WEATHER OR WEATHER NOT

The only thing predictable about Ecuador's weather is its unpredictability. In fact, it's not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. Generally speaking, The Andean countries have two seasons, wet and dry, but in countries as geographically diverse as these two, local weather patterns vary greatly.

The mainland coastal areas and the Galapagos Islands are influenced by ocean currents and are hot and rainier between January and April and cool and dryer the rest of the year. The best time to visit the beach is considered the 'rainy' season, as there is, strangely enough, more sunshine during these months. Days are characterized as hot with occasional showers. A low fog called guara and cooler temperatures characterizes the ‘dry’ season in coastal areas.

In the highlands, the dry season is between June and October, but this shouldn't confine you to these travel months. Even the Andes' wet season isn't particularly wet and the dry season sees its share of downpours. The central valley of Ecuador is generally spring like year round, while the Southern Andes of Peru see more variation in temperature throughout the year - for example, during the dry season, nighttime temperature can drop to freezing while the days can be shorts weather.

The Amazon region experiences...you guessed it, rain heat and more rain and heat! The average daytime temperature is 30-32º C (85-90º F), while nights can cool down to 20º C (68º F). The less wet season in the jungle roughly corresponds to the dry season in the Andes.

Despite fierce opposition, the conquering Incas soon held the region, helped by strong leadership and policies of intermarriage. War over the inheritance of the new Inca kingdom weakened and divided the region on the eve of the arrival of the Spanish invaders.

The first Spaniards landed in northern Ecuador in 1526. Pizarro reached the country in 1532 and spread terror among the Indians with the aid of his conquistadors' horses, armor and weaponry. The Inca leader, Atahualpa, was ambushed, held for ransom, 'tried' and executed, effectively ending the Inca empire. Quito held out for two years but was eventually razed by Atahualpa's general, Rumiñahui, who preferred destroying the city rather than losing it intact to the invading Spaniards. Quito was re-founded in December 1534. Today, only one intact Inca site remains in Ecuador - Ingapirca, to the north of Cuenca.

Although life was abysmal for the indigenous people under Spanish rule, there were no major uprisings by the Ecuadorian Indians. Spain ruled the colony from Lima, Peru, until 1739, when it was transferred to the viceroyalty of Colombia.

As a Creole middle class began to emerge, there were several attempts to liberate Ecuador from Spanish rule. Independence was finally achieved by Simón Bolívar in 1822. Full constitutional sovereignty was gained in 1830. The country's internal history has since been marked by fierce rivalry and occasional open warfare between the church-backed conservatives in Quito and the liberals and socialists of Guayaquil.

The squabbling has died down in recent years, as the country works to impress potential foreign investors.  Despite its history of internal rivalry and border conflicts, life in Ecuador has remained peaceful in recent years. Ecuador is currently one of the safest countries to visit in South America.

Culture of Ecuador

Straddling the equator, the Ecuadorian coast rushes up to snow-capped volcanoes then falls away to hot Amazon jungle--all in a country the size of the State of Colorado! It shares a long-contested border with Peru to the south and east, and is bounded by Colombia to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country can be divided into four regions: the western coastal lowlands, the central Andean highlands, the eastern jungles of the Amazon basin and - some 1000 KM (620 miles) west of the mainland - the Galapagos Islands. Thanks to its agreeable climate and patchwork of habitats (alpine grasslands, coastal swamps, tropical rainforest), Ecuador is one of the most species-rich nations on earth, and ecologists have dubbed Ecuador a mega diversity hotspot.

The Amazon basin, east of the Andes, is an almost impenetrable tangle of rainforest known to Ecuadorians as the Oriente (the East). Although the Amazon itself does not flow through Ecuador, all rivers east of the Andes eventually empty into the mighty river. The Cuyabeno Wildlife Refuge has been declared one of Earth’s ten biological hotspots of biodiversity. Hotspots are the world's richest and most threatened ecosystems and Ecuador claims two!

The Andean highlands - the country's backbone - are composed of two volcanic ranges separated by a central valley. The capital city of Quito is nestled in the Northern end of this valley at 2850 meters above sea level, just 22 km (14 miles) south of the equator. Inhabited for centuries by Andean Indians, roughly half of Ecuador’s population lives amidst these rugged mountains.

Religion, Language and Food

The predominant religion is Roman Catholic, but there is a scattering of other Christian faiths. Indigenous Ecuadorians, however, have blended Catholicism and their traditional beliefs. An example is the near synonymous association of Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) and the Virgin Mary.

