Santiago: A charming Island inside the “Encantadas”

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Nearby the Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island is found the Santiago (James) Island, located at the center of the whole Galapagos archipelago. With a size of 590 km² (366mi), this attractive place offers tourists the most charming spots to enjoy different activities.

Armed with an adventurous spirit, you will witness beautiful natural sceneries existing only in places such as the following:

•     James Bay (Puerto Egas): Located in the west side of the island, this place has a beach of black sand in which large colonies of sea lieons rest by the crystalline waters of the sea, which are perfect for swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving. Magnificent sharks, as well as a great variety of colorful little fish can be observed going deep down these waters. Behind the beach, there is a path that leads to the surroundings of the wide crater of the Pan de Azúcar volcano.

•    Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero): Found north of Puerto Egas, this place is home of a beautiful beach of brown sand and natural landscapes of large, high cliffs in which you can observe numerous species of seabirds, as if all the birds of the island had a meeting right in that spot. Long time ago, this place was used as a safe refuge for whalers, pirates and sailors.

•    Espumilla Beach: Located to the southeast of the island, this beach has quite exuberant vegetation compared to other regions of the island, which makes it the favorite nesting spot for sea turtles. If you get luck, you can witness this Nature’s unforgettable spectacle. Very close to the coast, going inside the island just a little, there is a large area of mangrove swamps, home of an endemic bird very hard to find: the Galapagos Hawk, who only a few people will get the opportunity to observe. Nearby the swamps is also a lake in where beautiful white and pink flamingoes live together with a variety of small birds.

•    Sullivan Bay: Found to the east of the island, this place has a peculiar beach of white sand in which the large colonies of fur seals can be observed. This seal species has a very sweet appearance due to the two types of fur it has, one longer than the other. Leaving the beach behind, you will find a 1.5 km (1 mile) path in which soon you will find yourself surrounded by wonderful lava fields. A place where long ago there was nothing but fire is now the home of one marvelous creature: the black marine iguana.

With places like these, Santiago is one of the most diverse and charming islands of the Galapagos. It is a central point where the most beautiful beaches of different colors, the most fascinating aquatic life, abundant vegetation and many other interesting species have gathered together. The island’s privileged location is a great starting point for visitors, since it will encourage them to keep on discovering this unique and impressive archipelago.

Photo: Villamette University

Cultural Tourism in Quito: The 4 Immortals

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They were great artists, they have become immortal, and they are Ecuadorian. They are people that managed to capture the images in their minds with great clarity, transforming their thoughts into unforgettable artworks, known all around the world. Here is a short chronological review of four of the greatest Ecuadorian artists:

1.    Caspicara, sculptor. Quito 1723-1796

His birth name was Manuel Chili, but he later changed it to Caspicara, which means “wooden face” in Quechua, his native language. His finely detailed works had a contrast between serenity and dramatic themes, reflected in astonishing religious images. He was one of the creators of the Escuela Quiteña de Arte (Quito school of art), which remains active.

His works can be visited at:
•    The San Francisco Church, at the Convent’s Museum
•    The Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Chapel, also known as the Cantuña Chapel
•    The Quito Cathedral, also known as the “Iglesia la Catedral”
•    The Quito School of Art


2.    Bernardo de Legarda, sculptor. Quito, late 17th Century -1773

His most famous work is known as the “Inmaculada”, which is one of the most representative artistic images of Ecuadorian art. It is not only beloved by Ecuadorians: its beauty made it object to several imitations throughout all South America. Legarda’s work inspired the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras to create the majestic, large-scale replica of the famous “Virgen del Panecillo”, that can be seen by anyone visiting Quito’s historical downtown.

Legarda’s works can be found at the following places:
•    The San Francisco Church, where the “Inmaculada” is found at the High Altar
•    The Santa Clara Monastery
•    The Concepción Convent

3.    Miguel de Santiago, painter. Quito, 1630-1706

He has been the subject for many legends that try to explain why he stayed inside the San Agustin Convent for such a long period of time. What is true is the majesty of the works he created in there, such as the series of paintings devoted to the life of San Agustin or the greatly portrayed chapters of the “Christian Doctrine”. All of these make an immortal legacy of this painter from Quito to whom the origins of the baroque art in Quito are attributed.

