Travellers’ guide to etiquette in Ecuador
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Loading ...Ecuador is a beautiful coastal country between 
Colombia and Peru. It’s famous for its hospitality, proximity to the Galapagos Islands and rich cultural history, not to mention its spectacular landscapes. As with many Central and South American countries, its people are friendly and go out of their way to indulge tourists. But rather than tax their patience, why not learn some of the cultures and customs that guide etiquette and social conduct to make your holiday that much more pleasant?
Here are some important tips to get you safely through your Ecuadorian holiday:
Greeting
Greetings are important in Ecuadorian culture. Generally men will shake hands while women greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. Men greet women with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek depending on the closeness of the relationship. Eye contact is important and so is a friendly smile.
Use the appropriate salutation, e.g., buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon), or buenas noches (good evening).
The use of titles is also important as only those in close relationships use first names. If you’re addressing a professional use their title and surname, e.g., Doctor Augusto, Abogado (lawyer) Augusto. If they don’t have a title use Senor or Senora with their surname.
When entering an establishment, any establishment, greet the staff according to the time of day. When you leave, thank them: gracias or hasta luego.
Visiting
In Ecuador one is not fashionably late, one is politely late. Guests are generally expected to arrive 30 – 45 minutes after the specified time. They are also expected to bring a small gift, such as dessert, flowers or good quality wine.
One doesn’t dress to impress, one dresses to respect. A neat, tidy appearance shows that you respect your host, while a slovenly appearance (unshaven, unkempt, stained clothes) is an insult.
Once you’ve accepted an invitation, it’s polite to extend one in return. Not immediately, of course, but on the occasion.
Dining
Eating is a relaxed and lengthy process. Conversation is focused on casual matters, not business.
Guests are served first but no one starts eating until the host says buen provecho (bon appetite).
If you’re eating out, don’t be alarmed if someone asks to join your table. Sharing is very common in Ecuador. If you are sharing your table it’s good manners to wish your companions buen provecho.
Eat everything with utensils, even fruit. Leave a bit of food on your plate when you are done.
Timing
Time is relative in Ecuador. Don’t expect anything to happen in a hurry and don’t set a stringent holiday schedule as it will go out of the window. Relax, have fun and take the days as they come.
Socialising
Women are not encouraged to go out to bars and clubs on their own and if they go out in groups they are not encouraged to drink anything harder than wine or, sometimes, beer.
Given that Ecuadorians are such friendly, personable people, they don’t believe in a great deal of personal space. They like to get close to the people they’re talking to; it’s not intended to invasive or aggressive. Even though you might be from a country where space is more valued, it’s not advisable to back away as this is considered rude.
Ecuadorians will also not balk at asking you personal questions. Again, this is not meant to be invasive but is rather to help them determine your level of trustworthiness. Let go of the personal boundaries you guard so jealously and embrace the intimacy. But, avoid being too blunt or tactless.
Dressing
Dress is relatively formal in Ecuador. Long trousers are favoured over shorts, buttons and collars are favoured over t-shirts and covering up is favoured over bare skin. If you’ve spent days on a bus or are a bit ragged after some hiking you won’t be ostracised, but clean up as best as possible as soon as you get the chance.
Travelling to Ecuador is not to be missed, especially by those who like their surroundings beautiful and their people warm and friendly.
(Image by Aldo Barba, Quito under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license, via Wikimedia Commons)
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