Young Ecuadorian boy selling artisanal products for his neighbour
One of the things that fascinated me while travelling through Ecuador was its cultural diversity. Given its small population which is 4,5 million, you would not expect it to be so diverse. Did you know that there are 12 spoken languages (idioms) in Ecuador? Kichwa (Quechua), Spanish, Achuar-Shiwiar, Cha'palaachi, Cofán, Tsachila, Cuaiquer, Secoya, Shuar, Siona, Tetete, Waorani. Hats vendor in Otavalo artisan market
In the northern area of Ecuador in the provence of Imbabura, I have seen many Quechua people. They are the direct descendants of the Incas. Most of their house were made of adobe (a highly durable free and available material) and had thatched roofs or ceramic tiles. The Quechua women were wearing their traditional clothing consisting of skirts and blouses, with colourful woven shawls around their shoulders. Artisanal dolls wearing different traditional outfits
At Otavalo's Saturday market, I had a chance to see many of the artisans from the area who were selling their craft. This is the biggest artisan market in South America. Among those who attended it, I met people from Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Uruguay and Brazil. Some of them travelled all the way specially for it, whilst us we just happened to be in the area and we learnt about it. Traditional golden plastic beads, jewellery worn by most of the Indigenous Quechua women
Unlike most of the markets I have been, Otavalo's market was not selling products made in China. I was impressed to see that they were selling local products: artisanal products, art, clothing, shoes and accessories, food and live stock. Bulls' hoof or water bottle?
What made this experience even more pleasant was that you had to negotiate the price with the sellers, just like in Istambul. Each attempt to walk away from a stand brought a lower discount. Fruit merchant in Otavalo artisan market
Although the market was literally packed, with thousands of visitors, we always felt safe. No pickpocketing or any unpleasant incident. The locals were polite, friendly and curious about our ethnicities. Some of them tried to guess where we were from. Panama Hats made in Ecuador
After a few good hours of strolling down on the busy streets, hoping from one stand to another, admiring the Ecuadorian artisanal products, we felt hungry. The cold brisk air outside contributed to it. Since I did not want to try the street food, although it looked tempting, we chose a restaurant. Thus we entered a small family-owned restaurant, only a few blocks away from the market. That's where I felt in love with the Ecuadorian soups! I still remember its richness and delightful savour. Yucca, yams, otoe and corn had all infused their flavours and made my soup delicious. Jungle palm tree worms (sago worms): the larvas of a big tropical beetle eaten by the locals for their high nutritional values.
Meals are cheap everywhere around Ecuador. You can expect to pay somewhere between $3 and $6 for lunch (almuerzo del dia) which usually consists of a rich soup, a rice and chicken/beef/pork dish that comes with a salad and a freshly squeezed juice. In some places you may even get a small deserted included in this price. Keep in mind thatAlmuerzo del dia and Almuerzo ejecutivo are not the same thing and prices vary greatly. The latter refers to a more of a la carte experience which is more costly than the first one. Roasted Cuey or Guinea Pig is one dish that I had to say no to. I like Guinea pigs and I consider them pets. I could not ever eat one. I have been told they are very tasty but the whole idea made me feel bad. Not to mention that to me, they looked like skinned rats. In Ecuador, a lot of people grow them and sell them to restaurants because they are considered a delicacy. You can buy a cuey dish starting at $10 or higher, depending on the type of restaurant you are in. Here are other travel related posts: PANAMA SERIES: TEN FACTS OR MORE ABOUT BOQUETE, PANAMA PANAMA SERIES: BOQUETE’S FLOWERS AND COFFEE FESTIVAL PANAMA SERIES: VISITING DAMARLI ESTATE IN BOQUETE PANAMA SERIES: CARIBBEAN PARADISE - BOCAS DEL TORO ECUADOR SERIES: COTACACHI, THE CITY BETWEN TWO VOLCANOS ECUADOR SERIES - DUE DILIGENCE TRIP ECUADOR SERIES: TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO ECUADOR HIKING IN MONT-ROYAL PARK, MONTREAL ZUMMER FUN BUS RIDE IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA THE STONEHENGE OF ROMANIA: SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA LAURENTIANS MOUNTAINS: COTTAGE TRIP AT LAKE CACHÉE OTTAWA LIGHTS SHOW ON PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS HIKING AT DANUBE’S GORGES, ORSOVA, ROMANIA DECEBALUS CARVED STATUE, ROMANIA PIRATES TREASURE PLAYGROUND, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 2, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 1, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA GONDOLA RIDE IN MAMAIA RESORT, ROMANIA BEACH DAY IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA BUBBLES - INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA BAHIA DE PAQUERA, NICOYA GULF, COSTA RICA EXPLORING AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS MACKINAC BRIDGE, MICHIGAN, USA CHASED BY TORNADOS IN MINNESOTA MINNEHAHA FALLS REGIONAL PARK, A GEM IN BETWEEN THE TWIN CITIES BANFF, A RESORT TOWN INSIDE THE BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA OLD PORT OF CONSTANTA, ROMANIA MORAINE LAKE, A SURREAL BEAUTY IN ALBERTA, CANADA TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE A LIVING WHILE TRAVELLING THE WORLD FEELING UNINSPIRED? VISIT A WELSH RETREAT: GLADSTONE’S RESIDENTIAL LIBRARY Ready to Blog & Earn? With TravelFeed, easily start your own travel blog and earn as you go. It's the smart platform for travelers who want to profit from their passion. Create a free account TURDA’S 400 FEET UNDERGROUND AMUSEMENT PARK, A HIDDEN GEM OF TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA VISIT TO SAINT-JOSEPH’S ORATORY IN MONTREAL, CANADA Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance! To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here Unless stated otherwise, all photos used in this posts are taken and owned by myself. If you wish to use any of my images, please contact me! Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave your feedback in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Artisanal jewellery
Snail snack, a delicacy sold by the street food merchants
Roasted cuey (Guinea pig)
PANAMA SERIES: THE GRINGO PRICE
Travel Resources for your trip to Ecuador
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Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Ecuador.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Ecuador on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
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