Rainforest in ecuador – tena travelogue Maria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZwiQzmFEv8Have you ever visited the RAINFOREST IN ECUADOR? discover the TENA TRAVEL REPORT with me.Tena is known as a rainforest city. The capital of the province Napo is an ideal starting point to explore the Selva, the tropical rainforest in Ecuador. The journey took me to beautiful places […]
Carnival in Ecuador: How to celebrate in Ambato SOLEQMASTER There are two cities in Ecuador where carnival is a must: Ambato and Guaranda! The two cities are so to speak the capitals of carnival in Ecuador. But carnival here in Ecuador is not celebrated as you might maybe know it… This blog is about Ambato: […]
Volcán Ilaló: easy day hike close to Quito Angela The city of Quito has a truly unique location. Not only it has an altitude of 2.850 meters and is very close to the equator: the city is also surrounded by 14 volcanoes. This ensures endless possibilities for spectacular hikes, at just a short distance from […]
Galapagos Cruise Travelogue Dorit Western Galapagos Island Cruise Part II Discover my GALAPAGOS CRUISE TRAVELOGUE: We have already reported on the first days of our Galapagos Cruise. Also the second part of our trip to the western route Galapagos Islands was amazing and full of exciting experiences! Puerto Villamil and tortoise breeding centre In the […]
The Mojanda lagoons – in the spectacular landscape of the Fuya Fuya volcano SOLEQMASTER Approximately 17 kilometers from the small town of Otavalo in northern Ecuador are the four lagoons of Mojanda. They lie embedded in the spectacular mountain landscape at the foot of the Fuya Fuya volcano. The team of SOLEQ.travel made an excursion […]
Galapagos Islands Travelogue SOLEQMASTER Western Galapagos Island Cruise Part I Discover my GALAPAGOS ISLANDS TRAVELOGUE: The Galapagos Islands represent a unique and diverse flora and fauna. Located approximately 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, the harmony of nature and wildlife offers a breathtaking scenery. With the Catamaran Archipelago I we travelled the western route […]
Wildlife and Activities in the Mashpi Lodge Ecuador Dorit Hansen How do you get to Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador’s cloud forest? How does Mashpi Lodge contribute to cloud forest protection in Ecuador? And how many waterfalls are there at Mashpi? We answer these questions in the first part of the travel report about Mashpi Lodge. […]
Between Montañita and Puerto López: the southern coast of Ecuador SOLEQMASTER The two small towns of Puerto López and Montañita are about 45 kilometers from one another on the southern coast of Ecuador. The vegetation in this region is similar to that of the Galapagos Islands. On long sandy beaches you can observe crabs, pelicans, […]
Andean bears in the north of Ecuador SOLEQMASTER At 2 pm we started our tour from the office – this time to the north of Ecuador. It will be one of our most diverse excursions! Because from the warm temperatures at Pimampiro in the Valle de Chota at only 1.300 meters the tour led us […]
A Trip from Quito to Patate SOLEQMASTER What do you do in Quito when you’re cold? My mother-in-law is quite “friolenta” – that she feels cold is a permanent condition, so to speak! When she once again complained about the cold in Quito, we decided to take her on a trip to the warmth. Only […]
The Mashpi Lodge – paradise in the cloud forest of Ecuador Dorit Hansen The five-star Mashpi Lodge is located in the middle of the cloud forest of Ecuador. In addition to its luxurious and modern facilities, it offers numerous activities to experience the fascinating nature surrounding the lodge during adventurous explorations. What activities does Mashpi […]
Christmas at Refugio de los Sueños SOLEQMASTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr2Aj5ceYIg Since many years SOLEQ.travel has been supporting the day care center Refugio de los Sueños (“Refuge of Dreams”), a social project for neglected and socially disadvantaged children in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This year 120 children and 15 Ecuadorian and international helpers attended the Christmas celebration. […]
Mindo-WHAT TO DO – birds, nature and adventures DOMINIK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH7Fwj5aBTA Mindo is often associated with the unique cloud forest, the flora fauna and the adventurous activities. It is even called a paradise for bird-watcher, nature and adventures. Soleq.travel set off to Mindo for a weekend and wants to have a look at their own! How […]
