Guide To Go Tours

05/06/2016

Come explore the magical markets and cultures of Ecuador with GuideToGoTours. Book Your Tours Now!

03/29/2016

Ama Sua –don’t steal
Ama Llulla- don’t lie
Ama Quella-don’t be lazy
Quichua saying
The Quichua (kichwa) of South America are the largest of any indigenous peoples in the Americas today. Aymara-Quechua languages and dialects are the most widely spoken of all indigenous languages in South America. The Quichua are also the only people to have migrated both south along the ridges and valleys of the Andes mountains and east into the rainforest of the Amazon Basin. This early divergence in their migration paths has created distinct mountain- and jungle-Quichua identity and culture.
The Quichua were among the earliest peoples to be conquered by the Incan empire who spoke the Quechua language (Inga). It wasn't until Spanish colonization that their population level fell drastically. One of the most important dates in history associated with this decline is November 16, 1532. This marked the capture of the last Inca Emperor, Atahuallpa, by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro.
Today we must distinguish ethnic Quichua from speakers of Quechua.
Spanish colonization over the past five hundred years or so, has created interesting mixtures in Quichua cultures. Inter-marriage with the Spanish was practiced from the early days, creating "Mestizos" who are virtually counted as a separate ethnic group. One has to venture into remote communities these days to find majority "pure-blood" Quichuas. Throughout Ecuador you can hear the mixture of Quichua and Spanish being spoken daily. For example, many locations in Ecuador are named in Spanish and Quichua.

This Month We will explore the rich and colorful influence of Quichua.

01/11/2016

Breakfast in Ecuador
In Ecuador breakfast options seem almost unlimited; the fruits, the cheeses, things from the sea, it's as if the bounty is endless. Ecuadorian breakfasts can be small and quick, just some bread with cheese or dulce (jam) or sweet tamals and coffee/juice. Breakfast in Ecuador can also mean a complete satisfying meal. Every province, town or city has its typical dish, each prepared or served with a unique twist like mote pillo, hominy with scrambled eggs in the Andean highlands, or a bowl of delicious encebollado (tuna) soup on the Coast. Savory seafood breakfasts, from ceviche to fried fish with rice and plantains, are very popular in beach towns and coastal cities. Breakfasts dishes using plantains, both green and ripe, are also very popular, both on the coast and also in the Sierra (Highlands).
Breakfast dishes with grains and vegetables like habas or fava beans, corn, yuca or cassava are also very common in the Highlands, especially in the more rural areas where people need a hearty breakfast to start a long work day. Then there are other favorites from the Andean foothills. Take tigrillo, a specialty from the Provincia del Oro made from boiled and mashed plantains, mixed with cooked red and green onions with an egg and cheese, it's mixed in the pan and cooked.
Panaderías or bakeries can be found everywhere You can find a variety of savory bread (pan de sal) or sweet bread (pan de dulce), some come with cheese fillings or sweet fillings, like guava jam. The type of breads also vary from one city to another, and some have very distinct and well-known types of breads. In the Sierra most people will drink coffee with their breakfast. Freshly made fruit juices are also popular all around the country, especially on the coast. Other popular breakfast drinks include a fruity oatmeal drink called colada de avena and herbal teas. A very well-known tea drink called horchata (very different than the Mexican or Spanish horchata drinks), it is made with a variety of herbs and flowers, and is served already sweetened and with a dash of lemon juice. Whatever your taste preferences experience them on your next tour with Guide to Go tour leader Gareth Miller.

