Ecuador Info - Facts
Ecuador Facts
NAME
Republica del Ecuador (Republic of Ecuador)
LOCATION
Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean on the west, Columbia on the North and Peru on the South and the East. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 600 miles west of the mainland.
TIME ZONE
GMT/UTC -5 in Continental Ecuador. GMT/UTC -6 in Galapagos.
AREA
283,520 sq km
POPULATION
12.5 million inhabitants
PEOPLE
40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
GOVERNMENT
Republic. President elected for a 4-year period.
President Mr. Alfredo Palacio (got to the power on 2005)
GDP
US$ 41.7 billion
GDP PER CAPITA
US$ 3,100
INFLATION
8.2%
CURRENCY & EXCHANGE RATE
Ecuador uses the U.S dollar since january 2001
There are coin denominations, made in Ecuador (ecuadorian dollars) which are mixed with the original U.S coins.
Travellers checks are accepted in hotels. They are a safe way to transport your money. You can also use your credit card for payments in restaurants and attractions, but always take with you some cash specially in the little villeages.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language of the Republic of Ecuador. Even though other languages and dialects are spoken by the different ethnic groups in Ecuador. Among these languages, quechua is the most spoken, it is spoken in the towns of the rocky mountain range and jungle where there is two dialects, quechua of napo and the pastaza quechua. Several small lowland groups speak their own languages. English is understood in the best hotels and in airline offices and travel agencies, but it's of little use elsewhere.
RELIGION
Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations. Indigenous Ecuadorians, however, have blended Catholicism and their traditional beliefs.
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
Ecuador is divided in four regions:
The Coastal Area (Litoral)
The Andean Highlands (Sierra)
The Amazon (Oriente)
The Galapagos Islands.
The western coastal lowlands are today blanketed by banana, palm and cacao farms, and shrimp breeding. The coast offers wonderful beaches like Los Frailes, Salinas.
The Andean highlands - are composed of two volcanic ranges separated by a central valley in which the majority of the population lives. The highlands also contain the nation's highest mountain, Chimborazo, whose 6310 meter peak stands out and is, thanks to Earth's equatorial bulge, as the farthest point from the center of the planet.
The Amazon Basin lowlands east of the Andes are an almost impenetrable tangle of rainforest known to Ecuadorians as the Oriente, that means, the east. Although the Amazon itself does not flow through Ecuador, all rivers east of the Andes eventually empty into it.
The world famous Galápagos Islands. On these islands are Ecuador's first national park located and are celebrated for their unique and fearless wildlife.
MAJOR CITIES:
Quito, approx. 1.5 million inhabitants. Quito is the political capital while Guayaquil is the commercial center and the biggest city, with 2 million inhabitants.
Cuenca
AIRPORTS:
International flights arrive to Quito’s “Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre” or Guayaquil’s “Simon Bolivar” Airports.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber.
MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS
US, Latin America, EU, Asia, Caribbean
MAIN CITIES ALTITUDES
• Quito 2850 m
• Guayaquil 5 m
• Cuenca 2530 m
• Esmeraldas 5 m
WEATHER
Quito and the highlands are comfortable year-round, with temperatures usually in the 60s farenheit, during the day and occasional light showers. The Amazon regions are hot, humid, and wet year-round with a slightly wetter season from April to June. Even the rains can be a refreshing break from the heat and humidity so any time of year can be a fine choice.
In terms of the weather, El Niño hits hard about one winter every decade, playing havoc with road and rail connections and making communication spotty in some outlying areas. If you're visiting the Galápagos, you'll find the warm rainy season from January to April is the best time for snorkeling; the rest of the year the water is cooler, typically around 20°C ( 68°F).
The mainland coast has similar weather patterns, and its beaches fill up from January to May during coastal Ecuador's school holidays. June through August are the months when most visitors and vacationers descend, though the weather's generally gone chilly by then.
The mainland coastal areas and the Galápagos Islands are influenced by ocean currents and are hot and rainy between January and April and cool and dryer the rest of the year.
In the highlands, the dry season is between June and September and around Christmas, but even the mountains' wet season isn't particularly wet and the dry season sees its share of downpours. The central valley is generally spring like year round, with mild temperatures around 24°C ( 66°F). The dry season coincides with the wettest months in the Oriente.
Trekking in the Oriente is best done in the dry season, from late August through February. As for crowds and costs, the high season both on the mainland and in the Galápagos tends to be mid-December through January and June to August, when most of the vacationing foreign visitors arrive.
The Oriente (Amazon) experiences... you guessed it, rain, heat and more rain and heat! The average daytime temperature is 30-32º C (85-90º F), while nights can cool down to 20º C (68º F). The least rainy period tends to be January to May. June, July, and August are the wettest (still considered a prime time to visit the Amazon because of increased animal activity), and September through December are completely unpredictable! Our advice, expect rain and heat year round!
Due to the geographic division the climate differs considerably in each region. In the coast, the rain season starts in June and ends in November, while on the rocky mountain range starts in December and ends in May. The situation is different in the orient, where the rain precipitation's are frequent during the entire year.
Travelers can visit Ecuador year-round; certain areas are better at certain times of the year, but there are no absolutes.
CLOTHING
In the Andean Region you will need summer clothing from may to august. For the rest of the year armer clothes are recommended.
In the Coast and in the Amazon Region it’s tropical all year round.
BEST TIME TO GO
Travelers can visit Ecuador any time of year.
Because Ecuador is located on the Equator, there is little seasonal variability. Ecuadorians will often tell you that you can expect four seasons in one day. Although there is a slightly wetter and slightly drier season, these variations are unpredictable and the months vary depending upon where in Ecuador you are.
