Overview

Jewel of the Andes: Ecuador boasts a national “Good Living Plan” and has established legal rights for nature, so you can marvel at protected ecosystems spanning coastal, jungle, and mountain habitats.

Trips to Ecuador:

8 Day Ecuador Multi-Sport

10 Day Galapagos Adventure

11 Day Best of Ecuador & Galapagos

Take a lesson in natural history in the unique volcanic Galapagos Islands, the well-known seat of Darwin’s most famous ideas, a place sure to inspire you as well. The place where Darwin played with his finches and perfected his theories on evolution is now a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, and you can book your own private boat and dive in these amazing waters or simply wander the lava rock trials in search of blue-footed boobies.

Ecuador is famous for the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’, an impressive 200 km string of 14 volcanoes over 15,00 ft in elevation. Nowhere else on earth can you find such high, magnificent mountains so easily accessible. The Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the most incredible mountains in Ecuador and also one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. At an incredible 19,347 ft it rises from the Oriental Andes Mountain Range in a perfectly symmetric conic form that is entirely covered in snow, all at a stone`s throw from Quito. Explore the tropical jungles of the Amazon Oriental or cool off in the Andean highlands – everywhere you turn the culture is rich and the land beautiful.

Entry Requirements

Ecuador Visas are issued on arrival. A passport valid for six months after date of entry is required. Visitors must hold return/onward tickets and all documents required for their next destination.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, and Typhoid immunizations are recommended for all travelers. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel

Weather

Quito, Ecuador

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg High F 64 65 65 65 65 65 66 67 67 67 66 65
Avg Low F 49 49 49 50 49 48 48 48 48 49 48 49

Communication

Ecuador – country code +593. Most areas will have mobile access and Internet available. Some areas while trekking may not have mobile access.

Electricity

Chile – Electrical current is 120 volts, 50Hz (Type A; electrical plug has two flat blades)

Travel Advisories

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travelers’ cheques.  Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

Be sure to inform your credit card company as well as your bank you will travel internationally into South America. This will eliminate any credit card holds for fraudulent activity.

Currency

Carrying cash, an ATM or traveler’s check card and also a credit card that can be used for cash advances in case of emergency is advisable. The best places to exchange money are normally bureau de change, which are fast, have longer hours and often give slightly better rates than banks. Local currency is the US dollar (USD). Better hotels, lodges, and camps will accept credit cards, however it is advised to withdraw cash when visiting remote areas and villages.

Government

Ecuador is a presidential republic

Religion

Religion in Ecuador is an expression of the different cultural heritages in the Ecuadorian culture including the Spanish colonization, the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Ecuadorian. There are majority Catholics and Protestants. There are also small communities of Jewish and Baha’i faith.

Ethnic Groups

The population of Ecuador is about 65% mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish). About 25% are Amerindian; 7% are Spanish or others; and another 3% are black. There are only a few groups of unassimilated Amerindians on the coast, notably the Colorados and Cayapas. The blacks live mainly on the northern coastal province of Esmeraldas. The Amazon Basin is inhabited by many primitive tribes, including the Jivaros, once famous for their shrunken-head war trophies, and the Zaparos, Aucas, Secoyas, and Cofanes. In the early 1980’s, the tribes were organized in the Federacion Shuar, which seeks to preserve their cultural identities.

Languages

The predominant and official language of Ecuador is Spanish, in addition to Northern Quechua and other pre-colonial American languages, which are spoken by 2.3 million.

Economy

The economy of Ecuador is based mostly on exports of bananas, oil, shrimp, gold, other primary agricultural products and money transfers from nearly a million Ecuadorian immigrants employed abroad. Ecuador is the world’s largest exporter of bananas. After a severe financial crisis, unsustainable economic policy, inflation, and devaluation of the national currency – Ecuador announced its intention to adopt the US dollar as the official currency. Subsequent protests led to the 2000 Ecuadorean coup d etat. 40% of the population lives below the pverty line. The completion of the second Transandean Oil Pipeline will enable Ecuador to expand oil exports.

Climate

The climate of Ecuador varies by region, due to differences in altitude and proximity to the equator. The coastal lowlands to the west of Ecuador are typically warm. Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy. The weather in Quito is consistent to that of a subtropical highland climate. The city has a fairly constant cool climate due to its elevation and proximity to the equator. There are only really two obvious seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season (summer) runs from June to September and the wet season (winter) is from October to May.