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Photos of Taita Imbabura at sunrise, taken over the years.
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Photos of Taita Imbabura at sunrise, taken over the years.
It used to be a common sight in Cotacachi to see people traveling around town with goats. You could get goat's milk delivered right to your doorstep.
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It used to be a common sight in Cotacachi to see people traveling around town with goats. You could get goat's milk delivered right to your doorstep.
An indigenous wedding I once went to in Cotacachi. The wedding was like many Christian weddings, including the throwing of rice at the newlyweds as they left the church. Many indigenous people are Christians. Kichwa weddings often have a washing ceremony the next day.
November 5, 2025 at 12:40 PM
An indigenous wedding I once went to in Cotacachi. The wedding was like many Christian weddings, including the throwing of rice at the newlyweds as they left the church. Many indigenous people are Christians. Kichwa weddings often have a washing ceremony the next day.
On November 2, Ecuadorians will observe Día de los Difuntos, known as Día de los Muertos in other countries. It's when people visit the cemeteries and pay their respects to deceased loved ones. Sharing drinks and food, cleaning the graves, praying and singing are some of the traditions .
November 1, 2025 at 2:47 PM
On November 2, Ecuadorians will observe Día de los Difuntos, known as Día de los Muertos in other countries. It's when people visit the cemeteries and pay their respects to deceased loved ones. Sharing drinks and food, cleaning the graves, praying and singing are some of the traditions .
On the mountains of Otavalo, the Condor Park Foundation opens its doors to the research, rescue, preservation and reintroduction into the wild of birds of prey, owls and the famous Andean condor, which live in special habitats for their optimal recovery and growth. The place is called Parque Condor.
October 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
On the mountains of Otavalo, the Condor Park Foundation opens its doors to the research, rescue, preservation and reintroduction into the wild of birds of prey, owls and the famous Andean condor, which live in special habitats for their optimal recovery and growth. The place is called Parque Condor.
Mama Cotacachi is the tallest mountain in Imbabura Province at 16,250 feet above sea level. It's more than a thousand feet taller than Taita Imbabura. It's not the easier mountain to climb. Five years ago, two mountain guides were killed in a rockslide.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEd...
Cotacachi
YouTube video by Nestor David Acosta Guijarro
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Mama Cotacachi is the tallest mountain in Imbabura Province at 16,250 feet above sea level. It's more than a thousand feet taller than Taita Imbabura. It's not the easier mountain to climb. Five years ago, two mountain guides were killed in a rockslide.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEd...
It measures about 8 centimeters, is epiphytic (that is, it grows on other plants) and has flowers in shades of yellow and pale green: it is Telipogon villonacoensis, a species recently described by scientists. The first specimen of the orchid was discovered in Loja in 2023.
October 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
It measures about 8 centimeters, is epiphytic (that is, it grows on other plants) and has flowers in shades of yellow and pale green: it is Telipogon villonacoensis, a species recently described by scientists. The first specimen of the orchid was discovered in Loja in 2023.
The Union of Campesino and Indigenous Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) led a peaceful march through the streets of Cotacachi. This mobilization took place, despite the fact that the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) declared the end of the national mobilizations.
October 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The Union of Campesino and Indigenous Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) led a peaceful march through the streets of Cotacachi. This mobilization took place, despite the fact that the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) declared the end of the national mobilizations.
The only known specimen of the Phyllophaga sumacoensis beetle, a species new to science, was discovered at an altitude of 1,750 meters in Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo province. Scientists used a light trap to attract the individual.
www.eluniverso.com/noticias/inf...
www.eluniverso.com/noticias/inf...
October 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The only known specimen of the Phyllophaga sumacoensis beetle, a species new to science, was discovered at an altitude of 1,750 meters in Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo province. Scientists used a light trap to attract the individual.
www.eluniverso.com/noticias/inf...
www.eluniverso.com/noticias/inf...
Midwives are still very much a part of Ecuador's culture, especially in rural areas. In Imbabura Province, some midwives will demonstrate how they deliver babies, using a volunteer and a baby doll. In rural Kichwa communities, the expectant mother gives birth while squatting.
September 30, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Midwives are still very much a part of Ecuador's culture, especially in rural areas. In Imbabura Province, some midwives will demonstrate how they deliver babies, using a volunteer and a baby doll. In rural Kichwa communities, the expectant mother gives birth while squatting.
A group of scientists described a new species of orchid found in the Río Manduriacu reserve, located in the Toisán mountain range, Imbabura Province. This is Porroglossum hildea, identified only in two locations in the reserve and with an estimated area of just 4 km².
September 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
A group of scientists described a new species of orchid found in the Río Manduriacu reserve, located in the Toisán mountain range, Imbabura Province. This is Porroglossum hildea, identified only in two locations in the reserve and with an estimated area of just 4 km².
Today is National Flag Day in Ecuador. Students throughout the country swear allegiance to the flag and vow to defend the Tricolor in all emergencies. During a ceremony, students hold the flag while kneeling, making an oath to the banner (Juramento a la Bandera).
September 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Today is National Flag Day in Ecuador. Students throughout the country swear allegiance to the flag and vow to defend the Tricolor in all emergencies. During a ceremony, students hold the flag while kneeling, making an oath to the banner (Juramento a la Bandera).
