Ecuador - Pics - Tripatini2024-03-28T22:52:24Zhttps://tripatini.com/photo/feed/tag/EcuadorA view of Quito's historic, picturesque old townhttps://tripatini.com/photo/old-town-el-panecillo-quito-ecuador-unesco2023-07-07T14:34:03.000Z2023-07-07T14:34:03.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131559698?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Dating back to the 16th century, the capital's hilly historic center (and the very first UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared in 1978) is one of Latin America's largest and best preserved. Here in the background is El Panecillo (Bread Roll) Hill, crowned by a 1975 statue of the Virgin Mary.</p>
<p> </p></div>A Quito old town street scene with Basilica del Voto Nacionalhttps://tripatini.com/photo/basilica-del-voto-nacional-national-vow-church-quito-ecuador2023-07-07T14:32:11.000Z2023-07-07T14:32:11.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131559289?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The "Basilica of the National Vow" - the Western Hemisphere's largest neo-Gothic basilica - was begun in 1892 but not consecrated till 1988, and technically still remains unfinished. Local legend has it that when it is, the end of the world will come - so maybe that's why they haven't gotten around to it?</p>
<p> </p></div>A view of Quito's Independence Squarehttps://tripatini.com/photo/plaza-grande-independencia-independence-square-quito-ecuador2023-07-07T14:30:25.000Z2023-07-07T14:30:25.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131558288?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The main hub of the old town, the Plaza de la Independencia (locally better known as Plaza Grande), dates back to the early 17th century; major buildings flanking it include Carondelet Palace (seat of Ecuador's government), the Metropolitan Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace, the city hall, and the Plaza Grande Hotel.</p>
<p> </p></div>Guayaquil independence celebration in Quito's Plaza de la Independenciahttps://tripatini.com/photo/quito-plaza-de-la-independencia-guayaquil-independence-day2023-07-07T14:27:12.000Z2023-07-07T14:27:12.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131557691?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>I happened to be in town for the pomp and circumstance - not for national independence day (that's August 10) but rather the date when in 1820 the city and province of Guayaquil declared its independence from Spain, which is celebrated throughout the country because it was a key moment, two years before the country as a whole got its independence.</p></div>Sweet cold treat seller in Quito's Plaza de la Independenciahttps://tripatini.com/photo/ice-cream-seller-plaza-de-la-independencia-quito-ecuador2023-07-07T14:26:03.000Z2023-07-07T14:26:03.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131557094?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>It's not quite ice cream, but it's pretty tasty.</p></div>The gilded interior of Quito's Jesuit churchhttps://tripatini.com/photo/company-of-jesus-jesuit-church-quito-ecuador2023-07-07T14:24:31.000Z2023-07-07T14:24:31.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131556892?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The mostly Baroque Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (widely known locally as simply La Compañía) was built between 1605 and 1785. Baroque indeed...</p></div>A family on church steps in Quito's old townhttps://tripatini.com/photo/quito-ecuador-family-on-church-steps2023-07-07T14:22:30.000Z2023-07-07T14:22:30.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131556287?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Many of the locals hang out in various places around town, and I thought this was a nice, intimate little snapshot.</p></div>A fruit seller in Quito's old townhttps://tripatini.com/photo/fruit-seller-quito-ecuador2023-07-07T14:20:39.000Z2023-07-07T14:20:39.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131556258?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The enterprising locals are always selling something on these streets - in this case limes and I think pomegranates.</p></div>Straddling the Equator at the Mitad del Mundohttps://tripatini.com/photo/equator-mitad-del-mundo-ecuador2023-07-07T14:08:32.000Z2023-07-07T14:08:32.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131553657?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Located a just 15 minutes outside Quito (though results may vary according to traffic), "Middle of the World City" includes a big granite monument, a number of cheesy photo ops like this, and an "ethnographic" museum highlighting Ecuador's pre-Columbian cultures.</p></div>The 'egg challenge' at Ecuador's Mitad del Mundohttps://tripatini.com/photo/egg-balancing-mitad-del-mundo-ecuador2023-07-07T14:06:53.000Z2023-07-07T14:06:53.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12131553276?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>On a visit several years ago I tried my hand at one of the gimmicks set up at "Middle of the World City" outside Quito: balancing an egg on the head of a nail - supposedly more doable here because of the Coriolis Effect or some damn thing. Word is, it makes no difference - but hey, I'm all about cheesy photo ops, so whatever...</p>
