Before coming to Ecuador when we thought about the Incas, the image that sprang to mind was rolling mist, towering mountains and the vast archaeological complex of Machu Picchu. Now, we know that while Peru’s famous landmark is the most well-known symbol of Incan civilization, it is not the only one in South America. Cuenca was originally a Cañari settlement called “Land as Big as Heaven” founded around 500 AD.  Later the Incas attempted to conquer the Cañari people and…

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After two weeks in Quito, we arrived in Ecuador’s southern city of Cuenca. Similar to Quito, Cuenca is a colonial city dating from the 16th century and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a completely different vibe from Quito, however. Quito is big, sprawling, and full of crowds. Cuenca, on the other hand – although it’s the third-largest city in Ecuador, doesn’t feel very big. With its colonial heritage all around us, we sometimes feel…

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Religion is a core part of many Ecuadorian’s lives (especially among the poor, who make up a third of the population) and over 95% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic. Holy Week or Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is the most important religious holiday of the year and many Ecuadorians take the whole week off from work. In Cuenca, during Semana Santa, this demonstration of faith extends to the streets of the historic center around the central square…

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Our final adventure in Quito involved another climb. This climb was to the Pichincha Volcano, located on the eastern edge of Quito. To get to this destination, we flagged down a taxi that knew where to go. The volcano is just outside of downtown Quito and because addresses are not always used in Quito the taxi driver had to know the location. Our driver took us to the base of the mountain. From there we took a cable car called…

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During our stay in Quito, we had the opportunity to visit many of the churches in the historic city center. Within a five-block radius from the central plaza, there are fifteen colonial catholic churches (there are 25 colonial catholic churches in the historic city center) each with its own unique character and beauty. Some of them are pictured below. As beautiful as these churches are, the most impressive church in Quito sits atop a hill overlooking the historic center. El…

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North of Quito, Ecuador is the renowned indigenous market of Otavalo, a place full of traditions and handicrafts. We took a day trip to this beautiful pueblo about 60 miles north of Quito. We hopped on a tour bus that passed through several small towns before arriving at the famous artisan market. Cayambe: The Home of Bizcochos North of Quito, we stopped in the small town of Cayambe where we watched how bizcochos are made. People in many Latin American…

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Well, we’re now in Ecuador. Our original plan was to go from Medellín, Colombia to Cuenca, Ecuador (Cuenca is a smaller city popular with American retirees for its weather, livability and low cost of living). But to get to Cuenca, we had to go through Quito. There are no direct flights to Cuenca, so we decided to stay a couple of weeks in Quito. Several years ago, we stopped in Quito for a day on our way to the Galapagos…

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