Been There – Ecuador
Been There Ecuador is a mug released for the opening of the first Starbucks store in Ecuador, which opened at Scala Mall in Quito in August 2024. The historic launch marked Starbucks’ 1,700th store in Latin America and the Caribbean and represented the coffee giant’s entry into its 25th market in the region. The company partnered with Delonorte S.A. for the opening, with plans for four more stores across Ecuador’s capital city by the end of 2025.
Ecuador’s history spans from ancient indigenous civilizations to modern independence, with the Inca Empire expanding into the region before Spanish colonization began in 1534. The Spanish established the Audiencia of Quito, bringing centuries of colonial rule that exploited indigenous populations. Revolutionary movements emerged in the early 19th century, led by figures like Antonio José de Sucre and Simón Bolívar. Ecuador gained independence in 1822 as part of Gran Colombia before becoming a fully independent republic in 1830.
According to the design of the mug, these are some of the symbols and points of interest of Ecuador:
– Chimborazo stands as Ecuador’s highest peak at 20,548 feet, reaching closer to the sun than Mount Everest due to Earth’s equatorial bulge. This dormant stratovolcano holds deep cultural significance for indigenous peoples and serves as a symbol of Ecuador’s natural grandeur. The mountain attracts mountaineers worldwide and inspires national pride throughout the country.
– Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 19,347 feet, featuring a distinctive snow-capped cone south of Quito. This stratovolcano has erupted more than 50 times since 1738, with recent activity in 2015. Cotopaxi National Park surrounds the volcano, serving as a symbol of Ecuador’s volcanic heritage.
– Ecuador houses incredible biodiversity with 1,624 bird species (18% of the world’s total) and thousands of endemic plants and animals. This diversity stems from four distinct regions: Andean highlands, Amazon jungle, coastal lowlands, and the Galapagos Islands. The country contains 18% of the world’s bird species and orchids in a relatively small geographic area.
– The Galapagos Islands sit 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast and inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. About 80% of land birds and 97% of reptiles are endemic to these volcanic islands. The archipelago serves as a living laboratory where unique species continue to evolve in isolation.
– The Galapagos tortoise is the archipelago’s most iconic resident and the largest living tortoise on Earth. These giants live over 150 years and helped Darwin understand species adaptation to different environments. Conservation efforts have helped recover populations from near extinction, making them symbols of wildlife preservation success.
– The Virgin of El Panecillo is a 135-foot aluminum statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking Quito from a central hill. Inaugurated in 1976, it was inspired by an 18th-century sculpture and represents Ecuador’s deep Catholic heritage. The monument serves as both a religious symbol and a tourist viewpoint of the colonial city below.
– The Torre Morisca is a distinctive clock tower in Loja featuring Islamic-influenced design elements from the colonial period. Built in the early 20th century, this four-story tower combines Moorish arches and geometric patterns unique among Ecuador’s structures. The tower serves as both a functional timepiece and a symbol of Loja’s cultural fusion heritage.
– The New Cathedral of Cuenca dominates the main square with impressive blue-domed neo-Gothic architecture that took over a century to complete. Construction began in 1885, incorporating European styles with local materials like blue stone and onyx. The cathedral’s distinctive blue domes have become an iconic symbol of this UNESCO World Heritage city.
