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As one of the four principle agriculture-related festivals celebrated by the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Andes, Pawkar Raymi is a joyous celebration of the bounteous provisions from Pacha Mama, or Mother Earth. With the word pawkar meaning blossoming, and raymi meaning a ritual, ceremony or festival, Pawkar Raymi is also referred to as the "Fiesta of the Flowering of the Maize". Pawkar Raymi coincides with the Christian celebration of Carnival, because many indigenous festivals and religious celebrations are held according to the solar and lunar cycles.
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Located on the grounds of Hacienda Zuleta, at a height of 2000 meters above sea level in the majestic Andes of Ecuador, the Condor Huasi Rehabilitation project strives to reintroduce captive Andean condors into the wild in a responsible and sustainable manner. As part of the La Rinconada community the project also works with local communities to conserve the high-altitude grasslands (páramos), wildlife and natural resources of the area by means of environmental education programs.
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Renowned for its many colorful and lively festivals, the village of Pintag is located less than thirty kilometers southeast of Quito in Ecuador's Pichincha Province. This picturesque rural village lies at an altitude of 9284 feet above sea level with the country's fourth highest volcano, Antisana, nearby. One of the attractions of the village is the Hacienda Yurak, the first Jesuit monastery to be built in Ecuador. The church on the property, named la Compañia, was constructed by the monks using local quarried stone. The buildings feature wide patios with distinctive pillars, and murals with religious themes.
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Renowned for their incredible biodiversity, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands are a nature enthusiasts dream, making it difficult to decide what to see first, and how to allocate often limited vacation time. One of the more popular islands in this fascinating archipelago is the South Plaza Island, or Isla Plaza Sur, located off the east coast of Santa Cruz. As one of two oblong islands lying side-by-side, South Plaza is one of the smallest Galapagos Islands open to visitors, but is considered to be one of the richest in terms of plant and animal life, offering plenty to see in a day trip.
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The Miss International beauty pageant has been running for 51 years, and for the first time in its history, Ecuador took top honors as Fernanda Cornejo from Quito was crowned Miss International 2011. While attractiveness is an important aspect of the annual Miss International beauty pageant, the event's stated goal is to promote world peace, goodwill and understanding. Therefore much is expected from the winner during her reign - and 22-year-old Fernanda appears confident that she has what it takes to fulfill expectations.
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Ecuador is renowned for its natural wonders and biological diversity. Amongst the country's protected areas is the Arenillas Ecological Reserve in the El Oro Province. The reserve lies against the Peruvian border and was declared a protected area in 2001. It is not as well known with tourists as some of the other natural sites in Ecuador; however, it is a fascinating area to explore with varied plant and animal life.
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Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are world-renowned for their incredible biodiversity and exciting eco-tourism options, attracting tourists from around the world. Whale-watching in Ecuador is a popular activity between the months of June and October when humpback whales head to the warm waters along the Pacific coastline for breeding season. There are a host of good dolphin and whale-watching spots all along Ecuador's coastline, with some of the more popular being Puerto Lopez, Salinas, Mompiche, Ballenita, and Bahia de Caraquez – also known as the "Eco-City".
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Consisting solely of tuff volcanic craters, and almost completely barren, Daphne Island is located north of Santa Cruz and west of Baltra Island in the Galapagos archipelago. The island rises to a height of around 120 meters directly out of the sea, and its distinctive ochre color stands in stark contrast with the blue of the surrounding Pacific Ocean. Although a limited number of tourists are permitted on the island, this is strictly monitored by authorities in order to preserve the island for scientific research. Nonetheless, it is a popular attraction and with only twelve visitors permitted at a time, tours are usually fully booked. Tour boats cruise around the waters of Daphne for birding enthusiasts to view the varied birdlife, while scuba diving in the waters around the island is also popular.
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