Noticias

Lodges Ecuador

Chefs Carlos Gallardo and Juan Sebastián Gallardo

Two Ecuadorian Restaurants Win Awards at the 2024 World Culinary Awards

 October 2024

Considered the Oscar of the gastronomic world, the 2024 World Culinary Awards awarded two Ecuadorian restaurants for honoring the most outstanding culinary establishments and the talented chefs who lead them.

Uniandes Gastronomic Laboratory, Zero Lab, characterized by a research approach to Ecuadorian products, won in the category of Best Restaurant in Ecuador, at the gala held on October 2 in Dubai,  United Arab Emirates.

Chefs Carlos Gallardo and Juan Sebastián Gallardo received this recognition thanks to their approach to contemporary Ecuadorian haute cuisine. The international jury tasted one of Zero Lab’s six-star dishes, the sole and red fruit ceviche. This ceviche consists of sole fish, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, tomato oil and rice paper quinoa, among other ingredients.

For its part, Casa Gangotena received the award for Best Ecuadorian Hotel Restaurant, consolidating its position as one of the most outstanding culinary establishments in the country. This recognition reflects the quality and culinary excellence and the commitment to offering exceptional experiences through its mestizo food menu, a culinary expression that fuses tradition with innovation.

This “mestizo cuisine” invites you on a culinary journey through the four worlds of Ecuador, fusing the best ingredients with a contemporary vision! Casa Gangotena’s menu is an exploration of intense, homey and avant-garde flavors, enriched with Ecuadorian ingredients and 100% natural products that promote sustainability and care for the environment. Each dish is not only a delight for the palate, but also a complete sensory experience. It is a tribute to the diversity and gastronomic richness of Ecuador, combining local flavors, unique ingredients and a mix of mestizo cuisine and modernity in a spectacularly varied proposal.

For example, in the Tasting Menu, each meal is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the richness of Ecuadorian gastronomy and live a truly exceptional sensory experience:

10-Course Tasting Menu for USD 99 per person: An ode to Ecuador

Incluido:

Chef’s appetizer

Pearl of the Pacific, Corn, Crab fritter

Beetroot

Trout, fennel jus

Prawn

Carpaccio, octopus, almond cream

Galapagos Witch

Coffee, cocoa honey

King Oyster mushroom

Macerated chili emulsion, demi-glace.

Encacao

River shrimp, coastal curry.

Duck

Magret, strudel sauce, foie gras, raspberry

Beef

Skirt steak, potato, Dijon mustard

Foam Lemon

Lemongrass foam, cream of cocoa mucilage

Chef’s sweet Treats

Tasting menu 10 courses, without pairing $99/person

“La Gran Fiesta” with pairing $55/person

Prices include taxes and service.

In addition, there are several vegetarians, vegan and gluten-free options.

Finish the culinary experience with a digestive or a coffee on the hotel terrace with one of the best views of Quito: on one side the Church of San Francisco, in front the Basilica del Voto Nacional, behind the Virgen del Panecillo and, if the sky is clear, in the distance you can see the Cayambe volcano.

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Requisitos de ingreso

 

The following information is provided by the Ministries of the Interior and Human Relations for citizens who wish to visit and get to know Ecuador.

Therefore, Responsible travel as a tour operator considers the following guidelines in order to generate a satisfactory experience on your trip through Ecuador. Nevertheless, please note that any requirement can change without prior notice, and it is the responsibility of each traveler to make sure to comply with the current requirements when entering the country.

Visa

The duration to visit the country is 90 days a year; if you are going to extend your visit, it is recommended to pay an extension.

List of countries that need a visa to enter Ecuador:

AfghanistanGuinea BissauRepublic of the Congo
AlbaniaHaitiDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Angola KenyaSenegal
BangladeshKyrgyzstanSierra Leone
CameroonIndiaSyria
ChadIraqSri Lanka
Ivory CoastIranSomalia
CubaLibyaSudan
EgyptMaliSouth Sudan
EritreaMauritaniaTajikistan
EthiopiaMyanmarUzbekistan
PhilippinesNigeriaVenezuela
GambiaPakistanVietnam
GhanaNepalYemen
GuineaDemocratic Republic of the Congo 

Applying for a visa

In case of applying for a visa and being able to enter the country. Please contact the following emails: consejeria@cancilleria.gob.ec and citasvisas@cancilleriga.gob.ec.

For more information, there are links to Ecuadorian embassies as well as foreign embassies within the country.

In the case of entering the country by land or river

The Government, through its Ministries, provides that foreign citizens who enter the country through the land or river borders of Colombia and Peru may present their apostilled certificate indicating that they do not have a criminal record; this certificate must have been issued in their country of origin or residence in the last five years.  or in turn request the review of the corresponding information through the Ecuadorian Migration System (SIMIEC).

The following individuals are exempt from filing

  • Holders of a valid Ecuadorean visa
  • Holders of diplomatic passports
  • Children and adolescents under 18
  • Victims of human trafficking.

COVID-19 rules

There is not a COVID certificate needed at the moment, but if you experience symptoms prior to your trip, you can complete a health application and bring it to the airport.

Conditions for passport validity

The passport must be valid for at least half a year. Access is restricted without a valid or reported lost document

 Galapagos Islands

People could visit until 60 days. For enter, you need to present:

Foreign Exchange

When you leave the country, you must declare the foreign exchange if you exceed the aggregate of $1,380.

Personal ID

As a regular law, you must carry your identification. Always keep a copy of your passport, with the pages containing your photo and Ecuadorian entrance stamp.


 

Requisitos de salida

 

Departure of Foreign Citizens

  1. Valid passport
  2. Ticket Flight

Departure of national and foreign minors

Ecuadorian children and adolescents and resident foreigners may leave the national territory under the following conditions:

  • Accompanied by their parents, legal guardians, or whoever exercises parental authority, or with one of their parents with prior notarial or judicial authorization from those who are not traveling with them.
  • Alone or with third parties with the prior authorization of the parents, guardians, or those who exercise parental authority.
 
 
 
 

lenguage

The native language is Spanish. Some indigenous people speak Spanish, Quechua, and English. The indigenous communities living in the jungle speak their languages and dialects.

At Responsible Travel, we are trained to provide the best experience to the tourist. For this reason, our team of guides is bilingual, as are most of our suppliers (hotels and restaurants).