Travelore News: Cuenca Airport In Ecuador Closed Until September 5th

The Mariscal La Mar Airport from Cuenca will remain closed until September 19, 2016, due to changes in the asphalt layer on the landing strip, according to Cuenca Airport Corporation (CORPAC)

Mariscal Lamar International Airport is an airport serving Cuenca, a city in the province of Azuay in Ecuador.

During this period, the National Traffic Agency will be offering buses transportation from Cuenca airport to Guayaquil at Bahia del Norte, and to Quito at Parque Bicentenario.

The shuttle frequencies to Guayaquil will be 14, departing in different hours from 14h00 to 10h30, and to Quito will be 26 frequencies departing from 00h00 to 23h30. It is important to mention that the buses will not have any stop during the ground journey.

On the other hand, TAME airlines has announced that those passengers that have purchased their air tickets to/from Cuenca will be able to change their flight or date (same origin and destiny) up to 15 days after the opening of Cuenca airport, or it can be changed at TAME offices to another airport such as Guayaquil, Loja and El Oro, without any penalty or changes in rates.

Travelore Update On Quito’s City Tourism Services Following Earthquake

UPDATE ON QUITO’S CITY TOURISM SERVICES FOLLOWING SATURDAY’S EARTHQUAKE

Ecuador experienced a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday, April 16, at 6:58 p.m. The epicenter of the quake was located off the Pacific coast of the state of Manabí and mainly affected coastal areas. Population centers in Ecuador’s highlands farther inland, such as capital city Quito, experienced tremors, but to a much lesser degree.

The country’s Ministry of Tourism reported that tourism infrastructure located in areas not significantly affected by the earthquake — such as the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos — including all airports, accommodations, tour operation and ground transport, remain open and fully operational, and are catering to tourists.

Quito itself is also fully operational, including its international airport, Mariscal Sucre (UIO), and the city’s public services: water, power, telephone service, internet service and public transportation.

Mauricio Rodas Espinel, Quito’s mayor, has communicated that the earthquake affected six (6) dwellings in the city; three (3) of them are in the southern district, which is outside the traditional tourist areas. Sixteen (16) people have been evacuated to municipal shelters. At this time, damage to heritage spaces in Quito’s Historical District Center is being evaluated.

“It’s so incredible to watch Ecuadoreans come together like this,” said Rodas. The mayor and his wife have been leading an initiative to gather aid packages at the city’s former airport and load them onto trucks.

“We are relieved to be in such good condition, but our hearts go out to our fellow citizens at this time,” says Quito Mayor Mauricio Rodas.  “The best way to assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts is to embrace foreign visitors.”

Rodas urged international visitors to not cancel their travel plans to Quito but to be sure to register with their local embassy upon arrival in the city in case of any future emergency.

Follow us on:  @visitQuito @VisitQuito 

For more information on Quito, please visit: www.quito.com.ec/en/

Update On Equador's Tourism Infrastructure & Services Following Saturday's Earthquake And How To Send Donations For Relief

 

Ultimate Ecuador: Plan Your Perfect Adventure

·

When it comes to adventure, you can’t go wrong in Ecuador. There are towering Andean peaks and volcanoes, vast swaths of Amazonian rain forest, chilled-out surf villages, and of course, the iconic and unforgettable Galapagos Islands.

Whether you want to bike down the face of a volcano, trek out to isolated indigenous villages, paddle down rivers or marvel at the monkeys, tortoises and blue-footed boobies of this remarkably diverse ecosystem, this guide will help you plan your perfect trip to one of South America’s top adventure destinations.

