Life at itspurest

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Galá

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Snow covered mountains. Jungle. Sea. Islands. Cities.People. Thousands of varieties of species of flora andfauna. A magnificent nature getaway. Located on a

privileged geographical region of the planet (NorthwesternSouth America), with spectacular topography, Ecuador isdivided into two hemispheres by the Equator line. It isbordered by Colombia in the north, Peru in the south andthe east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It shelters 24provinces that make up four different worlds: the Amazonia,the Andes, the Pacific Coast, and the Galapagos Islands. It isconsidered to be among the top 17 countries in the worldwith the most biodiversity; but number 1 in density. It boasts40 state protected areas, nature reserves and vast forestswhere some 1 640 species of birds, 4 500 butterflies, 345amphibians and 258 mammals live, amongst others. Two ofits national parks, the Sangay and Galapagos National Parkswere declared World Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Its distinct landscapes have allowed the development ofsmall and big, as well as diverse and colorful cities. Quito,Ecuador’s capital is proof of a magnificent colonial past. Itboasts the largest historic center in Latin America. Likewise,Cuenca presents a Hispanic legacy with its churches,cobblestone streets and town squares. Both cities wereacknowledged as World Cultural Heritage Sites. Guayaquil,on the other hand, is a bustling city where around its harbor,century old fishing, trade, and export traditions meet state ofthe art urban planning and design. Guayaquil is a mix ofhistory and modern development. Guayaquil is the model ofurban regeneration of Latin America. Ecuador, anadventurer’s paradise, is a land of many cultures. In additionto its largely dominant mestizo population, 14 indigenousnationalities live together on its 256 370 square kilometers.The culture of the Záparo people in the Amazon region wasalso declared a “Masterpiece of the Oral and IntangibleHeritage of Humanity” by UNESCO. Delicate handicrafts,traditional celebrations and a delicious gastronomy aretestimony of the rich diversity of this country.

Life at itspurest

Cover:

Masked boobies, Galapagos Islands.

Los Frailes, Machalilla National Park.

Kapawi, province of Pastaza (Amazon region,).

Cotopaxi Volcano, Limpiopungo Lagoon.

Left, downwards:

A type of hummingbird on a heliconian.

Mask from La Tolita culture.

Member of the Zápara people. This nationality was declared World’s Oral

and Immaterial Heritage by UNESCO

Pacif

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Volcanoes more than fivethousand meters high towerabove the mythical Andes

mountain range, snow-coveredmountains and ancient ice glaciers.Cotopaxi, the tallest active volcano inthe world (5 897 meters above sea level),is a perfect setting for charming villagesand fertile valleys. Chimborazo (6 310meters above sea level) boasts fivesummits that rise over rock flanks and anexpansive Andean plateau. On the otherhand, Cayambe is the only snow-coveredmountain located on latitude 0°. TheNorthern Illinizas (5 116 meters abovesea level) and Southern Illinizas (5 305meters above sea level) are referred to asa couple, the male and femalemountains, by the indigenous people ofthe region. The imposing Antisana(5 704 meters above sea level) can beeasily recognized by its characteristicdouble peaks joined by a shallow ridge.

The Mindo-Nambillo forest is hometo one of the most important birdreserves in the world, where parrots,humming birds, baker birds, sparrowhawks and the famous “Andean Cocks ofthe Rock” thrive in this protectedenvironment. The Andes run throughthe middle of Ecuador like a longavenue, cutting through amazingplateaus, cloud and tropical forests, lushvalleys, picturesque villages, historicaltowns, turquoise-colored lagoons,waterfalls, lakes and rivers.

The avenue of thevolcanoes

Glacier at the snow-covered Chimborazo,

a challenge for mountain climbers.

Left: Cultural events in Quito´s downtown.

Right: Biking in the Andes.

