Welcome to the Ecuador Pavilion. Here, you may learn about Ecuador, its different regions, specialties, and famed destinations.

This audio commentary describes the exhibits of the Ecuador pavilion in one take. So, do please use the play and pause functions to pace yourself.


Congope: The Congope is a federation of municipalities in Ecuador, which includes the 23 provinces of mainland Ecuador, and is responsible for representing the interests of Ecuadorian municipalities and promoting cooperation among them.

Napo Province: Critical to Ecuador’s energy industry, Napo province is dominated by coal, oil and gas extraction. Straddling the Andes and the Amazon, the province is home to the 3,990 meter high Sumaco volcano. Interestingly, it is the only Amazonian province that does not border Peru.

Orellana: The state of Orellana is home to the Yasuní National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The region is home to a variety of indigenous communities, each with their own traditions and dress. The delicacy ‘katu’ is native to Orellana.

Sucumbios Province: Bordering Colombia, Sucumbios is a regional hub for trade and tourism. Its diverse ecosystems are under threat from the oil industry and require conservation to protect their biodiversity. Sucumbios is famous for its tilapia and casabe.

Carchi: Carchi is leading potato producer whose annual harvest accounts for 43.56% of Ecuador's total potato production. Its signature delicacies include “Rosquetes” and “Hornado pastuso,” a baked dish that combines sweet and sour flavors. Also bordering Colombia, the Rumichaca International Bridge is a key trade route with agricultural products, clothing, and goods flowing between the two countries. Major tourist attractions include the Rumichaca International Bridge, the Arrayanes Forest, the Angel Ecological Reserve, the Salado lagoon, and the Hediondas water park.

Imbabura State: Due to its geographical location, Imbabura has been an important base in the history of Ecuador's northern territories and serves as a link between the coastal and Amazonian regions. Imbabura is home to the city of Otavalo, the Peguche waterfall, Lake Mojanda, and the Cotacachi Cayapas reserve. Accordingly, it is also a UNESCO World Geopark. When you are hungry in Imbabura, you'll find pila ice cream and fried pork called fritadas. 

Pichincha State: Although geographically small, Pichincha is a cultural, commercial, and scientific hub. This is evident in the buildings built in Spanish colonial architecture and the history of the French surveyors who arrived in Ecuador in 1736 to determine the shape of the earth. Located in Pichincha, the capital Quito is a 4 square kilometer area that is packed with art, architecture, and history.

Cotopaxi Province: Cotopaxi is renowned for its festivals of which its most famous is the Fiesta de la Mama Negra, or “Black Mother Festival,” which is a traditional celebration in the Latacunga region. The festival is a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and African cultures, and is celebrated in honor of the Virgin of Mercedes.

Tungurahua State: Tungurahua is renowned for its beverage 'Colada Morada' which is consumed on the Day of the Dead and made from 25 different ingredients. Throughout Tungurahua, foods called 'Llapingachos' and 'fritadas' are very popular. The province is also famous for the Tungurahua volcano, which is 5,023 meters above sea level.

Chimborazo State: Chimborazo is famous for its cholas de guano, a bread that blends local and Spanish traditions. The dish cocinado chacarero is typical of the mountainous region and is consumed by Andean herders, the chagras, to regain strength after a hard day’s work. Important tourist attractions include the Amarilla Lagoon, the Asoroche Lake complex, and, in the city of Alausí, a railroad line called the Nariz del Diablo which means Devil's Nose.

Bolivar State: Bolivar province has 4% and 3% of its land area in protected areas and forests, respectively. The most important event in Bolivar Province is the Guaranda Festival which has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Signature foods in Bolivar include chigüiles, an indigenous dish, and salinerito cheese which was first introduced by the Dutch.

Cañar Province: Cañar is a key manufacturing region whose industries include food processing, footwear, textiles and apparel, and wooden furniture. At the same time, Cañar is also home to important pre-Columbian archaeological sites of which Ingapirca is renowned as the best-preserved Inca site in Ecuador. Major tourist attractions include the Shrine of Our Lady of Rocio and the Cubilán protected forest.

Azuay State: Azuay comes from the Quechua word for llaguana, a drink once consumed in Spain and Arabia and later infused with Andean ingredients. Boasting a strong economic base, Azuay is an important financial and commercial center in Ecuador. The state encompasses 673,263.54 hectares of protected areas, representing 0.03% of Ecuador's surface area. Its main tourist attractions include the Molleturo Observatory, Cajas National Park, and the Cuenca Historic District.

The State of Loja: The people of Loja are known for their passion for music, and for their open collaboration between men and women to develop different musical genres. To them, music is a language and a natural form of expression. The Virgin Cisne is the most prominent symbol of the state, and a festival is held every year from August 17 to November 1 in her honor.

El Oro State: El Oro is known for its diverse and delectable cuisine, especially its prized tigrillo and caldo de bola. The province is also renowned for its food production as 15% and 24% of its surface area are devoted to shrimp and banana cultivation, respectively. Indeed, banana exports from the port of Bolivar account for 26% of Ecuador's total exports.

Guayas Province: Guayas is famous for its encebollado, cangrejada criolla, caldo de salchicha, and arroz braided menestra. Like El Oro, it is a center for food production with much of its land area devoted to agriculture. It is also a center of commerce, economy, and industry, with large-scale imports and exports through Guayaquil, Ecuador's second largest city.

Los Rios Province: Located in the center of the Guayas River basin, Los Rios owes its development to its strategic geographical location. It is also famous for dishes like bollos de pescado and humita. 

Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas: This region is ideally located for the commercialization of goods produced throughout the country, so trade and agriculture are very active. Main tourist attractions include the Bomboli Observatory, the Guajalito Reserve, and the San Gabriel breakwater.

Esmeralda Province: Often referred to as the “Green State of Ecuador,” Esmeralda is home to a variety of mangrove forests and the world's tallest forest, the Cayapas Mataje Ecological Reserve. Esmeralda Province also produces 34.42% of the country's African oil palm. Major tourist attractions include Tonsupa Beach, Peñas Hot Springs, and sea rocks. 

Manabi State: Manabi has the largest area of land in Ecuador devoted to agriculture. It is also home to trade, livestock farming, and fishing. The province is home to Manta, Ecuador's second most important port city and a great beach destination. The province's identity lies in its food, which has gained a great reputation both within Ecuador and internationally.

Santa Elena Province: The main industries in the province of Santa Elena are fishing, tourism, and commerce. According to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism, the town of Montañita in the province of Santa Elena is one of the most visited beaches thanks to its beautiful landscape and lively atmosphere. It is also famous for its steamed clams and grilled fish.

Province of Pastaza: Pastaza offers visitors the chance to admire the majestic natural beauty of the rainforests of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Its economy is based on trade, tourism and agriculture. It is known for a dish called sancocho which is mainly made from fish. Other than its forests, tourist attractions include Puerto Santa Ana, Kapawi villas, and the Tarqui zoo.

Zamora Chinchipe State: Zamora Chinchipe is known for foods such as frog legs, Amazonian yucca, and yucca chicha, and is home to the Palanda region known as the origin of cacao. It is also home to the Podocarpus National Park, an area of great importance for biodiversity conservation, and the 'El Condor' which was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2007.

Morona Santiago Province: The province of Morona Santiago is a forest reserve full of high-quality trees such as cinnamon, laurel, and dog-leaf oak. The region is known for its natural attractions such as the Tayos caves, the Kutuku Shaimi forest reserve, and the Eden Garden Zoo.

This concludes the Ecuador pavilion commentary on the provinces of Ecuador. thank you.


VI. Cacao Museum