This document provides an overview of Ecuador, including its geography, culture, history, food, and attractions. It notes that Ecuador has astounding biodiversity and is divided into three main regions - the sierra, Oriente, and coastal region. It highlights several cities and sites to visit, including Quito, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Cotopaxi volcano, and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuadorian culture blends indigenous traditions with Spanish influences. The document also discusses Ecuadorian cuisine, including ceviche, chocolate, coffee, and the importance of family in social culture.

5. David Bowie
65x50 cm
Acrylic on canvas

6. Chuck Berry
65x50 cm
Acrylic on canvas

7. Carlos Santana
60x80 cm
Acrylic on canvas

8. Don McLean
60X80 cm
Acrylic on canvas

9. Elvis Presley
60X80 cm

10. Eric Clapton
90x65 cm
Acrylic on canvas

11. Janis Joplin
90x65 cm
Acrylic on canvas

12. Johnny Cash
90x65 cm
Acrylic on canvas

13. Theo Marmolejo
Constante
The from the other side of the world, Ecuador

14. ™ The Republic of Ecuador straddles the Equator, and is bordered by Colombia to the north
and northeast, and Peru to the south and southeast. Sitting on the equator between
Colombia and Peru, Ecuador may be the smallest Andean nation but it’s packed with the most
startling contrasts of scenery.
™ Although it is one of the smallest countries in South America (about the size of Nevada),
Ecuador is one of the
most geographically and ecologically diverse countries in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM-o1eesn4M

15. Ethnical Biodiversity
™ With its astounding biodiversity, impressive historical legacy, stunning
colonial architecture, bustling highland markets and diverse mix of people –
blacks, whites, indigenous and mestizo – it’s easy to see why this friendly and
exotic destination is regarded as a microcosm of South America.

16. ™ Ecuador’s regions provide a home to almost fifteen million
people, the majority of whom live on the coast and in the
sierra. For the most part, they are descendants of the
various indigenous groups who first inhabited Ecuador’s
territory twelve thousand years ago, Incas who colonized
the land in the late fifteenth century, Spaniards who
conquered the Incas in the 1530s and African
slaves brought by Spanish colonists
As in many parts of Latin America, social and economic
divisions between indígenas, blacks, mestizos and an elite
class of whites remain deeply entrenched, exacerbated by
a slew of recurrent economic and political crises

17. ™ Ecuador’s mainland divides neatly into three distinct regions running the length of the country in parallel
strips. In the middle is the sierra, formed by the eastern and western chains of the Andes, which are
punctuated by more than thirty volcanoes . As well it is part of the country’s oldest and most traditional
cities, including Quito.
™ East of the sierra is the Oriente, a large, sparsely populated area extending into the upper Amazon basin,
much of it covered by dense tropical rainforest
™ West of the sierra, in the coastal region, banana, sugar, coffee, rice and cacao crops line a fertile alluvial
plain that is bordered on its Pacific seaboard by a string of beaches, mangrove swamps, shrimp farms and
ports.
™ Almost a thousand kilometres of ocean separate the coastline from the Galápagos archipelago, famed for its
wondrous endemic birds, mammals, reptiles and plants.

18. Culture, traditions and historical adventures
™ Ecuador is a tourists' paradise: there are literally hundreds of different
activities catering for the tastes of all different types of holidaymakers - from
hiking, scuba diving, skiing, climbing, and trekking, and so on, and so on.

19. Quito, colonial and cultural capital
A mixture od church spire, tiled roofs and skyscrapers glinting in the sunlight
against the brooding backroom of volcano Pichincha, the second highest capital in
the world is a an enthralling blend of urban and traditional indigenous culture.

20. Cuenca, the colonial city
Pristine colonial architecture, cobbled streets, illustrious churches and flowering
plazas give Cuenca a distinguished air and the well deserved reputation of being the
country’s most enchanting city.

21. Guayaquil, Malecon 2000
A triumph of urban renewal, this landmark transformation of a dangerous and
dilapidated riverside walkway into the cultural and recreational heart of the city. It has
been leading force behind the renaissance of Guayaquil

22. Cotopaxi, be in the top of the world
Ecuador is a big draw for experiences climbers, but even novices , if fir.
Fully acclimatized and under professional guidance, can have a crack at
the Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.

