Ecuador is located in northwestern South America, bordering Colombia and Peru. The country is considered relatively safe and is a popular travel destination, mainly because of the Galápagos Islands. With a very varied landscape, visitors will find a wide range of possibilities, from dreamlike beaches to the high mountains in the Andes. See andyeducation.com for education in Ecuador.
| Capital City | Quito |
| Size | 283,561 km² |
| Resident | 16 million |
| Official Language | Spanish |
| Currency | U.S. dollar |
| Time Zone | UTC-5 |
| Telephone Area Code | +593 |
Fast facts to know
- Below 1,500 m altitude in Ecuador there is a low risk of malaria all year round.
- Drinking water should not be drunk untreated by travelers.
- Ecuador is a third world country.
- Vaccinations are not mandatory, but yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and depending on the destination, malaria prophylactics are recommended.
- A passport that is valid for 6 months is sufficient for entry.
- The official currency in Ecuador is the American dollar.
- Ecuador is considered a safe travel destination.
- Galápagos Islands belong to Ecuador (1000 km off the coast).
- Paradise for outdoor fans.
Exciting cities in Ecuador
- Quito
- Puerto Lopez
- Latacunga
- Guayaquil
- Cuenca
- Otavalo
- Riobamba
- Vilcabamba
History of Ecuador
- Already 9000 BC settled by the Las Vegas culture.
- Inhabited by several independent peoples until the 15th century.
- 1530 – 1820 Spanish colony.
- 1810 – 1830 War of Independence.
- Became part of Greater Colombia and then independent state.
- 1925 – 1947 marked by political chaos.
- Oil production has determined the country’s economic and political stability since 1973.
Climate & travel weather in Ecuador
- North coast: monsoon climate with rainy season December – May.
- Mountains: cooler, humid all year round with rainy seasons February – May & October – November.
- High mountains: alpine tundra climate.
- Oriente: humid, tropical climate.
- Recommended travel time:
- Highlands: May to October
- Coastal Region: December to June
- Amazon Region: May to September
- Galápagos Islands: good all year round
Ideas for excursions in Ecuador
- Biggest market in South America in Otavalo.
- Galapagos Islands.
- Valley of the Ancients – Vilcabamba.
- Swimming in Baños.
- Surfing in Montañita.
- Train ride at the rock formation known as Devil’s Nose in the highlands of the Andes.
- Inca ruins Ingapirca.
Eating & Drinking in Ecuador
- Simple but diverse and varied with Spanish, indigenous and African influences.
- Corn is the basis of almost all dishes.
- In the Andean dishes, potatoes are the most important side dish.
- Plantains and bananas play a major role in all coastal dishes.
- Yucca root is also an important food.
- Soups and stews are widespread and very popular.
- Meat suppliers such as guinea pigs and llamas have largely been replaced by pork and beef.
- Enormous range of delicious, freshly squeezed juices.
- Typical dishes:
- Ceviche (seafood with lemon and onions).
- Lechón (suckling pig).
- Llapingachos (potato pancakes with cheese).
- Cuy (roast or grilled guinea pig).
- Sopa de bolas verde (thick peanut soup with plantain dumplings).
- Caldo de gallina (chicken soup).
- Lenteja (lentil stew).
- Encebollado (broth with onions, fish and yuca).
- Sanchocho (soup made from meat, cassava, peas and plantains).
- Fanesca (soup made with fish, legumes, peas and corn).
- Sopa Marinera (seafood soup).
- Corviche (plantain dumpling filled with fish, shrimp or chicken on a skewer).
- Fritada (fried pork, choclo, llapingachos, avocado).
- Locro (potato and corn soup with avocado and cheese).
- Humitas (sweet corn and egg batter wrapped in a banana leaf).
- Corvina (sea bass).
- Ají (hot sauce made from chili peppers, used for seasoning and to kill germs in the stomach).
- Trucha (trout).
- Menestra (grilled piece of meat with lentils, rice and small, mashed fried banana pancakes).
- Churrasco (large portion of white-peeled rice under a piece of meat with two fried eggs on top, French fries, fried onion rings, vegetable salad).
Particularly scenic
- Cotopaxi Volcano.
- Lagoon Quilatoa.
- Ecador rainforest.
- Cajas National Park near Cuenca.
- Mountains, waterfalls and hot springs at Baños.
- Fantastically beautiful beaches.