OTAVALO – WHAT TO DO DOMINIK Otavalo is often associated only with the large market that is held there on Saturdays. I wanted to know if there was anything more to discover there and so I set off. Here I share my experiences with you: How did I get there? Where did I stay? How […]
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK WITH THE SOLEQ FAMILY DOMINIK The Soleq Family decided to have a one-day trip to the Cotopaxi National park. I just recently joined them as the new Intern. Therefore, I was excited as they asked me to join them on this trip. During my first two weeks in Ecuador I was exploring […]
NATIONAL PARKS IN ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER Cotacachi Cayapas The Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve is located close to Otavalo. One of the National Parks in Ecuador. A reserve known for the Laguna Cuichocha. Because of a high altitude it offers different biological zones. The national park ranges between 200 to 4000 meters. Here you will find yourself […]
HOW ECUADORIAN CEVICHE IS COOKED SOLEQMASTER Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche is one of the most popular and tasted dishes not only from the coast but from the entire Ecuador. Therefore we want to show you how you can easily do this at home! So you can serve it so friends and family. To prepare this delicious […]
TRAVELING WITH SOLEQ.TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SOLEQMASTER Sustainability has a high value for the SOLEQ family. We participate in certain projects or institutions. The following article talks about some parts of this mission. Read why traveling with SOLEQ.travel is good for the environment! During each voyage with a motorized means of transport, CO2 is […]
A WEEKEND IN BAÑOS – The Adventure Capital of the Andes SOLEQMASTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy-yo9nkPZc&t=13s What do you know about Baños? What do you know about the so called adventure capital of South America? Do you know about the variety of all the sport activities or the nature? No worries, all the answers will be in this […]
BETWEEN THE CLOUDS – YANACOCHA RESERVE SOLEQMASTER If you thought you’d already seen everything in Quito and believed that there were no new places to go, well, you are wrong! There exists a magical place full of beautiful landscapes with spectacular flora and fauna, hidden among the clouds. And the most important thing is, it […]
A HIKE AROUND THE CUICOCHA CRATER LAKE MARIA A WEEKEND IN OTAVALO I decided to circle the Cuicocha crater lake – or at least I wanted to try it. I had been there before but never walked around completely. So, this was still on my to do list for Ecuador. Cuicocha is situated near the […]
SOCIAL PROJECT REFUGIO DE LOS SUEÑOS – ACHIEVED GOALS AND ONGOING SUPPORT SOLEQMASTER It was a great joy for me to see how the inner courtyards of the social project Refugio de los Sueños were covered with zinc roofs (work that began in March 2017). We´ve been supporting this center since 2015 in corporation with […]
ZOO, GUAYARTE AND MANGLARES CHURUTE – A WEEKEND IN GUAYAQUIL MARIA It’s been a while since our last blog entry and first of all we wish you all the best for this new year. We have been pretty busy during the holidays and the first weeks of the year but finally I found some time […]
GALAPAGOS EXPERIENCES – 6 DAYS IN THE ARCHIPELAGO (PART ONE) ALEXANDRA At the beginning of October, Alexandra, our travel advisor, went to the Galapagos Islands for a couple of days with a group of students to oversee logistics. During her time there, she spent 3 days on Santa Cruz island and 3 days on the […]
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ON TWO GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DAYANA volcanic origin The Galapagos Islands are of volcanic origin. This property of the islands can still be felt today. For current reasons, we would like to inform you about the actual situation on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina regarding volcanic activity. This way we hope to eliminate […]
PARKS AND SQUARES – THE GREEN LUNGS OF QUITO SOLEQMASTER The capital of Ecuador is, with around 2.6 million inhabitants, the second largest city in the country. The traffic is immense, as many people move daily to work, to buy or to sell and back home. Especially in south-north direction – in the morning – […]
ECUADOR FOR VEGETARIANS – TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MARIA Ecuador for Vegetarians – Tips and recommendiations When you are a vegetarian and traveling through Ecuador your first impression might be that you will starve. There is meat everywhere. But don’t worry, when you get to know the Ecuadorean cuisine better, you will notice that there is […]
