http://www.ecuador.com/blog/ en 2012-05-10T03:12:50-05:00 hourly 6 2012-05-10T03:12:50-05:00 http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-renowned-three-juans-of-ambato 2012-05-10T03:12:50-05:00 en Editor Features Born in Ambato on June 28, 1832, Juan León Mera Martínez is widely considered to be the father of Ecuadorian literature. His most famous novel Cumandá, was completed in 1879 and is still taught in schools throughout Ecuador today. It is counted among the great Latin American literature of the 19th century, revealing Juan León Mera's talent for using the written word in a way that brings a story to life. Through his description of the dense Ecuadorian jungle, the rushing rivers, majestic mountains, fascinating animals and flowers, along with his insight into the power of love that transcends all barriers, this talented author has brought the story of the forbidden love between a young Amazonian woman and the son of a Spanish Dominican friar to countless readers over the years. Through the pages of this novel Mera was appealing for the peace between the indigenous people of Ecuador and the foreigners who had made the land their home. In addition to being a novelist, Juan León Mera was a journalist, critic, politician and satirist. He was also the poet who penned the words of Ecuador's national anthem. Mera passed away in Ambato, the town of his birth, on December 13, 1894. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/san-marcos-tranquility-history-and-culture-in-quito 2012-04-26T02:49:55-05:00 en Editor Features As one of the oldest neighborhoods of the historic city of Quito, San Marcos features some superb examples of colonial and early republican architecture, set in beautifully landscaped gardens. Visitors to the San Marcos Barrio will discover elegant homes, peaceful churches, tranquil courtyards, flower filled balconies, fine-dining restaurants, vibrant cultural venues and fascinating museums, amidst a pervading sense of culture and history. It is in this picturesque suburb of a bustling and thriving city, that many renowned Ecuadorian artists have made their home. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/ecuador-national-museum-of-medicine 2012-04-12T03:24:47-05:00 en Editor Features Located in Quito, the Ecuador National Museum of Medicine was established in 1982 by Dr. Eduardo Estrella Aguirre to preserve the unique aspects and heritage of South America's indigenous medicines. This fascinating museum features indigenous food, nutrition and health, medicinal plants and medical archeology, as well as a chronicle of Colonial medicine in South America and the development of formal institutions of medicine, medical education and hospitals. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/wonderful-wildlife-of-the-gulf-of-guayaquil 2012-03-29T04:29:30-05:00 en Editor Features Located on the Pacific coast of Ecuador and Peru, the Gulf of Guayaquil takes its name from Ecuador's Guayaquil River which empties into it. The area is characterized by extensive mangrove forests and other vegetation, providing a range of habitats for marine species, birds and other wildlife. Mangroves are uniquely adapted to thrive in water that has varying degrees of salinity as fresh water from rivers mingle with the saline water of the ocean with the ebb and flow of the tides. The mangrove forests also help to protect the coast from inclement weather coming in from the ocean, while filtering pollutants from the waters and providing a fascinating attraction for nature-loving tourists. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-malqui-macha-inca-archeological-site 2012-03-14T09:15:20-05:00 en Editor Features At the height of its power, the Inca Empire spanned a huge area of South America's Andean region, including parts of Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. Within the Inca Empire there were multiple ethnic groups, speaking different dialects, and living in their own fortified cities complete with lavish temples – and one emperor ruled over this vast, and wealthy, kingdom. For decades, archeologists and historians have been searching in vain for the tomb of the last Incan emperor, Atahualpa, and it appears that it may have finally been found in the Sigchos canton, located in the Cotopaxi Province of Ecuador. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/quevedo-the-heart-of-ecuadors-agriculture 2012-03-01T02:48:44-06:00 en Editor Features Located in the Los Rios Province of Ecuador, and serving as the administrative and commercial center of the Quevedo Canton, the city of Quevedo was founded in 1943. This bustling city of more than 173,000 residents is reported to be one of the fastest growing cities in the country. As the intersection for all major roads in the region, including the Pan-American highway, Quevedo is an important commercial and logistics link between cities such as Ambato and Quito in the Andes highlands, and the coastal cities of Guayaquil, Manta and Santa Domingo. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/canoa-sun-surf-and-sand 2012-02-16T02:02:31-06:00 en Editor Features The fishing village of Canoa, located on the Pacific coastline in the Manabi Province of Ecuador, is a superb destination for travelers who enjoy an off-the-beaten-track holiday experience. Although Canoa is becoming more well-known with tourists, it still retains its small town charm where visitors can mingle with locals in a laid-back atmosphere. Located along the main highway between the northern beaches of Esmeraldas and Bahía de Caráquez, a bus service runs between San Vicente and Canoa with frequent trips being made between 6am and 9pm daily, making it a popular option for traveling to and from the village. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/pawkar-raymi-celebrating-gifts-from-mother-earth 2012-02-02T05:33:54-06:00 en Editor Features 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. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/support-andean-condor-conservation-and-rehabilitation 2012-01-18T03:06:35-06:00 en Editor Features 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. http://www.ecuador.com/blog/colorful-festivals-in-the-village-of-pintag 2012-01-05T02:55:05-06:00 en Editor Features 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.