His works can be seen at:
•    The Miguel de Santiago Museum, located inside the San Agustin Convent.
•    The Guápulo Church

4.    Oswaldo Guayasamín, sculptor and painter. Quito, 1919-1999

Guayasamín is undoubtedly the most widely known Ecuadorian artist. His works are a legacy not only for his country, but to the whole world. His paintings go deep into the soul; in his own words, his art “is made for hurting, scratching and beating into the heart of the people”. Observing his work, his completely unique style can’t be denied.

There are several places where his works can be seen, but his most representative collections are found in:
•    The Hombre Chapel: his biggest artistic project and a sanctuary for most of his works
•    The Guayasamín Museum


The love and dedication of these four artists was reflected in works of art that became patrimonial treasures for humanity. Treasures whose excellent conservation has made it possible nowadays for us to be amazed and rejoiced in each detail and structure brought to the world by these wonderful creators.

Photo: Enciclopedia del Ecuador

Five New Volcanoes Discovered in Ecuador

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It was difficult for researchers to believe that finding one day some little fragments of volcanic glass –obsidian– would consequently be one of the greatest geological discoveries in Ecuador, something that would reaffirm to the world the reason why this land is known as the “Volcanic Land”. Two American volcano experts, Minard Hall and Patricia Mothes, have announced this way the discovery of five new volcanoes found inside the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Located inside the province of Napo, 75km (46mi) away from Quito, the recently discovered volcanoes have a height range that goes from 2800 to 3700m (9186 to 12139 feet). They got named “El Dorado”, “Domos de Huevo de Chivo”, “Lava Baeza”, “Centro Cosanga” and “Centro Pamayacu”, and this last one is believed to be potentially active. The age of the volcanoes is estimated to be around 2 000 and 20 000 years old.

The amazing expedition inspired the volcanoes’ discoverers so much that they don’t rule out the possibility of the existence of more volcanoes, which might be located close to the Cordillera Real Andina (Royal Andean Mountain Range). More than 50 volcanoes have been identified in Ecuador at present, and 20 of them are considered active by the Global Volcanism Program. Many of them can be visited through the touristic corridor known as the “Volcanoes Avenue”.

The recent discovery has been proudly announced to the rest of the world. Due to their understanding of the cosmos, Ecuadorians feel admiration and respect for these impressive giants, and they are often considered to be the guardians and protectors of their territory.

Discover the Romantic Legend of the Lake and the Tree

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Only five minutes away from the city of Otavalo are found two attractive touristic spots: the San Pablo Lake, found southeast of the city; and the Lechero Tree, located at the top of a nearby famous hill called “Rey Loma”, where an indigenous fortress was built.  These two magical places are the main characters of a fascinating legend:

The story tells that North of Ecuador in the Andean mountain range, in a region now known as the Imbabura province, there was a time of great drought during which nothing would grow at the fields. According to the indigenous tradition of those times, it was necessary for a young maiden to be sacrificed in order to calm down the rage of the Imbabura volcano, who was believed to be the cause of such bad season.

A beautiful indigene girl called “Nina Pacha” (which means “Light Source”) was chosen for the sacrifice. Nina Pacha was in love with a young man called Guatalquí, who was ready to do anything to save the life of his beloved one. It was impossible to escape from the village, since it was very well surveyed, so the lovers decided to get help from a powerful wizard. He told them that the only way to leave the village and escape from the sacrifice would be having Nina Pacha cut one of her two beautiful long braids. Both lovers had to hold on to one end of the braid without letting go, as a proof of their union and their love’s strength. The wizard added that they could not look at each other’s face nor back to the village until reaching the top of the nearby mountain, otherwise she would become a lake and he would become a tree.

The lovers began their escape following the instructions from the wizard. With a lot of effort, the couple was finally approaching the peak of the mountain, but they were not alone: they were being chased by a crowd of angry villagers. When the two lovers were about to get caught, Nina Pacha could not help looking back, and Guatalquí did the same involuntarily. At that moment, the sky cleared and the Imbabura volcano awoke from his sleep. The beautiful Nina Pacha became a big lake at the feet of the volcano; and at the same time a lightning struck the young man, who vanished leaving behind a leafy tree known nowadays as the “Lechero”. At the end, the shocked villagers witnessed a hard rain falling over the fields …the drought was over.

