Organizing Committee
Valentina Duran ViceChair
Antonio Stacey Venue Accomodation
Mishell Cabezas Finances
Cody Bello PreRM
Juan Pablo Carrion Social Program
Michelle Sanchez Registration
Pedro Torres Logistics
Jose Maria Eljuri PostRM
Javier Oscullo Chair
Gerardo Aguilar Marketing and Publications
About Ecuador Ecuador officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a representative democratic republic in northwestern South America. Ecuador also includes the Galรกpagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) west of the mainland. The capital city is Quito, while the largest city is Guayaquil.
Ecuador was home of a variety of Amerindian groups that were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was colonized by Spain during the 16th century, achieving independence in 1820 as part of The Great Colombia, from which it emerged as its own sovereign state in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in Ecuador's ethnically diverse population, with most of its 16.4 million people being mestizos, followed by large minorities of European, Amerindian, and afro descendants. Spanish is the official language and is spoken by a majority of the population, though 13 Amerindian languages are also recognized, including Quichua and Shuar.
About Ecuador
Ecuador is a middle-income country, with a developing economy that is highly dependent on petroleum and agricultural products. It is governed as a democratic presidential republic. One of 17 megadiverse countries in the world, Ecuador hosts many endemic plants and animals, such as those of the Galรกpagos Islands. In recognition of its unique ecological heritage, the new constitution of 2008 is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable Rights of Nature, or ecosystem rights. Ecuador is a country with vast natural and cultural wealth. The diversity of its four regions has resulted in hundreds of thousands of species of flora and fauna. It has about 1640 species of birds. The species of butterflies line the 4,500, the 345 reptiles, 358 amphibians and 258 mammals, among others. Ecuador is considered one of the 17 countries where the greatest biodiversity of the planet is concentrated.
About Ecuador Ecuador is crossed from north to south by a volcanic section of 70 andean volcanoes, being the higher one “El Chimborazo”, with 6310 m. West of the Andes is the Gulf of Guayaquil and a wooded plain; at east, the Amazon. It is the country with the highest concentration of rivers per square kilometer in the world. The Ecuadorian territory, includes the Galápagos Islands 1000 km west of the coast, lies the densest biodiversity in the planet.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Travel information Information about airports Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport Located: Tababela 25 Km from the capital city center Manta Eloy Alfaro International Airport Located: Jaramijรณ 2.5 Km to east of Manta city
International airlines flying to Ecuador Avianca Copa Airlines Tame American Airlines KLM JetBlue Airways Air Europa Delta Air Lines Iberia Latam United Airlines Aeromexico Spirit Airlines
Travel information Requirements to visit Ecuador Identification card or National Identification Document Health insurance* The following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru
Valid passport (6 months of validity) Identification card or DNI Health insurance* The following countries: Mexico, HaitĂ**, Costa Rica, Honduras, Members of Europe Union and United States
Visa Valid passport (6 months of validity) Identification card or DNI Health insurance* The following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopa, Kenia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Senegal
Travel Information Please check it: *Health insurance that will cover any health issues during their visit to Ecuador and it is mandatory requirement. If you need more information about health insurance and to access a special discount please contact with us. Member countries of CAN and MERCOSUR: You can enter only with National Identification Document. **Haitian citizens enter to the country need the tourist validation code, which is granted by the Human Mobility Authority. The term of stay is 90 days counted from its first entry into Ecuadorian territory, extendable for ninety days prior to the payment of one third of the unified basic salary ($386) In the case of South American citizens, the period of stay in the country is 180 days.