WATER SPORTS IN GALAPAGOS – A KAYAK EXPEDITION EXPERIENCE SOLEQMASTER One day, I saw a video on TV about a group of people who were making a kayak tour on the sea and I thought, this looks exciting as I like adrenalin and to be alone facing such a marvellous scenery. Finally this eagerly awaited […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART THREE) ESTEBAN last day Follow me on my last part: FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART THREE) I felt a little bit of anxiety since today was our last trekking day to reach the Quilotoa Lagoon and I didn’t want to […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART TWO) ESTEBAN Beginning the day Welcome to my second day: FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART TWO) I woke up very early in the morning, it was cold and after such a great experience outdoors it felt like my room was […]
FINDING REAL REWARDS – A QUILOTOA LOOP TREK EXPERIENCE (PART ONE) ESTEBAN One of the most famous destinations in Ecuador, yet not that crowded is the Quilotoa Lagoon. Most travelers like to go there straight and comfortably in a bus or car and take some pictures, but we decided to take a longer way to […]
MY TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS IN MINDO DAYANA When I heard that Mindo is located in the cloud forest, I had no idea what to expect because that should be my first time visiting one. In fact it is a type of evergreen rain forest on an altitude of 900 to 2.500 meters with an enormously […]
ÉL ÁNGEL – the most unknown national park DAYANA The Ecuadorian Andes offer a great variety of attractions from volcano climbing and hiking to horseback riding, canyoning, rafting or canopy. But there are also lesser known places just as beautiful. One of them is the ecological reserve of El Ángel, close to the Colombian border. […]
FAMILY WEEKEND ESCAPE TO THE COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK CLOSE TO QUITO DAYANA Just an hour and a half driving from Quito heading south there is a special place where you find one of the most visited volcanoes in Ecuador. It is the National Park Cotopaxi, with more than 33 thousand hectares. Another way to get there […]
ECUADORIAN FOOD – FLAVOURS YOU CAN ONLY FIND IN ECUADOR DAYANA Ecuador is a compendium of landscapes, climates, species of flora and fauna and of the most exquisite flavours. What’s better after a stressful day than to end it with a typical drink, accompanied by a dessert? We invite you to try Ecuadorian food! Canelazo […]
CAROLINA PARK – A PARK OF FIVE WORLDS ESTEBAN What do you know about the CAROLINA PARK – A PARK OF FIVE WORLDS. The beautiful metropolitan capital city of Ecuador holds a little place in order to escape the busy office and finance life of the Quiteños: the Carolina Park. Today I would like to […]
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT THE ECUADORIAN COAST DAYANA Getting there As I was born at the coast, I am completely addicted to the ocean. Therefore, when I arrived to Ecuador it was clear for me to visit the Ecuadorian coast as soon as possible. Actually, we wanted to go to Olón but in the end […]
FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE INCAS IN THE ECUADORIAN ANDES DAYANA Last weekend the SOLEQ.Travel team went on an excursion to the Ecuadorian province Cañar to check out the Inca Trail. Come with us and FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE INCAS IN THE ECUADORIAN ANDES. Preparation Before our hiking trip there were a couple of things […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – USEFUL TIPS AND TRICKS DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands. My last articles were about the experience I had on the three […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA SAN CRISTÓBAL DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands.The current blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on the secluded […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA ISABELA DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands.The current blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on the secluded archipelago […]
ISLAND HOPPING IN THE GALAPAGOS – ISLA SANTA CRUZ DAYANA Swimming with turtles, sea lions and sharks, sun bathing on a beautiful secluded beach, eating fresh lobster and watching a amazing sunsets – all in one day? That’s life on the Galapagos Islands. The following blog posts will all be dedicated to my experiences on […]
