According to mathgeneral, Ecuador is the ideal holiday destination for many different tourist groups. There is a wide variety of different sights and attractions for a wide variety of interest groups, such as athletes, nature lovers, etc.

The Andes in particular are ideal for athletes, as you can set out on exciting trekking tours into the highlands from here. Nature lovers get their money’s worth on an expedition into the rainforest. But also those interested in history and culture do not miss out. You will certainly not be disappointed with the stories and sites of the Ecuadorian Indians. Beach holidaymakers can simply spend their vacation on the country’s Pacific coast.

An absolute must is a visit to the Galápagos Islands. There the national park and also the marine reserve of the island are of particular interest. Both belong to the UNESCO world natural heritage. The largest island in the group is just over 1000 kilometers from the Ecuadorian west coast. The island includes Santa Isabela, San Cristobal, San Salvador, Santa Maria and Santa Cruz.

If you are traveling in Ecuador, you should also visit the capital of the country. Quito is only twenty-two kilometers from the equator. Those who visit there will feel transported back to the time of the colonial rule of Ecuador without much imagination. The city was built on the Spanish model and is absolutely impressive due to its huge central plaza.
If you still don’t want to miss nature, you can find relaxation in many of the quiet gardens and parks. The old town of Quito is something special because of its diverse architecture. There is a variety of architecture to be seen here. Like from Spain, Flemish architectural styles, Moorish or pre-Columbian. All of these historic buildings have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

In the old town, you should definitely take a look at the stone carving facade of the congress building. But also the Church of San Francisco, the Monastery Church of San Augustin and the Government Palace, such as the cathedral on Independence Square, should be seen. The absolute highlights are the view from the balcony of Guapulo and the Panecillo hill.

Cuenca, a colonial and world cultural city are definitely worth a detour. The city is located on the site of the former Inca city of Tomebamba. Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador and has many different sights, such as the flower market, the Todos Santos ruins, etc. But the main square with the old and new cathedral are also worth a visit.

Otavalo is known for its famous handicraft market. Here you can also get to know Havienda life. From the city you can make great trips to the 3000 meter high crater lake Lagune Cuicocha and the place of the same name, which is known for its quality leather goods.

Papallactais located at an altitude of 3300 meters and is popular with tourists for the relaxing thermal baths. The wonderful and impressive surroundings in particular increase the feel-good atmosphere.

The Cotopaxi National Park is also very interesting. Sports activities such as hiking, walking or horse riding are possible here. The park particularly impresses its visitors with its impressive landscape and the almost 6,000 meter high volcano.

The city of Guayaquil is according to western standards. It is the largest city in the country and the city’s port is the hub of various goods for the rest of the world. There is a particularly interesting city center here, with various palaces and sacred buildings. In the area there are some well-preserved fortresses from the colonial era that have now been converted into museums.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are best known for their unique natural beauty. The variety of plant species and the different animals that live here ensure that the Galapagos Islands enjoy a paradisiacal reputation worldwide.

The Galapagos Islands are far from the nearest patch of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Administratively, the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador and form the Galapagos Province here.

The word Galapagos means, among other things, beaded saddle, but has nothing to do with horses or other mounts. But on the contrary. The name of the Galapagos Islands refers to the giant turtles that lay their eggs on the beach. The Galapagos is the name given to the turtle shell. In the case of the giant tortoise, this shell has a bulge-like attachment in the neck area.

The Galapagos archipelago is made up of 14 large and more than 100 small to tiny islands. Only five of the islands are currently inhabited. Around 21,700 people live permanently on the Galapagos Islands. There are also many tourists who want to spend a vacation here. However, the unofficial numbers look different. Many of the residents are illegal in the Galapagos Islands and it is estimated that there are almost 30,000 people in the Galapagos Islands. There are rules in the Galapagos Islands that are designed to control immigration and immigration. Unfortunately, there is no one here to enforce these rules.

The problem that arises from this is that the steadily growing population takes up more and more space. For this purpose, plants and trees are cleared to create the required space. As a result, over half of the animal species endemic here and almost every fifth of the endemic plant species are threatened with extinction. Illegal immigration therefore not only brings social problems with it, but also gradually destroys the unique nature of the Galapagos Islands.