Delegates please double check the requirements at the national embassies (specially for those members that can possibly come from outside the Americas)
Currency Exchange 1 USD - EURO : 0,87 1 USD - ARGENTINIAN PESO: 27,55 1 USD - CHILEAN PESO: 671 1 USD - COLOMBIAN PESO: 3010 1 USD - URUGUAYAN PESO: 31,46 1 USD - MEXICAN PESO: 18.92 1 USD - GUARANÍES: 5762 1 USD - SOL: 3,31 1 USD - BRAZILIAN REAL: 3,96
Average prices 1 BIG MAC COMBO: USD 6,50 1 BOLÓN (banana with cheese, pork or both): USD 1,50 - 3,00 1 CEVICHE: USD 5,00 - 8,00 1 APPLE: USD 0,25 1 WATER BOTTLE (1lt): USD 0,60 1 NATIONAL BEER (1lt): USD 1,75
Important Facts Drink alcohol on public roads is prohibited: It can only be done in private establishments or at home. Clubs close at 2am: The party in the clubs ends at 2am, but do not be discouraged we also have afters here. Alcohol is not sold on Sundays: Is a law of the Ecuadorian constitution. Smoke free places: You only be able to smoke on outdoors or designated areas Electricity plugs: In Ecuador, the common voltage is 120 V. The frequency is 60 Hz. The plugs and sockets are of type A / B.
Climate: The weather of Ecuador varies by region, due to differences in elevation and, to a degree, in proximity to the equator. In Manta, the wet season is overcast, the dry season is windy and partly cloudy, and it is warm and oppressive year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 70°F to 83°F (21 - 28 °C) and is rarely below 68°F or above 86°F (20 - 30 °C) The weather in Quito is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The city has barely any cool air since it is close to the equator. The average temperature during the day is 70 °F (21 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C). There are only really two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season (winter) runs from June to September and the wet season (summer) is from October to May.
9 1 0 2 M R e Pr a t n a M JANUARY 2ND-5TH
About Manta Its official name is San Pablo de Manta, it is located in the Manabí province and it is settled in a splendid bay, which gives it the status of international port in the Pacific Ocean coast. It is said that Manta was founded in 1534 by Francisco Pacheco, and in 1563 by the president of the Real Audiencia de Quito, Hernando de Santillán who ordered that it be founded with the name San Pablo de Manta. The city was the port chosen by Charles Marie de la Condamine when he arrived to Ecuador leading the French geodesic mission, with the purpose of measuring the accuracy of the location of the equinoctial line in 1735. Manta, cradle of natural and gastronomic enchantments. It starts in the Los Esteros beach passing through its shipyard in the seashore; after that we continue through Tarqui beach, where the Parque del Marisco (Shellfish Park) may be observed, it continues to El Murcielago beach. (Bat Beach), where a tourist may find enjoy great cuisine. In the city a person may visit museums, malls and amusement centers. The route continues towards the center of Barbasquillo, San mateo and Santa Marianita beaches, well-recognized for being ideal to practice kite surf, the Pacoche forest where we can find a large number of howler monkeys, San Lorenzo beach and Santa Rosa Beach. as the waves surge up river estuaries from the ocean. Waves erode coastline as they break on shore releasing their energy; the larger the wave the more energy it releases and the more sediment it moves. Coastlines with longer shores have more room for the waves to disperse. The Ecuadorian ceviche is unique in Manta because of the excellent quality of the seafood from our seas and the flavor from the people of Manabi, transmitted from generations. An excellent place to enjoy a delicious shrimp ceviche is Manta, one of the favorite destinations of national and international tourists. It’s prepared with shrimp, lemon juice, orange juice, ketchup, coriander, pepper, white wine and red onion. You can accompany it with banana chips, ‘tostado’ or popcorn.
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BALANDRA HOTEL MANTA Cataloged the most awarded hotel in the city because they provide excellent services. For decades it has became an icon of the manabitas (people of the province of Manabí) for having a unique style in the city, with two spaces, integrated by 26 traditional cabins, surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens and two new towers with 31 new luxurious and spacious rooms with views of the sea and the garden. It has several facilities, such as a gym, sauna, swimming pool, parking, a beautiful area for children outdoors and, its tunnel of love. The excellence in the service distinguishes its Restaurant - Bar "El Faro", recognized for its exquisite national and international cuisine. Tourists and businessmen prefer it for their social events and business meetings, to distinguish themselves in their personalized attention, the comfort of their rooms and the care of the smallest detail in their celebrations.
ADDRESS Avenue 7th and Street 20th, next to the Mall del Pacífico, 200 meters from Playa el Murciélago - Manta.
Manabí cultural dinner, with the flavors of Manabí and presentation of Grupo Spondylus - Cultural and Art Society of Universidad Laica “Eloy Alfaro” de Manabí.
