Ecuador, sitting on the Ecuator between Colombia and Peru, is the smallest of the Andean nations and contains some of the most varied geography in South America. With its vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. It has four distinct regions: the Andean Highlands, the Coastal Tropical Plains, the Amazon Tropical Basin and the Galápagos Islands, some six hundred and twenty miles off the Pacific coast. The capital city is Quito. Guayaquil on the coast is an important commercial city and Cuenca in the south is Ecuador's most beautiful colonial city.
Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Area: 283,520 sq km (175,780 sq mi)
Population: 12,920,092 (growth rate: 2.1%)
Capital city: Quito (pop 1.5
million)
Currency: US dollar
People: 40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
Language: Spanish, Quechua and other indigenous languages
Religion: Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations
Government: Democracy
President: Rafael Correa
Major industries: Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Visas: Not required for any nationality for 90 day stays.
Vaccinations: No mandatory
vaccinations, though you should
have up to date tetanus, typhoid and
polio vaccinations. Malaria is required for lowland areas (not the Galapagos) such as the coasts and the
Amazon.
THE FOUR REGIONS:
Ecuador has a population of 12,900,000 approx. It is difficult to establish an exact distribution of the different ethnic groups due to the mixing of white, Indian and black races. There are several Indian groups, each one with its own distinctive language and customs, making Ecuador a fascinating multicultural land.
Ecuador has two official languages, Spanish and Quechua, which is the language spoken by a large percentage of the indigenous peoples. English, French and German are spoken in hotels, tourist shops and in major visitor centers.
Quito and the central highlands are on or near the equator where the weather is surprisingly moderate all year round. The driest months are July to October where the temperatures are in the 70s F during the day and 50s F at night. During the rest of the year, November to June you can expect some afternoon showers and similar temperatures.
The average temperature at the coast is 83F, with the hot rainy season from November to May and dry season from June to December.
In the Galápagos Islands the climate is similar to the coast as they are a small group of tropical islands.
In the jungle temperatures are tropical and average around 85F through the year. Rainfall is almost all year round and especially heavy from May to November.
