Menu

Free 200+ Page eBook

Top 57 Places to Live & Invest in the Tropics

Quickly find out which country is right for you.
No-hype updates & resource guides. No Spam. Ever.
Limited offer. Instant Download.

Join More than 58,187 people who are breaking free


we value your privacy

Hot Real Estate Offer

Ecuadorians Gone Wild! A Guest Blogger’s Inside Scoop on Ecuador’s Festivals

 

festivals of ecuador

Lisa Cho

Ecuadorians love to celebrate. Regardless of the time of year, colorful displays of dancing, parades, and costumes can be found somewhere in the country.

Embracing both the pre-Columbian past and the Spanish colonial era, as well as honoring the religious significance, these festivals are just another reason that Ecuador continues to grow as a great expat destination for vacations or permanent relocation.

For expats and those considering Ecuador as a possible location to live, immersing yourself in one of these holiday festivities is an enjoyable way to experience the culture of this fascinating country firsthand. Importantly, foreigners are as welcome as native Ecuadorians to participate in these events and enjoy all that they offer.

We asked Lisa Cho, a California native who writes the Cuenca Culture Shock blog, to share with us about her firsthand experiences with these celebrations as an expat living in Ecuador.  Here’s what she had to say:

 

festivals of ecuador

Lisa Cho

Guest Post: Ecuador’s Must-See Festivals

Thinking of living in Ecuador? Get ready to immerse yourself in an entirely new culture, a different language, and a different way of…partying? Yes! Ecuadorians certainly know how to celebrate and there are several festivals throughout the year.

Depending on the holiday, there might be parades, street parties, folkloric dancing, and a variety of special foods. Expats who live in Ecuador can keep celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving while learning a rich variety of new traditions. These are my three favorites.

November Festivals of Cuenca

Each major city has its own festival that celebrates its independence. In Cuenca, Ecuador, these festivities last an entire week and there are activities every day. Along the river, there are hundreds of arts and crafts stalls from all over Ecuador and Latin America. The city government helps bring in the best and most unique selection of vendors, so you can find necklaces made of seeds from remote Amazon tribes, or hand-knit alpaca scarves from Chile.

Meanwhile, the downtown area hosts different smaller cultural events, all for free. There are guitar playing workshops, art receptions, documentary screenings, and live music events. Toward the end of the festival, the streets explode with life as folkloric dancers, schools, and other local organizations parade down the streets, and at night, the town stays awake all night partying in the street to the boisterous sounds of local bands.

Corpus Christi

This is a religious celebration that celebrates the body and blood of Christ. In Ecuador it also happens to be a feast where people gorge themselves on hundreds of kinds of sweets. In Cuenca, stalls cover the main plaza and sprawl out into side streets. There are honey-rolled coconut balls, sweet cheese-filled “quesadillas”, alfajores filled with dulce de leche, chocolate bonbons, and more.

As a religious festival, there aren’t wild parties at night but you will see amazing parades during the day. They also light a wooden castle which creates a whirlwind of spinning wheels, exploding colors, and fireworks. It’s all too easy to gain 10 pounds during Corpus Christi, but there’s always a brisk walk by the river and freshly-squeezed carrot juice to help you burn it off.

festivals of ecuador

Lisa Cho

Carnaval

Carnaval is celebrated completely differently in Ecuador. Rather than ongoing wild parties, Ecuadorians engage in ongoing public water fights. You may be walking down the street and be hit with water guns, water balloons, or even a bucket! Carnaval is a love-it-or-hate-it affair in Ecuador. Some cities have even banned the public throwing of water balloons, pushing the water-soaking parties into the backyards of families. Other cities, however, embrace it.

My favorite place to celebrate is Gualaceo, a small town 30 minutes from Cuenca where people gather for an enormous all-day water fight. Families gather along the riverside alternating between grilling food, especially “cuy” or roasted guinea pig, and going completely wild. The town’s river supplies an endless supply of ammunition for water guns and buckets, and the sunny weather makes getting soaked part of the fun. The “get-the-gringo!” attitude is very common among the local kids, so don’t expect to sit on the sidelines!

 

Up Next

7 of the Top Places U.S. Expats Are Living in Latin America (and Why)

New data shows where U.S. expats are residing all across the globe. Many of the top destinations are in nearby Latin America. Find out why. (Read It)

Central America's Best Real Estate Buy

Don't miss this up and commer. It has the tropical lifestyle, stunning beauty, and smokin appreciation potential. (Read It)

The World’s Top 10 Best Places to Put Your Money

Offshore banking isn't just for the super rich. But how does the average Joe decide where to put his money? Here are the world's top banking jurisdictions. (Read It)

Nosara, Costa Rica Everything You Need to Know. I Mean Everything.

Imagine a small, beautiful beach town surrounded by jungle and wildlife with a peaceful multicultural community and many of the comforts of home. That place, named by National Geographic as one of the top surf …

(Read It)
panama city panama real estate update

Panama City, Panama Real Estate Market Update

Today we have a guest post written by Kent Davis, owner of one of the most successful real estate brokerages in Panama City The Panama City real estate market may have finally taken a turn in …

(Read It)
costa rica websites

Top 133 Costa Rica Websites for Expats and Investors

Did you know there are dozens and dozens of great resources on Costa Rica for expats and investors? Sure, we have a ton of resources for Costa Rica on our site, and a whole bunch …

(Read It)

The Truth about Living in Costa Rica: The Good, the Bad, and the Muddy

It's easy to find tons of articles and information out there highlighting all the great benefits of living in Costa Rica. But it's also easy to read those blogs and marketing pieces and think, "Yeah, it …

(Read It)

Why Nosara, Costa Rica Is Not Your Average Surfing Town

A deeper look at Nosara and its history will quickly reveal that this long-time mecca for surfing enthusiasts offers so much more than just the sand and sea. The increasing interest in the area as a …

(Read It)

Expats Are Still Falling in Love with Nosara and Here’s Why

What was once the up-and-coming expat haven of Nosara, Costa Rica, has blossomed into one of Costa Rica's most established expat communities that continues to be ranked near the top of the list of most desirable destinations in the Latin …

(Read It)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hot Real Estate Offer

Real Estate In The Area

See All Listings In The Area
0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share