LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Top Tens
Untitled Document
Festivals & Events
Ecuador’s festivals, especially the indigenous festivals of the highlands, can be so colorful and exciting they’re worth planning a trip around. If you can, hit one of the following.
Fruit & Flower Festival, Ambato; end February, beginning March
Carnaval in Guaranda; end of February, beginning of March
Good Friday processions in Quito; Friday before Easter, March/April
Corpus Cristi, Pujilí or Salasaca; usually mid-June (ninth Thursday after Easter)
Inti Raymi (summer equinox), Otavlao area; June 21 to 29
Founding of Guayaquil, Guayaquil; July 25, although usually begins a few days before
Fiesta del Yamor, Otavalo; first two weeks of September
Fiesta de la Mamá Negra, Latacunga; September 23 and 24
Founding of Quito, Quito; December 6
Pase del Niño Christmas Eve procession, Cuenca; December 24
Traditional Markets
Ecuador’s traditional markets are surely one of the country’s highlights, and offer the chance to experience Ecuador’s unique indigenous culture up close. Plus, you never know what you might find.
Ambato on Monday
Latacunga on Tuesday and Saturday
Guamote on Thursday
Saquisilí on Thursday
Otavalo on Saturday
Riobamba on Saturday
Zumbahua on Saturday
Gualaceo & Chordeleg on Sunday
Saraguro on Sunday
Parks & Reserves
For nature lovers, Ecuador is a paradise. Each and every one of the country’s protected areas offers something different, but the following are the pick of the lot.
Galápagos Islands
Parque Nacional Yasuní
Reserva Producción Faunística Cuyabeno
Parque Nacional Podocarpus
Parque Nacional Cotopaxi
Parque Nacional Machalilla
Parque Nacional Cajas
Reserva Ecológica de Manglares Cayapas Mataje
Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas
Volcán Chimborazo
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
