Plan Your Perfect Ecuador Trip

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UNDERSTAND ALL THAT ECUADOR HAS TO OFFER

Ecuador is made of four key geographic regions. Three of those regions run north to south on the mainland: the Amazon, the Andes, and the Pacific Coast. Add the Galapagos Islands for number four! Each region has beautiful places to visit, neat people to meet, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to learn.

Learn More About Each Region

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PLANNING YOUR VACATION IS PART OF THE FUN!

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Our writers have unique insights into the people and places they write about. Many have not only visited Ecuador but have made it their home.

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Local guides and business owners are invited to answer your questions in the forum. We help translate, both language and culture, when need be!

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We recommend agencies to book entire trips, help you design your own itinerary, or anywhere in between. At the end of the day, how much we help is your choice.

Festivals Are More Fun With A Local Guide

What to Expect at the Cacería del Zorro

by Angie Drake | January 21, 2020 | Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, Northern Ecuador, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

The day of the annual Cacería del Zorro horse race is guaranteed to be action-packed from morning until night. The excitement begins with a parade down city streets, continues on to the race track at Yahuarcocha, a high altitude lake nestled into the base of the...

Everything You Need To Know About Mama Negra

by Angie Drake | October 21, 2019 | Central Ecuador, Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

So you want to visit Latacunga to see the Mama Negra parade? But you can't find any information. You've come to the right place. Last year, we attended the November festivities with local friends and learned a ton about the do's and don't of the day. Read on to learn...

Intiraymi in Cotacachi: Dancing For A Good Harvest

by Angie Drake | June 4, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, Northern Ecuador, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

A couple of years ago, I took friends to stay in the small town of Cotacachi for Inti Raymi. Our plans were simple, to enjoy the local festival as best as possible. Of course, as is pretty typical in Ecuador, I could find very little information about which days would...

Celebrating Easter in Quito, Ecuador

by Angie Drake | March 25, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, Northern Ecuador, Quito, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

In Quito, Ecuador, the week preceding Easter Sunday is full of events that warrant explanation. In fact, if you are coming to Quito to experience Easter, it's important to know that Easter Sunday is the least celebrated day of this event-packed week. Read on for a...

Celebrating Carnival in Ecuador

by Angie Drake | January 19, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, South America | 4 Comments

While Brazil has a famous Carnival Parade in Rio de Janeiro and the United States in New Orleans (better known as Mardi Gras), Ecuador has Guaranda! This small city with views of the famous Chimborazo Volcano pulls out the stops with several parades taking place on...

Mama Negra: A Photo Essay

by Angie Drake | December 6, 2018 | Central Ecuador, Culture, Ecuador, Festivals, Photography, South America | 0 Comments

Mama Negra: A Photo Essay Each year in November, the city of Latacunga, Ecuador celebrates Mama Negra, a figure of national fame. The festival and parade originated in 1742 when local residents turned to the Virgin of Merced to save them from a possible eruption of...

The Floresta Farmer’s Market

by Angie Drake | January 22, 2020 | Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, Quito, South America | 10 Comments

On the short cobblestone street of Galavis, the Floresta Farmer's Market takes place every Friday morning. From my hotel window, I can see the vendors setting up bright and early in the morning. I've heard they are around until mid-afternoon but I would recommend...

Everything You Need To Know About Hornado

by Angie Drake | November 4, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, South America | 0 Comments

Hornado is an amazing dish found in market stalls and festivals throughout the Ecuadorian Andes. If you love roast pork and potatoes, it's worth going out of your way to taste the different variations found from north to south. This article will tell you about a few...

Quito: The Next Best Place to Eat in South America

by Guest Author | October 1, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, Guest Posts, Quito, South America | 0 Comments

Ecuador’s capital has always been a wonderful place for comida típica — comforting locro de papas, humitas, and helados de paila. I grew up eating these foods and more at beloved, local institutions like La Ronda, Heladeria Pomasqui, and Mercado Iñaquito. A Culinary...