23. Galapagos wildlife
The fearless creatures eking out an existence on a few scarred volcanic islands the
inspired Darwin still give an unparalleled insight into the mechanics of nature at one
od the world's most treasured wild life destinations.

24. Whale Watching
The heart- stopping sight of 30 tones humpback breaching and flopping back into
the ocean amid towers of spray can be experience between June and September.
When they come to the Ecuadorian coast to breed.

25. Mama Negra Festival
One of the country’s best loved festivals feature a carnival of dazzling costumes,
dancing troupes and marching bands parading through the streets of Latacunga.

26. The Devil’s nose,
Train road
Experience one the world’ greatest train journey as it descends the Andres
over the “Devil’s nose” in a sequence of thrilling switchback turn.

27. Horse riding
Brought by the conquistadores, horses may be late arrivals to Ecuador, but they are
uniquely suited to depth exploration of the country’s sweeping highland landscapes.

28. Laguna Quilotoa
This glittering green crater lake sits at the heart of the Quilotoa Loop, a popular scenic
diversion through the beguiling landscapes and villages of the rural central highlands.

29. The Paramo
High altitude grassland wildernesses rolling uninterrupted for miles between lonely/ Mist
shrouded lakes in many country’s highland reserves. The Paramo is bleak, cold, and wet, but
hauntingly beautiful. The perfect sight for this landscape is the northern sierra.

30. Central Bank’s museaum
See the richies of more than five thousand years of Ecuadorian culture at the country’s
top museum, which features some of the oldest ceramics discovered on the continent.
Exquisite pre-Columbian worked gold, and masterpieces of colonial and modern art.

31. Otavalo, handicraft market
Even hardened skinflints wont be able to resist bagging a few of the fabulous
handicrafts and weavings on offer at one of the largest and most colorful handicraft
market on the continent.

32. Contemporary art
Ecuador’s great modern artist are the
conscience of the nation, Influential
social commentators whose work, on
view at several impressive galleries.

33. Banos
Wheter it’s nibbling on the local specialty, wallowing in thermal bath, or hiking, biking or rafting in
the surrounding countryside, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in this charming spa town.

34. Ingapirca
Perched on a hillside overlooking serene pastoral countryside, Ecuador's best
preserved Inca ruins exhibit the fine stonemasonry and trapezoidal doorway
that holds the hallmarks if the empire’s architecture.

35. La compania
Quito’s center is packed with magnificent churches, monasteries and convents, but
few match “La compania” outstanding baroque façade and sumptuous interior.

36. Orchids
A miracle of biodiversity, Ecuador has more orchid species than any country on
earth. The biggest orchid reserve is the reserve of Mindo

37. History
™ Ecuador's culture and history mirrors the diversity of its
landscape. Like much of South America, Ecuador culture
blends the influences of Spanish colonialism with the
resilient traditions of pre-Columbian peoples

38. Food
™ Ecuador is known for its
fabulous exotic fruits,
high quality fish and
seafood also some
Andean potatoes.
™ At only pennies per bite,
bakeries offer a delicious
range of breads, sweet
pastries, and savory
snacks, such as
empanadas (hot, crispy
meat or cheese-filled
pastries) and
llapingachos (potato and
cheese pancakes).

39. Ceviche
The bright, zesty flavour and tender of ceviche, seafood marinated in lime juice, have
made it a native obsession, especially on the coast, where it makes the perfect
accompaniment to sun, a cold beer and a bowl of popcorn

40. Chocolate
Long the world’s prime cocoa producer,
Ecuador was usurped by west Africa in
the twentieth century when mas
produced choc.
Made with cheaper beans, it became
fashionable, with gourmet chocolate in
vogue again Ecuadorian cocoa farmers
are busier than ever. Guayas province is
scattered with family run plantations.

41. Coffee
As one of the biggest producer of coffee, Ecuador has a growing coffee tourism
industry. The province of Guayas is dotted with plenty of farms with scenic
routes, with several opportunities to stop for a black coffee a long the way.

42. Family
™ Family constituted the most enduring and esteemed institutions in the country's
social fabric. Both Indian and Hispanic traditions emphasized the family; indeed,
few alternative institutions competed for an individual's loyalty.