Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Uruguay

Voces

What Ecuadorian volcano, one of the most active in the world, means “neck of the moon” in Quechua and Aymara?

Cotopaxi

Which South American country includes the Galápagos Islands and borders Colombia and Peru?

Ecuador

What southern Ecuadorian city is known for its crafts, food, historic architecture, and two cathedrals?

Cuenca

What chapel in Guayaquil sits on a hill overlooking the city and is reached by climbing over 400 steps?

La Capilla del Cerro Santa Ana

What Ecuadorian islands are famous for having over 60 crab species and many endemic animals like marine iguanas and giant tortoises?

The Galápagos Islands.

What Ecuadorian lagoon, located in a volcanic crater, is popular for hiking, kayaking, and swimming?

Quilotoa

What animal, still used today in the Andes for transport and wool, was used by the Incas in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia?

Llama

What species of cactus is endemic to the Galápagos Islands?

Opuntia galapageia.

What Ecuadorian festival in Latacunga celebrates both the Virgin of Mercy and the city’s independence with colorful parades?

Mamá Negra.

What is commonly sold by indigenous women on the streets of Ecuadorian cities?

Traditional foods like empanadas and salchipapas.

What Colombian city is called “the city of eternal spring” and is the birthplace of Fernando Botero?

Medellín.

What South American country has both Atlantic and Pacific coasts and borders five other countries including Panama and Ecuador?

Colombia.

What Caribbean island belonging to Colombia is known for beaches and snorkeling in “the sea of seven colors”?

San Andrés.

What national park in northern Colombia is home to hundreds of animal and plant species, including 70 kinds of bats?

Tayrona National Natural Park.

What northeastern Colombian town is considered the most beautiful and is known for colonial architecture and cobblestone streets?

Barichara.

What are the colorful rural buses in Colombia, often painted in national colors, called?

Chivos or “buses escalera.”

What historical Caribbean port city in Colombia is known for fruit vendors and colonial monuments?

Cartagena (de Indias).

What Colombian city was the first in the world to use cable cars as public transport and is a center for Latin music?

Medellín.

What Pacific coastal city in Nicaragua is famous for surfing and has one of the largest statues of Jesus in the world?

San Juan del Sur.

What Central American country borders Honduras and Costa Rica and has both Atlantic and Pacific coasts?

Nicaragua.

What is the youngest volcano in Nicaragua and a hotspot for sandboarding?

Cerro Negro.

What is the oldest city in Nicaragua, known for colonial buildings and cobblestone streets?

Granada.

What are the old U.S. school buses used for public transportation in Nicaragua commonly called in English?

Chicken buses.

At what age is school mandatory until in Nicaragua, and what percent of the population is 14 or younger?

Mandatory until age 14; 40% of the population is 14 or younger.

What national park features a crater lake and an active volcano near the city of Masaya?

Masaya Volcano National Park.

What cathedral, built in 1523, stands in the central square of Granada, Nicaragua?

Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

What island off Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast is known for diving and Afro-Caribbean Garífuna culture?

Isla Grande del Maíz

What massive Nicaraguan lake has a volcanic island named Ometepe in the center?

Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca).

What Uruguayan city is called the “Miami Beach of South America” and receives nearly a million tourists each summer?

Punta del Este.

What is the second smallest country in South America, known for its Catholic and Jewish populations?

Uruguay.

What fruits are widely grown and exported from Uruguay due to its ideal climate?

Blueberries, lemons, and oranges.

What river forms part of Uruguay’s borders and is home to 400 bird species?

The Uruguay River.

What is the name of the giant hand sculpture on Playa Brava in Uruguay?

La Mano (The Hand) or Hombre emergiendo a la vida.

What is Uruguay’s national soccer team called, and how many times have they won the World Cup?

La Celeste; they’ve won it twice.

What kind of outdoor stands, inspired by Paris, are common in Montevideo for selling newspapers?

Kiosks.

What two musical genres are popular in Montevideo, one from African slave traditions and the other shared with Argentina?

Candombe and tango.