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Social Profile
Food & Drink: Best of the jungle fruits include chirimoya, with a delicious custard-like inside; mamey, which has a red, sweet, squash-like meat; and pepinos, a sweet white and purple striped cucumber-like fruit. Specialities include llapingachos (pancakes with mashed potato and cheese); shrimp or lobster ceviche; locro (stew of potatoes and cheese); humitas (flavoured sweetcorn tamale); and the national delicacy of baked guinea pig. Restaurants have waiter service and there are cafe-style bars.
Ecuador has some of the best beer in South America. International drinks and whiskies are available, but expensive. An Ecuadorian speciality is a unique fruit juice called naranjilla – a taste somewhere between citrus and peach. Good Chilean wine is available, but expensive. The best local drink is canelazo, made from sugar cane, alcohol, fruit juice (naranjilla) and cinnamon. Alcohol cannot be sold after 0200.
Nightlife: There is little nightlife except in Quito and Guayaquil, where there are excellent restaurants and other attractions. In smaller towns, social life takes place in the home and in private clubs. The cinema is the most popular form of entertainment.
Shopping: Bargaining is acceptable in small shops and in markets, but prices are usually fixed in ‘tourist stores’. A few stores around the major hotels have fixed prices. In the Province of Azuay, the cities of Cuenca and Gualaceo offer a wide variety of handicrafts at ferias or special market days. The top attractions are the ferias of Otavalo, Ambato, Latacunga, Saquisili and Riobamba, most held once a week. They offer the visitor excellent bargains for Indian crafts and silver. Principal silver stores are in Quito. Special purchases include native woodcarvings, varnished and painted ornaments made of bread dough, Indian tiles, woollen and orlon rugs, blankets, baskets, leather goods, shigras (shoulder bags) and hand-loomed textiles, aboriginal art and native weapons. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1900, Sat 1000-2000. Some shops open Sunday.
Special Events: For a full list of special events, contact one of the Ecuadorian tourism authorities (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of the major festivals and other special events celebrated annually in Ecuador:
Feb Festival of Fruits and Flowers, Ambato. Feb/Mar Carnival (three-day national celebration). Apr Holy Week. May 24 Battle of Pichincha Day. May/Jun Corpus Christi (harvest festivals in mountain villages). Jun 24 Festival of John the Baptist, especially in Otavalo. Aug 10 Independence Day. Sep (first two weeks) Festival of Yamor (native masks, costumes and dances), Otavalo; (third week) Banana’s fair, Machala. Oct 9 International Fair, Guayaquil (celebration of town’s independence). Nov 2 All Souls’ Day (visits to cemeteries). Nov 3 Independence of Cuenca. Dec 6 Founding of Quito (bullfights, folklore exhibits and sporting events). Dec 24 Christmas Eve (costume pageants). Dec 31 New Year’s Eve.
Note: Booking hotels during fiestas and festivals can be difficult. Visitors should book well in advance.
Social Conventions: Casual wear is widely acceptable, but businesspeople are expected to dress smartly. Smart clothes are often required when visiting hotel dining rooms and better restaurants. Beachwear should only be worn on the beach and revealing clothes should not be worn in towns. Smoking is widely accepted. Photography: A tip may be requested if you wish to take someone’s photograph. Tipping: Ten per cent service charge is usually added to the bill in hotels and restaurants. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
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