Travel Ecuador

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Ecuador Travel and Tourism 2 Percent GDP 2011

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact report (2011), the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Ecuador’s’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to be US$1,214.2 (1.9 percent of total GDP) for 2011 with an annual growth to reach 4.9 percent by 2021.

This reflects economic activity generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines, and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). Travel and tourism is responsible for supporting 96,000 jobs (1.7 percent of total employment) in 2011, increasing to 134,000 (1.9 percent) by 2021.

Traveling Cheap in Ecuador

Ecuador Travel - Hugged by Columbia (on the north) and Peru (south and east), Ecuador is bounded by the Pacific Ocean (on the west). Strategically located at the equator, the country is defined by its locale and is home to 13.2 million people, with most living in Guayaquil (2 million) and Quito (1.8 million). The World Bank finds that Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands) is “...one of the countries with the highest biodiversity on the planet.”

]]> Ecuador Economics - It is really easy to do business and travel throughout the country as the US dollar is the local currency (beginning in 2000). However, the well-educated, left-leaning president, Rafael Correa (elected in 2007), a man who counts Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales among his best friends, creates an environment that does not encourage new business development.

Given the fact that President Correa holds multiple college degrees, including an MS in economics (1999) and a doctorate in economics (2001) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the expectation is that he would encourage Latin America’s seventh-largest economy to become the poster-child for entrepreneurship. However, according to the CIA World Fact Book, the “Economic policies under the Correa administration – including an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States – have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment.”

The major economic engine for Ecuador is oil (approximately 500,000 barrels per day). However, other major exports (2002) include: bananas (US$936.5 million), canned fish (US$333 million), cut flowers (US$291 million), and shrimp (US$251 million). Ecuador also benefits from money transfers (US$1.7 billion, 2003) sent “home” by nearly a million Ecuadorian immigrants employed outside the country.

Cheap Travels around Cajas Cuenca Ecuador

On the grand South American travel circuit, the relatively small country of Ecuador is often overlooked. Visitors either stop because it is the only jump-off point to the Galápagos Islands, or travelers pass through between Machu Picchu Peru and Colombia. Some backpackers and mountaineers visit a few of the more well-known regions, like the capital Quito, and the famous peaks of the volcano alley.

]]> Within the lightly traveled country, Cajas National Park remains almost a secret.

During our few days there, we didn’t encounter any other tourists. Yet, El Cajas offers some of the most accessible trekking, photography, and wildlife watching in the northern Andes.

The city a destination itself - Based in the colonial city of Cuenca, which lies about 20 miles east of the park, we spent several days hiking and exploring the mountains. Cuenca, Ecuador’s third largest city and capital of the Azuay Province, offers plenty of affordable accommodations and eateries.

The center of the city harbors many historic buildings, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a destination in itself. Nestled comfortably at 8,000 feet, spending a few nights here will also help with acclimatization and prevent altitude sickness when venturing into the nearby mountains.

On our first day in the park, we visited Laguna Toreadora, the largest of the more than 250 lakes found here. The main visitor center and entrance are located here, and park rangers can provide maps plus current information. Bus drivers know the spot and regularly stop here.

We crossed a grassy flat, nibbled down to turf by domesticated llamas, and started the path circumnavigating the lake. Black cliffs reflected in the leaden water, and dense cumulus rolled over the distant peaks.

What at first glance looked like sparse and weather-beaten country revealed countless delicate flowers, lichens, and mosses upon closer inspection. Numerous plants in the region are found nowhere else on earth.

Within protected ravines and along twisting shorelines grow stands of polylepis trees, with their distinct copper bark that peels in thin flakes from gnarled branches. These plants grow at some of the highest elevations of any trees on earth. The crooked trunks created an impenetrable maze above thick mats of cool green moss.

Within this stunted forest, the wind died, and an otherworldly silence dripped from wet leaves. Except for the shy twitter of a few hardy birds, the world lay hushed.

The main highway winds west from Cuenca into the mountains, past frothing streams spilling down valleys and steep pastures. It crosses the Continental Divide at Tres Cruces before dropping toward the coastal city of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s most populous city. Bisecting the park, the highway allows access to many trails via regular and cheap public transport. Rains falling on the eastern slope drain into the Tomebamba and Yanuncay Rivers, which eventually flow into the Amazon Basin.

We walked deeper into the park on our second day. After the accommodating bus driver had dropped us off at Tres Cruces, we planned to hike the Parade Patul Virgin all the way to the eastern edge of the park and catch a bus back into Cuenca from the main road.

We tromped for hours below a checkered sky of blue racing clouds. The mood of the mountains changed with the fickle weather — from endless miles of inviting, bright, straw-colored hills to brooding lumps of rock, ominous and gray in a quiet drizzle.

