INDIGENOUS FEASTS

PEOPLE

Population: 12 million approx. Amerindian 50% , Mestizo 40%, Black and mulatto 5%, White and others 5%.
Language: Spanish. Most of the indigenous population speaks Quichua. In many schools English is the second language taught. There are 18 different languages among Ecuadorian communities.
Currency: United States Dollars

MOST IMPORTANT INDIGENOUS GROUPS

In the orient: Secoya, Cofan, Huaorani Zaparo, Quichua, Achuar and Shuar (formerly known as Jivaro).
In the Highlands: Otavalo, Salasacas, Quichuas, awa, Tsachila and more.
In the Coast: Montubios (like cowboys - only can be seen with the agrotourism tours).

MAIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Although the Inca culture is the most known, they were only 80 years in Ecuador before the arrival of the Spaniards. So, many other ancient cultures and its ruins can be visited in Ecuador.

In the Coast

TOLITA ISLAND: Little island on the north coast of Ecuador where the prehistoric culture La Tolita thrived.
MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK: This Park is named after the culture that flourished between 1800 and 1500 BC in this area. Agua Blanca archaeological site should be visited.
VALDIVIA: This is the site of the 5000 years-old Valdivia culture. This place is visited during our Coast route to the Sun where you will see their famous ceramic.
PACHA: Recently added to the archaeological sites, this place has been hidden to the man for almost 500 hundred years. It has 247 acres of ruins of terraces, temples, houses, baths and more but for the lack of resources only 12 acres will be rescue. Archaeologists have found Cañari and Inca objects. It is located near the city of Machala.

In the Highlands:

COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK: The Pucara Ruins are a prehispanic fortress of the Incas that should be visited. At the foot of Cotopaxi you will also find the Inca Palace, built by Tupac Yupanqui (Atahualpa´s grandfather) in the XVth century and turned into a monastery by the Catholic Agustinian Order in the XVIIth century.
CHIMBORAZO PROVINCE: Quebrada de Chalan (near the village of Punin) and vestiges of the Inca trail.
PULULAHUA: Near of the middle of the world monument, are the Inca ruins of Rumicucho. Restoration poor, but situation magnificent.
COCHASQUI: Pyramids.
INGAPIRCA : Located 45 minutes from Cuenca. These Inca ruins were built by Atahualpa´s father. It is believed today that Ingapirca was both a religious and administrative center, as well as a fortress. The complex was built by the Incas on the top of an old Cañari settlement.
CHORDELEG: Pre-Incas town where important archaeological objects can be found. This brilliant culture inhabited the area between the years 500 and 1500 BC.
MORONA SANTIAGO PROVINCE: In the Amazonian, an important discovery of pyramids and temples of a prehispanic culture named Upano-Chiguaza.

PALEONTOLOGY SITE:

PUYANGO: Located 110 Km from Machala and 307 from Guayaquil, this petrified forest is the most antique of South America and it is supposedly the most extensive outside Arizon. It has 6568 acres and contains the world's largest collection of tree, plant and animal fossils. It is equipped with footpaths, as well as tourist and camping facilities. Over 120 species of birds can be seen.