CULTURE: ART

The most ancient finds date back to the Formative period (3200-500 BC), in which the ceramic, engraved or painted, in some cases has an affinity with the Japanese one of the Jōmon period. The vases of the late Formative are painted with beautiful iridescent colors, obtained with a particular technique. After 500 a. C. numerous regional cultures developed, with which a great flowering of artistic styles began: ceramics, which are influenced by Mesoamerican influences, reached very high levels. Starting from 700 d. C. large urban centers were formed and, while pottery declined due to the vast mass production, metallurgy flourished, increased by the demand on the part of the noble classes for objects and ornaments in precious metal. In the second half of the century. XV, following the Inca invasion, the local styles gave way to a purely Andean type of art. The arrival of the Spaniards brought a taste for the Baroque to Ecuador, still rich in late Renaissance influences. Churches and convents arose and for the whole century. Pleiades of sculptors and decorators trained in the missions or following the example of the sculptors Diego de Robles, Father Carlos, Bernardo de Lagarda, the Caspicara and the Pampite, the painters Pedro Bédon, Miguel de Santiago, Nicolas Javier de Goríbar acted in the 16th and 17th centuries. After a long period of decline, the interest in painting was reborn in the mid-nineteenth century with the romantic Antonio Salas, and immediately after with E. Kingman, G. Paredes and Bolívar Mena, while in the century. XX must be remembered the expressionist Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999), hosted in the major museums of the world, Enrique Guerrero and Jaime Villa, in the context of social realism; Nelson Roman (b. 1945), Washington Iza and Ramiro Jácome (1948-2001) among the exponents of the new figurativism; Mariela García (b.1950), Rafael Valdez (b.1949), Jorge Artieda (b.1946) adhere instead to abstract currents, while maintaining a formal rigor of the pictorial sign. Also noteworthy is the work of the abstract artist Tabara. The sculpture of the twentieth century does not offer names and works of great importance, while in Ecuador a widespread art form, in the true sense of the term, is that of graffiti, which decorate, for example, part of the city of Quito. According to 3rjewelry, Ecuador is a country in Central America.

CULTURE: THEATER AND MUSIC

All traces of the dramatic events of the pre-Columbian era have almost completely disappeared. The subsequent theatrical activity, not relevant and essentially tributary of the European lesson, includes performances staged since the century. XVII by the Spanish Jesuits with catechetical intentions, tournées (from the nineteenth century) by Spanish, French and Italian companies, more or less experimental shows presented in the century. XX by groups of amateurs organized since 1944 under the aegis of the Ecuadorian Casa de la cultura. A valid contribution was made, again in the twentieth century, by writers of the literary movement known as “of 1925” (D. Aguilera Malta, H. Salvador, J. Icaza) and by actors such as Marina Moncayo, María Teresa Montoya, Ernesto Albán. Of particular interest is the Teatro de ensayo, later Ecuadorian pupular theater, which, founded in 1964 by the Italian Fabio Pacchioni, presents performances in the Indian villages that end with a debate on the problems of the various communities. The major theatrical centers are the cities of Quito and Guayaquil: the former is home to the Sucre theaters (which also hosts an annual season of operates and is among the most important in South America) and Bolívar and the National Symphony Orchestra; the second is home to the Olmedo Theater (founded in 1857) and the Symphony Orchestra of the Nucleo del Guayas. The birth of theaters and the Symphony Orchestra also gave way to productions, concerts and regular seasons in the musical field. Cultured music, like much literature, arrived in Ecuador thanks to the Europeans, even if only towards the end of the 19th century, reaching its peak with the works of composers such as Pedro Pablo Traversari (1874-1956), a fundamental figure also in quality musicologist and music critic, and Luis H. Salgado, author of symphonic music and ballets as well as works that have become internationally famous, such as Cumandá (1954).

CULTURE: CINEMA

The films of the Ecuadornon are among the most renowned and popular cinemas, however some directors have achieved recognition at international festivals. Among the best works, ranging from documentary to comedy to historical film, we mention Ratas, ratones y rateros (1999), by Sebastián Cordero, De cuando la muerte nos visitó (2002) by Yanara Guayasamin, Cara o Cruz (2003) and 1809-1810 Mientras llega el día (2004) by Camilo Luzu.