FIESTA DE LA LUZ – QUITO’S OLD TOWN SHOWS ITS MOST COLORFUL SIDE DAYANA Last week starting on August 9th to August 13th Quito lightened up for the second edition of the Fiesta De La Luz (festival of light). Of course the SOLEQ.Travel team didn’t want to miss the opportunity to attend this amazing event. […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – LAST STOP NILS A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual giant. Therefore, it was clear from the beginning that prior preparation is needed. […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – THIRD STOP ILINIZA NORTE NILS Come with me to THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – THIRD STOP ILINIZA NORTE. A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – SECOND STOP IMBABURA NILS Come with me to THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – SECOND STOP IMBABURA. A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6300 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual […]
THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – FIRST STOP RUMIÑAHUI NILS Come with me to THE ROAD TO CHIMBORAZO – FIRST STOP RUMIÑAHUI. A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I decided that we wanted to attempt climbing Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo. With an altitude of 6268 meters above sea level this mountain is an actual […]
LAS CUEVAS DE LOS TAYOS – AN INCREDIBLE CAVE EXPEDITION NILS adventure of a life time Last weekend I embarked on an adventure of a life time. Diego and I were investigating options for possible tours on the way from Tena to Loja in eastern Ecuador. During our search we found a tour which offers […]
DAYTRIP TO GUAMOTE – A Memorable DAY in Ecuador DAYANA DAYTRIP TO GUAMOTE Our intern went for a daytrip to Guamote – A Memorable Day Trip in Ecuador. Last week, we got an invitation from the Inti Sisa Art Guesthouse to visit their hotel in Guatome. Guamote is a little mountain village in central Ecuador, […]
Ecuadorian Coffee History – 4th largest amount of coffee in the world DAYANA If you’ve visited Ecuador, you might have been served the type of instant coffee that is popular among Ecuadorians; Nescafe. I’ve been a proud drinker of good coffees since I was sixteen, so I almost spit out the first coffee I bought […]
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: ALL YOU NEED IS ECUADOR! DAYANA Christmas and Hanukkah are around the corner, and you’ve probably been too busy traveling to think about what presents to get your like-minded traveling family and friends. Or maybe you just miss Ecuador so much that you want a perfectly curated list to send to your […]
JOURNEY TO PEGUCHE WATERFALL DAYANA A few weeks ago, I made the journey to the most famous waterfall in northern Ecuador, Peguche Waterfall (or Cascadas de Peguche). It is located only 15 minutes from the beautiful market town of Otavalo, and easily accessible by bus or taxi. I decided to take a bus, so I walked […]
CHICHA: ECUADOR’S ANCIENT BEER DAYANA Chicha is a drink native to Latin America that first appeared during the aboriginal/pre-Colombian period, around 5000 BCE. It is essentially a corn-based beer, although corn can be substituted for quinoa depending on the region in Ecuador. The Incas discovered that saliva could be used to trigger the fermentation process […]
TRADITIONAL ECUADORIAN DRINKS AND DESSERTS DAYANA Ecuador is becoming a popular foodie destination because of its delicious cuisine, but sometimes less attention paid to its traditional drinks. Energy-packed days of adventure will make you want to sit back, relax, and taste some of the traditional Ecuadorian drinks and desserts, which are just as varied and […]
THE FIRST CALL FOR INDEPENDENCE ASTRID On August 10, 1809 Quito was the place of the first revolt against Spain in Latin America. A group of criollos (people of Spanish descent but born in the South American colonies) declared their independence from the Spanish. They formed an independent government junta and signed a document which […]
ECUADORIAN DANCES – have a passion for dancing! DAYANA Ever since I was little, I have always loved to dance. When I was a teenager I danced especially Standard, Hip Hop and Jazz. When I finally knew that I will go to Ecuador, I was willing to learn the Ecuadorian dances and traditional music. The […]
YASUNI: PARADISE IN DANGER DAYANA The Yasuni is part of Ecuador’s Amazon region and is among the most biodiverse areas of the world.Read why Yasuni, a part of Ecuadors Amazon Paradise, is in Danger. The Yasuni Because of the unique environment the Yasuni in Peril is world famous. Even the UNESCO recognized the Amazon area for its ecological and […]