In the Camarote room, we will have the artistic presentation of Derick Dos Santos and Tito Macías of Grupo Kbana, which represent Ecuadorian folklore. Rest of the night we will have crossover music
Reservation at Discoteca On Club in Manta.
9 1 0 2 M R o t i u Q JANUARY 6TH-11TH
About Quito Quito, also called “La Carita de Dios”, is located in the middle of the world. It is the capital city of Ecuador that hides charm and warmth on each of its emblematic streets, such as: “La Amazonas”, “La Shyris”, or “La Coruña”. This city was founded in 1534 and was stablished like one of the most important cities of South America. Quito is a very irresistible city that mixes modern and colonial architecture and gives it a touch of hidden mysticism. It’s surrounded by mountains and also is located in the eastern slopes of the Pichincha volcano. The historic center of Quito is one of the largest and bestpreserved historic centers in America, and gives all the visitants kilometers of enjoyable historical wealth. Quito is separated by its historic center by two sides, the South and North, each place is very comfortable to visit. In the South, there are exciting places to visit like shopping malls and museums. And the North comes with more spaces for doing exercises and have fun, like parks, and pubs. The suggested route can begin in the Patria Avenue, over there you can visit the museum “Casa de la Cultura”. It offers cultural events with diverse schedules and also has many permanent art expositions. Our hotel is very comfortable related with its location, you can go to main places in only minutes and also by foot. You can get to the “Plaza Foch” only in 10 min by foot and get fun all night. We also strongly recommend to visit the historic center, there are many things to do. You will get amazed with all the different styles of church that it has, like “La Compañia” and “La Basilica”, or you can discover the legend of the “San Francisco” church. There are many museums, like “El Museo de la Ciudad” or the wax museum. The average of their costs is five dollars. This space is not enough to name all the things that you can do in this marvelous city. We are going to have people with more information, if you want to have fun all time. Visit the middle of the world. In only 1 hour from Quito, you can get amazed with the monument of the middle of the world, eat our gastronomy and feel the mysticism of this part of the planet. .
HILTON COLON QUITO It is a marvelous hotel conveniently located in the heart of the Ecuadorian capital. It’s a leading hotel in Quito, is the ideal destination for vacations in our country. The hotel offers the services you need, the amenities you expect, and the extras you deserve. as many rooms available, all with an incredible view of the city. The rooms will have all the implementation needed during the sessions. Also the hotel has some more features, like pool and gym that you can enjoy. Restaurant "Café Colon" Café Colon Restaurant is a first-class dining experience. Opened in 1968, the restaurant has garnered a reputation for its exemplary Ecuadorian cuisine and is popular with locals of all generations, many who come for the famous traditional Ecuadorian ceviche alone. The restaurant offers a buffet available at breakfast and lunch, and a menu throughout the day, also serves international classics, including charcuterie and grilled dishes.
ADDRESS Avenue Amazonas River and Patria’s Avenue, next to the Ejido’s Park.
The opening ceremony will be held in the main saloon and when it finished, prepared for a great party in the same room for the first day in Hilton Colon Hotel
You will get to know representative places of Quito while you dance and drink a hot “canelazo” in our traditional Chivas Rumberas
It is a tradition of IFMSA, where each NMO exposes drinks, food and traditional things to other NMOs. Not to be missed!
Quito's nightlife has many contrasts; wide-ranging forms are present in this city at night. One of these forms is the “farra” (spree and party), activity in which Quito inhabitants and foreigners converge, especially in an area, the heart of fun and festivity, Plaza Foch.We will dance and share with many cultures in a bar of this area.
La Ronda is another legendary and famous sector of Quito. This neighborhood is legendary because it was the preferred area of bohemians and artists of the early and mid twentieth century. Manufacturers of decorative candles, sobadores, healers( curanderos), musicians, can be found in La Ronda street, along with delicious canelazos ( traditional liquor) with delicious “empanadas de viento” (kind of pasty).
POST RM
We offer to our distinguished participants two options to choose. ·
“Baños de Agua Santa”: A city with a special charm. Do extreme sports, get amazed with the surrounding nature, “farrea” in a “chiva” while you visit all the important street of this city. 1. First Option: Quito - Baños Value: USD 100 Duration: 3 days and 2 nights Includes: Transportation to cascades. Doing “canopy” and the entrance of “La Casa del Arbol”. Also include, transportation, alimentation, lodging, a “Chiva’s” tour and discotheque.
