Most Ecuadorians speak Spanish, though many speak Amerindian language, such as Kichwa (also known as Quichua), which is one of the Quechuan languages and is spoken by approximately 2.5 million people in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.
In the highland region, pork, chicken, beef, and cuy (guinea pig) are popular and are served with a variety of grains or potatoes. In the coastal region, seafood is very popular, with fish, shrimp, and ceviche being key parts of the diet. Generally, ceviches are served with fried plantain, popcorn, or tostado. Plantain- and peanut-based dishes are the basis of most coastal meals. Churrasco is a staple food of the coastal region, especially Guayaquil. Arroz con menestra y carne asada is one of the traditional dishes of Guayaquil, as is fried plantain, which is often served with it.
Paseo del Chagra – Machachi
Tourists with horse riding skills may participate in Ecuador’s popular rodeo, a roundup and herding of Ganado Bravo, or “fighting cattle,” from the 4000-meter high plateaus of Cotopaxi National Park. Among the challenges is locating the bulls and, of course, wearing down their resistance to be herded down to the haciendas and ranches in the valleys below.
Virgen de El Cisne – El Cisne/Loja Perhaps Ecuador’s most remarkable display of religious devotion. Known for its arduous pilgrimage and solemn adoration, the most famous of these celebrations begins on August 16th in the small town of El Cisne in the southern province of Loja.
Corpus Christi – Pujili There are celebration features exotic, richly symbolic costumes, and Danzantes del Sol (sun dancers).
Inti Raymi: Otavalo, Cotacachi, Ingapirca and Ibarra The “party of the sun and harvest” is one of the most purely ancestral events in Ecuador. The locals seek out rivers, springs and cascades when the summer solstice arrives on June 21st for a physical and spiritual cleansing.
San Pedro y San Pablo : Otavalo, Cayambe, and Cotacachi Women eager to become mothers leap over bonfires for good luck, while at the same time, the locals burn old clothing so bad luck itself can go up in smoke.
Fiesta del maíz – Sangolqui There is much to enjoy at this “festival of corn.” The two-week harvest celebration features a parade with beauty queens, chagras (Andean cowboys), and volcano-themed floats. Musical acts abound, from folkloric singers to municipal marching band.
It is extremely difficult to predict Ecuador's weather. In fact, it's not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day. The weather patterns of Ecuador vary greatly because it is such geographically diverse country and so many different things influence the weather. One generalization is that the temperature is usually colder in the higher altitudes, and warmer along the coast and in Galapagos. In Ecuador seasons are defined more by rainfall than by temperature. A warm rainy season lasts from January to April, and May through December is characterized by a cooler, drier period that is ideally timed for a summer trip. Ecuador has four different geographical regions and each region has a different environment and weather patterns. Generally speaking, however, Ecuador has two seasons: a wet season and a dry one. The Coast has an average temperature of 25째C and the period from December to May (winter) is hot and humid. The rest of the year is warm and pleasant. The Andes climate varies according to the altitude: the higher the altitude, the colder it gets. The average temperature is 15째C. The Amazon Region is usually hot and humid. The average temperature here is 26째C. The Galapagos Islands have dry and warm pleasant weather. The average yearly temperature is 28째C.
Please don’t forget to bring your flag! And typical things from your country so we can do multicultural activities with you! Also, don’t forget to bring an unlocked cell-phone because we’ll give you a chip so you can have an Ecuadorian phone number!