ECUADOR
GEOGRAPHY
Plan a visit to this astonishing country filled till the brim with biodiversity. Enjoy the vivid aesthetic and dramatic change each moment you are here. The country is almost on the equator so it is called Ecuador.
An equatorial teeny country of north-western South America on the Pacific coast bordered by Colombia in the north and in east-south direction rests Peru; it enjoys sovereignty over the Galapagos Islands in Pacific Ocean lying some 900 km west of the coast close to equator; it is a network of volcanic islands of varying dimensions. The biggest among them is Isabella or Albemarle as it is also called; it has a Santa Tomas the zenithal peak with crater spread over ten kilometers span. The island since 1978 is World Heritage Site.
The country’s triple demarcation is Costa, Sierra and Oriente singular provisional area the Galapagos Island or Archipielago de Colon. La Costa includes Pacific shoreline, and sunken land in the west. La Sierra is the highland of Andes range that cuts the country into half running from north to south end. El Oriente is the dense rain forest of Amazon in the east covering the half of the land of the country. Region Insular is Galapagos Islands.
The western part of the country is tropical coastal plain; the central part is occupied by the Andean Cordillera, while the east contains the high Oriente plateau descending into the forest-covered Amazonian Basin. More than one-half of the entire territory is covered by forest providing valuable hardwoods like cedar mahogany etc.
Banana constitutes the chief cash crop and Ecuador is the world’s leading producer of this tropical fruit. Coffee and cocoa beans sugar cane and rice are also extensively cultivated. Farmers breed cattle, sheep, and pigs. Fishing is extremely important the chief hauls are sardines, herring, tuna, and shrimp.
The country has considerable mineral wealth especially oil natural gas gold silver sulpher copper zinc and kaolin clay. The most important manufacturing industry is food processing.
Major cities are Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca, Riobamba, and Esmeraldas.
Highest elevation is Chimborazo Mountain at 6310 m
Chief River is Napo. The Sierra area is the inception point for most rivers and they head towards the east into the Amazon or westerly into the Pacific Ocean.
The potent all time danger is from earthquakes, volcanic eruption, landslide and sporadic droughts.
THE CAPITAL
The capital is Quito; it is on valley decent of active volcano of the Andes at a height of 9300 feet in the west, ringed by ice laden volcanoes.
CLIMATE
Varies from tropical to alpine according to altitude; the south shore is akin to a desert, the zenith of Andes Mountain is chilly, the Amazon region is horizontal. Intense rain strikes the Pacific shore which other wise experiences tropical weather.
HISTORY
The recorded human province in this area dates back between 3500-500 BC; the community experience first war from Incas of Peru and come under their rule till 1400 AD. In 1526 till 1534 the Spanish rule the area as their domain. In 1822 Ecuador is a free country but joins hand with a few neighboring countries to form Gran Colombia Republic. Finally in 1822 it survives an independent identity. Galapagos Island becomes renowned because of Charles Darwin and his theories. From 1925 the country is unstable with quick succession of head of the states coming and going out of power. In 1970s the country gains importance globally as oil producing country; at last in 1970 it becomes a democratic country.
POPULATION
It is primary an agriculture country with mining and oil drilling sectors.
A majority of Mestizo and Amerindian with black and European stock minorities;
Religion is Roman Catholic
Language Spanish is in vogue since colonial times; the locals sprinkle it with native vocabulary of Quechua in their day to day use.
Currency is Sucre
TOURISM
The habitat of animals in this region surprising outnumbers any other place; one reason for this is the diverse topology. At every turn on your travel route you are likely to come across natural reserves and national parks; the vegetation will very often bring you face to face with mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, and amphibians. Ocean is full of marine creatures. In Andes there is every possibility of witnessing Pudu, local fox, bear, puma, and tapirs; the species of birds here is enchanting from humming birds to wattled and tanagers. The scary reptiles like colossal anacondas, caiman, geckos, huge tortoise, and giant lizards will all make you gasp in fear.