The Andes can be surprisingly mild for the high elevations, but conditions can change rapidly, and it’s important to come prepared.

We ate some food by one of dozens of small lakes and admired the puya plants (bromeliads unique to the Andes), their tall flowering stalks defying the harsh climate.

We also kept a lookout for some of the famous animals of the Andes, but the view remained relatively empty. The park protects some of the best preserved wild lands in Ecuador and its respective denizens, which include spectacled bears and pumas. No worries, though — the chances of encountering one of these rare animals are remote. A few Andean condors still extend their massive 10-foot wings above the inaccessible high country and canyons.

The antithesis in size (but not name), the giant hummingbird visits agave flowers and is seen more often.

A second entrance at lower elevations allows access to the long Inca Trail, a multi-day trek that requires guides and gear. For shorter adventures, it is worth the visit to see the lagoon and surrounding cloud forest that thrives in the more forgiving climate. The entrance here also has a ranger station that can provide maps and information.

We wandered through misty forest hemmed by steep walls. The valley here offered glimpses of Ecuadorian pastoral life, with thatch-roofed houses scattered on green pastures and cows grazing impossible inclines. We also had a few tense moments with local dogs, a bit overeager in staking out their territories.

Before calling it a day, we stopped in one of the restaurants along the main highway, which specialized in trout raised in clear brooks in the valley. It turned out to be a delicious finish to a calf burning but memorable few days.

"Ingapirca Inca Ruins" in Ecuador - If a break from the mountains is needed, Ingapirca, the largest known Inca ruin in Ecuador, is an easy day trip from Cuenca. The remains of Ingapirca (which roughly translates as "Inca Wall") stand atop dry windswept hills, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

At the center of the site stands the Temple of the Sun, an elliptical structure of sand-colored brick. The remaining walls are a great example of the traditional construction method of the Inca. Perfectly fitted fieldstones form narrow hallways, stairs and long walls.

The ruins date from the 15th century, but were built atop older structures. The Inca were not the original inhabitants, but usurped the area from the Canari. Eventually, after living peacefully in close proximity, both groups merged.

The ruins are open daily and it takes about two hours by public bus from Cuenca to get there.

Beyond Cuenca, Cajas and Ingapirca waits the rest of Ecuador, with more mountains, jungle and history to be explored.

Branding Ecuador Travel Life at its Purest

Branding Ecuador – Life at its Purest - The firm of Joseph Chias developed the strategic marketing plan for tourism. In 2007, the Ecuadorian capital of Quito registered 461,000 international tourist arrivals, with a total of 1.2 million Ecuadorian and international visitors, who generated US$606.7 million for the Metropolitan District. Looking to improve these numbers, the Chias objective is to push the total visitor numbers to 1.8 million unique visitors by 2012, generating US$1 billion for the city. New tourism products will emphasize the increasing professionalism of the sector in general and the improvement on all levels of tourism services and attractions.

]]> There is also optimism for the future growth of Ecuador. The real estate firm of Cushman & Wakefield finds the Ecuador market for high end commercial real estate to be small compared with other Latin American markets; however, they have determined that there is a significant amount of unmet demand for corporate office space.

On the public side, government spending on infrastructure is creating jobs and motivates companies to meet growing demand for goods and services and a US$1.0 billion 4-year loan from the China Development Bank Corp. (2010) is facilitating the expansion of these infrastructure projects.

Learning English with Ecuadorians

Learning English with Ecuadorians - Although English is taught in some schools, the dominant language is Spanish.

Without the ability to speak Spanish visitors will have to acquire a local guide to facilitate the stay.

While most Quito residents are Roman Catholic, mestizio (mixed indigenous and European ethnicity), some share an African ancestry, and many expatriates are from China, Italy, Germany, Columbia, Chile, and Lebanon.

Cheap Travel Cotopaxi National Park Ecuador

At Tambopaxi Lodge in the middle of the park, where we stopped for lunch, owner Belisario Chiriboga had tales of even more spectacular animals.

]]> "I've never seen a puma but I know they are here because one killed a llama just over there," he said, gesturing in the direction of Cotopaxi. The park rangers came to tell me.

"Mostly the pumas stay over the other side of the park but when they are hungry they come here ... . sometimes I've seen foxes, condors and wild bulls ... "

But the park is dominated by the mountains. Cotopaxi was hiding behind the clouds the day we visited but it did peek out long enough for us to see the spectacular red patch left by the melting of a once massive glacier on its eastern face.

The most spectacular sight, however, came as we left the lagoon and Cecilia, our guide, suddenly gave an excited shout. "Look. Look there. Chimborazo."

We looked, and there, sure enough, was a vast snow-covered mountain.

"That is amazing," she said. "It is always behind the clouds. We only see it like this maybe once a year."