Ecuadorian Horchata

by Angie Drake | June 24, 2019 | Cuenca, Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, South America, Southern Ecuador | 0 Comments

We had already tried several versions of horchata before I realized that this drink is unique to Southern Ecuador, especially in the Loja Province. I learned about it when visiting the small Saraguro market with my friend, Luz. It was mid-morning and we were after a...

Catzos – Sierra Snack Food

by Angie Drake | June 3, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, South America, The Andes | 5 Comments

I almost couldn't believe it when I saw catzos con tostado for sale at the local Killa Raymi food festival in Peguche, Ecuador. I was drawn to the table like a moth to a flame. A new food, a new window into Andean culture, and a new experience. What more could I ask...

Guaguas de Pan: An Ecuadorian Tradition

by Angie Drake | October 30, 2018 | Culture, Ecuador, Food and Recipes, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

One of the joys of being in Quito for the month of October is seeing the many varieties of Guaguas de Pan in bakeries and restaurants. For those who have not been introduced to the ubiquitous babies (guaguas in Quichua) made of bread, these modern versions are a twist...

The Virgin of Quito

by Angie Drake | January 23, 2020 | Ecuador, History, Northern Ecuador, Quito, South America | 0 Comments

Shortly before moving into our new home in Quito, we made our first visit to the Virgin of Quito. We could see her statue from our hotel window. The angel-like, silver edifice stands atop a dome-shaped hill called El Panecillo. History of the Panecillo Before the...

An Extraordinary Archeology Museum in Quito

by Angie Drake | August 29, 2019 | Archeology, Culture, Ecuador, History, Museums, Northern Ecuador, Quito, South America | 2 Comments

La Casa del Alabado is a privately owned museum in an old Spanish-colonial residence located very near the Quito's historic San Francisco Plaza. And when I say old, I don't mean a hundred years or so. I mean truly antique. The house was built in 1671. The building...

Cuenca’s Aboriginal Cultures Museum

by Scott Drake | August 22, 2019 | Archeology, Cuenca, Culture, Ecuador, History, Museums, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Andes | 1 Comment

As you may have noticed from our blog, we really like to explore the ancient cultures and traditions of South America. We’re also suckers for a good museum. In Cuenca, we hit the jackpot! Incredibly, there are days-worth of great opportunities to see ruins and explore...

The First Cry of Freedom: A Story of Ecuadorian Independence

by Angie Drake | August 10, 2019 | Ecuador, History, Quito, South America | 0 Comments

On August 10, 1809, a group of Criollo citizens of the Audencia Real de Quito, announced the local rebellion to overthrow Spanish-colonial rule. In Ecuador, the day is known as El Primer Grito de La Independencia or the First Cry for Independence. Led by Juan Pío...

Chobshi: Ancestral Home of the Cañari

by Angie Drake | June 28, 2019 | Archeology, Cuenca, Culture, Ecuador, History, Museums, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Andes | 0 Comments

Ecuador has an incredible wealth of archeology sites that few people visit. We found one of the most intriguing a short distance outside of Cuenca in the small town of Chobshi. Little is known about the people who lived in this region before the arrival of the Inca....

Quito’s Historic San Fransisco Plaza

by Angie Drake | March 15, 2019 | Culture, Ecuador, History, Quito, Tips & Travel Hacks | 0 Comments

One of the most iconic destinations in Quito's historic center is the Plaza San Francisco. With its dramatic backdrop of the colonial, whitewashed San Francisco Church against the dark green Pichincha Volcano, it is probably one of the most photographed plazas in the...

Hiking Rucu Pichincha

by Angie Drake | January 21, 2020 | Ecuador, Hiking, Northern Ecuador, Quito, South America | 6 Comments

Hiking the Rucu Pichincha Volcano is a glorious way to explore the Andean wilderness only a short distance outside of Quito. In fact, if you've read my earlier post about riding the Teleferico, you already know that this activity is one of the most popular in the city...

Hiking To The Devil’s Cauldron: Rio Verde, Ecuador

by Angie Drake | September 25, 2019 | Central Ecuador, Ecuador, Hiking, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

On our big trip through Ecuador last year, we wanted to make a return visit to the waterfall capital of Ecuador, Baños. Our first time through, we visited with our two teenage sons. By far, the most impressive destination of the trip was the awe-inspiring Pailon del...