THE GALAPAGOS ALBATROSS SOLEQMASTER The waved albatross, also known as the Galapagos albatross, is the only member if the Diomedeidae which is located in the tropical regions. Description These albatrosses are medium sized, measuring 80 to 90 centimeters in length and a possible wingspan of 220 to 250 centimeters. In terms of weight they range […]
TRÁNSITO AMAGUAÑA – A FIGHTER FOR INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ASTRID Tránsito Amaguaña – a fighter for indigenos rights, was one of Ecuador’s most important indigenous leaders, who is until today remembered and honored. She was born on September 10, 1909 close to Cayambe. Her parents lived and worked on a hacienda. They worked for the owners […]
CALDERAS IN ECUADOR – special types of volcano crater DAYANA Volcanoes can be threatening. But volcanoes can also be amazing, beautiful, unique, and impressive. Ecuador has one of the highest densities of volcanoes of all countries in the world. Especially the so-called Avenue of the Volcanoes in the Andes of Ecuador is peppered with several […]
OUR FAVORITE MUSEUMS IN ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER You can find many different museums in Ecuador. From tiny community-run exhibitions to pompous art museums of the so-called Quito school, there is a museum for every taste. The staff of SOLEQ.travel ranked their favorite museums in Ecuador. Unfortunately the National Museum with the famous Gold Room is currently […]
ANDEAN MUSIC – have a passion for music DAYANA Music is the art of mixing sounds, and expressing feelings and emotions. It is proven that people have created music from the beginning of time. The history of music begins with the Egyptian Culture. They used instruments that were very difficult to use and to build, […]
QUITO’S AMAZONAS AVENUE DAYANA History of the Amazonas Avenue Before the 19th century, what today is the Amazonas Avenue were ample green areas that were used to cultivate Andean crops. With the population and businesses growing, wealthy families started moving to the areas north of the city center and the sector of the Amazonas Avenue […]
ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS WITH KIDS? DAYANA A tour to Ecuador and the Galapagos with kids is quite a big thing when you come from Germany, considering that the international flight takes about 15 hours. As our kids, 4 years and 10 months old, are quite easy, we thought we might try it and we […]
THE GOLD HILL OF ZARUMA SOLEQMASTER Pre-colonial times Let’s dive into the history of THE GOLD HILL OF ZARUMA together. The beginning of the exploitation of gold in the province of El Oro goes back to pre-colonial times. In Zaruma, located in the province’s highlands in Ecuador’s coastal region, the discovery of gold veins brought […]
VOLCANOES IN ECUADOR DAYANA Being among the summits of the volcanoes in Ecuador is no doubt an unforgettable experience. Perhaps you don’t know that each mountain is hiding curious legends, and that those have been told by grandparents from generation to generation. We believe that the mountains are not simple land formations, but more than […]
10 HIDDEN ECUADOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS DAYANA Many people who visit our country get to see the typical Ecuador tourist attractions: Quito, the Cotopaxi Volcano, the market in Otavalo, and of course the Galapagos Islands. Of course they are all amazing, but we want to share with you some places that are not very well-known. Check out our team’s […]
A VISIT TO OUR SOCIAL PROJECT DAYANA As is a SOLEQ.travel tradition, I was able to visit our social project – the Refugio de los Sueños – last week with some of my colleagues. This way I was able to see where the money goes that we donate to the foundation – every one of […]
THE ANDEAN CONDOR – A Symbol of the Skies in ECUADOR DAYANA The Lion is the king of the animals. The ruler of the land, without any natural enemies. But there is also a lion of the air: the condor. Unchallenged and undisputed. The Andean Condor has also no natural enemy, there is no other […]
LA FANESCA – A TRADITIONAL ECUADORIAN DISH DAYANA The traditional dish “Fanesca” is usually prepared to be eaten and enjoyed during Lent. The most typical day to eat this dish on is Good Friday. The origin There are many different narrations about the origin of this dish. One of these narrations says that in the […]
HIKING IN THE ANDES OF ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER Thinking about Ecuador the first thing that comes to your mind might be the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon. But at the same time it is also a perfect destination for hikers. In the Andes of Ecuador you find numerous mountains and volcanoes you can climb, suitable not […]
