From Where We Stand: Going the extra Mile

Marco, one of our tour leaders, believes “Life is a glance. No matter how long you live, do as much as you can and enjoy everything you do.” This is what he decided to do when he started guiding 20 years ago. His passion for his country has led him to travel all around Ecuador, deepening his knowledge in everything it has to offer. He speaks fluent English, French and Japanese and despite how much he travels, there is always something new to see or learn. Guiding has being the most enriching experience and is full of stories worth sharing! Here is one of them:

Marco and his tour group were on their way to a wonderful site along the Andes. All of a sudden, they saw a truck in the middle of the road ahead. As they got closer, they managed to see that the truck was waiting for its passengers to finish milking the cows. Marco tried reasoning with the locals and suggesting many alternatives to benefit both parts but they refused to move the truck until they had finished milking the cows. Waiting seemed inevitable until Marco did what no one thought he would. He rolled up his sleeves and helped the locals out by milking the cows himself. He certainly helped speed up the process while at the same time provided his group with an unique experience. Where else would your own guide offer himself to milk cows in order to stick to the itinerary? That’s commitment right there!

Quito's colonial and old town

Visit colonial temples and monasteries of this urban jewel, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most iconic buildings are St. Augustine Convent, the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, La Compania de Jesus, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Church of San Francisco.

At the south west corner of Plaza San Francisco is Casa Gangotena, one of the most exclusive hotels in Ecuador. Its history stretches back to the time of the Incas. According to the early Spanish chroniclers, in the 15th century the square featured several Inca temples, one of them situated at the site of the present house. In 1534, once the Spaniards arrived into Quito, their religious orders soon set out to convert the hearts and minds of the local population. Unfortunately, in 1914 a calamitous fire destroyed much of the house. The historic mansion was completely rebuilt in 1924 by its owners, the Gangotena family, which was later on bought to convert it into a world-class boutique hotel. In 1978 Quito was declared the first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site city and considered the largest and best preserved Historic Center in the Americas. A few years later, Casa Gangotena was included in the city's cultural heritage inventory and is among the Top 25 Hotels in the World. If you can spare half day, we recommend you visit La Mitad del Mundo (“the Middle of the World'”).

Folklore, Markets & Crafts in Ecuador

Ecuador may sometimes seem unstable, undeveloped and impoverished, but what makes Ecuador great is it's rich culture, customs, history and, above all, its people. One common first impression is that Ecuadorians are friendly and welcoming, with a huge smile on their faces. Thus, when visiting Ecuador, is its people that make the trip or visit memorable, rewarding and worthwhile. Local markets set the perfect scene for cultural exchange. An atmosphere displaying unique, handmade arts and crafts displayed colourfully along the market, delicious traditional dishes,  and classic Ecuadorian music playing in the background, make Ecuador's markets unmissable. 

Here are two unusual, picturesque, and culture immersive local markets in Ecuador. 

GUAMOTE MARKET

(Thursday mornings)

One of the most interesting and colorful markets in Ecuador, make Guamote market a must see! Only a short drive away from Riobamba lays Guamote, a lovely town. Although a train still goes by it, Guamote’s main commercial activity occurs in its massive Thursday morning market. Here, hundreds of indigenous people gather.  It is not a typical tourist market in the sense that it gives a real flavor of Ecuadorian markets and it's indigenous people who, in their colorful traditional clothing, will kindly show you what they have to offer.

Aside from the beautiful and unique fabrics, clothes and handcrafts, Guamote’s highlight is definitely the animal market. Among the first things you’ll notice will be the very distinct sound coming from various animals in every direction. From ducks, pigs and sheep to chickens, guinea pigs and goats, you will find pretty much every local animal and their produce throughout the market. Don’t miss out on the traditional street food and in particular, the natural and tasty juices from exotic fruits.

TZALARON MARKET

(Friday mornings)

The exchange is the essence of this indigenous market. Tzalarón is the only municipality in the country where producers can exchange their products according to the value of each of them. The market has been taking place weekly for over 180 years and it is the only indigenous market where they still barter. The trade often happens between products harvested in the higher parts such as wheat, barley, quinoa, peas, potatoes in exchange for products from the lower parts such as carrots, tomatoes and others.

It is a very historic and traditional market. The rocks that cover a part of the floor of the market are the most revealing traces of the antiquity of the square. Once, this was the largest indigenous market in the province, as traders arrived there Alausí, Colta and Guamote Riobamba, including Bolivar and Tungurahua.

From Where We Stand: All in a day’s work. Whatever it takes to make every mile a lasting memory.

We have great tour leaders but sometimes we fail to highlight or praise what each of them do for their groups. They are constantly surpassing expectations and doing everything to make each trip a lasting memory. Here is one where Henry turns a misfortunate situation into a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

As Henry returns from the Galapagos Islands to Quito, he is informed that a local curfew was established in the city and that it will be in effect until the evening. This meant that no means of transport where available to transport his four passengers to the hotel. They would have to spend over 3 hours at the airport! Henry thought this may be a “bad” experience for them and decided to take matters into his own hands. He walked towards a police patrol and enquired about the possibility of making an exception and to let them go through. He was turned down and it started to look like they had no choice but to wait. But, when in Ecuador, nothing is ever as it seems. The police officers actually offered to give Henry's passengers a ride! He quickly got everyone in the patrol car and off they went! Driving fast and while laughing and hearing the patrol sirens blowing, they couldn’t help but think it had quickly become the trip of a lifetime!