Ecuador - Travel Deals

When asked about the big festivals that take place in South America, most of us would be able to name the famous Carnival celebrations in Brazil, and some of us might be aware of the Semana Santa processions that take place in much of Latin America – but it’s a smaller number who would be familiar with the Inti Raymi celebrations, despite the fact that they’re some of the biggest on the continent.

Inti Raymi, which means Festival of the Sun, is an historic ceremony that was important to the people of the Inca Empire, and it dates back to the 13th century. After the conquest of the Incas by the Spanish, the Inti Raymi celebrations lost their grandeur and then finally were stopped altogether. Then in 1944, the ceremony and celebrations were presented in a theatrical way – eliminating some of the more gruesome aspects of the original ceremonies – based on historic accounts, and they’ve continued each year since then.

Today’s Inti Raymi celebrations are performed by actors representing the Incas, and the festivities have become a major draw not only for people from nearby areas but tourists from all over the world.

>> Inti Raymi marks the winter solstice on June 24th of every year.

By its very nature travel is an intensely enriching experience. It challenges you to learn new things and it exposes you to different ways of life. Spending time in another culture often tells us more about ourselves than anything else. One of the best ways to experience the personal growth that comes with travel and to really get to know the people and culture you are visiting is to spend an extended time there and to become more than just a person with a backpack passing through.

There are a growing number of travelers who are opting to go the route of meaningful travel. Whether it is spending a week helping to build houses in Central America, teaching English for a year in Nepal or working on a farm in South Africa, volunteer travel is a great way to gain a global perspective while also contributing to the places you visit.

The Tandana Foundation is an excellent organization that is helping to develop cross-cultural learning opportunities and service projects. Among the many ways you can get involved in its projects is to take part in a volunteer vacation in highland Ecuador. The time you spend volunteering in local schools, daycare centers, health clinics and other projects can literally help to change lives while also enriching your own.

For the best deals on flights to Ecuador, search for cheap international plane tickets today.

Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Brazil…take your pick. They all are interesting travel destinations and they all are yours for the taking with these great airplane ticket deals from the chicos and chicas at Copa Airlines.

Personally, I would love to check out Colombia. The country has seen its share of violence over the years and many parts of it are still not that safe for foreigners, but that shouldn’t scare you away from visiting Bogota or even San Andres Island. The great thing about a place like Colombia is that it isn’t on the travel radar for many Americans or people of other nationalities so you will be able to explore its rich culture without the distraction of endless tour buses.

For the latest news on hotels and transit in South America, as well as stories from people who have traveled in those parts, head on over to BootsnAll’s South America travel guide.