The country of Ecuador is home to natural wonders, cultural heritage, languages, institutions and more. If you’re considering traveling to the country, here are a few things to keep in mind before you make your trip. The people of Ecuador are warm and touchy, and they tend to stand close to each other when speaking.
Natural wonders
From the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Basin and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador offers travelers a wealth of natural beauty and wildlife. From hiking volcanoes to seeing seals in their natural habitat, Ecuador has something for everyone. Its varied terrain and unique ecosystem make this country one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries.
There are several volcanoes in Ecuador, including Mount Chimborazo, the country’s highest peak. It is located between Riobamba and Ambato, about 200 kilometers from Quito. The eight-kilometer climb to the top is easy, and there are two refugios along the way. The biggest challenge is the altitude, which can cause overexertion.
To experience Ecuador’s flora and fauna, start with its mountainous regions. The Northern Sierra, for instance, boasts stunning scenery and is an ideal spot for whitewater tubing. You can also enjoy a scenic hike through a nearby river, and take a rafting excursion to the bottom of the Cuicocha crater. Another place for adventure tours is the Amazon jungle, where you can see ancient petroglyphs and caves.
Alternatively, visit the Quilotoa Crater and Sigchos loop to see Mount Cotopaxi. These two trails offer views of the active volcano’s crater. The main crater, which measures between 550 and 800 meters, is the highest point in Ecuador and is frequently cloudy.
The Amazon rainforest is among the world’s most biodiverse region, with an astonishing 2,700 – 4,000 species of plants per hectare. It is home to uncontacted tribes and is threatened by oil extraction. The giant araucarias that once inhabited the region are preserved in petrified trunks. The largest pieces are about 15 m long and two meters in diameter. The forest also contains countless fossils.
Cultural heritage
Ecuador is home to many unique cultural traditions. Its festivals range from indigenous, ancestral and mestizo to celebrate the year. These customs have shaped the country and the people who live there. The festivals of the Andes include the Carnival, which takes place before Lent and the equinox. Other traditions include the San Juan and San Pedro fiestas, which take place in the north of the country. The province of Imbabura also has its own festivals, such as the Jora and Yamor.
In addition to its rich history, Ecuador also has a varied geography. The nation is divided nearly evenly between the coastal and mountain regions. The rainforest covers the eastern portion of the country, making for a diverse environment. The country’s two largest cities, Quito and Guayaquil, are on the coast.
One of the main values of Ecuadorian culture is the family. Many people in Ecuador live with their parents, or with their extended families. These families gather for barbeques, house visits, and holidays together. In addition, children often take care of their parents until they marry. In addition, many people in Ecuador consider their family members their most important possession.
The Ecuadorian government has implemented a number of programs aimed at protecting the country’s cultural heritage. Several of these efforts have involved international collaborations. For example, the United States has signed an agreement with Ecuador that prevents the importation of certain items from the neighboring countries. The country has also set up a nonprofit organization called the Ambassadors Fund to help other countries preserve their cultural heritage. The funds will go towards research, conservation, and dissemination of cultural heritage.
To learn about the Ecuadorian culture, travelers should visit the Equatorial Monument. There, visitors can see ancestral houses from the country’s past. These homes were built with different materials depending on the region of the country. For example, the houses in the Coastal region were made of bamboo cane, while those in the Sierra region were made of reeds and black mud.
Language
The official language of Ecuador is Spanish, which is also the most widely spoken language in the country. However, indigenous languages such as Quechua and Cofan have some degree of official recognition. If you are travelling to Ecuador, it is worth having a dictionary with you. You may also want to consider downloading an app to your phone that can help you learn the local language.
The language of Ecuador has three main dialects: Andean Spanish, Equatorial Pacific Spanish, and Amazonian Spanish. The largest city of Ecuador, Quito, speaks the Equatorial Pacific Spanish dialect. Each dialect is used by different social classes. The more educated people tend to use a typical Spanish language, while the more indigenous and Africanized people use different rhyme and intonation.