School holidays are particularly popular so travelers should plan ahead (ideally 6-9 months in advance) for these timesuador year-round; certain areas are better at certain times of the year, but there are no absolutes.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Phone calls, fax and internet are very easy to find in all major cities and touristic areas, you will find internet caffees which offer the net2phone option for cheaper price. Also the Andinanet “Cabinas Telefonicas” offer good rates for calling abroad. They also offer fax service.
ELECTRICITY
120V ,60Hz
DIALLING CODE
593
WEIGHTS & MEASURES SYSTEM
Metric
CREDIT CARDS
In Ecuador you can make use of all the major international credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express, Dinners Club. There are ATM’s in all the most principal cities.
FOOD
Ecuadorian food consists mainly of soup and stews, corn pancakes, rice, eggs and vegetables. Seafood is excellent, even in the highlands. Local specialties include ceviche, seafood prepared in lemon juice; lechón, suckling pig; and cuy, whole roasted guinea pig—however, some delicacies may only be for the most adventurous stomachs!
Popular Ecuadorian staples include meat, potatoes, corn, seafood, and rice. Soups and stews are served as a main dish or appetizer. Ceviche, a local favorite, is a cold seafood soup soaked in lemon juice. Roast pork, fried corn or potato pancakes, and grilled steak are also common. Vegetarians can find plenty to eat, but will generally have less variety to choose from than meat eaters.
VACCINS
Please check with your personal doctor for advise of any medication you should take before travelling. For the coast and Amazon Region a malaria vaccin may be reccommendable.
TIPPING
Tipping in Ecuador is not a rule, but for tourism services people working as bellboys, guides and drivers expect to have your appreciations about his job through a tip. No percentage estimated.
VISAS
Citizens of most countries can stay a maximum of 90 days per annum without needing a visa. This visa can be renewed for the same period of time upon request. Tourist should always take their passports or a copy of it since controls are carried out regularly.
Please check with your local Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate or contact us to check it for you.
NATIONAL PARK FEES
They depend, and they go from $1 to $25.
Galapagos fee are: $100 for adults,
TRANSPORTATION:
Local planes, bus, taxi, train.
DEPARTURE TAX
$25.00 to be paid at the airport in cash, info updated by 01 july 2005. Subject to change due to Government Regulations
EVENTS CALENDAR
Being a Roman Catholic country, many of the country's festivals are oriented to the liturgical calendar and are celebrated with a combination of great pageantry and elements of traditional Indian fiestas. Rural areas in particular lend a real party atmosphere to their celebrations. Shops, offices and services are closed during holidays and festivals, and accommodation and transportation options are often packed, so book well in advance. Below a list of the most important holidays in Ecuador:
January 1
New Year's Day
January 6
Three Kings Day (a.k.a. Epiphany)
March and/or April
Carnival
Celebrated just before Lent; Carnival is the ultimate party in the Catholic nations of Latin American. While not as extravagant in Ecuador as in other Latin American countries, celebrations here include water fights and lavish parades. In Ecuador, Carnival can best be enjoyed from Ambato, where the famous fruit and flower parade takes place, or, due to the water fights, from any place warm. Although the dates change annually according to the religious calendar, Carnival is always celebrated as an extended weekend prior to Ash Wednesday.
Easter and Holy Week
Religious processions and an endless supply of fanesca (a delicious, typical stew eaten throughout the week) mark Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. While Holy Saturday is technically the only official holiday during which stores ought to be closed, which businesses are open for much of this week depends on the individual merchant. Please be advised that beaches can get packed during Holy Week.
May 1
Labor Day
May 24
Battle of Pichincha
Military and civilian parades show the nation's pride of the day in 1822 when the country's most important battle in the war for independence from Spain was fought.
July 24
Simón Bolívar's Birthday
A nationwide celebration of the birthday of South America's greatest liberator.
August 10
Ecuador Independence Day
October 9
Guayaquil Independence Day
Once again, Guayaquil combines holidays (Independence Day and Columbus Day) to ensure a multi-day festival.
October 12
Columbus Day
Also known as "Día de la Raza" (Day of the Race), Columbus Day celebrates the day in 1492 on which Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón) first set foot on American soil in what is now known as the Dominican Republic.
November 1
All Saints' Day
November 2
All Soul's Day "Day of the Dead"
All Soul's Day is a day during which specially indigenous families visit cemeteries to dance, drink, eat, and leave flowers and other offerings for deceased friends and relatives in a convivial ceremony designed to celebrate the lives of those who have past on.
November 3
Cuenca Independence Day
The culmination of three days of festivities, this is the final day of Cuenca's biggest annual celebration.
December 24
Christmas Eve
December 25
Christmas Day
December 28-31
Year's End Celebrations
Starting with the Day of the Innocents, the entire nation symbolically prepares to enter a new year by burning human figurines in the streets as Quiteños end a nearly month-long party.
Indigenous Markets in Ecuador
Indigous markets are an excitement to visit. At these colorful markets there is the opportunity to buy or just admire the beautiful Ecuadorian handcrafts. Products range from the traditional folklore pieces to fine paintings. Thousands of local artists come to these markets to share their products with the international visitors. Below there is a schedule with the more known markets.
Sunday : Otavalo, Sto. Domingo and Park El Ejido in Quito
Tuesday: Latacunga, Otavalo
Wednesday: Pujili, Otavalo
Thursday: Saquisili, Otavalo
Saturday: Otavalo, Latacunga, Zumbahua, and Park El Ejido in Quito
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