Rising above the exuberantlycolorful and thick Amazonvegetation, the pointed summits

of the Sangay and Altar volcanoes can bespotted. Reserves and National Parks inthe Amazon region shelter more than600 species of fishes as well as tapirs,anacondas, boa constrictors, turtles,alligators, jaguars, deer, armadillos, bears,monkeys, giant rodents and an infinitenumber of birds. Ecuador shelters thegreatest diversity of plants and animalsper square kilometer in the world. Itholds third place in the world for itsvariety of amphibians and fifth place forits papilonidous butterflies. Tropicalhumid forests and immense lagoons haveshaped the rich fauna of Cuyabeno’sReserve, a privileged place where pinkdolphins and reptiles can be found inabundance. Black caiman thrive in theLimoncocha lagoon, located in theLimoncocha Biological Reserve. Anothernatural beauty is the Sumaco-NapoGaleras National Park which, togetherwith Yasuní, have been declaredBiosphere’s Reserve by UNESCO. Herevisitors can venture on a path that climbssix elevations before finally reaching theSumaco volcano. Above a plainsurrounded by mountains, the Papallactathermal springs hold legendary healingpowers. The jungle has been a “naturalpharmacy” for indigenous communitiesfor many centuries as they rely on itsmedicinal plants to cure their aches andpains. Ten percent of the world’s plantscan be found in this country.

The jungle, aprofound andgreen mystery

Wild cat.

Left: A type of orchid

Right: Cuyabeno’s Fauna Production Reserve.

From north to south, beautifulbeaches stretch along theEcuadorian Pacific coast.

Bordering harbors, fishing villages, andmodern cities, protected mangroveforests grow abundantly in this humidclimate. Spreading its gigantic terracottaroots, the tallest mangroves in the world(64 mts.) can be found in the Majagualforest, located in the Cayapas-MatajeEcological Reserve. At the NationalMachalilla Park, once home to pre-Columbian settlements, the sea,untouched beaches and forests tell storiesof ancient cultures. The Isla de la Plata isa paradise of colorful birds that can onlybe found here and on the GalapagosIslands. Between June and August,humpback whales arrive from Antarcticato mate. The greatest marine bird refugein Ecuador is on the Santa Clara Island,south of the coast. The soft sea breezecaresses the Route of the Sun, runningthrough deserted beaches, fishing villagesand attractive and modern resort townssuch as Salinas and Bahía de Caráquez, apicture-perfect ecological townsurrounded by tropical dry forests andarchaeological sites.

The coastline,green and

pristine beaches

Los Frailes, Machalilla National Park.

Left: Guayaquil’s promenade, Malecón 2000

Right: Sculpture from La Chorrera culture.

Galapagos is one of the mostimportant national parks onearth. It includes 13 major

islands, six minor islands, and dozens ofislets. Located about one thousandkilometers off the coast of Ecuador, it isfamous for its white sandy shores, cactusforests, giant turtle reserves and colorfulbirds that can be found only on theGalapagos Islands. In addition,bullfinches, frigates, albatross andpelicans can be seen fluttering around.The scientist Charles Darwin said it best:“they are unique”. The Archipelago is aliving laboratory for animal species thatcan’t be found elsewhere on the planet.Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, located onthe island of San Cristóbal, is the capitalof the Galapagos Islands. The islands’attraction include Lake El Junco, theSleeping Lion rock formation, LobosIsland and the Tijeretas Hill. The CharlesDarwin Scientific Station, located on theSanta Cruz Island, has been working onvarious environment protection projectsfor many decades. The Galapagos giantturtles, whose average lifespan isapproximately 150 years, also live onSanta Cruz Island. Floreana, Genovesa,Santiago, Española, Seymor Norte,Plazas, Santa Fé or Isabela serve as shelterfor many endemic species living on thisparadise. The Galapagos Islands and itsmarine reserve were declared a WorldNatural Heritage Site by UNESCO.They’re also recognized as one of the topplaces in the world for snorkeling andscuba diving. Here visitors share theocean with whales, giant rays, swordfish,hammerhead sharks, sea lions and more.

A living museum

Hammerhead sharks.

Left: Land iguana.