It is said that from that moment on, the lake and its guardian tree became a place of prayer and rituals related to the crops. The tree and the lake are very close to one another, and you can have a whole sight of the lake from the top of the hill where the tree is at, as if the young Guatalquí kept surveying his beloved Nina Pacha, staying together forever like they couldn’t before.

Nowadays, it is believed that when you visit the Lechero tree for the first time, you can make a wish while hugging him tightly. As long as it is a positive wish, the tree will make it come true.

Photo: Ecuador a la Carte

June, 2011: The World’s First Ecological Airport Will Be Built in the Galapagos

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The world’s first and only ecological airport will be built in the Galapagos Archipelago, at the Baltra Island. With a cost of 21 million USD, the airport will have a surface of 9000 m² –approximately the size of a professional soccer stadium–. This unprecedented engineering wonder planned to be finished by June, 2011 will highly contribute to the preservation of the species of the area.

This pioneering and historical work has got its ecological quality due to all the building procedures that will be put in practice for its construction: the airport will rigorously respect the international environmental standards using modern and efficient technologies never seen before in other airports. It will be a construction that harmonizes with its surroundings, made fully out of wood and stone. The power it will require will be only solar and wind power, complemented by natural lightning and air flow sources. Its water consumption will be highly controlled and the water will be recycled to optimize the use of the island’s limited resources. Altogether, this airport will set an example for the world to follow in coexisting with nature with a new generation of ecological buildings.

This airport would be good news for anyone, anywhere. Its construction gives hope and confidence that the human kind may one day live once again in harmony with nature. Undoubtedly, this is a reason to celebrate for the island and the region’s wildlife!

Photo: Gobierno Municipal de Santa Cruz

Business traveling to Guayaquil for a short period?

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Usually, traveling businessmen have only a day or two to close a deal, make a sell or talk with some supplier. They are actually eager to get to know the city, but they have very little time to do it. Visiting Guayaquil as a business destination is something hundreds of tourists do, so we have made a guide for those willing to make the most of their visit by going to the touristic attractions which are closer to downtown Guayaquil:

1.    The Centenario Park: This park is one of the city’s biggest parks, and many historical monuments with justice and freedom as themes are found on it.

2.    The Local Museum: Created in 1908, this museum houses 10 000 years of history of Guayaquil, with 12 000 pieces of archaeological and anthropological value. The museum shows the story of the city chronologically, from the pre-Columbian era to the modern Guayaquil.

3.    The Seminario Park: This park got its name from the person who enclosed it with a wrought iron fence, giving it its late 20th Century style. Nowadays, it is known as the Iguana Park, since there are a lot of these animals living in there that come down from the trees to get some sunlight and interact with the visitors.

4.    The House of Culture Museum: This museum has two exhibition halls that show a great collection of pre-Colonial gold and silver works.

5.    The Historical Park: Even though this park is not located inside downtown Guayaquil, it is a place worth visiting. It is two hectares large, and it has three different areas: the wildlife zone, with a variety of fauna living in their natural environment; the urban landscape from the ancient Guayaquil; and the joyful traditional area, that shows the customs of the Ecuadorian coastal region’s inhabitants.

6.    The Simón Bolívar Seafront: Extending all along the Guayas river, the seafront has three different sections: A large shopping center with a variety of shops and cozy restaurants; a park that binds you to nature with its old trees and bushes, birds and fish species typical of the Guayaquil region that make up a peaceful and relaxing place. The third section is the cultural one, with anthropological museums and cinema halls featuring national and international films with educational themes.

7.    The Del Carmen Hill: This hill is located just beside the Simón Bolívar seafront. Its landscape is made of many little houses and the local inhabitants, always in colorful clothing. A stair of 444 steps takes you to the peak of the hill, from which you can have a panoramic view of the city.

All of these attractions will provide the business traveler a historical and contemporary vision of Guayaquil fast but thoroughly. By the end of the day the “passing-by” visitors will feel that Guayaquil was not just another sporadic meeting point for business, but a short yet pleasant stay.

