Travel

Latin America has long enticed budget-oriented travelers with its low prices, and as the global economic crisis lingers, the bargains are increasingly tempting — especially when it comes to a luxury vacation. Meals are often half the cost of their European counterparts, hotels are gene... [More]

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Note: The following is a blog post by experienced trekker, RoundPicture. As he points out, hiking the Cajas can be strenuous and is often dangerous. Trails can be poorly marked and weather is unpredictable with temperatures falling well below freezing at night. Prepare well before hiking. &nbs... [More]

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Cuenca, Quito and Guayaquil and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism are teaming up to develop a five-year tourism marketing plan. The goal, according to the ministry, is to achieve annual tourism growth of 16% by 2014. Growth in the past five years has averaged 10%, although some areas of the count... [More]

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The Galapagos Islands, colonial cities, the Amazon jungle, and beach resorts are not the only reason that foreigners visit Ecuador. Tourism officials say the fastest growing attraction may be the country’s dental care. Although it is hard to nail down accurate statistics, tour operator... [More]

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The feasibility of international flights between Cuenca and cities in Northern Peru is being studied by the Cuenca Airport Corporation, the Ecuador Office of Civil Aviation and the city of Cuenca. Cuenca airport officials report that most of the infrastructure is in place for new flights. Th... [More]

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The guide hushed us as we walked through the jungle in our rubber boots. If we were very quiet, he said, we might be able to catch a glimpse of the howler monkey whose howling we had been hearing intermittently from somewhere high in the canopy of the rainforest. This was the third morning o... [More]

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By David Shukman On the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, the director of the Darwin Foundation says there is only a decade to avoid an ecological disaster. In a BBC interview, Gabriel Lopez calls for limits on the level of visitors. Last year, the number of tourists rea... [More]

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Looking for a little piece of paradise in the middle of Cuenca? Parque Paraiso –Paradise Park— may be just the place. A short walk from Iglesia El Vergel, at Av. 12 de Abril and Calle de las Herrerias, the park, with its groves of willow trees and grassy fields... [More]

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Are you considering buying real estate in Ecuador’s most popular areas, the southern Andes and the South Coast? One of the best ways to check out the market --and to see the country at the same time-- is to sign up for one of two real estate tours being offered in March. The Cuenca -&n... [More]

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Chilean-based airline Lan has been granted a two-year concession to operate domestic flights in Ecuador, according to Ecuadorian transportation officials. Lan's entry into the national market may also signal the beginning of international flights to Cuenca. The concession grants L... [More]

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Although Cuenca has one of the lowest rates of serious crime, per capita, in Ecuador (only Loja has a lower rate among cities with a population of more than 100.000), petty and property crime are ongoing problems. The best advice to tourists is: hold onto your bags. Visitors should take special pr... [More]

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Life just became a little more complicated for foreign tourists who want to remain in Ecuador beyond the 90 days granted by their passport entry stamp. A memo from the country’s ministry of foreign relations to local immigration offices on Monday, Sept. 22, eliminates the in-country 90-day e... [More]

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Cuenca transportation officials reported no problems with the reopening of the city's airport Monday, saying that all systems appeared to be functioning normally. Formal approval of the runway resurfacing project was given on Sunday and the first co... [More]

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One of the best sources for travel tips, especially for discovering off-the-beaten-path jewels, are travel blogs. The following is an entry posted earlier this year in Nancy and Chuck Watson’s blog. The Watsons have homes in Cuenca and in Washington state, where their children and gran... [More]

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Low costs are attracting travelers and retirees to Latin America; Ecuador is becoming a top destination

DAY TRIPPING
Three options for exploring Parque Nacional Cajas for experienced hikers

National tourism marketing campaign to push Cuenca; officials estimate future growth at 20% per year

Ecuador's low costs make 'dental tourism' a growth industry, especially in Cuenca, Guayaquil and Quito

CUENCA DIGEST
Flights to Northern Peru studied by local, national agencies

Exploring Ecuador's richly diverse rainforest: an adventure with many revelations

Galapagos Islands face irreversible damage unless tourism is curbed, according to conservationists

DAY TRIPPING
Cuenca's Paradise Park is a great place for a work-out or simply for relaxing

Real estate tours, following International Living conference, spotlight Cuenca, Vilcabamba, South Coast

Lan airlines enters the domestic Ecuador market; service could begin by the end of March

While Cuenca's serious crime rate is low, petty crime is a problem; advice to travellers: hold onto your stuff

Visa rule change eliminates in-country option to extend stays for tourists … for now, anyway

Cuenca airport reopens on schedule; good weather and 24-hour work shifts get the job done

Do you like orchids? You´ll find thousands and thousands of them in Gualaceo