Where tradition comes alive!

Ecuador is a place with many cultures diffused in it. Ecuadorian Culture is not a single culture, rather it is a blend of a whole range of cultures, representing every level of this very heterogeneous community.

Ecuador’s official language is Spanish, but Quichua, an Inca language is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish and Quichua, there are about ten native languages still used. Among the tourists, English is the most spoken foreign language. The tourists are even fond of the Architecture and Ecuadorian Art.

Amazonian frontier towns, Pacific coast fishing villages, packed markets, and colonial cities are the places where the Ecuadorian Culture prevails. With the wish to maintain its own identity and history, these places create a meaningful path into the future. Eleven different types of people make up the culture of Ecuador, with Quichua being more than 2 million. Other than Quichua, the Otavalenos, Salasacas, and Saraguros are all modern-day messengers of the ancient tongue of the Incas – vested in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Despite of pressures from the industrialized world increasing, shamanistic traditions still flourish within the rain forests of the Huaorani, Zaparo, Cofan, lowland Quichua, Siona, Secoya, Shuar, and Achuar. Culture in Ecuador still prevails like before. In addition to different hereditary cultures, Ecuador is home to a Mestizo culture and a sizable Afro-Ecuadorian culture. The Afro-Ecuadorian culture are descendants of African slaves who worked on coastal sugar plantations in the 16th century. In the present days, the Afro-Ecuadorians are popular for their marimba, an enthusiastic type of Ecuadorian Music and Dance festivals.

Modernization could not abscond the distinct local flavors from the cities of Ecuador, because it is the people who give more to the tradition and Ecuadorian Culture rather than the places. Handicrafts still continue to be their passion right from the ancient times. Otavalo, has been famous for a long time for its warm and adventurous aboriginal people, countries, and friendly tradition in the 21st century. Bano with its hot springs and favorable climate greets the tourists everyday. Quito, the country’s political center, has grown into a cosmopolitan city while maintaining its small town candor and geniality

Ecuadorian Culture is thus a mixture of a lot of cultures and traditions that captures the interests of the tourists all over the world.

Where people make the difference!

Most tourists agree that it is the people of Ecuador that make the experience truly memorable and rewarding. Although close to half live beneath the poverty level, the people you meet are happy and generous. They are incredibly hospitable and like helping foreigners. The people of Ecuador seem happy that others appreciate the beauty of their country as much as they do. Surprisingly, Ecuador has one of the highest literacy rates in the world outpacing even that of the United States and Canada.

Amazonian frontier towns, Pacific coastal fishing villages, rambling old haciendas, packed markets, and colonial cities show just how many cultures Ecuador has. Each culture is a recognized part of the Republic of Ecuador and each one strive to maintain its own identity and history while also clearing for themselves a path into the future. Because of Ecuador’s compactness, you can experience a number of Ecuador’s distinct cultures in a single day.

Ecuadorian culture includes a deep religious attitude. Most people are Catholic, have high regards for the Bible, and enjoy religious discussions.

They also are very religious when it comes to sports. Especially futbol! A soccer game during the World Cup can completely shut down a whole town – more like the whole country! Everything goes quiet and then all erupts at once when a goal is scored. A win is celebrated as hard as any holiday.