Localization
Our Committees Guayaquil
Cuenca
Quito Quevedo
Ambato
Our Country I t ’ s b o r d e r e d b y C o l o m b i a o n t h e north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Ecuador also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) west of the mainland. 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. Other Amerindian languages spoken in Ecuador include Awapit, A'ingae, Shuar Chicham, Achuar-‐Shiwiar, Cha'palaachi, Tsa'fiki, Paicoca, and Wao Tededeo. Though most features of Ecuadorian Spanish are those universal to the Spanish-‐speaking world, there are several idiosyncrasies.
Our Food Ecuadorian cuisine is diverse, varying with the alVtude and a s s o c i a t e d a g r i c u l t u r a l condiVons. Most regions in Ecuador follow the tradiVonal three course meal of soup, a course that includes rice and a protein, and then dessert and coffee to finish. 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 tradiVonal dishes of Guayaquil, as is fried plantain, which is oWen served with it. In the Amazon region, a dietary staple is the yuca, elsewhere called cassava. Many fruits are available in this region, including bananas, tree grapes, and peach palms.
Our Traditions As in most countries, many of the fesVvals and holidays celebrated in Ecuador are linked to seasons, religious observances, and cultural tradiVons. Here are ten of the most important events and fesVvals.
Easter Week – Quito/NaVonal Easter Week is a significant on Holy Friday noon, there is a Procession from the San Francisco’s Church, with people dressed as as “cucuruchos” and “Veronicas”
Our Traditions JUNE
Corpus Chris. – Pujili There are celebraVon features exoVc, richly symbolic costumes, and Danzantes del Sol (sun dancers).
In. 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 solsVce 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 Vme, the locals burn old clothing so bad luck itself can go up in smoke.
Our Traditions July -‐ September
Paseo del Chagra – Machachi Tourists with horse riding skills may parVcipate in Ecuador’s popular rodeo, a roundup and herding of Ganado Bravo, or “fighVng cadle,” from the 4000-‐meter high plateaus of Cotopaxi NaVonal Park. Among the challenges is locaVng the bulls and, of course, wearing down their resistance to be herded down to the haciendas and ranches in the valleys below. The nights can be quite chilly, so bring along several layers of clothing and a warm jacket. Read more about the annual Paseo del Chagra fesVval.
Virgen de El Cisne – El Cisne/Loja Perhaps Ecuador’s most remarkable display of religious devoVon. Known for its arduous pilgrimage and solemn adoraVon, the most famous of these celebraVons begins on August 16th in the small town of El Cisne in the southern province of Loja.
Fiesta del maíz – Sangolqui There is much to enjoy at this “fesVval of corn.” The two-‐ week harvest celebraVon features a parade with beauty queens, chagras (Andean cowboys), and volcano-‐themed floats. Musical acts abound, from folkloric singers to municipal marching band.
Weather 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 paderns of Ecuador vary greatly because it is such geographically diverse country and so many different things influence the weather. One generalizaVon is that the temperature is usually colder in the higher alVtudes, 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 Vmed for a summer trip. Ecuador has four different geographical regions and each region has a different environment and weather paderns. Generally speaking, however, Ecuador has two seasons: a wet season and a dry one. The Coast has an average temperature of 25°C 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 alVtude: the higher the alVtude, the colder it gets. The average temperature is 15°C. The Amazon Region is usually hot and humid. The average temperature here is 26°C. The Galapagos Islands have dry and warm pleasant weather. The average yearly temperature is 28°C.
Our Currency
Dollar
Reference of Prices
$5,5 $3,60 $ 3,5 $0.30 $1.20 $0.80
$3,50 $3,5
$1
Please don’t forget to bring your flag! And typical things from your country so we can do mulVcultural acVviVes 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!
MCVP ICX lorenia.huerta@aiesec.net