Category: Ecuador Travel Articles

A biking advetnure across the Andean Paramo in Antisana Geological Reserve Our adventure Antisana bike tour towards Antisana Ecological Reserve began early on a Sunday morning. My travel companion is Carlos a fellow travel agent, neither of us has a specialized knowledge in biking other that urban biking. The meeting point was set in north-central part of the Quito city, where a van with bikes on the roof is waiting for us. The Antisana Reserve is located 50km south-east from Quito, between Pichincha and Napo provinces, the threshold between the Andean Sierra and the Amazon. The ride takes about 1 hour riding the Interoceanica Highway towards Pifo then then through Av. Ruminahui which leads to the Colibrí Roundabout towards the lovely town of Píntag . Our first stop is right between Pintag and the entrance to the Ecological Reserve at a lovely sport called Tambo Condor, restaurant and viewpoint. Here we have breakfast right next to Secas Lagoon, one of the many in the area product of the natural damming of former eruptions of Antisana Volcano. The area offers an outstanding view, it is cradled by a rocky mountain and a crag settled by the millenary Andean Condor. Breakfast served by its very kind owner Vladimi Ushina. Fresh coffee, scrambled eggs, bread, cheese and jam should be enough for the adventure still to come. The restaurant also works as a natural birdwatching spot, hummingbirds are the easiest to spot. We continue heading deep into the Reserve towards La Mica Lagoon. The ride takes approximately 30 minutes form the Tambo Condor. As you drive deep into the Reserve, the Páramo landscape slowly takes hold and transforms as we get deeper towards the lagoon. Polylepis tress (aka. paper tree) proliferate here, thay are endemic to the Andean areas and a vital specie holding

A train ride to remember across the most stunning landscapes of the Ecuadorian Sierra. My ride aboard Tren Ecuador through the Tren de los Volcanes (Train of the Volcanoes) railways begins one chilly and rainy morning at Chimbacalle Station in the southern part of Quito city. It actually started before embarking on the recently remodeled Ecuador Railways Coach; if you’re staying at the north or north/central part of the city, you will probably find out that  getting to Chimbacalle station might be a bit of a jounrey itself. The most effective way though, is taking the most used city trolley in Quito, which crosses the city from North to South, also known as El Trole. There are various stations across the city, and the trolley runs across 10 de Agosto Avenue, the moves in into Guayaquil street into the historical centre and then all the way south through Pedro Vicente Maldonado Av. The trolley stop for the train station is conveniently called, Chimbacalle, from there you will have to walk a small block north and then you will get to a small steeped street that leads you right into the door of legendary Chimbacalle Train Station. it took me approximately 50 minutes in total to get to the train, starting at the main station of the trolley bus “Estacion La Y”. The beauty of it all is that Chimbacalle Train Station was the very first station opened by president Eloy Alfaro back in 1908 and the same where the very first train arrived in from Guayaquil into the capital city, a symbol of national unity, as history books put it. I watch the first train leave from the station, the sound of the whistle and the and the machinery on the electro-diesel engine gets us all excite and eager to board. The

Here's a short list of places and things to do in Imbabura Ecuador, one of the most delightful provinces in Northern region Anyone who has visited Ecuador lately will probably talk to you about the ever colorful and culture-filled Otavalo Market in Imbabura. Though certainly amusing, Imbabura Province has much more to offer than Otavalo Market, it actualy holds some of the most striking landscapes in the country. This province is located in the north side of Ecuador and is popularly known as the Province of Lakes because it holds more water reserves than other province in the country. Some of the most important lagoons and lakes are San Pablo, Yahuarcocha (kichwa for "blood lake"), Cuicocha, Puruhanta, (Pimampiro), San Marcos, Piñán, Mojanda and Negra lagoon. Imbabura is known for its population variety marked by various demographic factors. Imamabura is home to varios ethnic groups, Mestizo, Indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, White and Montubio. This is probably the reason why culture is so rich and traditional in this area. Imbabura is a core site of crafts and culture in the country.  Otavalo Market is, of course, a must-see, ideal for a full-day tour. There you can buy and learn the process bi which colorful ponchos, hammocks, tapestry are made, or you may simply watch colorful dresses of the Otavalo women. However, if you are a landscape photography aficionado, Imbabaura will not let you own. Here are some of the best places to visit in Imbabura a side form Otavalo Market.   Cuicocha Crater Lake Part of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, Cuicocha (Kichwa: Kuykucha, “lake of guinea pigs” or Kuychikucha, “rainbow lake”)[1] is a 3 km (2 mi) wide caldera and crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano in the Cordillera Occidental of the Ecuadorian Andes. Its name comes from the Kichwa indigenous language and means “Lago del Cuy”

Otavalo Market: The Place For Your Best Market Experience When You’re In Ecuador. Otavalo market is a market located in Ecuador. Ecuador is a South American country located in the northeastern part. Otavalo market is located in an area that is made up of a farming community. The town has become a tourist center and it has brought more visitors. Tourism has become the town's main avenue to earn more revenue. As a result, there are more hotels, hostels, and tour operators than other cities in Ecuador. This has also made Otavaleno (people from Otavalo) to be able to sell their goods abroad. The market has been in existence since 1970. The market was designed by a Dutch architect called Tony Zwollo. The Otavaleno’s are known for weaving textiles, and they are made of wool. The market is mainly very busy on Saturdays. The stores in the market sell textiles that are handmade such as blankets, table cloths, and so many others. On Saturdays which is the peak and busiest time of the market, the town is occupied by stalls where people sell textiles, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, native costumes, purses, clothing, spices, etc. The goods are usually manufactured in a nearby factory, and the goods are sold by middle-aged men who are mostly from Otavalo. The goods are quality goods and are durable no wonder tourist keep visiting the market. People come to Otavalo Market to buy products; the surrounding towns are also tourist sites. For instance Penuche Waterfall, Lagos de Mojanda, and Museo Viviente Otavalango. There is also a museum in the area that has a rich background of the Otavalo people. It also shows the historical background of the Otavalo people both in the past and present. Locals built the museum after a factory which