Right: Blue—footed boobie.

With outstanding Renaissancebeauty and Baroquearchitecture, Quito was the

first American city in the world to bedeclared a World Cultural Heritage Siteby UNESCO. Many of the church’s andconvent’s interiors are coated with goldleaf and shelter valuable works ofreligious art, made by indigenous andmestizo artists such as Pampite andSamaniego. The Escuela Quiteña isfamous around the world and wasestablished during Quito’s colonial era.In Quito, residents and visitors alike saythey can “Touch the Sky with theirHands” because of the city’sbreathtaking height, standing 2 830

meters above sea level.Temples and Museumssuch as San Francisco,San Agustín, LaCatedral, La Compañíaor Santo Domingo canbe discovered in the city’smagnificently preservedColonial Center. Thelargest in the Americas,the city’s colonial districttells a story far beyond itsarchitecture. AnotherUNESCO World

Cultural Heritage Site, Cuenca’s beautifulhistoric center boasts a unique type ofRepublican architecture that gracefullyblends with its picturesque surroundings.It is famous for its lively year-roundcultural activities as well as itsinternational art biennial exhibitionsand literary meetings. Other beautifulcities with an important past and well-preserved historic center are Riobambaand Loja. In ancient times, Ingapirca theTemple of the Sun, located near Cuenca,was used by the Cañari and IncaCultures for ceremonies and rituals. Anelliptic structure built with carved stonesis the most important archaeologicalcomplex in the country. The ruinsinclude a cemetery, solar observatories,paths and chambers for priests, amongstother mysterious corners.

The high altar of the church of “La Compañía”

coated in gold leaf

Left: The domes of Cuenca’s Cathedral.

Right: Ingapirca, the Temple of the Sun.

Herit

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14indigenous nationalities anddozens of settlements preservetheir diverse and ancestral

traditions, their clothing, spirituality,language and their own “cosmovision.”Their shamanic rituals are fascinating, asare the “limpias” (spiritual cleansings andphysical healings) and theircommunication with deities afterconsuming the ceremonial “ayahuasca”plant, which has hallucinatoryproperties. For centuries, natives havelived in the Amazon forest, taking care ofnature from which they obtain naturalhealing remedies for an infinite numberof illnesses. The deep knowledge of theAmazon jungle that the Záparo peoplehave manifests itself in their language,rites, their mythology and art, as well astheir traditional medicine. In the Andes,mythical characters and old traditions to

honor the sun andthe harvest are stillcelebrated. TheKichwas from theAndes are a verydeveloped group asare the Otavalos whoare known aroundthe world for theirindigenous markets;one of the mostimportant in theAmericas. Anotherstrong community is

the Saraguro people in SouthernEcuador. Besides, the people onCotacachi, an important ecological areathat has been recognized and awarded forits sustainable and environmentalfriendly actions. The sophistication ofhandycrafts from these and othercommunities can be seen in their textiles,leather and wooden works. In Sigsig andMontecristi, in the Coast, visitors canpurchase the famous straw hats known as“Panama Hats”, which were historicallymislabeled.

The Montecristi “superfino” straw hat.

Left: Afro-Ecuadorian fisherman in the province of

Esmeraldas.

Right: “Diablada de Pillaro”.

Festival in the Andes

A m

ulticu

ltura

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ntry

Just one step is enough to slide fromthe Northern hemisphere to theSouthern hemisphere. At Latitude0º, at the middle of the world,

shadows disappear in the presence of themidday sun. The first inhabitantscarefully followed the course of the stars.The Inca people where subdued by thisenergy center. It was so important tothem that they incorporated it as part oftheir empire. Charles-Marie de laCondamine, a French scientist, traveledto Ecuador in 1736 to measure the earthat the equator. Today, this is one of themost visited and important tourist,scientific and cultural centers in thecountry. Standing over the imaginaryequatorial line, the “Mitad del Mundo”monument is a sphere of the world builton top of a trunked pyramid. Lining themain road that leads to the monumentstand 13 statues representing the wisemen from the French Geodesic Missionwho participated in measuring theterrestrial Meridian arch. Because of itslocation, Ecuador’s weather is like aneternal springtime. The geographicdiversity that runs throughout thecountry creates a series of climates andmicro climates that experience slightvariations during the year.

