Ecuador
Introduction. Ecuador is a very small and not well-known country, although it is increasingly becoming a tourist destination for cultural heritage and nature lovers. Divided by the equator and the Andean Mountains range, Ecuador is located in the northwest coast of the Pacific Ocean in South America. It is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world. Its size is equal to that of Colorado State in the United States or Ireland in the United Kingdom; however, its size belies the enormous variety of life and cultural traditions that one can find there. The diversity of fauna, flora, geography and culture of Ecuador is unmatched. Ecuador has four UNESCO-designated Cultural and Natural Heritage sites: the cities of Quito and Cuenca and the Sangay and Galapagos National parks. It has mountains, rivers, jungles, hot springs, waterfalls, beaches, and islands, all easily accessible from Quito, the capital, in a short period of time.
Reserves and Parks. And that is not all. It has two biosphere reserves-- the National Park Yasuní and the Sumaco Reserve which are true paradises, and 10 national parks, 16 natural sanctuaries, 5 wild-life sanctuaries and 2 recreational areas (El Cajas y El Boliche). All these natural wonders together harbor more than 50 different ecosystems with the greatest variety of flora and fauna per square kilometer in the world.
Animal Species. Ecuador has 1,618 species of birds, almost twice the number found in all of the United States and about the same as in Brazil, a country 32 times larger. Scientists have identified 831 species of birds in a one-degree (60 square miles) in the Cayambe-Coca region (northeast of Quito), and experts argue that more will be found in the future. Almost 20% of the country (46,000 square kilometers) has been designated as protected areas.
Plants Species. Ecuador is equally well-endowed when it comes to vegetation. It is estimated that more than 10% of the known species of plants can be found in Ecuador, although its territory is only 2% of the earth’s surface. Ecuador grows more than 25,000 native vascular species, more than in all of North America (17,000). At least 25% are endemic species and it has about 4,200 known species of orchids, more than any other country.
Rivers, Mountains and Volcanos. Ecuador’s is also blessed with a wonderful geography. The concentration of rivers per square kilometer is the highest in the world. This allows it to host white-water rafting competitions that are becoming increasingly well-known It has 55 volcanoes, Its snow-covered mountains feed the waters of the Amazons River. One of them,Cotopaxi (17,000 feet high is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Because of its beautiful conic shape, similar to Fuji Mountain in Japan, (albeit 2,120 meters higher), it is the most climbed mountain in the world after Mount Blanc in France and the Kilimanajaro in Tanzania. Other volcanoes and mountains of Ecuador are favorites of mountain climbers. The Cayambe volcano (5,790 meters) is the only place in the world where the temperature and the latitude can reach cero degrees. But the highest and most impressive of all is Chimborazo volcano (19,000 feet); its highest summit is the most extreme point from the center of earth
People. Most importantly, Ecuador is the home of 13 indigenous ethnic nationalities with their own cultural and linguistic identity. Each group speaks its own language in addition to Spanish. They are the Hachis (cayapas) and Tsáchilas (colorados) in the Coast, the Andean Kichwas in the Highlands and the Cofanes, Huaoranis, Signas, Secoyas, Záparos, Shuar, Achuar and Kichwas in the Amazon. The millenarian knowledge of these indigenous nationalities combined with the colonial mestizo (mixed)heritage and the traditions of the afro-Ecuadorian people, offer a rich variety of customs, languages,music, rituals, handcrafts, food and world views that can be experienced and enjoyed through the country.
In brief, Ecuador offers a wide variety of experiences, landscapes, and adventures. With its untouched beaches, unexplored forests, active volcanoes, snow-covered mountains, gorgeous lakes, rich and colorful cultural traditions, colonial cities and modern metropolis, Ecuador has it all. It is a magical place that you cannot miss. You must enjoy it now; it is once in lifetime experience.
About Quito
History. It was founded in 1534 and became an important Spanish city. It left a very rich architectonic and cultural legacy, which you can appreciate now in Old Quito, the biggest and best conserved colonial space in Latin America, declared World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO (1978).
Geography and weather. The city is located in the Andes at 2800 meters above sea level, and is surrounded by three beautiful valleys and tenths of mountains. It has spring weather almost all year around.
Art and Culture. Quito has a very rich architecture shown in tenths of churches and many paints, sculptures and carvings. The Escuela Quiteña, a cultural movement developed in Quito, combined the Renascent and Baroque European styles with the indigenous and mestizo influences. Even though the predominant style is the Baroque, the city also has true architectonic jewels from the neoclassic and Romantic period.
Tourism. Important international tour operators have included Quito in their programs for 2008, as a must. Such is the case of Frommers, the most important tourism authority in the world. Also the New York Times has placed Ecuador in 15th place among its 53 trip destinies in 2008. Recently, journalists from two big Television Stations in the United States as NBC and CBS, went to different places in Ecuador and were astonished. Also National Geographic Travel has included our country among their destinies. The tourist magazine JaxFax of Connecticut published an extended article about Ecuador with a special mention about Quito, naming it as “Florence of Latin America”.
See more information in www.vivecuador.com