Things to do in Ecuador
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Reserva Producción Faunística Cuyabeno
This beautiful reserve is a unique flooded rainforest covering 6034 sq km around Río Cuyabeno. Seasonally inundated with water, the flooded forest provides a home to diverse aquatic species and birdlife. Macrolobium and ceiba treetops thrust out from the underwater forest, creating a stunning visual effect. The blackwater rivers, rich in tannins from decomposing foliage, form a maze of waterways that feed the lagoons.
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A
La Rotonda
La Rotonda is one of Guayaquil's more impressive monuments, particularly when illuminated at night. Flanked by small mountains, it depicts the historic but enigmatic meeting between Bolívar and San Martín that took place here in 1822. Few people realize that the curved wall behind the statue acts as an acoustic reflector - if two people stand at either end, a whisper into the wall will be carried along to the other person.
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Street Stalls
If you're in the mood to stroll for your supper, consider the following options. In Tarqui, seafood comedores line the east end of the beach along Malecón de Tarqui. Behind them are several restaurants. Playa Murciélago has numerous cafés, front and center to enjoy beach action from beach-volleyball to beauty contests. The Hotel Oro Verde complex includes an American-style delicatessen and sushi restaurant.
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Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil
About a half-hour drive north of town near Cerro Colorado, this botanical garden has more than 80 orchid varieties and nearly 700 plant species. Paths and trails lead you past the plant exhibits and tropical birds flutter overhead. There is a gift shop, a café, a butterfly garden and an auditorium. Insect repellent is recommended in the rainy months. With a few days’ advance notice, a guided tour can be arranged.
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Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
Parque Calderón is the city's main plaza, dominated by the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, the 'new cathedral,' whose giant sky-blue domes are visible mainly from the rear of the church. Inside, the marbled interior is rather stark. Construction began in 1885, and the cathedral was supposed to be much taller than it is - an error in design meant that the intended bell towers could not be supported by the building.
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Octava de Corpus
For a completely different dining experience, head to this little-known restaurant hidden inside a colonial home on lovely Junín. Artwork covers every surface of the place, and there’s a homey lounge with an enormous wine cellar featuring more than 230 vintages from both the new and old world. The menu features classic meat and seafood (all grilled or steamed). Free transport is provided with a reservation (which is recommended).
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Markets
Thursday is the main market day and there's a smaller market on Saturday. The two main market areas are Plaza San Francisco and Plaza Rotary. The San Francisco market is mainly for locals, though there's a row of stalls on the north side with weavings and sweaters from Otavalo. The market at Plaza Rotary is mainly fruits and vegetables. Both markets are lively and interesting, and continue on a smaller scale throughout the week.
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Rocódromo
Climbers can get a serious fix at the Rocódromo, a 25m-high climbing facility across from the Estadio Rumiñahui. There are more than a dozen routes (some as hard as class 5.12, or 7C on the French scale) on the three main walls, a four-face bouldering structure and a rock building. Shoes, ropes, harnesses, chalk bags and carabiners are all available for rental. If you rent equipment, the staff will belay you.
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Museo de la Ciudad
If you're just trying to kill some time, pop into the Museo de la Ciudad. It occupies a beautifully restored building from 1910, once inhabited by a woman who was both Riobamba's best hair stylist and possessed by the devil. Slightly less interesting than its previous inhabitant, the museum's exhibits include a permanent national park display, historical photos of Riobamba and temporary visual-art exhibits on the 2nd floor.
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Amarongachi Tours
Offers various good-time jungle excursions. During its tours ($45 per person per day) you can stay with a family in the jungle, eat local food, go for hikes, climb up waterfalls, pan for gold and swim in the rivers. Amarongachi also operates the lovely Amarongachi and Shangrila cabins; the latter are on a bluff 100m above Río Anzu (a tributary of Río Napo) and feature great views of the river and more-mellow activities.