An Ecuadorian is a world champion. Juleisy Angulo won the gold medal in the women's javelin throw at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 24-year-old El Oro-born athlete threw the javelin 65.12 meters, improving on the national record she had set in the qualifying round. ¡Felicidades!
September 22, 2025 at 9:23 PM
An Ecuadorian is a world champion. Juleisy Angulo won the gold medal in the women's javelin throw at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 24-year-old El Oro-born athlete threw the javelin 65.12 meters, improving on the national record she had set in the qualifying round. ¡Felicidades!
Jorge Perugachy is one of Ecuador's best-known artists. He has both a national and international reputation. Perugachy was born in Otavalo and studied art in both the US and Ecuador. Perugachy paints landscapes, portraits, still lifes, but focuses on the human figure, especially that of women
September 18, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Jorge Perugachy is one of Ecuador's best-known artists. He has both a national and international reputation. Perugachy was born in Otavalo and studied art in both the US and Ecuador. Perugachy paints landscapes, portraits, still lifes, but focuses on the human figure, especially that of women
Parcheesi game at Plaza de Ponchos in Otavalo. This is what the vendors did when things were slow. They often played for money. They used homemade boards, sometimes made from the top of a barrel.
September 17, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Parcheesi game at Plaza de Ponchos in Otavalo. This is what the vendors did when things were slow. They often played for money. They used homemade boards, sometimes made from the top of a barrel.
Chochos are a popular snack food in Ecuador. They are rich in protein, healthy fats and fiber. Cevichochos (Ceviche de chochos) is sold by street vendors in many cities and towns. Chochos are known to some foreigners as lupini beans. The purple-colored plant is cultivated in the Andes.
September 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Chochos are a popular snack food in Ecuador. They are rich in protein, healthy fats and fiber. Cevichochos (Ceviche de chochos) is sold by street vendors in many cities and towns. Chochos are known to some foreigners as lupini beans. The purple-colored plant is cultivated in the Andes.
My one dollar lunch in Cotacachi: Papas con berro (potatoes with watercress). Very filling. A study by a New Jersey university concluded that watercress is the healthiest food in the world due to its components that could also act in the prevention of cancer.
September 15, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My one dollar lunch in Cotacachi: Papas con berro (potatoes with watercress). Very filling. A study by a New Jersey university concluded that watercress is the healthiest food in the world due to its components that could also act in the prevention of cancer.
In many indigenous communities in Imbabura, plowing is done the ancestral way, with a wooden plow and bulls or oxen. This is the time of the year when the plowing and sowing take place, in accordance with the lunar calendar. There is a celebration called Tarpuy Raymi, the Fiesta of Sowing.
September 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM
In many indigenous communities in Imbabura, plowing is done the ancestral way, with a wooden plow and bulls or oxen. This is the time of the year when the plowing and sowing take place, in accordance with the lunar calendar. There is a celebration called Tarpuy Raymi, the Fiesta of Sowing.
In the town of Ilumán, it is common to meet renowned healers known as yachaks which means wise or knowledgeable. They are people who have acquired special knowledge that allows them to heal illness, diagnose diseases, provide advice and even be spiritual guides.
September 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In the town of Ilumán, it is common to meet renowned healers known as yachaks which means wise or knowledgeable. They are people who have acquired special knowledge that allows them to heal illness, diagnose diseases, provide advice and even be spiritual guides.
Hornado is one of the signature dishes in the Sierra. It's pork, slow-roasted in a wood-burning oven. The entire pig is cooked. There are many places that serve hornado. But the best hornado chef, in my opinion, is in Otavalo at the Mercado 24 de Mayo. Her name is Rosario Tabango.
September 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Hornado is one of the signature dishes in the Sierra. It's pork, slow-roasted in a wood-burning oven. The entire pig is cooked. There are many places that serve hornado. But the best hornado chef, in my opinion, is in Otavalo at the Mercado 24 de Mayo. Her name is Rosario Tabango.
The members of Humazapas, young people from the Kichwa community of Turucu, just outside Cotacachi, have been working for more than 10 years to make Kichwa ancestral music known. They wanted to prevent the music of their indigenous ancestors from disappearing.
September 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
The members of Humazapas, young people from the Kichwa community of Turucu, just outside Cotacachi, have been working for more than 10 years to make Kichwa ancestral music known. They wanted to prevent the music of their indigenous ancestors from disappearing.
The Fiesta de la Jora parade in Cotacachi
September 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The Fiesta de la Jora parade in Cotacachi
Horsepower, old and new, in Cotacachi
September 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Horsepower, old and new, in Cotacachi
The drive through Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park is something I enjoy. Miles of páramo. Great views of the volcanoes. The park might seem desolate to some. But I enjoy the natural beauty with almost no signs of human activity.
September 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The drive through Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park is something I enjoy. Miles of páramo. Great views of the volcanoes. The park might seem desolate to some. But I enjoy the natural beauty with almost no signs of human activity.
La Bomba is a musical genre originating in the Afro-Ecuadorian communities of the Valle del Chota in Imbabura and Carchi Provinces. The culture, history and ancestral knowledge are among the characteristics. In 2020, La Bomba was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ecuador.
September 3, 2025 at 12:52 PM
La Bomba is a musical genre originating in the Afro-Ecuadorian communities of the Valle del Chota in Imbabura and Carchi Provinces. The culture, history and ancestral knowledge are among the characteristics. In 2020, La Bomba was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ecuador.