FRUITS OF ECUADOR – come to the local market DAYANA When I first arrived to Ecuador, one of the first things I did was head to the supermarket to buy all the fruits of Ecuador I had never seen before. I should have gone to the local market where the fruit is much better (and […]
SOLEQ.TRAVEL’S TRIP TO RIOBAMBA DAYANA The team of SOLEQ.travel took a weekend to the Riobamba area to share a lot of new experiences together. We took the opportunity to look for new tourist attractions that so far we had not visited in order to determine whether they will become a part of our tour itineraries […]
JEWISH EXILE IN ECUADOR ASTRID The well-known destinations for German Jewish refugees during the Holocaust were the United States, England, Switzerland, or other neighboring countries that seemed safe before the war began. However, it was actually difficult to get a visa for the US, and with the beginning of the war it became even harder […]
HORSEBACK RIDING FOR BEGINNERS IN ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER A great way to explore Ecuador’s stunning nature is on the back of a horse. There might just be a small problem: some people (like me for example) are not experienced riders. We may have some difficulties to completely trust an animal twice as huge as themselves. But […]
HONEYMOON IN ECUADOR ASTRID Would your perfect honeymoon be in an all-inclusive beach resort, where you do nothing but lie besides the pool the whole day? Then Ecuador is definitely not the destination for you. But if you’re looking for that wonderful combination of romantic hotels, breathtaking landscapes, adventurous activities and marvelous encounters, then a […]
A JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH OF ECUADOR SOLEQMASTER Working and living in the northern part of Ecuador we are sometimes not that aware of what the southern part of the country has to offer. So I started exploring. Cuenca A long weekend is a good starting point to head south, for example to Cuenca. It […]
COLOMBIA – A COUNTRY BETWEEN TWO OCEANS DAYANA Being in Ecuador I have always been curious to get to know our neighboring country Colombia. The majority of people who visited loved it there, so we decided to go. Experience Colombia with us – a country between two oceans. Cali Our first stop was Cali – also […]
A MIND(O)BLOWING EXPERIENCE SOLEQMASTER You are addicted to speed, heights and nature? You love the feeling of wind blowing in your face, of rushing down a rapid stream, of being surrounded by lush green hills? Then your next travel destination should definitely be Mindo! This small, charming town in the cloud forest of the Ecuadorian […]
highly rated SPORTS IN ECUADOR DAYANA ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HIGHLY RATED SPORTS IN ECUADOR Concerning Sports in Ecuador, there is a lot to say about. Haske tells us about his experiences in Quito.“Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved watching and participating in sports. Several times per week […]
OTAVALO – FAR MORE THAN JUST A MARKET SOLEQMASTER The market Spices, food, jewelry, leather bags, belts, scarfs, and other clothes in every imaginable color – you can find all of this at the huge indigenous market in Otavalo. It is a daily market held on Poncho Square, but on Saturdays it also expands to […]
HOLIDAYS: CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S IN QUITO DAYANA Christmas in Quito After a hopefully successful year for all of you, it is time to find a relaxing end of 2015. Here in Quito we have our own traditions concerning holidays. The “Quiteños” – citizens of Quito – already at the beginning of December take time […]
The Cacao Boom in Ecuador ASTRID Cacao had been known and used by the indigenous cultures of South and Central America for centuries. In 1502, Columbus saw his first cacao beans. Thinking they were almonds he was not really interested in them. It took almost 50 more years, before the first cacao beans reached Europe and […]
GOOD, BETTER, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS SOLEQMASTER Have you ever seen tortoises as big as you? Have you ever swum with sharks? Have you ever sat on the beach next to sleeping sea lions? Galapagos makes it possible! The Galapagos Islands They emerged around four million years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. They are located […]
FESTIVITIES OF QUITO DAYANA The festivities of San Francisco de Quito … are celebrated to remember the foundation of the city. It was on December 6 in the year 1534 that Quito was founded by Sebastian de Benalcazar, in the same place where it is today. In August of the same year, a city was […]