Pin this imageQuilotoa volcano's crater lake © Volanthevist / Getty Images

Ecuador at a glance

Currency: US Dollar

Transport: Super cheap (about $1 per hour on buses)

Related articles:

Ecuador’s alternative adventuresEcuador’s top 10 volcanic experiences24 hours in Quito

Visas: Visitors from most countries don’t need a visa for stays less than 90 days

Seasons: High season is June-September

Daily budget: $30 (budget backpacker), $30-$80 (mid-range independent explorer), $100  and higher (high roller and anybody that wants to go to the Galapagos)

Itineraries for every adventurer

Full-circuit voyager

This two-week itinerary takes you to Ecuador’s top sights. Nearly every journey begins in the country’s sophisticated capital, Quito. Spend at least two days acclimatizing to the altitude (2850m), checking out the colonial churches and hopping over to Otavalo, just north of the city, for the country’s best crafts market. Next, head south for an overnight stay in one of the gorgeously restored haciendas just outside of Cotopaxi National Park. Take a day to tour through the park to see wild horses and migrating birds before you head south again for two nights in Cuenca, a gorgeous colonial city with cobblestone streets, arts, markets and excellent food.

Pin this imageGet used to Ecuador's altitude in Quito before heading out to the Andes © Patrick Heagney / Getty Images

From Cuenca, you can either head back by road to Quito, stopping for a few days of tropical relaxation, mountain biking and rafting in the busy backpacker center of Baños, or head straight to the Galapagos Islands for a four-day island-hopping, wildlife-watching cruise. Many choose to end their adventure here, missing out on a trip down to the Amazon Basin. Why not tack on four days to explore the jungle lodges outside of Coca on the Río Napo?

Pin this imageCotopaxi Volcano © Andras Jancsik / Getty Images

Cultural explorer

Ecuador has a remarkable cultural tapestry. It’s a diverse country with over a dozen distinct ethnic groups and some 20 unique languages. In the highlands, you won’t want to miss the small Kichwa villages found on the Quilotoa Loop. Along the way, you’ll get the chance to descend to a crater lake that local legend says has no bottom, meet artists who have propelled naïve art to international levels in Tigua or just get lost on ancient trails as you hike and bike from village to village. There are numerous crafts markets along the way, where you can sample delectable Andean street fare like cuy (guinea pig), and buy local artisan goods, textiles and more.

Pin this imageCooked cuy (guinea pig) in Baños © Piccaya / Getty Images

In the Amazon Basin, you can see wildlife, paddle rivers and learn about the unique cultures of isolated indigenous tribes like the Huaorani and Shuar, while along the North Coast, you’ll find large groups of Afro-Ecuadorians. Largely marginalized by mainstream society, Afro-Ecuadorians serve up delectable seafood dishes, like coconut seafood stew, and make amazing chocolate.

Pin this imageFresh spices for sale in the market of Otavalo © Bartus Hendrikse / Getty Images

In the big cities of Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil, culture is alive. Not only will you wander through the remnants of colonial times in the remarkable churches, walkways and arcaded plazas, but you’ll also find world-class modern art, chart-topping museums (that are mostly free!), suped-up nightclubs and rocking music scenes. There’s also a unique festival going on in this highly religious country nearly every week of the year. Top festivals include Carnaval in February, Semana Santa in March, Inti Raymi in June, Mamá Negra in September and Fiestas de Quito in December.

Active adventurer

Ecuador offers up a truckload of adrenaline-soaked activities that will get your heart pumping and take you to the edge. Topping it all off is a summit of one of the nation’s towering glacier-draped volcanoes. Cotopaxi is a top pick for most, while Chimborazo takes you above the 6000m mark for bragging rights with your fellow andinistas.

Pin this imageWild vicuñas near El Chimborazo volcano © Alejocock / Getty Images

There’s good surf in Ecuador, too. In places like Montañita, Canoa and Mompiche, you can find 2m waves, chill surf scenes and plenty of other fun activities. The waves are best January to March.

Outside the season, you can still fill your need for white water with a rafting adventure down any of the country’s Class III and IV rivers. Tena is your top pick, but there are big runs near Macas, Río Blanco, El Chaco and Baños.

For two-pedaled adventures on terra firma, there’s sick mountain biking down the flanks of Chimborazo and Cotopaxi, plus a dusty-bottom ride from the edge of the Andes to the Amazon on the Ruta de Las Cascadas, a 61km ride that takes you past a dozen waterfalls as you descend from Baños to Puyo.

