Ecuador for Kids – Keeping the Kids Happy
Keeping the Kids Happy in Ecuador
Our daughter loves to be out and about, so I thought I’d share some of the things we’ve enjoyed doing together, and some of the things we would like to do in the near future. These are just a few of the highlights from here in Cuenca, Guayaquil and Salinas.
Here in Cuenca there are a lot of parks with equipment for the kids to play on. One of the largest is Paradise Park, it’s got lots of green space, a river running through it, a pond, playground equipment, a horse and buggy ride, little go-cart type cares to ride around in, and lots of other fun stuff.
Mall del Rio has a Fun Center with a bowling alley and video games. There is also a Multi-Cine where you can watch the latest movies (some in English) and a food court with Burger King and KFC. Our daughter enjoys the Play Go as well; there are lots of games there too.
Banco Central Museum has some fun displays. Our daughter likes walking through the mock indigenous homes (they don’t allow pictures to be taken inside) of the different cultural groups they have set up. But her favorite part is outside; they have gardens and an aviary. There are also Llamas grazing around the grounds.
Craft stores and cafes are found all over the city. It’s fun to stop in for something sweet, and pick up a cool craft.
There is a zip line about an hour or so outside of Cuenca that sounds like a lot of fun; we hope to go within the next couple of months. And Ingapirca sounds very interesting as well; it’s about an hour and a half’s drive from Cuenca and is the largest site of Incan ruins in Ecuador. And in Giron, about an hour away there is a beautiful waterfall; it’s an easy hike for children.
In Guayaquil we really enjoyed Iguana Park. The iguanas were so thick in the trees, they actually looked like iguana fruit trees, loaded with really ripe iguanas : ). Watch out because they can slip and fall on you, one almost landed on my friends head! So get close, but not too close.
The Malecon was also nice. There are playgrounds set up along the way and places to stop for treats. A display of some sort was set up, it kind of looked like a little outside dinosaur museum, we didn’t have time to stop and check it out. At the end of the Malecon there is a restaurant with some monkeys and ostriches, a movie theater and a museum.
There is also a zoo in Guayaquil, but we haven’t gotten there yet. Hopefully next time.
Salinas is a really nice little city right on the ocean. The beach is beautiful and has all kinds of water sports to keep the kids happy. The sand is great for sandcastles, and shell hunting. It’s also fun to check out the beach jewelery sold along the malecon, and by the venders walking up and down the beach.
A water slide park is just a few blocks off the beach. And there are some nice craft stores as well. Our daughter really enjoyed having some handmade jewelery engraved for all of us, you can’t lose at $1.00 a bracelet.
There are also boat tours, and fishing excursions.
El Paseo Mall has a nice theater with the latest movies (some in English) a nice food court, and lots of fun little shops to snoop around in.
Please add to this list by commenting on this post. Thanks!
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(Sorry if this is a duplicate posting.) Thanks for the "Ecuador for Kids" post. I'm planning to take my 8yo daughter to Cuenca for the month of August. We both speak only a tiny bit of Spanish. We will participate in the Simon Bolivar language school. Know anyone there who is good with kids? We're staying in an apt in the city (the colonial part, though that doesn't mean anything to me.) I would love to get your advice on reading suggestions before going, as well as any advice on what's interesting to do with kids, including restaurants, markets, side trips, walks, playgrounds, etc. Thanks!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Windwalker Duo. The Windwalker Duo said: RT @GringosAbroad: Ecuador for Kids – Keeping the Kids Happy http://ht.ly/3B2pD #ecuador #travel #travelwithkids [...]
What about sports and other children activities in Cuenca to help with socialisation
Good question. Aside from schooling, there are the standard things here: sports, volunteering, having friends over to play. There are organized and friendly games of soccer (of course), but also basketball, rugby, tennis, even swim teams. There are bike riding and art clubs. There really are just two options – develop relationships with foreigners or the locals. Most of our daughters friends are Ecuadorian – the families are not prejudice against us (as often is the case when foreigners visit/move to Canada or the States) and are extremely kind. If you don’t have contacts when you arrive, school will take care of things quite quickly.
Good to hear there is Rugby( the sport they play in heaven ) the idea of moving to Cuenca just gets better and better
Cuenca has a new team, for a newly organized national league. A friend of mine plays for Cuenca, although I haven't been to any games. . . Its supposed to be very good.
Well, it sounds like we will have some things to keep our son busy!
[...] Gringos Abroad – No wonder there is no whining down in SOZ land, there is lots of fun stuff for kids to do. So if you know of something that’s not on her list, let Dena know, OK? [...]