Monument to the Middle of the World, balcony.

The M

iddl

e of t

he W

orld

, Lat

itude

0º

The constant warmth of the Suncan be seen on the smiles of some14 million mestizos, indigenous,

Afro-Ecuadorians and white people whocall Ecuador home. People in big citiesare hospitable and welcoming to visitors.Some indigenous communities opentheir homes to travelers in order to sharetheir customs, their way of life and beliefsystem also known as “cosmovision.”Various community tourism projectshave recently been developed in differentareas of the country, although most are inthe Amazon region. Visitors will comeaway with a much deeper understandingand appreciation for people’s historywhen told by a native’s perspective. Oldcolonial “haciendas,” located near lakesand ponds, still preserve the atmospherefrom long ago, offering the charmingdiscovery of mestizo roots. A strollthrough flower, cacao, coffee, bananaand sugar cane plantations with a visit toa shrimp farm will send visitors on agastronomic journey that will heightentheir sense of smell, taste and sight.

The Ecuadorians ethnic diversity has a common

trait: kindness.

Indigenous men and women, mestizos and Afro-

Ecuadorians shape the nearly 14 million

inhabitants of Ecuador.

Member of the Cofán people.

Ecua

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ns, fu

ll of w

arm

th an

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Ecuador’s strategic location is ideal for visitors,investors and twenty-first century entrepreneurs whowant to do business in the country. From the middle

of the world, Ecuador opens its doors to commercial andcultural exchange. Conventions, fairs and internationalcongresses frequently take place in Quito’s Baroque stylehistoric center, Guayaquil’s modern design infrastructureand state of the art technology and Cuenca’s magical

surroundings. Guayaquil is known for its superiorshopping, outdoor sports, especially water sports, tropicalnature, nightlife and coastal gastronomy. Quito also offersexcellent modern shopping malls, art galleries, museums,theaters, handicrafts, and popular markets. Although highlydifferent in style, both of these cines are consideredexcellent gastronomy destinations.

Business et leisure

Above: 360º Independence Square,

Quito.

Beneath: 360º Rotonda,

Guayaquil’s promenade.

From left to right:

View from Quito’s Cathedral.

Land iguana.

Las Peñas neighborhood,

Guayaquil.

Frigate, Galapagos Islands.

Humpback whale seen from the

mainland.

Southern beaches in the province of

Esmeraldas.

Back cover:

View of volcano Sangay’s eruption,

seen from the Amazon Region.

Everything in Ecuador can befound within arm’s reach. Whenvisiting Ecuador many regions

found around the planet can be seen injust one trip. A short thirty-minutedrive from Quito will bring visitors tothe midst of the highlands and cloudforest from where one can descend tothe jungle. A short thirty-minute flightfrom Quito will take visitors to endlesscoastal white sands and pristinebeaches. In under a 90 minute flight,visitors will reach the enchantedGalapagos Islands, a living scientificparadise. Soft to hard core adventuresports abound, ranging from hikingand biking to ice climbing and scuba

diving. So compact is Ecuador that onecan reach the Amazon from the Pacificon a mountain bike, crossing waterfallsand stopping to climb the majesticeterna1 snow-covered Andes. Raftingand kayaking in the torrential rivers ofthe Amazon region pumps visitors’adrenaline on a daily basis. Deep seaand river fishing, paragliding fromPichincha Mountain, diving in theGalapagos or simply traveling throughthe immense national parks located aclose distance from picturesque villagesand bustling cities is a thrill. These arejust some of the highlights of Ecuador’sfour worlds and spectacular travelofferings.

“Four worlds in the palm of your hand”

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Text edition: Pedro Artieda S.

Design: AzucaPress: Grupo Impresor

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