Spanish is the main language throughout Ecuador, although most highland Indians are bilingual, with Quechua being their preferred language, while Spanish is only learned in school. When bargaining in rural markets, a Quechua word or two will not only endear you to the vendors, but usually get you an extra orange or more juice! Several small lowland groups speak their own languages. English is understood in the best hotels and in airline offices and travel agencies, but it's of little use elsewhere.

Ecuadorian food consists mainly of soup and stews, corn pancakes, rice, eggs and vegetables. Seafood is excellent, even in the highlands. Local specialties include ceviche, seafood prepared in lemon juice; lechón, suckling pig; and cuy, whole roasted guinea pig—however, some delicacies may only be for the most adventurous stomachs!  Quito, and some of the larger cities offer great international fare as well!

Bargaining

Bargaining is a way of life in many Latin American countries. However, in metropolitan cities and department stores, prices are generally fixed, especially in downtown stores. In the indigenous and artisan markets, on the street and rural areas, haggling is accepted practice. When bargaining is in order, be aware that in South America, as opposed to Mexico, the initial price is usually closer to what is expected. After you make a first offer and the vendor counters, continue until you settle on between about 80 percent of the original price. At times, you may need to if the item is really worth the price being asked, accept the fact that you are paying more than a local, and enjoy your beautiful hand-crafted item that is worth much more back home than the price that you have paid for it.

Altitude Sickness

Many of South America's greatest attractions are at high altitudes. Travelers are likely to feel the effects of soroche (altitude sickness) when arriving in Cusco, Puno or Quito. Symptoms may include fatigue, breathlessness, pounding heart, dehydration, stomach upset, insomnia, and headache. Many of the locals drink coca tea to relieve these symptoms. The best plan is to take it easy during your first couple days at high altitude. Start activities gradually, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.

Precautions and Diet

The best way to stay fit and enjoy your trip is to start well rested and in good health. Generally, food and sanitation in Latin America is of a good standard. In addition, we offer the following advice for avoiding unpleasant illness and stomach disorder;

1. Avoid food from street vendors or in local markets and unwashed fruits or vegetables. While in our camps or lodges, precautions are taken in preparing fruits and vegetables to be certain food is safe for travelers to eat. Bottled or boiled water is provided on our treks. In the cities bottled water is readily available.
3. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Moist toilettes or anti-bacterial hand gels such as Purell offer good alternatives.
5. Drink plenty of water to flush toxins out of your system and to prevent dehydration. Soft drinks, liquor, coffee, alcohol and tea do not possess the hydrating qualities of water.
7. Bring a water bottle to fill up and supplement available drinks.

Time

Expect to have a time shock. If you are accustomed to a fast paced modern city life, you need to adjust your patience level and slow yourself down. You will be traveling in a culture that is rarely in a rush to go anywhere. Relax and enjoy the laid back rhythm of Latin America. Here, there is a less appreciation for punctuality. Also, remember that this is your vacation, and the reason you have embarked on this journey is to rejuvenate and regain a sense of tranquility. A tour like this has plenty of free time and encourages letting go of rigid schedules. If you compare the rhythm of life in Latin America to your own culture, you may see it as inefficient and slow, but then again, after some time enjoying the slower pace of life, you may find it just perfect

Tipping

Propina” is the Spanish word for tip, and, as it is everywhere, giving a "propina" is optional. However, it is customary in Latin America to tip when you have received good service. It is common to tip service providers such as waiters, bartenders, hotel help, and anyone who goes out of their way to help. It is important to remember that salaries are very low and everything aside of food and shelter is comparatively high priced (about what you would pay here). What little bit you give for to a good service provider goes a long way for him or her.

The bill in most restaurants may have an added local tax of 10 to 20 percent. Part of this may be a so-called "gratuity" tax, but the wait staff rarely sees any of this money. If you feel that the service in a restaurant merits a tip, leave it on the table or, even better, give it directly to the waiter/waitress.

Tipping guides is also at your own discretion. As a guideline, we suggest an extra $5 per day, per person for local guides in the areas you visit. For assistant guides, drivers, cooks and porters, the standard rate is from $2 to $3 per day per traveler. Your Thermal Tracker PG guide is paid well by us, but $5 per day has become a standard tip if you feel you’ve been provided excellent service.

