Ecuador

Souvenirs from Ecuador

Souvenirs from Ecuador are festive and organic, made from natural resources. Baskets, straw hats, and carpets are all charming essentials for your home. Tagua, or vegetable carvings, and balsa wood scenes create lightweight memorabilia, while figures made from specially preserved bread dough are remarkable presents. Ecuadorian leather products are also in high demand, especially clothing, belts, shoes, purses, saddles and tack, bags and knife holsters. Sheepskin paintings are singular to this country and make a truly distinctive Ecuadorian souvenir. You can also find garments, blankets and tapestries made from llama wool, or pick up a hammock for your backyard. Tribal looking bamboo flutes, ceremonial masks, jewelry and fabrics are available at markets throughout the county, as more modern souvenirs. Ceramic mugs, bumper stickers, maps, postcards, T-shirts, key chains, lanyards, tote bags and so many other items are available, brightly imprinted with local slogans, landmarks and sceneries.

Orchids: Ecuadorian Jewels

The orchid might very well be considered the flower of Ecuador, with 4,200 different breeds within its borders. This beautiful flower requires very specific temperature and humidity to bud, grow and flourish, and it has found a fortunate climate here. In fact, scientists believe that there are still many more variation of orchids here that have yet to be discovered and classified. For those of us who have only seen them in shops, this is an amazing opportunity to see them in the wild. Quito has many parks, gardens and reserves within a short distance, making it ideal as a base for exploring the orchids. There are other locations near Puya, Loja and Zamora. Each of these places offer tours and information on the flowers. While it maybe tempting to take an orchid home, this may not be the most feasible option. Why not consider perfume or essential oils, distilled from the petals, or picture post cards and magnets of them?