Pin this imageEcuador's cloud forest © Kseniya Ragozina / Getty Images

It seems that everywhere there’s a zip line (ask to go headfirst, Superman-style with arms outstretched), a bridge to jump (or swing from in a local derivation of bungee jumping known as puenteing), or a mountain to climb. For wildlife watching, you have world-class birding in places like Mindo, Amazonian jungle romps for glimpses of monkeys, toucans, river dolphins and caimans along the Río Napo, staggering biodiversity in far-out parks like Parque Nacional Podocarpus and, of course, journeys through the place that revealed The Origin of the Species, the Galapagos Islands.

What to bring

There are a few things you won’t want to forget:

• Vaccinations (for visits to the Amazon)
• Insect repellent
• Travel insurance
• Clothes: hat, warm sweater or jacket, water and windproof jacket, shorts, swimsuits, light long sleeve shirt and trousers
• Ear plugs
• Flashlight
• Utility knife

by Greg Benchwick 

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/travel-tips-and-articles/ultimate-ecuador-plan-your-perfect-adventure#ixzz3xoDVnyFR

Quito Becomes Leading South American Destination For Third Consecutive Year

Quito, Leading South American Destination for third consecutive year

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was awarded the “Leading South American Destination” distinction by the World Travel Awards for a third year in a row at the ceremony held in Bogotá, Colombia on October 10th. This award is considered “the Oscar of Tourism”, it acknowledges Quito as a destination of excellence for travelers.

To win Leading South American Destination for the third time is the result of the arduous work performed by the Municipality of Quito through the Quito Turismo Metropolitan Company, both in the promotion and development of tourism, and in the different activities carried out in order to capture online votes.

Quito Turismo implemented several promotional activities with tour operators, hotels, universities, and private companies, between April and August 2015, in order to incentivize those Quiteños that are part of, or associated with, these organizations, to vote. 32 organizations involved in tourism were approached to obtain their staffs’ votes. 7960 votes were gathered as a result of all the promotional activities performed.

The joint effort by the public and private sectors consolidates a coordinated work trajectory to strengthen touristic activity in Quito, with the current goal of positioning the city as a convention and conference destination, given that construction of the new Convention Center is set to begin, and Quito shall also host Habitat III, the United Nations’ world urbanism conference.

