Edgar Morin is one of France’s leading philosophers, and, on a visit to Ecuador in 2012, he highlighted this stunningly biodiverse country as a model of good living; how it is the right path to follow if you want to understand how social and conscious economies work. This is the effect Ecuador has on people, even 90-year-old philosophers. It has ‘good living’, or buen vivir and the rights of nature written into the constitution, for goodness’ sake. And it even has a Minister for Good Living. And a cool example of this way of life is that recently, its people voted, by referendum, to ban casinos. So, it is up to us, as visitors, to not only to respect their inspiring attitude to life, but to learn from their generous community ethos, and apply it to our own lives back home as well as to our travels elsewhere in the world.

Volunteering holidays are big in Ecuador. They generally fall into two categories: Conservation on the Galápagos, or community work on mainland Ecuador. Be wary, though, because this hugely growing market of ‘giving back’ holidays is getting a little out of control. Choose your volunteering holiday carefully. It is important to ensure that your volunteering holiday company adheres to some of the strict guidelines now being recognised as good practice within the industry. This way, you can check that the work you are doing is actually sustainable and that the needs and expectations of the host community are being well met on every level. We feel particularly strongly about the issues surrounding volunteering with children and have, consequently, put in place some guidelines in this area for any organisation featured on our site. So, before you volunteer, read and ruminate on these guidelines and also check out this pioneering, new Better Volunteering directory.

• Go light on the packing because you are going to want to shop in Ecuador. And this is putting money straight into local coffers, so leave room for some winter woollies in that suitcase. Alpaca is the big seller but beware of fakes. Alpaca is expensive, so if you are offered something cheap it is most likely to be acrylic or a mix. Real Alpaca feels a little greasy to touch and loses its shape a little if stretched.
• The big tourist market is Otavalo where you will find plenty of goodies, but it has more of a mass produced feel here. Check out others if you can, for example Saquisilí on Thursdays, where you will also find some of the smaller sellers from Otavalo. Ambato also has a big market on Mondays and Sangolqui or El Quinche northeast of Quito on Sundays. Most villages will have a market at least once a week so you just need to ask around and try and time your visit to coincide with the sellers.

• A popular purchase is the famous Dragon’s Blood, a deep red cure all medicine, which is sourced from resin of the Croton tree species . Locally it is often called ‘sangre de drago’. Used for treating everything from stomach upsets to insect bites, it is found in many back backers’ first aid kits. You can see a video explaining it here. The sap is not self-generating, so trees do need to be cut down to produce an adequate yield. There are conservation movements afoot, but as it grows up to one foot a month this is a very sustainable, and for many Ecuadorians, essential, everyday resource. So much so that you can find it in most pharmacies.
• Don’t think you are buying something foreign when you opt for a Panama hat to bring home. It was never from Panama in the first place, but is well and truly Ecuadorian. Head to Cuenca and Montecristo for the leading artisans of this iconic headgear. In terms of headgear, or any gear in fact, beware of anything made from feathers which are sometimes sourced from endangered tropical birds.

 

• Chocolate and coffee buying is a must. Although it is not so well known for coffee, there are ideal growing conditions here, so look out for Fairtrade or organic producers if you can. For Arabica coffee head to Loja, Manabi and Guayaquil. For Robusto beans, it is the eastern slopes of the Andes that you want, such as Mindo. These are all great places to pick up the country’s high quality chocolate too. Chocolate tourism is on the up, with the famously aromatic chocolate having its own denomination now, Cacao Arriba. So, a bit like Champagne, no one else can say that they have this special chocolate, except Ecuador.
• The high altitude páramo regions are well known for hiking, and many people try it alone. But it can be dangerous, so all the usual hiking safety information applies. Don’t go alone, tell someone when and where you are going, wear proper gear, and bring safety and first aid equipment, and supplies. And when possible, use the services of a local guide. This is the best money you will ever spend.

• The Galápagos Islands are home to many unique species, and a highlight of any wildlife fan’s trip to Ecuador. However, the fragile marine and land environment is under constant threat from growing tourism and development, so there are some important points to bear in mind when planning your Galápagos tour. Choose a smaller boat – which impacts less on the environment and is more reliant on local businesses for food and supplies; keep your distance from the wildlife no matter how enticing those baby sea lions may seem; and spend some time on land, eating at local restaurants, shopping in local stores and even staying in local hotels to get a real taste of Galapgueño life.

Photo credits: [Dominic Hamilton quote background - Antisana Volcano: Marcio Ramalho] [Volunteering: VISIONS Service Adventures]