In the Athens of Ecuador, for example, some tourists had trouble finding accommodation due to high demand. In Baños, there are reservations made until the 3rd.
La Sierra is another favorite destination for visitors this holiday that ends on Wednesday, November 3. Cities like Ambato, Baños and Cuenca have had a high presence of tourists. This is evident in the streets and is also confirmed by tourist servers.
In Cuenca, for example, the streets were crowded with tourists yesterday; the hotels, cool, and the merchants, happy. There are several places to visit and activities to do, most of them free.
Kevin Redwood was staring at his cell phone for a location. He would not let go of Kristel Méndez, his partner, as they walked down the central Padre Aguirre street. He returned to Cuenca after ten years and she had never been.
They arrived on Saturday and the first thing they did was walk. They ate at the Nueve de Octubre market, walked through Calderón Park, went to the natural viewpoint of the rural Turi parish and finally went down to the Botanical Park.
They recognize that their trip was not so planned, so finding a hotel was difficult, since all the places were full. Kristel liked the organized and clean streets, as well as the pleasant atmosphere and climate.
At the base of the Old Cathedral was Blanca Guambaña, who leads a group of skilled artisans in toquilla straw weaving. I was happy because the sale of hats and other decorations in that material “has moved.”
And for all outsiders to see that it is handmade, he makes a live demonstration. He sits down, places a mold on his legs and begins to join the strands of straw.
That astonished Leonardo Armendariz and his friends who came from Milagro, Guayas. With his group of friends he traveled along the Zhud Cochancay highway and made a stopover at the Ingapirca Castle, in Cañar. He was amazed by the majestic Inca construction and walked it without problems because he did not catch the height or the “pacheco” (cold).
They also went to the free concert at the Alejandro Serrano Aguilar stadium organized by the Municipality, to sing with Alci Acosta, and on their agenda is to walk and rediscover its streets. “For me, Cuenca is an excellent city, very beautiful to come with family, children or friends, calm down,” he says.
This massive presence of people was expected by tour operators and authorities. Mayor Pedro Palacios said that beyond the 330 public events organized in parks and squares, the planning started more than a year ago to generate more gastronomic and cultural experiences, especially outdoors, stands out. The offer in Cuenca is varied for all tastes and budgets.
In Ambato and Baños, both cantons of Tungurahua, there is also a strong presence of tourists.
In Baños there are groups that have made reservations until Wednesday 3
In Baños de Agua Santa, for example, there was a hotel occupancy of 80% until noon on Saturday 30 and they expected to fill the rest during the afternoon of that day.
There are almost 8,000 places available in this town. Cristian Varela, director of Tourism of the municipality of Baños de Agua Santa, said that this holiday is usually divided into two parts, because the tourist leaves for three days and two nights.
For this reason, there are groups that will be there until today, according to the reservations (they are in the hotels until noon). And another will arrive today and will stay until Wednesday the 3rd. It is hoped that there will be a full house.
He assured that even Baños has been almost 100% occupied during the last weekends, which means that there is a reactivation and that tourists confirm that biosafety protocols are being handled.
Museums, gardens and gastronomy such as that of Atocha, the ‘enganches’ in Ambato
In Ambato, the presence of tourists in the hotels was rated as good. Here they have faith that they will exceed 50% of the capacity, which is around 4,500 places available.
November is the second best holiday they have in the year, after the Fruit and Flower Festival.
The Martínez Holguín house museum, in the Atocha neighborhood; the Atocha-La Liria botanical garden; the house museum of Juan León Mera, author of the national anthem, among others, are part of the most visited sites at this time.
Gabriela Vásconez, cultural manager in charge of the Martínez Holguín house museum, in the Atocha neighborhood, said that the presence of tourists, who arrived from the early hours of Saturday 30, has been positive.
Until before noon on Sunday 31, more than 400 people had entered, mainly from the provinces of Pichincha and Guayas.
The tourist who arrives has the opportunity to visit the Atocha-La Liria botanical garden, and then move to the Martínez Holguín house museum, which belonged to Dr. Nicolás Martínez Vásconez, Juan León Mera’s maternal uncle, where Luis Alfredo Martínez lived. who wrote the novel To the coast.
In this place there is also another house museum. It is that of Juan León Mera, author of the Anthem of Ecuador.
In these two museum houses there are wax figures of these and other characters and some original objects. You can also tour the so-called gardens of the four worlds.
Vásconez said that the Directorate of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Ambato develops a diversity of activities to attract more tourists these days.
One of these tourists was Giuseppe Espinel, who arrived from Quito with 15 members of his family. He commented that they want to take advantage of the holiday to visit places with a lot of nature and that Ambato is conducive to visiting spaces such as the Atocha-La Liria botanical garden.
There is also the network of squares and markets of Ambato, where the tourist can taste the traditional purple colada or go to the Atocha neighborhood, where this drink can be accompanied with empanadas de viento (cheese, meat, shrimp or chicken)
“Little by little you begin to see the movement of tourists,” said José Álvarez, from the November 2 association, in the early hours of the holiday.
“We thank God because in these days the business has improved”, assured, for her part, Cecilia Galarza.
She sold the large glass of purple laundry for $ 0.75 and the small one for $ 0.50. The guaguas de pan, at $ 0.75, and the empanadas from $ 0.25. The hours of operation are from 07:00 to 21:00.
On these holidays you can also visit the deceased fairs that take place in the civic center of Plaza Urbina, in the Artisan market and in the popular Cristóbal Colón shopping center.
“What the fairs offer is very beautiful, there are many handicrafts,” said Nora Balseca, who was in Ambato with her family. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