Chimborazo, which towers 6268m above sea level, is an extinct volcano which last erupted some 1500 years ago.

Because of its size the mountain is regarded by the indigenous Andeans as the father of the Andes and its name is generally thought to mean "throne of god".

I later discovered that until the early 19th century Chimborazo was considered to be the highest mountain on earth, and was first climbed in 1880 by Edward Whymper, the chap we met at San Agustin.

These days, Mt Everest is known to be the world's highest peak, but Chimborazo still has one claim to fame. Because of the bulge in the earth around the equator, its summit is the furthest point from the centre of the earth, 2.1km further than Everest.

Travel Cheap Cotopaxi National Park Ecuador

One of the reasons for the Inca lords - and others down the years - coming to this place is its remarkable setting with vast fertile plains ideal for grazing animals or growing crops presided over by spectacular mountains.

We got a closer feel for the region's farming history at another Andean hacienda, Hacienda la Alegria, which follows an ancient tradition of raising horses, cattle, fighting bulls, llamas and vicuna, keeping alive the proud tradition of the chagras (Andean cowboys).

And we saw the mountains up close during a visit to the Cotopaxi National Park which lies around the flanks of the massive volcano. This is rugged country but with plenty of wildlife. Driving through the park we passed herds of llama and horses grazing in meadows littered with huge volcanic bombs and flocks of water birds feeding on the waters of the Limpiopunga Lagoon.

Jetblue Guayaquil Ecuador Travel LAN

JetBlue Airways, LAN Airlines and LAN’s affiliates LAN Peru, LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador have launched interline agreements to bring new connecting options for travelers flying between major destinations throughout the Americas via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

LAN and its affiliates offer wide body service between JFK and key South American business and leisure destinations including Santiago, Chile; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru. Through LAN’s multiple hubs in South America, JetBlue customers can travel onward to destinations previously unavailable through the airline or other interline partners including Cordoba and Mendoza, Argentina; La Paz and Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Easter Island and Punta Arenas, Chile; and Montevideo, Uruguay.

]]> JetBlue Airways operates more than 150 daily departures to dozens of major North American cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington from New York JFK’s Terminal 5.

Under the interline agreement, customers will be able to purchase a single electronic ticket that combines travel on JetBlue and any of the LAN carriers, bringing new options and new destinations to customers of both airlines.

At present the backbone of oneworld member LAN Airlines' long-haul fleet, and the long-haul fleet of associate LAN Peru, is the Boeing 767-300ER. However, LAN also operates Airbus A340-300s and the group has ordered Boeing 787s for future long-haul operations

On the day of travel, each connecting customer can take advantage of one-stop check-in, allowing him or her to check baggage to his or her final destination and receive a boarding pass for all flights in his or her journey regardless of whether travel originates with JetBlue or one of the LAN carriers.

In the coming weeks, customers will be able to purchase JetBlue-LAN travel via the global distribution systems, via online travel agencies, and by calling LAN reservations or visiting www.lan.com.

“Teaming up with LAN means JetBlue customers will now have even more choices when their plans call for travel to South America and the South Pacific,” says Scott Resnick, JetBlue’s director of airline partnerships. “The LAN brand is well-respected for its service and its strong network, making it a perfect interline partner for JetBlue as we continue to expand our reach across the globe.”

“This agreement expands LAN’s interline network in North America and the Caribbean and makes it possible to connect passengers with attractive new destinations and offer more convenient connections including 150 new daily interline flights to and from New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington D.C., as well as others in the Midwest and Western United States,” says Armando Valdivieso, CEO of LAN Airlines’ Passenger Division.

To search for low fares, click here.

San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands Green Cruises

Ecoventura Supports Pack with a Purpose Program To Deliver School, Medical Supplies To Underprivileged Youth in San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands

MIAMI, FL, Feb. 16, 2011 ˆ Ecoventura http://www.ecoventura.com/, the green cruise company operating a fleet of small expedition vessels in the Galapagos region, has teamed up with Pack for a Purpose www.packforapurpose.org, a charitable organization whose mission encourages travelers to save room in their travel luggage for five pounds of school or medical supplies that can make a difference to communities they’re visiting.

]]> What a traveler is recommended to bring is determined in advance with the tour operator. Pack with a Purpose works with top tour operators from around the world. For example, in the Galapagos, Ecoventura‚s team notes that one youth organization needs computer equipment, digital cameras, scanners, a sound system, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, English teaching books, English/Spanish dictionaries, software and ecology-focused teaching aids. Another organization for physically and mentally challenged children needs puzzles, rubber balls, crayons, modeling clay and colored pencils.

Doris Welsh, Ecoventura‚s Director of Sales & Marketing, said that participation in Pack with a Purpose is aligned with the company‚s community outreach and conservation mission programs.

