Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Gay Tour Travel To Ecuador

By Howie Holben

Although a small country, Ecuador boasts a wide array of geographic and cultural diversity, including a variety of indigenous groups with distinctive cultures and languages. From snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests to tropical shorelines, Ecuador has varying landscapes and climates, making it wonderful for gay travel or exciting adventures a great idea any time of the year.

While the Galapagos Islands are perhaps the most frequently visited attraction in Ecuador, the mainland is also filled with numerous activities and sightseeing opportunities that ensure gay tours to Ecuador will be exciting, fulfilling and memorable. Whether you seek an outdoor adventure, a spiritual journey or gay travel that consists of exploring the LGBT community in Quito, trekking through the rainforest and spending lazy afternoons on the beach, you will surely see why so many travelers return to this popular tourist destination year after year.

Travelers will find that Quito is largely the center of LGBT life and has the most visible community. This is particularly true in the La Mariscal neighborhood, which is the location of the Quito Pride celebration each year in June, as well as the district where LGBT-friendly clubs, bars, cafs and other establishments can be found. This bohemian neighborhood is a popular afternoon hangout and is the place to go for a night on the town on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sitting 9,200 feet above sea level and with the 13,000-foot volcano, Pichincha, nearby, Quito can be - quite literally - a breathtaking city when you first arrive, but you are sure to acclimate soon after arrival. Many streets are lined with shops, cafs and art galleries, and the historic center of town has been dubbed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, increasing the appeal of this diverse city. Major attractions include the Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, the Museo de la Ciudad, the Capilla del Hombre Guayasamin and the Parque el Ejido, which is lined with open-air stalls with handicrafts for sale.

Rights and protections in Ecuador have expanded over the past decade, allowing for gay tours that are more enjoyable and safer. At the same time, there is still an air of machismo permeating the culture, which means discretion in most public places is still a good idea. One way to avoid issues and more fully enjoy your voyage to Ecuador is to plan to participate in gay tours when embarking on gay vacations to this diverse country.

This allows you to more fully enjoy your excursion with minimal worries and to explore this diverse country with like-minded travelers.

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