In addition to Spanish, Ecuador has 11 indigenous languages. Among these are Shuar, which is spoken by about 35,000 people in the pastaza and Morona Santiago provinces. During the 1960s, Catholic missionaries helped revive the Shuar language through a radio project in schools. Eventually, the government re-introduced Shuar into the national curriculum.
The birth rate in Ecuador is high and the death rate is low, but it remains higher than the world average. Over the years, the country has attracted many immigrants from neighboring countries. The most recent influx of immigrants has been from Peru and Colombia, who sought better wages after Ecuador adopted the US dollar in 2000.
The Roman Catholic Church plays an important role in Ecuador’s society. It plays a major role in education, social services, and pilgrimage sites. The Protestant movement is also growing. Non-Pentecostal Evangelicals and Pentecostals are the largest Protestant groups. Many indigenous communities are converting to Protestantism, while most highlanders continue to practice Catholicism.
Institutions
Institutions in Ecuador promote human rights and social justice. Its Constitution, which has incorporated the principle of the free determination of peoples, guarantees the protection and enjoyment of indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian peoples’ rights. The country is a State Party to the 1989 International Labour Organization Convention No. 169, which stipulates that the highest duty of the state is the protection and promotion of human rights.
Ecuador’s Constitution recognizes the right to life and prohibits the death penalty. Capital punishment and the use of physical or mental punishment were banned by the country’s Constitution in 1878. The country also recognizes the right to life of unborn children. Abortion is punishable by national law, which is enshrined in article 447 of the Criminal Code.
The Ecuadorian justice system has made significant progress in combating corruption and improving accountability. However, there are still enduring challenges to the rule of law in the country. Some of these challenges can negatively impact social and political stability. Other risks include activities of the People’s Republic of China that threaten the country’s biodiversity.
The Ministry of Public Health is responsible for promoting the HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme in Ecuador and appropriate treatment for infected persons. In December 2002, the National Congress enacted an Act declaring the fight against AIDS a national priority. The Ministry of Health also issued a regulation for HIV/AIDS treatment.
The Constitution of Ecuador includes articles that prohibit torture and ill-treatment of children and youth. Article 50 outlaws torture and other forms of cruel treatment. Other provisions prohibit ill-treatment in educational institutions. Further, articles 40 and 41 of the Code prohibit the expulsion of a child or a young person based on ethnicity, disability, or maternity.
Politics
Political reform in Ecuador has centered on constitutional reform and national remaking. It also challenges corruption and gendered political antics in government. National hero Marisa Saenz is a key figure in this remaking. She represents a feminist challenge to gendered politics and government corruption. She also represents an important counterpoint to global economic forces that have limited the development agenda in Ecuador.
Ecuador has one of the largest numbers of political parties in Latin America. Representatives in the Ecuadorian congress serve four-year terms without term limits. In addition, the country’s lenient electoral registration thresholds allow a diverse range of political parties to emerge. Ecuador has elected 10 presidents from nine different political parties since 1979.
Indigenous movements in Ecuador have also played a major role in the country’s politics. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador led a powerful uprising in 1990. They called their movement “pachakutik,” a Kichwa word that means “change,” “rebirth,” and “transformation.” The uprising resulted in the birth of a new political movement, the Pachakutik, in which indigenous people competed for elective office.
The constitution of Ecuador guarantees the right of private property, but recognizes that property must have a social role. It also recognizes collective and intellectual property. The state can confiscate property only when it conflicts with the public good and compensates the property owners. Moreover, tensions between the formal and traditional forms of property are no longer a source of conflict in Ecuador, thanks to land reform in 1998. In addition, the constitution recognizes Ecuador’s multiethnic and pluricultural nature.
The country’s political system has had many problems over the past decade. Its history of institutionalized personalism and authoritarianism, inherited from Spanish imperialists, has encouraged abuse of power and corruption. Further, the lack of democratic consolidation has decreased the efficiency of the country’s government. The country has been the site of more than 80 government changes and almost twenty different constitutions since independence. The most recent constitution was drafted less than two years after the last constitution.
