Ecuador – country information

Country name	Ecuador
Official name	Republic of Ecuador
Capital	Quito
Continent	South America
Area	283,561 km2
Population	15,699,200 (2014)
Foundation of a state	5/24/1822
The highest mountains	Chimborazo 6,310 m
Longest rivers	After 1100 km
State system	a pluralistic presidential republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Guayaquil 1,720,000, Quito (capital city)
Official language	Spanish
Ethnicity/National Composition	Quechua Indians 50%, mestizos 40%, whites 8.5%, other Indians 1.5%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholics 93.5%, others 6.5%
Currency	1 Sucre (S/.) = 100 centavos
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$10,215 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	76.42 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 17%, mining 12%, industry 17%, construction 3%, services 51%

Ecuador – neighboring states

State	Capital	Area	Population
Colombia	Bogota	1,138,910 km2	47,506,000
Peru	Lima	1,285,220 km2	30,475,144

Country overview

Ecuador, as its name suggests, lies in the equatorial region on the west coast of South America, between Colombia to the north and Peru to the south and east. It also includes the Galapagos Islands, about 1,000 km to the west in the Pacific Ocean.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Ecuador is a country in the northwest of South America. From Spanish Ecuador is translated as “equator”. Common borders in the north – with Colombia, in the east and south – with Peru.

The capital is Quito. The official language is Spanish. Currency – Ecuadorian sucre.

The climate is hot. Temperature +26*С. One season of the year – summer!
The Galapagos Islands (5 of which are inhabited) are part of Ecuador.

A visa for less than 90 days is not required.

Resorts and attractions of Ecuador

Quito (a city lying at an altitude of 2700 m above sea level is surrounded on all sides by mountains, Quito airport is located in the city center, very difficult landing conditions).
Papayakta (hot spring village).
Baños (famous resort town on a volcano with hot springs).

Galapagos Islands – Turtle Islands. In the past, pirates stocked up on turtles from these islands for food. The male tortoise Lonesome George, whose age is 300 years old, is known all over the world.

Cruises are the most common form of recreation in the Galapagos. Diving offers more than a hundred yachts and boats floating in the ocean. Such cruises are very popular and it is best to book them in advance on the websites of Ecuadorian travel agencies.

The beaches of Puerto Ayora – one in the village itself on the territory of the Charles Darwin station, the second is called “Tortuga Bay” and is located near the village (50 min. walk).

Interesting facts

The name of the country was given by the equator, crossing it 25 kilometers north of the capital Quito.

Ecuadorian cuisine has inherited the traditions of the Indian peoples.

The main Ecuadorian holiday is carnival. Five days in the second week of February, the country does not work. Everyone is armed with pistols and special machines for splashing water or whipped cream. Ecuadorians douse everyone, hunt each other and tourists. It is considered a special achievement to throw a water balloon through the window of a passing car.

The main natural resources of Ecuador include oil and bananas, the trade of which brings the country the greatest profits. A significant place in the local economy is also occupied by forests, cocoa, coffee, and fruits.

Country data

Location: Western South America

Time zone: CET – 6 (during summer time: CET – 7)

Total area: 283,561 km²

Land area: 276,841 km²

Water area: 6,720 km²

Length of the state border: 2,237 km

Bordering countries are accounted for:
Colombia: 708 km
Peru: 1,529 km

Coastline: 2,237 km

Capital: Quito

Provinces: 24
Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Electric current: 110 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 593 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Population

Population: approx. 15.7 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.4% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 55

Life expectancy: 73 (male), 79 (female)

Official language: Spanish

Religions:

• 95% Roman Catholic
• 5% other

Climate

The climate along the coast is tropical and warm. The first half of the year is the rainy season, with an average temperature of 27 ° C. The humidity is very high.

In contrast, the climate is more pleasant in the second half of the year. It then only rains very rarely and the humidity is also much lower. With daytime temperatures of 20-25 ° C, it is still not too cold.

In the highlands of the Andes (over 2,000 meters), the temperature is subject to only minor fluctuations over the year. However, it can come to strong temperature differences several times a day.

Most of the rain falls in the months from December to May.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: US dollar (USD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: Available in the major cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 300 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

There are special rules and restrictions on export for various antiques and souvenirs.

Travel advice

An increase in Zika virus infections is currently being observed in the region. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

The Federal Foreign Office recommends that pregnant women refrain from avoidable trips to ZIKA virus outbreak areas, as the risk of early childhood malformations if the woman is infected cannot currently be ruled out.

The areas in the north of the country should not be visited as there is often activity by armed groups. Kidnappings, robberies and thefts are commonplace. The police and other government agencies provide very limited assistance.

Violent crime is also very high in the country’s larger cities. Theft and armed robbery have increased particularly in recent months.

Tip:
Always carry 2 purses with you. In the first one (which you carry well hidden) you keep your money for the day. The second should contain a few small bills and coins. So you can give out the second wallet in the event of a robbery and satisfy the perpetrator with it without losing all of your money.

Behavioral advice

You should have certified copies of your identification papers with you and keep them in a safe place separate from the other papers.

Some of the tap water is of poor quality and should therefore be boiled before use. Only use bottled water for drinking.

Economy

In agriculture, many different products are grown for personal use and for export. These include bananas, coffee, potatoes, cassava, corn and sugar cane, among others.

The best-known export product of Ecuador are crabs, which are raised in huge breeding farms. Thanks to the strong government support in this area, Ecuador has become the world’s largest shrimp exporter.

Industries: chemistry, fishing, wood processing, agriculture, food production, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: oil, fish, wood, water power

Land use:

• Usable land: 6%
• Grain cultivation: 5%
• Pasture area: 18%
• Forests: 56%
• other: 15%

Plants

In order to create arable land for agriculture, huge areas of the former rainforest have been and are being cleared.

Of the formerly over 80% forested area, more than a quarter has already been cleared.

Animals

Hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds live in the forests of Ecuador.

The animal life on the Galapagos Island is particularly rich in species. Many giant tortoises and rare bird species live here.