POST RM
Cuenca, “El Atenas del Ecuador”, is known by all ecuadorians like one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador. Visit it and get amazed with all its history and enjoyable people. 2. Second Option: Quito-Baños-Cuenca: Value: USD 150 Duration: 4 days and 3 nights Includes: All first option package with one more night in Cuenca. Tour in a bus of two floor bus visiting all cathedrals. All Tour includes transportation, lodging and alimentation.
Green Event - Carbon footprint recovery: Reforestation will be done after calculating the total amount of the event. It will be done at Universidad Internacional del Ecuador. - Minister of Environment Support: National trees will be provided, carbon footprint calculation done with their help, and also advices and resources like: Waste management trashes and eco friendly material. - Sessions Resources: Recycled paper, sticky notes and boards, reusable, also restriction on using plastic material or balloons.
Green Event - NFDP & Exchange Fair: Control and Advisory regarding materials. Contest to find the most sustainable NMO. - Vegetarian Food, will be the default option,but you can pick meat if you want. Also, national products will be used. Halal, Kosher, Gluten-free, Vegan, and more, also Available. - NO Plastic will be welcome, ceramic dishes and glasses will be provided. And much more!
FEES Pre-RM USD 150 RM early fee USD 250 RM late fee USD 300
Important Dates Pre- Regional Meeting: January 2nd - 5th - Manta, Ecuador Regional Meeting: January 6th - 11th - Quito, Ecuador Payments, Cancellations and Substitutions (Bank information will be included in the invoices) PRE RM Registration: October 1st - 31th RM Early Registration: September 1st - 30th RM Late Registration: October 1st - 31th Cancellations: Full Refund: November 1st - 30th 50% Refund: December 1st - 10th Substitutions (any regardless the gender): November 18th - December 15th
A country full of brave men and beautifull women
Wonders of Ecuador
Galapagos Island The Galapagos Islands form the most diverse and complex Archipelago in the world, in which the conditions remain relatively untouched. It is one of the most fascinating places in the world to carry out snorkeling and scuba-diving. It has been declared one of the seven underwater wonders of the world by CEDAM and Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine in its January 2000 edition which places it as the number one diving destiny in the world. Its waters offer the opportunity to observe its flora and fauna, coral reefs, whales, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, mantas, manta rays, turtles, iguanas, hundreds of different species of fishes and many others which would make the list endless. One of the most fun experiences is to dive or swim with the playful sea lions, which seem to have more fun with our presence in the water.
Wonders of Ecuador Capital City TelefériQo For spectacular views over Quito’s mountainous landscape, hop aboard this sky tram that takes passengers on a 2.5km ride (10 minutes) up the flanks of Volcán Pichincha to the top of Cruz Loma. Once you’re at the top (a mere 4100m), you can hike to the summit of Rucu Pichincha (4680m), a 4km (five-hour) round-trip – you should ask about the safety situation before attempting the climb, and bring warm clothes. You'll need to start walking before 11am.
Plaza Grande While wandering around colonial Quito, you'll probably pass through the Plaza Grande several times. Its benches are great for soaking up the Andean morning sun and watching the bustle all around. On Monday, the changing of the guards takes place on the plaza at 11am. The white building on the plaza’s northwest side with the national flag flying atop is the Palacio de Gobierno, the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. On the southwest side stands Quito’s cathedral.
Wonders of Ecuador
Palacio de Gobierno The low white building on the northwestern side of Plaza Grande is the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. Visitors can enter by joining a free guided tour in Spanish and English which leave every 20 minutes; bring photo ID to the ticket office on Espejo to reserve a space. The President lives and works here, so sightseeing is limited to rooms that are not in use.
El Panecillo Topped by a 41m tall aluminum mosaic statue of La Virgen de Quito (Virgin of Quito; completed in 1976), with a crown of stars, angelic wings and a chained dragon, the hill to the south of Old Town called El Panecillo (the Little Loaf of Bread) is a major Quito landmark. From the summit there are marvelous views of the sprawling city and the surrounding volcanoes. Climb steps up to the base of the Virgin statue for an even loftier outlook.