As in any situation that you might find at home, if you feel someone has provided exceptional service, any small gift or extra tip is graciously, as in gracias, accepted. Some travelers even enjoy making a gift of a piece of their high quality outdoor clothing or gear to guides or drivers, as these rare items are especially appreciated.

Panhandling

Beggars are not as common as some people imagine in Latin America. When you do encounter one, you will realize that the beggar does what he or she can to appeal to your guilt. It's a good idea to prepare your response in advance. If you decide to give anyone your small change, it is a good idea to offer it only to the old, crippled, or blind, as there is no welfare system to help these individuals. However, giving money to children, unless they have preformed a service for you, only reinforces them to ignore more productive pursuits. Although we believe that you should not give to begging children, if you must do so, please consider giving bread, fruit, pens or paper - please do not give children money.  Behind some of those children, are adults working them.

Language

Spanish is the official language in Ecuador, and while your guides are bilingual, English is not widely spoken by the rest of the populace. Knowing a few words of Spanish can be useful, and any effort made to speak in your hosts’ native tongue is appreciated.

Some useful Spanish phrases to know follow, along with their pronunciations in parentheses.

·       hello   hola (ola)

·       See you soon. - hasta luego (ahs-ta lu-way-go)

·       good morning - buenos días (buay-nos dee-as)

·       good afternoon - buenas tardes (buay-nos tar-days)

·       good evening/night - buenas noches (buay-nahs no-chays)

·       How are you? - ¿Cómo está? (co-mo ehs-tah)

·       Thank you - gracias (grah-see-ahs)

·       You're welcome - de nada (day nah-dah)

·       please - por favor (por fah-vor)

·       excuse me - permiso (pear-mee-so)

·       sir - Señor (see-nior)

·       madam - Señora (married)/Señorita (not) (see-nior-ah or see-nior-ee-tah)

·       My name is.... - Me llamo...... (may yah-mo)

·       today   hoy (oye)

·       tomorrow - mañana (mah-nia-na)

·       yesterday - ayer (ahy-yehr)

·       vegetable - vegetal (vegh-hay-tahl)

·       with ice/without ice - con hielo/sin hielo (cahn ee-ay-lo/seen ee-ay-lo)

·       fish - pescado (pay-scah-do)

·       meat - carne (car-nay)

·       How much is it? - ¿Cuán-to cues-ta? (cuahn-to cues-ta)

·       What time is it? - ¿Qué hora es? (kay or-ah es)

·       0-10 - cero, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez (se-ro, u-no, dose, trays, cuah-tro, seen-ko, sais, see-eh-tay, oh-choh, new-ay-vay, dee-ehz)

·       water - agua (ah-guah)

·       a bottle of water - una botella de agua (una bo-teya day ah-guah)

·       I am cold. - Tengo frío. (Tayng-go free-oh)

·       I am hot. - Tengo calor. (Tayng-go cah-lor)

·       I am hungry.- Tengo hambre. (Tang-go ahm-bray)

·       I am thirsty.- Tengo sed. (Tayng-go sed)

·       I am a vegetarian.- Soy vegetariano/a. (soy veh-ghe-tar-ee-ah-no) (a follows if you are female, on all feminine nouns and or whenever you are describing a female)

More about Ecuador

Ecuador is one of the smallest and one of the more colorful of the Andean countries, about the size of Colorado or Great Britain, with many distinct tribes of indigenous peoples.   Pure Indigenous peoples make up about 40 percent of Ecuador, with perhaps another 40% being "mestizo" (people having a mix of indigenous blood).

The language spoken is Spanish, with some English spoken in the bigger cities.  In the Andes (throughout Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia), the Indigenous peoples also speak Quichua, which varies slightly from community to community and country to country.   In the jungle, indigenous peoples also have their own language.

In general, Ecuadorians are kind and friendly people.   Greetings are important to Ecuadorians, especially in the Andean highlands.   A simple hello, from a "gringo," may bring a bevy of smiles and laughs and a willingness to help you with anything.   It's always good manners to shake hands. 

As a tourist, you can receive a visa for up to 3 months a year in Ecuador.   Ecuador is a wonderful destination for travelers who are interested in the outdoors and nature-related activities, as well as Colonial Architecture (there are no finer examples of Spanish colonial architecture, sculpture and paintings than those produced in Ecuador in the 17th and 18th centuries), cathedrals, museums, rainforests,   isolated beaches,  Inca treasures, birding, the Andes, volcanoes, handicrafts and food markets, colorful  festivals and parades, traditional folk music, and colorful Indigenous peoples.