12/11/2015

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

10/14/2015

Fiesta de la Mama Negra celebrated in November
The fiesta originated with the colonization of Latacunga by the Spanish for its rich mineral resources. The native inhabitants were forced to convert to Catholicism, but the conversion was not entirely pure, with the result that indigenous elements, such as a polytheistic belief in “spirits,” became part of the new religion.
General consensus is that the festival was established when the Cotopaxi volcano erupted in 1742 that threatened destruction of Latacunga . The locals petitioned the Virgin of Mercy, the patron of Cotopaxi, to spare Latacunga. When the town escaped the wrath of the volcano, an annual celebration was established in her honor.
Fiesta de la Mama Negra is a parade of many characters that starts with the "guacos", dressed in white, who cleanse the way of bad spirits, and make way for the "Angel of the Star", dressed in white and riding a white horse, he carries the star that represents the guidance and the light, and sings praises to the Lady of Mercy. Then comes the "Mama Negra", a prominent man of Latacunga's society, who is elected every year to preside the festivities. He dresses as a woman, with seven shawls of different colors; his face painted black, and carries a black doll called Balthazara (yes, like the black Magi). Then comes the "Moorish King", richly dressed with jewelry and ornaments, wearing a cape and the scepter, as the symbol of power, followed by the "Flag Bearer", carrying the wipala, or multicolored flag that precedes the "Captain", wearing an elegant military uniform with a high feathered hat, and who is responsible for the success of the party. There's a fluidity of movement that's in tune with the music of the brass bands, and each other; shamans, clowns and dancing groups clad in all kinds of colorful disguises follow. It's all good humored and the parade ends with a big celebration of drinking, dancing and feasting on food of the area. A favorite is a beverage made with hominy, corn flour and fruit juice, and sweetened with brown sugar, called champus, and restaurateurs feature Latacunga’s most famous contribution to Ecuadorian cuisine, chugchucaras: deep fried pork, pork rinds, popcorn potatoes, maize and plantain. Candy and wine containers are also tossed to the crowds. Ecuadorians love a good party and there's nothing like a fiesta to generate the right mood.

08/20/2015

Come to Ecuador to see the birds! Here in Ecuador we have the best birding areas on the planet and with over 1600 bird species you will be sure to see something amazing.

07/21/2015

Quilotoa in the province of Cotopaxi is an active volcano and crater lake just outside of the small town of Zumbahua. It is the main subject for many of the naive paintings done by the tigua culture and is considered to be a violent god by these people. The lake has been called the lake of a thousand colors and is one of the few landmarks that can be seen from the air when flying to Cuenca or Guayaquil.

06/29/2015

Tired of the summer heat? Cool off with a tour of the largest Inca Ruins in Ecuador with us. See the Temple of the Sun. The building is constructed in the Inca way without mortar, as are most of the structures in the complex. The stones were carefully chiseled and fashioned to fit together perfectly.At this site you can also see remnants of the the ancient Inca Road.

05/15/2015

Following a 200 km route between the Eastern and Western Cordillera mountain chains, the Avenue of the Volcanoes (Avenida de los volcanes) offers travelers the opportunity to view up to fourteen of Ecuador's magnificent volcanoes. Some of the volcanoes are active, while others are dormant, and each has its own unique characteristics, making it worthwhile to take a trip along this spectacular 'avenue'.
Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador's most readily recognized volcanoes at 5,897 meters . Its virtually symmetrical cone rises up from a highland plain. Cotopaxi is considered to be active its last eruption was in the 1940’s.
Cotacachi is a dormant volcano along the avenue which features a 3 kilometer wide caldera and crater lake called Cuicocha. A caldera is generally formed when land collapses following a volcanic eruption, and Cuicocha was formed more than 3,000 years ago when the volcano erupted. It has been dormant since then, but the eruption contributed to the fertile soil found in the Otavalo valley.
The westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes is Quilotoa, featuring a 3 kilometer wide caldera filled with water which was formed around 800 years ago. The distinctive greenish color of Quilotoa's water is as a result of minerals from the volcanic ash and the lake floor has fumaroles, which the eastern flank of the volcano features hot springs. There is a small town at the summit of Quilotoa and this can be reached from Zumbahua by vehicle.
With its permanent snowcap,Cayambe boasts the highest point in the world on the Equator (4,690 meters on its south slope), and is also the only point located on the Equator to have snow cover. The highest point of Cayambe is 5,790 meters and was first conquered in 1880 by British mountaineer Edward Whymper, along with Italians Luis Carrel and Juan Antonio. It remains a favorite destination for mountain climbers today. Classified as a Holocene compound volcano, Cayambe last erupted in 1786 and is considered dormant.