Best Natural Spa Setting in Ecuador: Agua Blanca

by Angie Drake | July 31, 2019 | Central Ecuador, Ecuador, Hiking, South America, The Coast | 2 Comments

If you find yourself lucky enough to be touring coastal Ecuador near the town of Puerto Lopez, please take the time to visit the indigenous community of Agua Blanca! Even if you don't want to visit the small museum or hike the local trails, a trip to the sulfur spring...

Great Waterfall Hike in Vilcabamba, Ecuador

by Angie Drake | July 27, 2018 | Ecuador, Hiking, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Andes | 0 Comments

While staying in the rural community of Vilcabamba, my youngest son and I took the opportunity to enjoy hiking into the mountainous Podocarpus National Park. Our goal was to find the Cascada El Palta, a beautiful waterfall tucked into the folds of the undulating Andes...

The Polylepis Trail, Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve

by Angie Drake | February 22, 2018 | Hiking | 0 Comments

A turn-off about a kilometer east of the main entrance to the Chimborazo Wildlife Preserve is the only clue that something more lies futher down the unmarked dirt road. Waiting at the end of the well-traveled track is a trail head to one of the most magical places I...

The Three Knows of Safe Backcountry Travel in South America

by Scott Drake | January 16, 2018 | Hiking, South America, Tips & Travel Hacks | 0 Comments

As promised in my post about personal safety in urban locations in South America, here’s one about how you can stay safe in the backcountry. Like the “Three B's,” the “Three Knows” are based on my personal experiences. Unlike the Three B's, which are actions to take...

The Best of Buenaventura

by Angie Drake | May 25, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, orchids, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Coast, Wildlife | 2 Comments

The Buenaventura Reserve provides easy access to explore the flora and fauna of Southern Ecuador. However, a visit to this widespread reserve requires a little planning as many of the great things to do lie a few kilometers from the main lodge. Once you arrive, there...

The Loja Botanical Garden

by Angie Drake | May 18, 2018 | Ecuador, orchids, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Andes | 0 Comments

I never expected to find a botanical garden in Loja, Ecuador. But this university town in Southern Ecuador is full of surprises. My high school aged son and I spent a pleasant morning walking the shaded trails and enjoying the manicured gardens. Highlights included...

The Best Places to See Orchids in Ecuador

by Angie Drake | April 12, 2018 | Ecuador, orchids, South America | 0 Comments

Ecuador is home to over 4,000 species of orchids. These specatuclar blooming epiphytes grow in high altitude cloud forests of the Andean Sierra and the equatorial jungles of the Amazon Basin. There are so many orchids that the only comprehensive identification guide...

El Pahuma: A Wild Orchid Reserve Near Quito

by Angie Drake | April 6, 2018 | Ecuador, Northern Ecuador, orchids, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

The 2.5 hour drive from Quito to Mindo, Ecuador follows a long and windy road with very few places to pull off and stop. However, one small pullout provides more than a bathroom break. El Pahuma is an orchid reserve near Quito. It is home to gushing cascades of water,...

The Orchids of Cabañas San Isidro

by Angie Drake | May 29, 2015 | Ecuador, Northern Ecuador, orchids, The Amazon | 0 Comments

rchids can be tough to see in the wild, even near wildlife lodges like the Cabañas San Isidro. Large orchids love to grow high in the tree canopy, beyond the reach of even a pair of good binoculars. And some of the orchids that grow at eye...

Nature Guides Delivered To Your Hotel in Quito, Ecuador

by María Fernanda Salazar Vaca | August 31, 2019 | Ecuador, Quito, South America, Tips & Travel Hacks, Wildlife | 0 Comments

This is a guest post by author and biologist Fernanda Salazar Vaca. She sells handy field guides for Ecuadorian birds, plants, and animals and makes delivery easy to your hotel or home in Quito. Welcome to Mega-Diverse Ecuador! A country full of birds, orchids, bears,...

Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve

by Angie Drake | July 26, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, Lodges, Northern Ecuador, South America, The Andes, Wildlife | 5 Comments

The very first birding lodge we ever visited in Ecuador recently made the news in Quito. The Ministry of Environment recognized Richard Parsons and his beloved Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve and Lodge as being the very first private project to protect endangered...

