Description

Ecuador has a long tradition of festivals and fiestas, dating from well before the arrival of the Spanish. Many of the indigenous festivals, celebrating, for example, the sun, the movements of the stars or the harvests, became incorporated into the Christian tradition, resulting in a syncretism of Catholic religious imagery and older indigenous beliefs. Most national holidays, however, mark famous events in post-conquest history and the standard festivals of the Catholic Church

Whether public holiday or fiesta, Ecuadorians love a party and often go to much trouble and expense to ensure everyone enjoys a great spectacle lubricated with plenty of food and drink. For most Ecuadorians the big fiestas are community-wide events that define local and national identity. Please join us and get to a fiesta at some point during your stay; these are among the most memorable and colorful expressions of Ecuadorian culture – not to mention plain good fun. 

Here is a list of the major public holidays and festivals and the location in Ecuador where it usually most famously held:

January 6

Epiphany (Reyes Magos) – Pillaro, Tungurahua

February/March 

Carnival (Carnaval) – Ambato, Tungurahua 

Guaranda, Bolivar

June

Corpus Christi – Pujili, Cotopaxi

June 21 and onwards

Inti Raymi (“Festival of the Sun”) – Otavalo, Imbabura

July 24 and 25

Foundation of Guayaquil – Guayaquil, Guayas

September

Yamor Festival – Otavalo, Imbabura

September 24

Mama Negra de la Merced – Latacunga, Cotopaxi

October 9

Independence of Guayaquil – Guayaquil, Guayas

November 3

Independence of Cuenca – Cuenca, Azuay

Early November

Mama Negra – Latacunga, Cotopaxi

December 6

Foundation of Quito – Quito, Pichincha

December 31

New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) – Quito, Pichincha