Ecuador

History, ecotourism, nature (including the iconic Galápagos Islands); urban scenes in Quito and Guayaquil; colonial treasures in Cuenca; adventure in Tena - and all a relative bargain!

Cover photo: Diego Delso

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Chocó´s Mindo Cloud Forest is one of "7 of the World´s Top Birdwatching Meccas"

GRID-Arendal/Joseph C. Boone A cloud forest is a tropical or subtropical forest where its always cloudy, and this one, in this country’s northwestern Andes Chocó region is another of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots, with 550-600 avian species packed into a birding zone spans of about a hundred square miles. Plate-billed mountain toucan (above left), cock-of-the-rock, tanagers, and more than 40 types of hummingbirds are highlights. Prime seasons are June–September and December–February.…

Started by Max Pesling

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Beating the devil on the "Devil´s Nose Train"

efenziIf there's a single means of transport today that most preserves some of the old-time romance of travel, it surely must be rail travel, thanks to its close-to-the-ground, human scale, and in many countries, rolling stock which is literally vintage. Latin America is a good example - though these days intercity rail travel in the region is limited, the trains still in service run through some lovely landscapes, and many are throwbacks to the past. A prime example is Ecuador's elegant Tren…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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5 highlights of Guayaquil

Paulakindsvater Founded in 1535, this country´s largest city (pop. 2.7 million) and business capital sits on the steamy Pacific coast, near where Guayas River drains into the ocean, and except for business travelers it´s not as popular a destination as, say the Galápagos, Quito, and Cuenca. But Guayaquil is still very much worth a visit, starting with this quintet of highlights: read post

Started by Tripatini

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Las Peñas, Guayaquil´s charming colonial core

Noradoa When it comes to Ecuador travel, most of the attention goes to the Galápagos and Quito - maybe with some to spare for quaint Cuenca up in the Andes. But the country’s largest city and business capital, Guayaquil down on the Pacific coast, is despite its big-city amenities still seen as rather grey and uninteresting to visitors - mostly a destination for business travellers.Even so, there’s one historic neighbourhood, tucked away at the end of Guayaquil’s reconstructed malecón (and these…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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Ed Wetschler February 19, 2010 at 6:27pm

re: Panama hats. John, you might want to contact Tom Miller, author of The Panama Hat Trail.
Sarah Clifford November 7, 2009 at 5:50pm

Dorothy, the afroEcuadorians are based mostly in Esmeraldas, on the coast in the north of Ecuador, also in the Chota Valley, more towards Ibarra. Many of the country´s best footballers come from the Chota Valley. The afroEcuadorian culture is quite distinct and the food is fantastic. Hope this is useful.
John Lamkin October 22, 2009 at 6:05am

Thanks Dorothy! Maybe I'll do the Panama hat story again :) John
Dorothy Conlon October 22, 2009 at 6:01am

Story ideas: I would love to read about the black Ecuadoreans, descendants of 18th C slaves imported to work the coastal plantations, but I believe they are centered up north in the Ibarra area. The Quichuas in Ecuador number 2 million, I'm told, and are the best politically organized, compared to Peru and Bolivia. We saw a large demonstration by Quichuas in the main square in front of the cathedral in Cuenca. Has the "Panama" hat story from Cuenca been written up enough already?
John Lamkin October 22, 2009 at 5:43am

PS, I'm writing an article on luxury real estate in and around Cuenca. Any leads will be appreciated. Thanks! John
John Lamkin September 19, 2009 at 8:02pm

Hi All, I will be traveling to Cancun, Riviera Maya and Laguna Bacalar in December-then to Cuenca, Ecuador for a month, then back to the Yucatan Peninsula for awhile. I would appreciate any story ideas, contacts, properties to look at, etc. My email is: john(at)TravelWritingAndPhotography(dot)com Thanks for your help, John