10 Reasons To Visit Quito, The First Capital City To Be Named A UNESCO World Heritage Site

10 REASONS TO VISIT QUITO

Quito was the first capital city to be named a World Heritage site by UNESCO and recognized for the second consecutive year as “Best Leading Destination in South America” by the World Travel Awards (2013 & 2014). This city will amuse visitors with its cultural and natural wonders. There are many reasons to visit Quito; we will enumerate 10 of the “must do & see” in this wonderful destination.   Quito in the Middle of the World Quito is the capital city located closest to the sun with its 9,350 feet above the sea level, and is also the only place in the world where you can put one foot in the North Pole and the other one in the South Pole… at the same time! You can feel the pure energy of the center of the world while you walk the Equatorial line, which is an imaginary line, drawn by the Geodesic French Mission in the 18th century which determined Latitude 0°0’0’’. This privileged geographic location gives Quito over the top virtues that are easy to notice in its weather and its natural richness.   Its wonderful Centro Historico Discover the impressiveness of the historic center, considered the biggest and the best conserved of all Latin America. This is the jewel that made Quito in the first capital city to be named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. In this place you will find the history of the city in its most recognized sites: La Compañía de Jesús, top work of the Baroque period in the Americas; La Plaza Grande as the heart of important historic deeds that relates Quito´s and Ecuador´s history; go through the religious complex of San Francisco; also stroll at La Ronda, a street that keeps its charm with the diverse workshops and traditional trade. The Centro Historico is not only a great museum, it is a dynamic place that merges the daily life of its inhabitants, traders, religious people and public servants with visitors from all over the world.    Quito´s cuisine The flavors of Quito´s cuisine deserve to be savored by every good traveler. Traditional dishes of the city are mestizos (a mix of pre-Columbian and Spanish), Andean and Iberian: locro de papas, seco de chivo, fritada, empanadas, envuelto (wraps: corn dough wrapped in leafs and cooked in steam), aji sauce, fruit juice and paila ice cream, are some of the dishes that you cannot miss while you visit this city. Enjoy this menu in high-end restaurants and typical flea markets.Of course, Quito offers the flavors of the world in various restaurants that will satisfy all your cravings, and vegetarian dishes cannot be left behind.   The people and its workshops During the Spanish colony, Quito was an important cultural and artistic center, this virtue has been maintained through the time. Today, it is common to find artisans that preserve their trade: traditional hairdressers, tailors, hat crafters, herbalists, among artists like Oswaldo Viteri, Oswaldo Guayasamín, Luigi Stonornaiolo or Eduardo Kingman which have workshops that are open to the public with the owners available to teach visitors more about their work and their life.   Museums, theaters and cultural centers Quito has many places that relate stories and realities of other times, besides promoting the culture by temporary and permanent expositions, theater, music and movies performances. The City Museum, “El Alabado” House Museum (with an extraordinary colection of pre-Columbian art), the Wax Museum, the Sucre Theater, Contemporary Art Center and the House of Music are some of the “must see” places. And of course the site museums in the surroundings such as Tulipe, Rumipamba and La Florida; and for the kids there are also spaces and activities such as Yaku Park Water Museum, the Interactive and Cience Museum and the Train Museum.   Nightlife When you visit The Mariscal, La Floresta, Guapulo or La Carolina neighborhoods, you will find yourself immersed in various options of restaurants, coffee shops, bars and nightclubs. You will find music, local and international gastronomy, party and overall, the so characteristic of Quito´s entertainment.   Take a tour in Train From the popular Chimbacalle neighborhood, to the south of the city, set forth on what was once described as “the toughest railroad of the world.” Today this heritage has been converted into a touristic train. Ecuador connects the Costa and the Andes with this impressive work of engineering from the beginning of the 20th century. Visit the station, its museum and ride this great adventure.   Shopping If shopping is you passion, this city is ideal. In Quito you will find a wide variety of options for every taste and budget. From modern shopping malls such as “El Quicentro Shopping” or mall “El Jardín” with local and international renowned brands. In La Floresta or La Mariscal neighborhood, you will find stores and galleries with contemporary design; in the Centro Historico you will find specialized art craft stores such as “El Quinde”. For art shopping, Quito is your destination. On weekends at “El Ejido” park you will find paintings, sculptures and more. At “La Mariscal”you will find the perfect place for galleries and antiques shops.   Paramo and the Cloudy Forest Just an hours trip, you can enjoy of different activities available in farms nested at Los Andes paramos. Some of the activities are: hot spring waters, horseback riding, hiking, agrotourism and much more. In the north-western zone, you can discover the beauty and the richness of the Cloudy Forest, a real paradise for birdwatching. More than 500 species live here, where the quinde or hummingbirds stand out, always with the opportunity of sightseeing the Spectacled bear, or the Andean bear, a unique South America specie.   Close to everything Quito is the departure point for Ecuador’s main tourist destinations because of its strategic location and well developed tourist infrastructure. Quito is an ideal place from which to start a trip. You can depart from here to the Pacific Coast with beaches, fisherman´s towns and great gastronomy. To Los Andes with the path of volcanoes that amused Alexander Von Humboldt. To the Amazonia with all its magic and extraordinary vegetation that gives home to ancestral towns. And to the Galapagos Islands, a unique place in the world that relates the evolution of the species where Charles Darwin supported his evolution theory. Now you know my traveler friend! If you are looking for cultural experiences or to get a close look into nature, Quito is the place to be.   Follow us on:  @visitQuito @VisitQuito For more information on Quito, please visit: www.quito.com.ec/en/