Can You Identify These 20 Ecuadorian Hummingbirds?

by Angie Drake | July 4, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, Quiz, Wildlife | 0 Comments

Are you an avid hummingbird lover who can't get enough of Ecuador's diverse selection of hummers? Let's test your knowledge and see how much you know! Share This Hummingbird Quiz Looking for the link to share this...

Where to See Hummingbirds in Ecuador

by Angie Drake | July 3, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, South America, Tips & Travel Hacks, Wildlife | 0 Comments

Birdwatchers from around the world come to Ecuador in hopes of seeing as many as 132 species of hummingbirds! That's almost half of all hummingbird species in the entire world. This diversity makes this small Andean nation one of the best places in the world to check...

The Adorable El Oro Parakeet of Western Ecuador

by Angie Drake | June 14, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Coast, Wildlife | 0 Comments

On our recent trip through Southern Ecuador, we met lots of new birds! One of the cutest was the El Oro Parakeet ((Pyrrhura orcesi)), a small member of the parrot family (Psittacidae). Recognized as a species in the 1980s, these birds are fairly new to the birding...

The Best of Buenaventura

by Angie Drake | May 25, 2019 | Birds, Ecuador, orchids, South America, Southern Ecuador, The Coast, Wildlife | 2 Comments

In Search of the Perfect Guitar

by Angie Drake | June 21, 2019 | art and artisans, Cuenca, Culture, Ecuador, South America, Southern Ecuador | 0 Comments

A chance encounter with a guitar lover and fellow tourist in Cuenca led us to discover the Route of the Guitars, a little-known tourism route along the backroads of San Bartolome, Ecuador. While stringed instruments, including traditional guitars, requintos,...

Fiber Artists in Cuenca, Ecuador

by Angie Drake | December 21, 2018 | art and artisans, Central Ecuador, Cuenca, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

We just love walking the streets of Cuenca. Mainly because we are always finding something new around the corner. That's how we found the wonderful exhibit of handwork and embroidery hosted by the Centro de Bordados Cuenca. About the Centro de Bordados Cuenca Founded...

Ecuadorian Backroads: Sigchos

by Angie Drake | February 28, 2017 | Central Ecuador, Ecuador, Favorite Routes, South America, The Andes | 0 Comments

I love driving Ecuadorian backroads. Even when it means we tend to get a little lost or turned around. That's how we discovered Sigchos. We thought we would just be driving through on our way to the Quilotoa Crater. But what we looked like the main road...

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ARMCHAIR TRAVEL IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP TO PLANNING A TRIP

Ecuador

With over three-years experience traveling Ecuador, we’ve shared content from all four geographic regions: the Sierra, the Coast, the Amazon Basin, and the Galapagos. Incredibly, we keep returning for more.

Peru

As Machu Picchu attracts thousands of new visitors every year, lesser-known destinations hold opportunity for exciting adventures and less-crowded vacationing. If you have visited Peru in the last few months and would like to add to our growing list of posts, let us know!

Bolivia

With only one week in La Paz and Isla del Sol, we barely scratched the surface of Bolivia. This small South American nation is ready and waiting for increased tourism from their neighbors in the north.

Argentina

We lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for one year. If we learned anything, it’s that Argentina deserves time. Distances are grand and a single trip really can’t do it justice.

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If you want to explore our blog, most of our content is about Ecuador but we are expanding to include other Andean Nations!

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Plan Your Perfect Ecuador Trip

UNDERSTAND ALL THAT ECUADOR HAS TO OFFER

PLANNING YOUR VACATION IS PART OF THE FUN!

Festivals Are More Fun With A Local Guide

Traditional Foods Taste Better When You Eat With Locals

Learn The History You Never Learned In School

Hike Like A Local

Find Orchids Around Every Corner

Local Guides Know Where To Find The Best Birds

Find Artists and Artisans In Every Corner of Ecuador

Explore Backroads With The Best Guides

ARMCHAIR TRAVEL IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP TO PLANNING A TRIP

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