Come to Ecuador
Destinations
While in Ecuador, you can be placed in one of these cities
Ambato
The provincial capital of Tungurahua is most known for its Carnival celebrations during which bullfights and parades turn the city into the nation’s most festive city towards the end of February. Located just two hours south from Quito, Ambato is locally known as the Land of Flowers and Fruits and has traditionally been one of the Andes main trading centers. Ambato is also well known for its abundant production of artisan products, especially leather goods. At present the population of Ambato is approximately 125.000 inhabitants.
Cuenca
This is the third important city in Ecuador. Surrounded by mountains, traversed by four rivers and home to beautiful 16th and 17th century architecture. Cuenca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its industry and beautiful art and handicraft make it a place everyone wants to visit. Cuenca was founded in 1557 by Gil Ramírez Dávalos. Downtown keeps its colonial architecture, the modern part of the city is growing fast and is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and comfortable weather.
Ibarra
Known as the “White City” because of its many white houses and buildings, is one of the most visited towns in northern Ecuador. Ibarra has warm weather all year, is surrounded by many small lakes and stands just half an hour from Otavalo and its famous “indian market”. Ibarra is also known for its famous handmade icecream made in special pots called pailas; thus the name of the icecream: “helados de paila”
Sto. Domingo de Los Tsachilas
Situated between the highlands and the coast, Santo Domingo, a progressive town surrounded by lovely scenery, is a great place from which to explore tropical forests, rivers, and waterfalls in addition to being a great destination for wildlife watching. A natural crossroad between the nation’s coast and highlands. Its population lives primarily off of agriculture, growing banana, sugar cane, and African palm, among other products. The area is traditionally known for the Tsáchilas natives(also known as Indios Colorados or Red Indians), who live there maintaining their way of life and traditions. One of which is that the men color their hair with dye obtained from achiote, a small red fruit native to the area.
Machala
The capital of El Oro province and the fourth biggest city in Ecuador. Machala is known as the World Capital of Bananas because of its big and extensive banana plantation. This fruit is exported from the Port of Bolívar. Other important economic activities are the many pools of shrimp which also export to several parts of the world. Jambelí Island has the most beautiful beaches where most of the people go to rest and enjoy its wonderful nature. At present the population of Machala is approximately 217.000 inhabitants.
Manta
Is a mid-sized city in Manabí Province. It is the second most populous city in the province, the fifth most populous in the country and, economically, the third most important city of Ecuador. Manta has existed since Pre-Columbian times. It was a trading post for the Mantas. The city of Manta has grown in the last 50 years to 192.322+ inhabitants. Its main economic activity is tuna fishing. Other economic activities include tourism and a chemical industry with products from cleaning supplies to oils and margarine.
Portoviejo
Portoviejo, capital of the province of Manabi, is just 35 km from the city of Manta. It is located a few minutes from the beach of Crucita where you can stay in touch with nature and enjoy the sun and the gentle waves. It also offers a beautiful view where you can see the sky and the vast sea, being a proper place to practice various adventure sports like paragliding. You can also reach the other end of the Portoviejo River, where it deposits its waters to the Pacific Ocean, a place called La Boca.
Quito
This city has been both the capital and the seat of the government since Ecuador became a republic in 1822 and when it was liberated from the Spanish domination. Quito stands at an altitude of (2,800 meters or 9,187 feet) and has been declared “Heritage of the Humanity” by the UNESCO because of its unique colonial architecture and geography. These characteristics are mainly found in the churches, downtown squares and narrow streets of the colonial area. However, the northern part of Quito, characterizes itself for modern buildings and the fast pace life of any other capital. Home of YFU-Ecuador´s main office, Quito is within a frame of mountains and volcanoes.
Riobamba
The city of Riobamba, known as the “Sultan of the Andes”, is located at 2.754 meters above sea level, in the skirts of the Chimborazo volcano. The city represents an important railroad nexus between the cities of Guayaquil and Quito. Founded in 1534, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1797 and reconstructed 23 km from the original site, in the ample valley of Tapi. Riobamba has approximately 130.000 inhabitants. Close to Riobamba is Guano a small town famous for it´s woven rugs, a manual process, beginning with the gathering of the wool until its completion, the rug.
