Best Ecuadorian

Pacari Raw Dark Chocolate 70% is an artisanal dark chocolate crafted in Ecuador using heritage cacao beans. The raw, unroasted process preserves intense flavor profiles including floral and citrus nuances. This premium bar appeals to discerning consumers seeking a delicate and complex chocolate expe...

Colada morada is a traditional, thick beverage originating from Ecuador, deeply associated with the Day of the Dead festivities on November 2. The recipe blends pre-Columbian and colonial elements, utilizing purple corn flour, Andean blackberries, and a variety of native fruits such as naranjilla an...

Llapingachos are a traditional Ecuadorian dish consisting of savory potato patties originating from the Andean highlands. They are prepared by forming mashed potatoes, often seasoned with annatto for a distinct orange color, around a filling of fresh cheese before pan-frying until crisp. These dense...

Encebollado is a traditional Ecuadorian soup primarily made with albacore tuna, cassava, and a base of onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. It is typically served warm and garnished with a generous topping of pickled red onion rings. The soup is often accompanied by sides of toasted corn nuts, plantain c...

The Esmeraldas woodstar, Chaetocercus berlepschi, is a very small hummingbird endemic to western Ecuador. It inhabits lowland and foothill vegetation in a restricted coastal region, where forest clearance and fragmentation have reduced its available habitat. The species is considered endangered and...

Built in 1886 in Quito, Ecuador, the Teatro Nacional Sucre is one of the oldest national theaters in South America and a landmark of 19th-century neoclassical architecture.

Menestra de lentejas is a traditional lentil stew popular in Ecuador and Colombia. The dish features brown or green lentils simmered in a savory base of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cumin, often enriched with diced carrots, potatoes, or plantains. It is typically served as a hearty, everyday meal a...

The Purple-chested Hummingbird (Amazilia rosenbergi) is a hummingbird of the Pacific slope of western Colombia and Ecuador. The male is identified by its distinctive iridescent purple breast patch set against green upperparts, while females are generally duller in coloration. It inhabits humid lowla...

Ecuadorian cuisine reflects a blend of Indigenous Andean, Spanish, and African culinary traditions with significant regional variations. Highland areas feature potatoes, corn, quinoa, and cuy (guinea pig), while coastal regions emphasize seafood, plantains, and rice. Notable dishes include llapingac...

Fanesca is a complex, hearty soup from Ecuador traditionally consumed during the Easter season, specifically during Holy Week. The dish is distinguished by its use of twelve different types of beans and grains, which are cooked with salt cod in a milk and squash base. Preparing the soup is labor-int...

Cuarenta is a trick-taking card game widely regarded as the national card game of Ecuador, where it is played both socially and in competitive club settings. It uses a 40-card Spanish-suited deck and is typically played by four players in two partnerships. The game's name means 'forty' in Spanish, a...

Locro de Lentejas is a thick Andean stew originating in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia that substitutes lentils for the traditional potato-and-squash base, commonly eaten during cooler highland months.

Llapingachos are pan-fried potato and cheese patties from Ecuador, traditionally served with peanut sauce, fried egg, and chorizo, and considered a staple of Ecuadorian highland cuisine.

Little Sunangel (Heliangelus micraster) is a small Andean hummingbird found at high-elevation grasslands and shrublands in Ecuador and northern Peru.

Baron's Hermit (Phaethornis baroni) is a hermit hummingbird endemic to western Ecuador, where it occupies humid forest and forest-edge habitats within a limited range.

Emerald-bellied Woodnymph (Thalurania hypochlora) is a small hummingbird restricted to humid forests of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru, with a notably limited range.