Ecuador and its 4 regions

Infos pratiques :
Most foreign tourists entering Ecuador do not need a visa for a stay of less than 90 days. However, check with the Ecuadorian Consulate in your country to confirm this.

Recommended vaccines:

Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A.

Amazon:

Ask your doctor about malaria prevention treatment if you plan to travel to the regions of Coca and Lago Agrio (Huaorani Reserve, Yasuní National Park, Cuyabeno Reserve).
For areas near the Andes mountains (Tena and Misahuallí), mosquito repellent spray and long-sleeved clothing will be sufficient.

Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness

Our itineraries are designed for a gradual ascent to higher altitudes. However, arrival in Ecuador usually takes place in Quito, which sits at an altitude of 2,800 meters (about 9,200 feet).

If you believe you may be prone to altitude sickness or have any heart problems, consult your doctor. A preventive treatment (Diamox) is available.

Please inform us as well — we can also arrange for your tour to start from the city of Guayaquil.

Transportation:

No matter your destination, you will easily find a means of transportation. Each city has a main bus terminal that gathers the numerous bus companies.

Comfortable buses connect the major cities; you can estimate travel time by calculating an average speed of 50 km/h (about 30 mph), as the roads are not always in the best condition.

Small, rustic buses connect villages and neighborhoods. To reach a place not served by buses, it is possible to rent a pickup truck with a driver, a car for the day (apply for an international driving permit in France), take a taxi, or hire a minibus with a driver for the day.

Between certain cities, it is also possible to travel by plane.

Ecuador
Climate

Marchés les plus importants

Tuesday Markets

Latacunga:

Many agricultural products can be found at the market in the streets of Latacunga.

Wednesday Markets

Traditional indigenous market on the main square of Pujilí, south of Quito, near Latacunga.

A market is also held every Wednesday in Otavalo, two hours north of the capital. Both markets also take place on weekends and are larger — Saturday in Otavalo and Sunday in Pujilí.

Thursday Markets

Indigenous market in Saquisilí, about 1.5 hours by car south of Quito. The animal market ends around 10 a.m. and is quite an impressive sight.

Tourist market on Plaza Rotary in Cuenca.

Traditional market on the main square of Guamote, south of Riobamba.

Saturday Markets

The Otavalo Market, one of the most important markets in Latin America.

Zumbahua, located two hours west of Latacunga and the Pan-American Highway in the Andes, is a very interesting and traditional market. Indigenous people come down from the mountains with pack llamas to sell and buy various products for the week.

Sunday Markets

Traditional market in Pujilí (10 km west of Latacunga).

Market in Peguche, north of Quito.

Traditional market of the Saraguro mountain people, one hour by car from Loja.

Market in Salasaca, on the main road south of Riobamba.

Indigenous market in Colta, 20 km south of Riobamba, held in the streets of Cajabamba and Sicalpa.

Alausí Fair, where you can witness the great social and ethnic diversity of the Chimborazo Province. You can see Andean Indigenous people wearing colorful ponchos and sheepskins to protect their legs from the cold, as well as people from the Montubio culture (from the coast) dressed in short-sleeved shirts and light trousers.

Calendar of Festivals and Traditions

Niño King of Kings

Every year, on January 6, in different cities across the country, the Day of the Three Wise Men is celebrated.

Fiesta de la Chonta
February 12
The Chonta Festival is a Shuar tradition that has spread to other provinces of the Amazon. The harvest of the chonta palm fruits begins in February and can extend until April, the period during which this special celebration takes place. Women prepare chicha de chonta through a meticulous process in which they select, peel, cook, and chew the fruits.
Carnaval
In Ecuador, the most representative carnivals are those of Guaranda and the “Festival of Flowers and Fruits” in Ambato.
The origin of the Ecuadorian Carnival is linked to the Indigenous celebration marking the end of the solar year.
There are also Carnival celebrations in other Andean cities such as Quito, Machachi, Riobamba, Loja, and in the province of Azuay, as well as in the Amazonian cities of Puyo and Macas.
The Festival of Flowers and Fruits is a celebration held every February 17 in the province of Tungurahua (Ambato), 40 days before Holy Week. This festival is considered one of the most beautiful celebrations in the country.
Inti Raymi
In the Andean region, during the week of June 24, the traditional Festival of the Sun, or Inti Raymi, is celebrated.
In the Andes, this festival is part of the agricultural calendar and celebrates the summer solstice — a time of harvest and thanksgiving to the Earth for the food provided.
With the establishment of the Spanish colony, the festival was overshadowed by Catholic celebrations such as Corpus Christi and St. John’s Day, leading to a fusion of the two traditions.
Fiesta del Yamor
The Yamor Festival is celebrated in Otavalo from September 1 to 8.
This celebration originates from two traditions: an agricultural ritual of thanksgiving for the harvest of seven varieties of corn used to make chicha de yamor, and the commemoration of the Virgin of Monserrate.
The celebration includes various activities such as music and dances, and it is experienced differently in urban and rural areas.
Mama Negra
In the city of Latacunga, the Mama Negra festival is celebrated.
It takes place between September 23 and 28 in honor of the Virgin of Las Mercedes, who is said to have appeared after the eruption of the Cotopaxi volcano in 1742. The celebration is an expression of gratitude to the Virgin of Las Mercedes for her protection.
During the procession, several characters take part, dressed in colorful costumes.

Day of the Dead
November 2

In Ecuador, this day is very important and is accompanied by a feast that often takes place in cemeteries near the graves of the deceased. Colada morada — a traditional drink made with black corn flour and fruits such as naranjilla, babaco, pineapple, blackberries, and strawberries — is always at the center of the celebration!
The day before, the graves are cleaned and painted, and ritual offerings are placed upon them.

Month of December: Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Christmas in Ecuador is a family and religious celebration — it is the most important holiday of the year.

As Ecuador is a very Catholic country, numerous nativity scenes are set up, and prayers are held every night starting from December 16.

El Paseo del Niño brings together more than 50,000 people in the center of Cuenca. It is the most important religious celebration of the year in Cuenca. Thousands of devotees take part in a pilgrimage following the figure of the “Traveling Child.”

The Day of the Innocents

This popular festival is celebrated from December 28 to January 6. For Christians, the Day of the Innocents originates from the massacre of all children under two years old born in Bethlehem.
Costumes and jokes are an essential part of these two weeks of celebration.

The “Old Year” is a puppet that represents the year that is ending.
Made with old clothes, cardboard, or paper, it is burned at midnight on December 31.
These puppets are made by families or displayed in neighborhoods.
Before being burned, a “will” is read, humorously recalling the events of the past year and offering advice for the coming one.