Southern Ecuador

Southern Ecuador travel highlights. Includes Cuenca, Vilcabamba, and whale watching off the Ecuadoran coast near Puerto Lopez. Read more article about our visit to Ecuador © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Showing Off Her Work - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
Eva hand weaves hats - what we would call Panama Hats - in the village of Parroquia Quingeo outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. She has a small loan through Kiva to help her buy materials. Here, she shows us some of her work in progress. Read: What is Microfinance: A View from the Field © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Sweet Walnut Vendor - Chordeleg, Ecuador
We began talking with this woman because we didn't recognize her product as being walnuts. She kindly broke one open for us to try and then agreed to have her photo taken. When we gave her a copy of her photo later, she didn't know how to react. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Fisheye View of Downtown Cuenca, Ecuador
Taken at the corner of Plaza del Carmen near the New Cathedral (aka, Immaculate Conception) in Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Man's Best Friend? Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Shanta introduces us to his buddy the parrot who hangs out on his shoulder after his customers leave. Taken in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.
Humpback Whale Backflip - Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
A young humpback whale (our guide told us 3 months old) does a flip out of the water near our boat off of Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. Whale season is in July-August in this area and it's amazing how close the whales will get to the boat. Incredible creatures. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Pigmy Marmosets - Guayaquil, Ecuador
A pair of male and female pigmy marmosets check us out from their cage at our guest house in Guayaquil, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Team Kiva-Espoir - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
After their bi-monthly group loan meeting, these women invited us and the loan officers down to their village of Parroquia Quingeo for a game of soccer/football. And these women could move! We were winded with the elevation, but they were running circles around us in their pumps. What a blast! Read: What is Microfinance: A View from the Field © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Pick Up Soccer Game with Ecuadorian Microcredit Group
After sitting in on a bi-monthly women's microcredit group meeting on a hill, the group invited us to walk down with them to their village. Before we knew it, a ball emerged and we played a pick up game of soccer for the next half hour. We put our camera down and joined in the fun. A great time. Taken in the village of Rosas outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Roasted Cuy (Guinea Pig) - Vilcabamba, Ecuador
After almost six weeks in Ecuador, we decided it was finally time to try a local delicacy - cuy (guinea pig). We found a small restaurant run by a husband and wife where you could place an order for cuy 3 hours in advance and they would roast it fresh for you. The result? The texture/taste of meat like duck, size and orientation of a chicken, and skin of a pig. It's something we're glad we did, but don't need to do it again anytime soon. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Cuenca's Impressive New Cathedral - Ecuador
© www.uncorneredmarket.com
Mother and Little Tyke - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
A mother proudly holding her seventh child. She said this was the last one...we'll see. Taken in the village of Parroquia Quingeo outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Santo Domingo Church - Cuenca, Ecuador
Fisheye view of Santo Domingo Church at night. Taken in Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Dan With a Microcredit Group - Ingapirca, Ecuador
Dan poses with microcredit women's group in the village of Santa Ana, Ingapirca outside Cuenca, Ecuador. The women gather every two weeks with a loan officer to pay back loans and socialize with friends. The women have taken small loans financed through Kiva to improve their family businesses, from agriculture to animals to small shops. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Raising Guinea Pigs - Near Cuenca, Ecuador
Ilda raises guinea pigs (cuy) and sells them at an organic market in Cuenca, Ecuador. Here, she holds two pregnant guinea pigs. Taken in the village of San Bartolomé near Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Church in Vilcabamba - Ecuador
The small town of Vilcabamba in Southern Ecuador has an appropriately small and cute church to match. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Relaxing in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Rendezvous Guesthouse in Vilcabamba (Ecuador) provides hammocks on a small terrace for every room. Absolute heaven.
Riding Bikes Outside Vilcabamba, Ecuador
We rent bikes one day to explore the area outside Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The red rocks and landscape reminds us a bit of the American southwest. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
A Boy and His Goats - Cuenca, Ecuador
A young boy pets his goats at the Feria Libre in Cuenca, Ecuador. Fresh milk - straight from the goat - is considered healthy and costs around $1 for a glass. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Beans, Mote and Salads - Cuenca, Ecuador
A friendly vendor selling mote (part of the corn family), lentils, beans and vegetables at the Feria Libre market in Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Group Meeting on the Hill - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
Because the weather makes the road impassable sometimes, these women make the hike up the hill from their village to meet with their loan officers twice a month. Taken above the village of Parroquia Quingeo outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
All Smiles - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
Finally got a big smile out of this little guy. Taken in the village of Parroquia Quingeo outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Ready for the Pot - Outside Cuenca, Ecuador
This woman kindly defeathered the chicken we had hit by the car on the way to her village of San Bartolomé. She offered it to us to take with us, but we gave the bird to her to enjoy. Taken outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Fresh Goat Milk - Cuenca, Ecuador
Fresh goat milk - straight from the source - is considered to be a healthy drink to help with asthma, swine flu and other diseases. This family brings their goats to the Feria Libre market in Cuenca and sells glasses for about $1. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Playful Humpback Whale - Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
A humpback whale does a backflip near out boat. During our morning whale watching trip from Puerto Lopez we saw about half a dozen whales playing around us. Quite amazing. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Fruit and Vegetables at Feria Libre - Cuenca, Ecuador
The fruit and vegetable stalls at Feria Libre market in Cuenca are overflowing. © www.uncorneredmarket.com