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Cartagena To Lima
38 days (Cartagena)
by Intrepid
Wander through the fairytale city of Cartagena, Relax on the beach in tranquil Tolu, Get a caffeine-fix at a coffee plantation, View dramatic volcanic…Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,395 -
La Quinta de Juan León Mera
La Quinta de Juan León Mera is set on the banks of the Río Ambato in the suburb of Atocha, about 2km northeast of downtown. The estate, built in 1874, has period furnishing and is set in the Jardín Botánico La Liria, a lush garden with more than 200 plant species and a trail down to the river. To get there by foot, walk northwest on Montalvo, cross the river and turn right on Capulíes.
reviewed
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Cartagena To Cuzco
54 days (Cartagena)
by Intrepid
Wander through the fairytale city of Cartagena, Relax on the beach in tranquil Tolu, Get a caffeine-fix at a coffee plantation, View dramatic volcanic…Not LP reviewed
from USD$5,380 -
Plaza de San Sebastián
Marking the western edge of the historical center, the quiet Plaza de San Sebastián is anchored by the 19th-century Church of San Sebastián. In 1739, when this plaza was still used for bullfights, it was a mob of cuencanos (folks from Cuenca) – not the bull – who mauled a member of La Condamine’s geodesic expedition here, apparently because of an affair with a local woman.
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Museo Antropológico y Arte Contemporáneo
The modern Museo Antropológico y Arte Contemporáneo houses anthropological and archeological exhibits as well as a superb collection of contemporary Ecuadorian art. MAAC also has a modern 400-seat theater for plays, concerts and film. Behind the museum is an open-air stage, where musical and theatrical performances are occasionally given. If you're peckish at interval, there's a food court next door.
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Numa Pompillo Llona
This historic street is named after the guayaquileño (1832-1907) who wrote the national anthem. Narrow and winding, it has several unobtrusive plaques set into the walls of some houses, indicating the simple residences of past presidents. The colonial wooden architecture has been allowed to age elegantly, albeit with a gloss of paint. It's a dead-end street, so you get to see everything twice.
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Parque La Carolina
North of the Mariscal lies the giant Parque La Carolina. On weekends it fills with families who come to pedal paddleboats, play soccer and ride bikes. The park's Jardín Botánico has more than 300 Ecuadorian plants and tree species and an outstanding orquideario (orchid greenhouse) - it's well worth a look. The Museo de Ciencias Naturales, the country's best natural history museum, is next door.
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Anchorage To Ushuaia
207 days (Anchorage)
by Intrepid
Sip local wine and go whitewater rafting in ArgentinaNot LP reviewed
from USD$18,835 -
Ushuaia To Anchorage
207 days (Ushuaia)
by Intrepid
Sip local wine and go whitewater rafting in ArgentinaNot LP reviewed
from USD$18,835 -
La Choza de Don Wilson
Almost everyone comes to this honky-tonk restaurant for an excellent fillet of trout and shots of aguardiente (sugarcane alcohol) to beat off the chills. You’ll find it at the juncture with the road to Termas de Papallacta. Cement-floor rooms out back are plain but clean (per person $15), with views of the village below. An enclosed hot pool is a bonus. Situated 40km along the Quito–Baeza road.
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Motes de San Juan
Businessmen, nurses, cops, laborers, families, you name it - everyone comes to this hole-in-the-wall eatery, high on a hill in San Juan neighborhood. Why? They all swear it's the best mote (hominy, served with fried pork, toasted corn and hot sauce) in town. Fifty years cooking Quito's most traditional dish has to mean something! Take a cab or kill your legs hiking up José Riofrío.
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Olmedo monument
Just north of the Mercado Sur is the Olmedo monument honoring José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780-1847) an Ecuadorian poet and the president of the first Ecuadorian territory independent of Spanish rule. Just to the north, outside the Malecón's blue fence, is the sprawling street market known as La Bahía where you can pick up everything from underwear to DVDs of the Latin Grammy awards.
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Plaza San Francisco
Walking from the old town's narrow colonial streets into the open Plaza San Francisco reveals one of the finest sights in all of Ecuador - a sweeping cobblestone plaza backed by the long whitewashed walls and twin bell towers of Ecuador's oldest church, the Monastery of San Francisco. With its giant plaza and its mountainous backdrop of Volcán Pichincha this is surely one of Quito's highlights.
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Museo de Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño
The Museo de Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño houses an interesting private archaeology collection and an exhibit of colonial art featuring some of the masters of the Quito School. This museum is on the 3rd floor of the library in the Universidad Católica, across the traffic circle from the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. Admission includes a guided tour (in English if you call in advance).
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Museo del Banco Central
One of the country’s most important museums, the Museo del Banco Central is located across from Parque El Ejido. This circular, glass-plated, landmark building also houses a movie theater and an auditorium. It showcases the country’s largest collection of Ecuadorian art, from beautifully displayed pre-Hispanic and colonial religious art to 20th-century paintings and sculpture.
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