Photo: Columbus GV Team

The Humpback Whales: Loving Giants

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This love story begins in the freezing waters of the Antarctic region. The Humpback whales, Giants of the Sea, begin an exodus to the north in search of the right place to reproduce and give birth to their offspring. It’s gladly in the Ecuadorian coastal region –specifically in the provinces of Guayas, Santa Elena, Manabí, Esmeraldas and El Oro– where nearly 4000 humpback whales find the perfect landscape to live the greatest love story ever, thus ensuring the species’ survival.

Thanks to these visitors, the beaches of Ecuador receive thousands of tourists from all over the world looking to watch from close up the world’s largest animals. The Humpback whale is the most active of all the baleen whales, so it is often seen breaching, spyhopping, slapping its pectoral fin, lobbing its tail and jumping out of the water. To watch the show, there are lots of vessels available, constantly taking people to see them perform their marvelous sea dances.

These giant mammals are the heaviest and strongest of all whales. The size of an adult female is about 19m (62ft), while the males measure up to 15m (49ft). Considering their size and their average weight of about 30-40 tons, the Humpback whales have certainly a place among the world’s largest animals. Nonetheless, it remains an endangered species because their condition of slow swimmers –compared to other whales– made them an easy target for the 18th-Century whalers.

Humpback whales got their particular name out of the exaggerated hump that forms around their dorsal fin when they arch to dive back into the water. They are gregarious animals that live in groups of eight or ten individuals when living in cold climates. However, during the reproductive season, they migrate all together to the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean, staying there from June to September.

Humpback whale watching season begins next June in Ecuador, and no one should miss it. Enjoy the show and feel moved by this wonderful experience watching one of the biggest and most magnificent animals of the planet emerge from the depths, as if they were weightless.

Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm

Inti Raymi: June is here… It’s the Sun Party!

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It happens every year in June, when the winter solstice takes place in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a time when all the Andean families and lots of visitors get together to celebrate the Incan’s main festivity: the Inti Raymi –meaning “the Sun’s solemn resurrection” in quichua– is a gratitude ceremony to thank the gods for the collected crops. It is a moment where History is renewed and passed on to the new generations. During three days, people are shown how the greatest festivity of South America’s largest kingdom was like. If we ask the residents about it, they would tell us a story that would go like this:

Five hundred years ago, the Incas that inhabited the Andes believed the winter solstice was not only a moment to thank the gods for the wealthy crops, but also a moment to remember their origins. The party was rigorously prepared: it started when the political leaders or curacas arrived to the place where the celebration would take place, dressed up with their best outfits and taking with them the most modern inventions as an offering to the Sun god. During the three days of celebration, the whole village had to follow three simple rules: to eat only the strictly necessary; to keep from starting up any kind of fire; and to keep from having sexual relations.

Once the day had come, the highest-ranked chief and his family would wait early in the morning for the sun to rise, which indicated the beginning of the main praising ritual. Everyone would get on their knees, presenting their offerings and drinking a toast with the Inca’s traditional drink: the chicha. After that, the celebration started: the attendants would have a taste of the meat of a sacrificed animal, cooked by the fire created  with solar rays that where concentrated through the chief’s golden bracelet; and they would drink great amounts of chicha during the three party days. The legend says that if a child with noble Incan descendants was to be born during those days, he would become the Empire’s new leader.

Nowadays in Ecuador, the celebration of Inti Raymi starts every 21th of June. It is a real cultural celebration that brings back to life the country’s ancient history. The town of Ingapirca gets filled with life: there are children playing and bathing in the river; men dressed up in colorful traditional garments and wearing masks, dancing to the rhythm of Andean music; women in shiny, embroidered dresses; handcrafts on sale; and fresh, delicious traditional dishes. Here, the visitor will be always welcomed by the warmth of the Ecuadorian people.


Photo: Presidencia de la República del Ecuador

Vilcabamba: They Live To Be 120 Years Old without Quitting Smoking, Drinking or Dancing

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“When I was younger, at 70 years old, I used to smoke much more...” — How about drinking? Do you like drinking? — “Not anymore. I stopped drinking when I was 106. Only once in a while, when I feel like drinking again, I take a sip…”

A few days ago, the international press announced the passing of the World’s oldest man according to the Guinness records, who lived in Japan. This event made a lot of Ecuadorians think of something right away: Was he only 113 years old? The people from the Guinness Book must not have known about Vilcabamba!