04/07/2015

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03/27/2015

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03/16/2015

Semana Santa in Quito
Good Friday - Procession of Jesus of Great Power (Jesus de Gran Poder)

There is no greater spectacle that displays the importance or power of the Catholic religion for Quiteñans, than the procession of "Jesus of Great Power" on Good Friday.

More than a quarter of a million people will descend on the Plaza of San Francisco, some to observe, others to participate. At 12pm noon, the hour in which Pontius Pilot condemned Jesus to death, the procession begins from the San Francisco Church, and returns 3 hours later, the hour in which Jesus was crucified.
During the procession the image of Jesus is preceded by 800 persons dressed and veiled in purple garments. The men are known as Cucuruchos (meaning, cone for their pointed headdress) and the women are called Veronicas, after the woman who is thought to have offered her veil for Christ to wipe his face. The cones are a sign of humility; the purple, the color of penitence. Those who wear them do so as an act of faith, taking a vow of silence, but for all to witness during the procession.
Special dishes are also made to observe this holiday. Many Ecuadorians abstain from eating any meat for the week, and some choose to fast on Friday. On Saturday fast-breaking celebrations are met with plenty of fanesca.
During Semana Santa the most traditional Ecuadorian food enjoyed by local families is fanesca. This traditional soup is concocted with a hodgepodge of ingredients, including symbolic ones. The main ingredients are grains, squash and salted cod fish. A total of twelve different grains are used (which represent Jesus’ disciples) and salted cod, the fish symbolizing Jesus.

02/19/2015

A giant in the rainforests, the kapok tree can reach up to 200 feet in height, sometimes growing as much as 13 feet per year. Due to its extreme height, the kapok, or ceiba tree, towers over the other rainforest vegetation. The trunk can expand to nine or 10 feet in diameter. In the nooks and grooves of this huge plant live a diverse number of species including frogs, birds and bromeliads. The kapok tree is deciduous, shedding all of its leaves during the dry season. As its seeds are easily blown into open areas, kapok trees are some of the first to colonize open areas in the forest. The white and pink flowers of the kapok tree emit a foul odor that attracts bats. As the flying mammals move from flower to flower feasting on the nectar, they transfer pollen on their fur, thus facilitating pollination. The kapok tree does a great job at spreading its seeds, producing anywhere between 500 and 4,000 fruits at one time, with each fruit containing 200 seeds. When these fruit burst open, silky fibers spread the many seeds all over the forest.

02/10/2015

CARNAVAL
Ecuadoreans look forward to their own Carnaval (they spell it with three 'a's)
Visitors to Carnaval in Ecuador should be prepared for a good soaking: the celebration is characterized by hundreds of children, called diablillos (little devils) who roam the streets armed with water-pistols, water-bombs and foam looking for unwary people to soak!
The main thing about Carnaval in Ecuador is that it's the biggest party of the year! Beach resorts are at their busiest, there are colorful parades and firework shows to enjoy, and generally everybody lets their hair down. So long as you don't mind getting wet, it's a perfect time to visit Ecuador.

02/04/2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DwsbGqgsQ

01/31/2015

Ecuador, where nature, cultures and traditions thrive!

01/21/2015

To Ecuador with Love
Valentines Day is around the corner and is a great time to come and visit the beautiful flower markets of Ecuador. The roses that you find in the US were probably grown in Ecuador. Let us show you the beautiful flowers with your special Valentine!

12/31/2014

12/29/2014

NewYears Celebration in Quito
Año Los Viejos
New Year in Ecuador is as much about the Old Year as the new. Effigies are made of old clothes stuffed with newspaper and adorned with a mask. These are known as the "Año Viejos" or Old Years, and are burnt at midnight on New Year's Eve. The idea is to leave any negativity or problems behind in the old year and start afresh. A list of problems and worries may be written and put inside the effigy to be burnt.
"Viudas"
Another interesting New Years traditon are the "vuidas" (the widows). They are widows because their husbands are the ones being burned that evening, but the basic truth is that a bunch of really brave -or really stupid- men dress as women to beg for beer money.
Starting at around 11:30pm fireworks light the night sky.

