 constitution, the central government must allocate at least 30% of its revenue to education; in practice, however, it allots a much smaller percentage. Public universities have an open admissions policy. In recent years, however, large increases in the student population, budget difficulties, and extreme politicization of the university system have led to a decline in academic standards.