Vilcabamba is a little town in the South of Ecuador, in the most remote province of the Andean region called Loja, at 1500m (4921ft) above the sea level. It is a place that has temperatures ranging from 13° to 25°C (55-77°F) and a population of around 5000 inhabitants, who are known for a peculiar and unexplainable characteristic that very few people in this world would be able to enjoy: They all live more than 120 years.

These people don’t even need doctors. For them, it is easy to get older than 100 years by working actively, gathering at the parks to interact with other people of the same age, having every now and then a drink and a cigarette, going to parties and not measuring the calories they consume. Their hair and their teeth won’t fall off either, and they remain in excellent health until the day they pass away, when their bodies simply decide to “turn of the engines”.

When visit Ecuador, it is worth going to Vilcabamba. At the town’s entrance, you will find a gate with a sign that reads “Welcome to the Valley of Longevity”. Vilcabamba is a town that that aged along with its people. Visiting this place is like taking a trip to the past, which you can see reflected in the little houses with flowers and bright-green bushes in every corner; or in a short conversation taking place in the middle of a park or a plaza between two of its inhabitants, who will always be glad to tell their old stories and talk about their simple way of life.

Photo: Carlos Adampol

Find Out About The Legend Behind The Eruptions of The Quilotoa Volcano

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The Quilotoa Lake is a great lake whose waters amaze the world with their hypnotizing green color that changes its shades along the year. It was born from a crater, and its mysticism gave place to legends of gods. One of them is the story of the great battle between two gods, whose disastrous outcome gave its current shape to the Quilotoa volcano and its lake:

A long time ago, there was a lake that lied inside a volcano’s crater. On its surface lived a violent and feared god called Quilotoa, who was known to be the god of volcanoes. At the same time, a pacific god called Toachi lived at the bottom of the lake. Quilotoa didn’t like having Toachi living on his lake, so he decided to make him leave by throwing a ray of light from the sky into the water. Toachi got angry and threw fire balls to Quilotoa, who fired back. This way, a long battle between the two gods began. The result of such constant flowing of rocks and fire was devastating.

Finally, it is not known whether the gods agreed to a truce or Toachi gave in to the pressures of Quilotoa, but it is believed that the volcano’s crater got the shape it has now a as a result of the battle. Nowadays, the sky wonderfully reflected in its crystalline waters creates a peaceful and beautiful landscape in a place that once was the scene of chaos and destruction.

Photo: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Ecuador

Caleta Tagus: Follow the Pirates’ Steps through Volcanoes and Lava Pathways

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In the Isabela Island, going southwest from the Darwin volcano, you will find a 1 800m (1 mi) pathway that is known to be one of the island’s most interesting places to visit. It can only be accessed by going through a large sea corridor called “Caleta Tagus”. Already from the beginning, as the ship gets closer to steady land, a crowd of penguins, iguanas and cormorants welcome visitors as an anticipation of what will come next.

The pathway, mainly made of gravel, leads to the inside of the island, going around the Darwin Lake. It can be divided into three sections:

1.    The Steps: This is the historical part of the tour, in which you go up about 200m (650 feet) of wooden steps, climbing the hillside of what once was a volcano. In the way, you will find a cave in whose walls the writings left by whalers and buccaneers from the 20th Century can still be seen.

2.    The Darwin Lake: This part of the road goes around the Darwin Lake through a volcanic territory of impressive landscapes. During the hike, a great variety of terrestrial bird species can be seen, and the typical vegetation of this arid area can be appreciated at the Palo Santo Forest.

3.    The Lava Fields: This is the final section of the tour. It is large field of petrified lava providing a great volcanic view that can only be seen in the Galapagos. Here, you will find the famous “petrified raindrops”, which are little round rocks made from the rain mixed with volcanic ashes that have hardened through time.

The name of Caleta Tagus was given to this place in honor of an English warship that passed by the islands in 1814 looking for Galapagos turtles to eat. Nowadays, it is a place full of history, evolution and contrasting landscapes. Caleta Tagus has been one of the tourists’ favorite destinations; and it undoubtedly remains a must-see for people visiting the Galapagos Islands.

Photo: Balabiot