„We invite people to ask us what they need to pack,‰ she said, adding 400 pencils and five deflated soccer balls can add up five pounds to help poor communities. She suggested that through Ecoventura Yachts – Ecuador // Pack For A Purpose, travelers can also free up space while they‚re at the destination to purchase handicrafts they can bring home with them, thereby helping the economy and people in another way.

As one of the most ecology-minded and socially responsible tour companies in Ecuador, based in San Cristobal, Ecoventura has helped to support various initiatives that benefit the local population living in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal. With a population of 5,600, San Cristobal has the second largest population in the Islands after Santa Cruz. It is the fifth largest island and the only Island with fresh water and an airport in town.

Through the foundation „Gotitas de Esperanza‰ (Drops of Hope), Ecoventura has pledged to sponsor the salaries for teachers and physical therapists who work at the Alejandro Alvear School located on San Cristobal Island. During the day, the school provides therapy for children with Down‚s Syndrome and other physical disabilities. In the evenings, the school serves the adult population of the Island through programs such as teaching sign language for the hearing impaired.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard its fleet of three expedition vessels; Eric, Flamingo and Letty, identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts. The company also operates the M/V Galapagos Sky, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.

In 2008, Ecoventura was presented with the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism ˆ Best in a Marine Environment Award. Distinguished judges noted Ecoventura‚s contribution toward improving conditions for local people in Galapagos and for being among the first operators to be independently audited. In 2009, Ecoventura was honored with the Conde Nast World Savers Award as the top scoring cruise line. The panel of judges noted the company was exceptional in education, preservation, poverty and health. In November 2009, Ecoventura received Travel + Leisure‚s 5th annual Global Vision Award for Green Cruising.

To reserve a cabin or private charter, or to receive a copy of Ecoventura‚s 2011 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.644.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries log on to http://www.ecoventura.com/

The Galapagos Explorer promotions Coupons

Cruising The Pristine Waters Of The Galapagos Is More Affordable Than Ever
The Galapagos Explorer is offering great savings for travelers looking for that once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos Cruise Ships adventure. The discerning traveler can now take advantage of the Flamingo specials’ three, four, or seven night cruise with an option of cruise-only or all-inclusive pricing. Either way, travelers save significantly; so much so the entire family can now visit the most exotic destination on earth.

]]> The Galapagos Islands are the quintessential ‘zoo without walls’, revealing nature’s wonders like no other ecotourism experience. When booked by March 15th, three night Galapagos cruise ships tour prices begin as low as $1,291.00usd and include all meals and activities on board the luxury vessel. All-inclusive package rates begin as low as $1,839.00usd for the same time frame.

Additionally, Galapagos Explorer has steep discounts for select weeks on their Super Savings Special. Beginning at a low $1,241.00usd for a three night cruise, guests can travel March 23 – 26, April 6 – 9, April 27 – 30, May 4 – 7, or May 25 -28, 2011. Pricing includes double-cabin occupancy on the Explorer II and all meals and activities on board the ship.

Galapagos Explorer operates the Explorer II in the pristine waters around the six primary islands. As a premiere all-suite vessel, the Explorer II provides more space per guest than any of the Galapagos cruise ships in luxury class. Additionally, the company supports sustainable ecological, conservation, and educational practices by ensuring products and services on board the ship are consistent with directives from conservation efforts on San Cristobal Island.

Traveling the Galapagos Islands provides innumerable opportunities for families and seniors to enjoy low impact environmental excursions into one of nature’s wonders much like Darwin may have experienced it several hundred years ago. The Explorer II offers twice-daily tours conducted by expert guides. Nearly 97 percent of the Galapagos Islands are protected as National Park or Natural Heritage for Humanity lands. It remains truly nature’s paradise.

What’s more, travelers will enjoy the islands’ richness while protecting its resources. Galapagos cruise ships adventures provide opportunities to see colorful marine life, including fish, garden eels, water turtles and iguanas. Many vacationers relish in viewing the Galapagos Penguin or the Giant Tortoises. Since the Galapagos Islands were formed by volcanoes, they sport amazing rock formations and endemic flora and fauna.

As one of the earliest Galapagos cruise ships operating in the area, Galapagos Explorer continues to provide both luxury and environmentally conscious service for travelers. Taking quality and social responsibility seriously, the company has moved a 12-year veteran into the Director’s helm. Rafael Cuesta Alvarez is ‘piloting’ the company’s efforts, bringing the highest quality of service and competitive pricing that continues the tradition of excellence.

For additional information about the Flamingo Promotion or Super Saving Special available for travel in 2011, contact Galapagos Explorer at 1.800.613.6026 or visit the website at www.galapagosexplorer.com. Some restrictions may apply.

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