Zaruma: Mixing Antiquity with Nature in the South Coast of Ecuador

Compartir

Zaruma is a charming town located in the south coast of Ecuador, 1200 m (3937ft) above the sea level, in the province of El Oro. It is surrounded by various great mountains, waterfalls and forests that will make you have unforgettable experiences doing one of the various ecological adventure activities available in the area. Zaruma means “corncob” in Quechua. With its colorful wooden houses of the 19th century and its quiet streets where joyful and peaceful people live, this place is definitely worth visiting.
Here is a rough guide to the most amazing spots to visit while at Zaruma:

1.    El Calvario: It is a hill located 1500m (4921ft) above the sea level and approximately 1km (0.6mi) away from the city of Zaruma. Its peak is an excellent viewpoint from which you can appreciate the splendorous landscape of the surroundings.

2.    Zaruma Urcu: Located 14km (8.6mi) to the northeast of the city, this hill stands out because many orchids are cultivated on its hillsides. There, you can find 300 out of the about 4250 orchid species existing in Ecuador.

3.    Chivaturco: 90 minutes away from Zaruma is found this hill. On the way to its peak, you will find a great variety of avifauna next to the crystalline waters of the 100m (328ft) high Chorro Blanco Waterfall, which falls directly into a river surrounded by exuberant vegetation. Following the track to the peak, you will also see the archaeological remains of an ancient civilization that once was settled in the area. When you finally get to the peak, you will be able to enjoy the most amazing, hidden landscapes.

4.    Huayquichuma Forest: Located 8km away from the city, this 80 hectares wide forest is home of a great amount of flora and fauna with little brooks made by the condensation of the thick fog of the place. If you have seen and loved the majestic Chorro Blanco Waterfall, then you will also enjoy visiting the Pingllo Waterfall, with a height of 80 meters making an impressive and relaxing fall complemented by the beautiful surroundings.

Going to Zaruma is mixing antiquity with nature. This is a city that makes you fall in love and teaches you to enjoy the simple, natural things of life. Zaruma is undoubtedly the ultimate paradise in the south, certainly a visit you can’t miss!

Photo: Rinaldo W.

The Humpback Whales: Loving Giants

Compartir

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

The Banana Tour: Find out about the Work behind the Bananas you Buy at the Market

Compartir

Even though bananas have been related to Ecuador's history over the past 50 years, it has been only a few years ago since the association of small-scale banana producers has decided to open its doors to tourists to show them the fantastic world of banana production. To enjoy this curious journey, we get to the provinces of Guayas and El Oro, the south of Ecuador. There, visitors will learn by the words and the work of the producers, how are the bananas cultivated.

The banana tour takes place inside one of the several banana farms of Ecuador. On the way to the farm, we will see the big and endless banana plantations on both sides of the road, with their large leaves forming two bright green lines along the way. A magnificent landscape complemented by the sweet banana smell and the warm climate of Ecuador's coastal region. Once in the farm, the visitor will be introduced to the world of bananas and will be able to follow all its production process from its growth to its harvest and packing, and even watch the bananas being shipped to other countries. To better enjoy this experience, the best days to take the tour are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, when the harvest takes place.

Visitors will also enjoy the simplicity and the warmth of the Ecuadorian agricultural workers, whose hospitality and friendliness will make them feel as part of the banana producing family. At the end of the tour, visitors are invited to participate on the harvest and packing of the fruits, followed by a tasting of products made with them. The visit will end with a delicious homemade lunch in the farm’s dining hall, surrounded by the exuberant nature. The tour lasts 3 hours approximately.

Going through this experience is an excellent opportunity to find out about the customs of the region's inhabitants; learn about the organic production of bananas; feel how it is to live and work in the banana plantations; and be part of this big family, who will always welcome you with arms wide open. Come and enjoy the bananas of Ecuador!

Photo: Fair Trade in Ecuador - Annika