Features

Ecuador: Headhunters of the Forest

Deep in the rainforest that stretches across the eastern part of Ecuador and parts of Peru lives a tribe known as the Jivaro. These fearsome warriors were among one of the very few tribal groups anywhere in the world who successfully resisted conquest and colonization by European forces. The lands of the Jivaro were known to be a source of gold, and in the late 16th century the Spanish administration established a town in Jivaro territory as a base for gold mining expeditions. The governor of the region was cruel and greedy, and he placed a crippling gold trading tax on those Jivaro who fell under his purview. This soon sparked a revolt in which up to 25,000 people who lived in the town of Logrono were killed. The governor was captured by the Jivaro, who poured molten gold into his mouth until he died (one would assume quickly). Legends say, the Jivaro taunted him by asking "Have you had your fill of gold now?"

Tungurahua, Ecuador's "Black Giant"

Tungurahua is one of the many volcanoes that dot Ecuador's Cordillera Central and shares its name with the central Ecuadorian province of Tungurahua. Among Tungurahua's close neighbors are Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. At 16,479 feet (5,023 meters) high, Tungurahua is not the tallest Ecuadorian volcano but it is one of the most distinctive. Tungurahua's name can be translated from the local Quechua dialect to mean "Throat of Fire", an apt name for this still active volcano. It is also sometimes known as "The Black Giant", as its summit is noticeably less snowy than other Andean volcanoes due to its recent history of eruptions.

A Tourist's View of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - Part 2

Once you've safely arrived in the Galapagos and have paid the $100 entry tax ($50 for children under 12), you'll want to visit the various islands as each has something different to offer. How you do your island hopping is up to you: via air or sea. Local entrepreneurs have established air and sea passenger transport companies that are relatively inexpensive, costing approximately $100 per person per flight with a 30 lb. Luggage weight limit. Chartering a plane will cost about $500 per hour. Although the view from the window of a low-flying plane is simply spectacular, taking a slow boat from island to island has its own rewards. Just $40 will get you from one island to the next.

Quito, Capital in the Clouds

Quito is the capital of Ecuador, and its main claim to fame is its location just 22 miles south of the equator. One might think that Quito's location results in the lack of seasons, but this isn't so. While most of the South American land mass enjoys summer, in Quito it's called the Dry Season. Winter, on the other hand, is the Wet Season. Temperatures in Quito are generally mild, with average daytime temperatures a pleasant 70 degrees. Nights can be cool, however, owing to the city's high altitude. In fact, Quito is the world's second highest capital city. Quito lies in the Guayllabamba River Basin valley surrounded by the mountains and volcanoes of the northern sierra region. Some of these volcanoes are active, notably the closest, Pichincha. From time to time Pichincha or one of the other nearby volcanoes erupts and dusts Quito with volcanic ash.

Soccer in Ecuador

Like most of Central and South America, Ecuador is soccer-mad and it can be said that soccer, popularly known as "futbol", is the national sport of Ecuador. Soccer in Ecuador does not have the same association with middle class "Soccer Moms" that is typical in the United States. Rather, because of its basic simplicity and the lack of any necessary equipment besides a ball, soccer thrives in lower income working class areas where it is often the only recreational outlet available. Many of the sport's most famous players have risen from poor origins to become national heroes on the scale of victorious generals or Noble prizewinners.

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