The tourism of the land is incomplete without a visit to Galapagos Islands where even Charles Darwin stayed to conduct research on his world famous theory of evolution by natural selection. The region has unique some unstudied variety of vegetation; that is why since 1959 it has the status of national park. The neighboring ocean region is marine reserve. If you luck you may get a glimpse of land iguana, finch, land tortoise, or penguin. The other attraction here is the national parks like Bosque protector Cerro Blanco, Machalilla National Park, Mataje-Cayapas Mangrove Reserve, Galapagos Island National park and few others.
Visit Banos for hot spring bath; experience the thrill and fear as you negotiate the slim mountain zigzag road from Banos till Puva.
La costa region has the lure of beaches and cruise from its port; while El Oriente has plunging intoxicating stream in the midst of vegetation. There are innumerable national parks in all the regions. If you are in Andes your have a wide choice to pick from; there is Cajas National Park, Chimborazo Reserve, Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, Cotopaxi National Park, El Angel Ecological Reserve, Ilinizas Reserve to name a few. The Cuyabeno National park, Limoncocha Biological Reserve and Yasuni National park are part of the Amazon region. Andes Amazon area has five more park as tourist attraction.
If you have an adventurous streak in you then plan to visit Banos in the midst of Andes for white water rafting, horse riding, and mountain bike ride or else hike you way all through. Enjoy a good bath in steaming spring and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
Otavalo in the northern direction of Quito is a small inconspicuous town. Its every Saturday is very popular with tourist. The locals gather in the Poncho Square with their native hand made traditional items for sale like belts, carpets, colorful blankets and small attractive pieces in variety.
The religious minded and the pious specially take a trip to New Cathedral in the middle of Cuenca; the cathedral interiors are awe inspiring.
In Guayaquil is situated Malecon 2000 on a ling stretch of area; People visit the place for its eating joints, and ancient buildings for sight seeing.
The spas are based on traditional age old techniques and have specific remedial qualities. Make a need based choice leading to relaxation or treatment.
ACCOMMODATION
For staying the accommodation is tourist attraction specific. There are jungle lodges, coastal hotels, luxury hotels, spas and resorts and many economy hotels to suit all pockets.
FOOD
The food variation is due to weather conditions and local produce. In mountain region chicken, pork, cuy, and beef is accompanied by rice corn or potatoes which they call horndo. Easter specialty is Fanesca fish soup supplemented with beans. Then Colada Morada drink is part of Guaguas de Pan a stuffed food item at festivity.
The south region relish raw banana soup called repe, with pork roasted well and mile con quesillo and cuajada for desert.
In the plains there is a wide choice of fruits. Coastal people prefer seafood like shrimp, prawns, and lobster in meals with some dish prepared with peanuts. The meal begins with watery meat soup called caldo or its vegetarian counter part caldo de leche. The main course is seafood or meat along with menestra a type of stew and salad. The country’s favorite drink is Aquardiente a product made from sugar cane.
The country natives take three meals in a day beginning with a light breakfast
SHOPPING
Children enjoy shopping here; the wooden brightly hued toys, dolls, stuffed toys, musical instruments like drums and flutes are very popular with them. Apart from this the local gift items come in the form of pottery, woolen pullovers and ponchos, and jewelry embedded with beads in silver,
NIGHTLIFE
Guayaquil Gambling region is dotted with variety in gambling entertainment. Most of the luxury hotels run casino on their premises with attractive deals. Apart from this there are hordes of bars, discos, penas as a choice for travelers and locals. The night scene on beaches is vibrant; a little distance from the beach are bars playing lively music like reggae. The area is officially open till wee hours.
When you visit the land you will see for your own self its exquisite building construction of the past, its sweeping beauty, its ultramarine ocean water and its warm hospitable natives; you would admit that it is the country in South America for tourism.
Click to Hide