HORSEBACK RIDING IN PULULAHUA DAYANA This weekend I decided to do a Horseback Riding Tour in Pululahua with my friends. About one and a half hours away from Quito, in the middle of the Pululahua Volcano’s crater, a wonderful horse ranch is located. It offers fabulous horseback riding tours from one to eight days. How […]
THE PEACEFUL AMAZON RAINFOREST- CUYABENO LODGE DAYANA Welcome to the Amazon Rainforest! Imagine yourself sitting in a canoe, surrounded by sounds of monkeys, insects and birds, feeling the warm sun´s rays on your skin and watching the beautiful untouched nature. You are on the way to Cuyabeno Lodge which is located in the Cuyabeno National […]
THE DAY OF THE DEAD IN ECUADOR – TRADITIONS DAYANA For the Ecuadorians, each year November 2 is the day to commemorate in different ways the Day of the Dead. The “Día de los Muertos” which was celebrated in Ecuador last week is an old tradition since pre-Inca times. In pre-Inca times In pre-Inca times […]
The Quilotoa Loop, a hike around the Crater Lake SOLEQMASTER Today we show you one of many impressive destinations for a nice hike in the Ecuadorian Andes. If you are looking for a perfect day trip from Quito, we recommend going to Quilotoa, where you can hike the Quilotoa loop or just hike around the crater […]
Baños – A Place full of Adventures DAYANA Read all about my weekend in BAÑOS – A PLACE FULL OF ADVENTURES here: Last weekend my friends and I went to Baños, a little town in the Ecuadorian Andes about three and a half hours south of Quito. It is famous for its hot springs, the […]
THE KICHWA LANGUAGE official language in many Latin American countries ASTRID Today, as many people celebrate the “Indigenous Peoples Day” we want to give you an insight a language spoken in the Amazon of Ecuador: The language of the Kichwa. The indigenous people of this culture, who originally are from the highlands, have lived for […]
Northern Ecuador and a Magical Fores DAYANA Getting to know something new in the beauty of creation always causes indescribable curiosity. This thirst and spirit for adventure evolves, so that I and my friends decided to travel to the Northern Ecuadorian Highlands. First stop: Cayambe The mountains with their amazing natural colors attracted our attention. […]
AFRO-ECUADORIAN HISTORY ASTRID Today we want to share information with you about Afro-Ecuadorian history. Especially the Northern Ecuadorian Coast is home for many Ecuadorians of African ancestry. Their history is quite fascinating and their cultural roots can be found until today in their traditions and customs. Many of today’s Afro-Ecuadorian population are still descendants of […]
WHALE WATCHING – AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE DAYANA I hope the next lines describe my feeling, have fun reading: Whale Watching – an Unforgettable Experience On the first weekend in September me and my friends from Quito went to Ecuador’s Coast – Puerto Lopez. Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of seeing humpback […]
ECUADORIAN BIKE ADVENTURE AT MOUNT ANTISANA SOLEQMASTER If you are looking for some challenging adventure and fun, a bike tour to the Antisana, Ecuador’s fourth highest mountain, is a great option. With its 5,704 meters (18,714 feet), it presents one of the most challenging technical climbs and tours in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our tour started […]
INTERNATIONAL COFFEE DAY ASTRID Today (September, 29th) is International Coffee Day! Did you know that coffee is an Arabic word? It’s “qahwa” and means “stimulating drink.” It was discovered in the 9th century in Ethiopia in the region of Kaffa and arrived to Arabia because of the slave trade in the 16th century. The process […]
PUERTO LOPEZ – A PARADISE ON THE PACIFIC COAST DAYANA Last weekend I wanted to spend some days on the beach and decided to go to Puerto Lopez – a wonderful place on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast that offers a perfect combination of relaxing near the ocean and doing different interesting day activities. When I arrived […]
Floreana, a Book Review ASTRID If you hear “Galapagos”, you will probably think about giant tortoises and iguanas, and Darwin and his theory of evolution. But there’s another side to the Galapagos Islands that is less known yet absolutely fascinating: the history of the islands’ first settlers. Especially the history of the first inhabitants on […]
ANOTHER HERITAGE OF HUMANITY FOR ECUADOR, THE INCA TRAIL DAYANA Another heritage of humanity for ecuador. The Inca Trail or also named as Qhapaq Ñan is be declared as a World Heritage Site. It is therefore the fifth destination of Ecuador which is recognized by UNESCO. This Andean Route System was built by the Spanish […]