Wonders of Ecuador Museo de la Ciudad This first-rate museum depicts daily life in Quito through the centuries, with displays including dioramas, model indigenous homes and colonial kitchens. The 1563 building itself (a former hospital) is a work of art. There are also a number of temporary exhibitions. Free entry on the last Sunday of the month.
Azuca Beach Everyone from students to professionals heads to this buzzing place overlooking Plaza Foch. Dishes from coastal regions throughout South America, including ceviches, are among the hits. Tropical cocktails (try the fruit-flavored mojitos and caipirinhas), a bamboo-trimmed bar and potted palms add to the lounge-like space, which becomes a popular drinking spot at night. Live music Wednesday and Saturday from 9pm.
THE MOST FAMOUS DISHES Llapingachos are one of Ecuador’s most famous dishes.They are fried potato omelettes stuffed with cheese, cooked on a hot griddle until crispy and commonly served with a fried egg, avocado, meat and peanut sauce. They originated from the highlands but their popularity spread throughout the country, making them the national dish Encebollado It is served with boiled cassava and pickled red onion rings. A dressing of onion is prepared with fresh tomato and spices such as pepper or coriander leaves. It is commonly prepared with albacore, but tuna, billfish, or bonito may also be used. It may be served with ripe avocado. Fanesca It is typically prepared and served only in the week before Easter (Holy Week). It is a rich soup, with the primary ingredients being figleaf gourd (sambo), pumpkin (zapallo), and twelve different kinds of beans and grains including chochos (lupines), habas (fava beans), lentils, peas, corn and others, together with bacalao (salt cod) cooked in milk, due to the Catholic religious prohibition against red meat during Holy Week.
Ceviche It is a seafood dish typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ajĂ, chili peppers or other seasonings including chopped onions, salt, and cilantro.
DON´T BE A "GRINGUITO" LEARN
ECUADORIAN SLANG ECUADORIAN SLANG IS A UNIQUE BLEND OF SPANISH, KICHWA (THE NATION’S INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE) AND FOREIGN LOAN WORDS. NOT TO MENTION, THE SLANG IS AS DIVERSE AS THE NATION ITSELF. YOU’VE GOT THE COAST, THE MOUNTAINS AND THE JUNGLE, ALL OF WHICH HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE VARIATIONS ON SPANISH AND KICHWA.
THE VARIATIONS ARE STRIKING, SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN AFTER SPENDING THREE MONTHS IN QUITO AND CHATTING CONSTANTLY WITH YOUR NEW QUITEÑO BUDDIES, THE SPANISH SPOKEN ON THE COAST OR IN THE JUNGLE CAN TOTALLY THROW YOU FOR A LOOP.
Canelazo: traditional drink based on a fruit called naranjilla, liquor of cane and other species that are put to heat to calm the cold of our bodies. ¡Chuta!: Shoot! If you’re feeling especially frustrated, try elongating the u and saying chuuuuuta or chuuuu. It’s pretty satisfying, right? ¡De una!: Absolutely! ¡Simón!: Look sharp! Or Yes! Achachay: a cold thing or weather Agarrar: kiss someone at a party or event Alaja: when something or someone is cute Amarrarse: have a relationship with someone Arraray: a hot thing or weather Atatay: when something or someone is disgusting Bacilar: it depends on the context, it can be the same as Agarrar or make a joke to someone Biela: beer Chevere: something cool Chulla vida: our version YOLO Chumar: To drink Chumado: drunk Chuchaqui: hangover De ley: of course Farrear: To go to a party Full: a lot, very, too much Guagua: child Huevón: Jerk, a**hole. Commonly used between male buddies when joking around. Me cachas: do you understand me? Ñaño: brother or a really close friend -azo: Alright, this one isn’t a word so much as a suffix. Adding it to the end of a word expresses that the thing in question is large. Some examples of its usage are buenazo (awesome) instead of bueno, or ricazo (delicious) instead of rico. -fff (suffix): Using the fff sound at the end of almost any word; e.g.: Quitofff, nofff, sífff(the fff is the Quiteño way to make emphasis)