<p> </p></div>Incan handicrafts in Ecuador's Otovalo markethttps://tripatini.com/photo/incan-street-market-otovalo-ecuador2023-05-31T14:52:09.000Z2023-05-31T14:52:09.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11194932065?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In this town two hours south of Quito, it's a labyrinth of shops where you can find fabrics of different colours, clothing, hats, crafts that make excellent gifts, and all manner of knickknacks. Textiles are the star, as there's a long tradition dating back to the times of the Incan empire. Locals have developed a whole technology and textile industry, as you can clearly see in any one of the hundreds of stands in the market. Most famous is the Otavalo <em><strong>casimir</strong></em>, a kind of cashmere that is prized throughout the world – though it is here, of course, that you will find the very finest, for the best price.<br /><br />Read more in our post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/the-atmospheric-incan-market-of-otavalo-ecuador" target="_blank">The Atmospheric Incan Market of Otovalo, Ecuador</a>.</p><p> </p></div>Overseas Adventure Travel a tour operator standout in responsible travelhttps://tripatini.com/photo/overseas-adventure-travel-responsible-green-eco-tour-operators2023-02-17T10:22:09.000Z2023-02-17T10:22:09.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10968698881?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><a href="https://www.oattravel.com/" target="_blank"><strong>OAT</strong></a>, part of the <strong><a href="https://www.gct.com/" target="_blank">Grand Circle Corporation</a></strong> family of companies, connects customers with the people and cultures of destinations around the world (such as <strong>Ecuador</strong>'s <strong>Galapagos Islands</strong> (pictured here), working to convey knowledge of and respect for local communities as well as supporting a variety of enterprises, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship projects. And when it comes to natural areas, OAT stresses sustainable transport, with an emphasis on environmental conservation and improving the well-being of the locals; among other things, in communities it visits, the company supports water and sanitation projects, co-ops, orphanages, and other organizations (to cite just one example, it helped fund construction of a women’s center in <strong>Morocco</strong>).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Victor Block</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/responsible-travel-companies-environmental-protection-ecotourism"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Travel/Hospitality Companies Which Are Taking a Lead in Environmental Protection</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Scuba Diving, Bartholome Island, Ecuadorhttps://tripatini.com/photo/scuba-diving-bartholome-island-ecuador2011-10-14T22:37:42.000Z2011-10-14T22:37:42.000ZNicholas Kontishttps://tripatini.com/members/NicholasKontis<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010787682?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Scuba Diving, Bartholome Island, Ecuador</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-62011-09-22T17:51:35.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:35.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010772066?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-52011-09-22T17:51:31.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:31.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010768063?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-42011-09-22T17:51:27.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:27.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010775462?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-32011-09-22T17:51:23.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:23.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010767871?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-22011-09-22T17:51:19.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:19.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010767465?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-1-12011-09-22T17:51:15.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:15.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010766500?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)https://tripatini.com/photo/travelslut-does-the-galapagos-islands-of-ecuador-12011-09-22T17:51:11.000Z2011-09-22T17:51:11.000ZAnn, TShttps://tripatini.com/members/AnnTS<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010779263?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>TravelSlut does the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador (1)</div>humming, la pazhttps://tripatini.com/photo/humming-la-paz2010-07-26T20:55:20.000Z2010-07-26T20:55:20.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010149872?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Hummingbird at La Paz Reserve, Mindo Ecuador</div>grn irid hummer la pazhttps://tripatini.com/photo/grn-irid-hummer-la-paz2010-07-26T20:55:20.000Z2010-07-26T20:55:20.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010149491?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Hummingbird at La Paz Reserve, Mindo, Ecuador</div>mountain tanager, la paz reserverhttps://tripatini.com/photo/mountain-tanager-la-paz2010-07-26T20:55:19.000Z2010-07-26T20:55:19.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010149468?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>caretaker at feeding station, La Paz Reserve, Mindo, Ecuador</div>blue irid humming, la pazhttps://tripatini.com/photo/blue-irid-humming-la-paz2010-07-26T20:55:17.000Z2010-07-26T20:55:17.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010149455?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Hummingbird in La Paz Reserve</div>bird reservehttps://tripatini.com/photo/bird-reserve2010-07-26T20:37:33.000Z2010-07-26T20:37:33.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010148886?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>La Paz reserve,Mindo</div>maria the divahttps://tripatini.com/photo/maria-the-diva2010-07-26T20:37:32.000Z2010-07-26T20:37:32.000ZJacquie Whitthttps://tripatini.com/members/JacquieWhitt<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9010148865?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Giant antpitta, "Maria"La Paz Reserve, Mindo</div>Girls Dance Troupe, Chugchilán, Ecuadorhttps://tripatini.com/photo/girls-dance-troupe-chugchilan2009-10-09T23:50:47.000Z2009-10-09T23:50:47.000ZAndres Hammerman - Black Sheephttps://tripatini.com/members/AndresHammermanBlackSheep<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9009615479?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>Ages 8 to 12, the dance troupe performs traditional dance in native costumes</div>