12/01/2014

11/27/2014

Happy Thanksgiving from Guide To Go Tours and Ecuador's mountain turkey, the Wattled Guan.

11/10/2014

Do your holiday shopping in Ecuador this year. Let Guide to go tours take you to the best markets!

11/02/2014

Feliz Dia De Los Difuntos!

10/29/2014

We have launched our website. Come check us out!

GUIDE TO GO TOURS ecuador tours takes pride in providing day trips, multi-day tours and custom tours at the best prices. We go the extra mile for you

10/23/2014

Flying Jewels of Ecuador.
Ecuador has 132 species of Hummingbirds. Our Birding tours will let you experience these magnificent Gems up close.

10/02/2014

Another reason to let Guide to Go Tours show you Ecuador

09/28/2014

The Day of the Dead called Día de los Difuntos (literally, “Day of the Deceased”) is a major holiday in Ecuador, and businesses and schools are closed in observance. This traditional holiday coincides with the Catholic holiday of All Soul’s Day, and is observed on November 2. As in other Latin American countries, the holiday is inspired by Catholicism, but incorporates indigenous tradition unique to each region. In Ecuador the holiday is interpreted as a day to “catch up” with loved ones who are no longer with us but have a life in a different world. People pack lunches of traditional food, flowers and offerings and head for the cemeteries where they spend the day as a family talking, eating, singing and performing routine maintenance on the grave site.
The staple food of the season is the famous colada morada, a thick purple drink, and guaguas de pan (pronounced wah-wahs), sweet bread in the shape of dolls. Colada morada is made out of black corn flour, blackberries, cinnamon, and pineapple, among other ingredients that are cooked together and served hot or cold with the sweet bread. To some people, the reddish-purple drink symbolizes blood, which in turn symbolizes life of the ones who have moved on from this existence.
It is probably best to catch this holiday in the southern provinces of the Sierra, since November 3 marks the Independence of Cuenca and colorful festivities of the two consecutive holidays can be enjoyed in the area.

09/08/2014

Ecuador the Orchid Capital of the World
There are more than 4,200 documented species of orchids in Ecuador, with a number of species still not identified. In fact Ecuador boasts the highest orchid diversity of any country in the world, from tiny flowers to the size of a plate. Orchids grow in all ecosystems throughout Ecuador, and some species range as high up as 4000 meters. The majority, however, are found in the humid cloud forests and rain forests of the country. You may never get to see many of the wild species as they grow high up in the canopy of tall tropical trees. But one of “must see” species is the rare and unusual Monkey Orchid, or Monkey Faced Orchid (see above). It can only be found in the high elevations of Ecuador and Peru.
This great variety offers an excellent opportunity for orchid touring. Guide to go tours offers opportunities to see orchids in Quito and in the Mindo Cloud forest. Contact us today for more tour information.

08/31/2014

The Fiesta del Yamor
The Fiesta del Yamor is celebrated the first week of September in Otavalo. Yamor is a ritual of offerings of the indigenous people to the Sun God in gratitude for the harvest of maize and the fertility of the ground. The Yamor Festival, which takes place in the Province of Imbabura, has its own story or legend. It is said that the volcano "Taita Imbabura", community leader, was married to a very beautiful and generous woman. One day a 15 year old girl came to them and told them about her love misfortune; she was in love with a boy who was not in love with her. Taita Imbabura and his wife transformed Pacarina into the Queen of Maize. They told her that when the Solstice had passed, she was to go to the four corners of the district and gather ears of different types of corn. Once she had the corn she was to grind it and cook it to make a beverage to give to her love, who would then fall in love with her. She did as told, and Jatun Cuncay, the object of her love, drank the chichi “corn beer” and before his eyes appeared Pacarina, for whom he fell in love with. This is the origin of Yamor. It is a song ito honor the corn and love. It is this chicha, a millenary drink, that is the main feature of this fiesta, and it is passed around for locals and visitors to drink and be welcomed by the community. Among the main activities are the election of the Queen of Maize or Sara Ñusta; the Fiesta of the Marias on September 8 and a large parade with decorated floats and dancing by Indian groups accompanied by the traditional music.