Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you're on a tight budget,
snacks
come
in handy, but avoid meat cooked on the
street and avoid hot snacks sold on public
transport. Popular treats from bakeries
include
empanadas
(meat- or cheese-filled
pastries),
tortillas de verde
(fried mashed
green bananas) or
yucca
(a local root
vegetable) and delicious
humitas
(mashed
corn with cheese wrapped in a corn husk
and steamed).
Pan de yuca
(yucca bread),
eaten with yogurt, is a common snack.
Always buy
bottled water
and never
drink from the tap. It's best to avoid ice in
cheaper places. Ecuador's abundant
tropical fruits make fresh
jugos
(juices)
and
batidos
(milkshakes) great breakfast
options. Alongside pineapple, melon,
papaya and banana are more unusual
fruits such as
naranjilla
(a sour orange)
and
tomate de árbol
(a sweet tomato).
Sodas are everywhere, while coffee is of
variable quality. The most common beers
are the standard local Pilsener and slightly
more expensive Club Verde.Whisky, rum
and the local firewater
Agua Ardiente
are
cheap and strong enough to give you a
stonking hangover.
Chicha
, made from
fermented corn or potato, is drunk by
indigenous people across Ecuador. If you
are offered some, it is generally considered
impolite to refuse. Note that when going
out at night, in Ecuador the expression
“nightclub” means brothel, so don't get
caught out! Use the word discoteque.
mountains and coast is fierce. Many
Costeños
consider
Serranos
(mountain
people) to be conservative, uptight
and two-faced.
Serranos
sometimes
call
Costeños
“monos” (monkeys) and
consider them rude, uncultured, immoral
gossips. The rivalry ranges from banter to
deep resentment.
Ecuadorians' lax attitude to time is
legendary. At social gatherings, add at
least an hour to the agreed meeting time
or bring a book and patience. However,
scheduled departures such as buses and
tours are usually punctual, so don't be
caught out.
Greetings are essential for Ecuadorians
- a kiss on each cheek for women and
a handshake between men. If you don't
know any Spanish, it's worth learning
basic greetings and pleasantries.
Tipping
is not essential in most
situations but advisable in higher-end
hotels for bellboys (50 cents to $1). If your
guide is good, show your appreciation.
Supermarket bag carriers and parking
attendants require a tip (up to $1).
6
SPORTS AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES
FOOTBALL
Football
is the number one sport in
Ecuador and watching a local match at
a stadium in Quito or Guayaquil is
unforgettable. During big matches the
cities grind to a halt. Quito has three
major teams: Liga, Nacional and
Deportivo Quito, while Guayaquil has
two: Emelec and Barcelona.
CULTURE AND ETIQUETTE
A highlight of Ecuador is the hospitable,
fun-loving people. Ecuador's population
of more than fourteen million is divided
equally between the coast and highlands,
with 5 percent in the Oriente. Some
65 percent are
mestizo
(mixed race), 25
percent indigenous, 3 percent Afro-
Ecuadorian and 7 percent white. While
many of the Indians hold on to traditional
customs and dress, the mainstream
population dress like Americans. This
aspiration has led to nearly two million
emigrants in the past twenty years.
More than ninety percent of
Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic,
although evangelical Christianity
is increasing. Rivalry between the
HIKING AND CLIMBING
The highlands' open spaces offer the
widest range of
hiking
- the Quilotoa
Loop, Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, Mindo
cloudforest, the hills around Baños,
Parque Nacional Cajas and Vilcabamba
are but a few. On the coast, Parque
Nacional Machalilla and Cordillera
Chongón near Montañita also offer
good hiking. The best
climbing
is on
Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, although
ensure you are fit, acclimatized and with
a qualified guide.
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