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| Ecuador Information |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
| Ecuador is a multifaceted country, both because of its unique topography and its well-marked natural zones. Here, the visitor can enjoy climate variation, diverse ethnic groups and one of the best concentrations and diversity of vegetation and animal species in the world.
Ecuador is situated in the northwest of South America, on the Pacific Coast. Its surface area is 259,714 km2. The country also has known island territory such as the Galapagos
Islands that cover an area of 8,010 km2; Ecuador shares its borders to the north with Colombia, to the South with Peru and to the West with the Pacific Ocean.
Throrugh the Panama Canal, Ecuador is easily accessible from Europe and Atlantic Coastal countries.
The marvelous counter fort of the Andes traverse the country from the North to the South; like an immense spine that divides Ecuador into three natural regions: the Coast, the Sierra and the Amazon. One thousand kilometers west of the continental territory, in the Pacific Ocean, on both sides of the Equator, one can find the Galapagos
Islands. These islands are officially called the Columbus Archipelago, and are referred to as the "Enchanted Islands" by those who have marveled at their exotic scenery. The flora and fauna of these islands, unique to the whole world, served as a base to Darwin's Theory of Evolution. |
GOVERNMENT |
| The government is civil and democratic, and its sovereignty is carried out through the Constitution by three powers that form the State: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. |
| POPULATION |
| The total population passes 12,000,000 inhabitants, 61% of which live in urban areas and 39% in rural areas. |
| LANGUAGE |
| The official language of Ecuador is Spanish, but the majority of its indigenous cormmunities speak its native language, Quichua, along with other languages that make Ecuador a multilingual country. |
| WEATHER |
| The climate is very varied because of the presence of the Andes Moruntains that divide the country in three cormpletely different natural zones. In the Andean Sierra the temperature fluctuates between 45°F and 75°F; 40°F and 95°F on the Coast; 75°F and 86°F in the Amazon; 72°F and 90°F in the Galapagos
Islands. Ecuador has two marked seasons, the rainy season between December and May and the dry season between June and September.
In Quito, during the 2003 International Expocatalunya, the temperatures oscillated between 46°F and 50°F at night and in the early morning, and 64°F and 72°F during the day. Scattered rain showers. |
| TIME ZONE |
| On the continental territory, the time zone is five hours less than the Meridian in Greenwich, and six hours less in the Galapagos
Islands. |
| CURRENCY |
| The official currency and legal tender in Ecuador is the US DOLLAR. |
| RELIGION |
| Freedom of religion exists, dominated by the Catholic religion. |
| ROUTES, PORTS AND AIRPORTS |
The Pan-American Highway transverses the country from north to South, and from it, one can go to the West and or East by secondary highways. There are two highways and innumerable roads that take you to the most remote parts of the country.
There is an urban transportation system that allows for easy mobilization within each of the cities, and from these cities to the surrounding points of interest.
The train line connects the Sierra to the Coast, with established routes. The Quito - Cotopaxi National Park - Quito, Riobamba - Simbabe - Nariz del Diablo (The Devil's Nose), and Ibarra-San Lorenzo services are appropriate for adventure tourism and enjoying nature.
Various shipping companies facilitate access to the whole world by operating from the principal Ecuadorian ports: Guayaquil, Manta, Port Bolivar and Esmeraldas. In some places on the Coast and in the Amazon tourist river transportation is available. There are also permanent cruise Boats that go to and move within the Galapagos
Islands.
Ecuador has two international airports, the "Mariscal Sucre" airport in the capital city of Quito, and the "Simon Bolivar" airport in Guayaquil. This is the principal airport for internal flights that come from different cities like: Latacunga, Manta, Esmeraldas, Machala, Portoviejo, Puyo, Lago Agrio, Tulcan, etc. There are other airports in the Galapagos
Islands on Baltra and San Cristobal Islands.
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| MIGRATION |
| In order to get into Ecuador, all foreigners must have a valid passport. Permission for tourism can be obtained to stay in the country for 90 days when passing through migration control. for other purporses, a visa must be obtained through the Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin. |
| BANKS |
| The Banks are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday; there are 24-hour ATMs that can be accessed by credit cards and international networks. |
| MALLS |
| Large malls are orpen from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. One can pay with these credit cards: American Express, Diners, Mastercard and Visa. |
| COMMUNICATIONS |
| The international Telephone calling code for Ecuador is: 593. Various provinces have particular one-digit codes according to their zone (consult information). The Telephone numbers are composed of six digits. Consequently, for exterior Telephone calls, one should dial: 593+X+XXXXXX or 593+X+2XXXXXX.
The Telephone companies offer various Internet and fax services. Hotels, Internet cafés and other companies provide the Internet as a communication possibility. |
| ELECTRICITY |
| 110/120 Volts. 60 Hz. |
| VIDEO AND TELEVISION SYSTEMS |
| There are different national and local television channels. Cable and satellite television service. The system in use is NTSC-525 lines. for video, the system is also NTSC. |
QUITO |
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The capital, with more than 1,800,000 people, is located at an altitude of 9,200 ft. (2,800 m) above sea level; its average temperature is 63°F. Quito has retained an unaltered identity througout the five hundred years since the Spanish forundation, which makes it deserving of the title "Cultural Patrimony of Humanity." There are two contrasting faces, two personalities, two periords of history that come together in this beautiful city: Quito's downtown, with its colonial art, monuments, power and tradition; and modern Quito, which competes with the most developed cities in America. |
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GUAYAQUIL |
| This is the biggest city and port in the country, with 2,300,000 inhabitants. A large part of the country's commercial and industrial activity is concentrated here, which has converted the city into a great pole of development.The presence of the Guayas River in the city, maintains both a traditional and cosmopolitan image, reflects memories from previous years that are full of legends and traditions. Its oceanic port, located 8 kilometers from the city's downtown, is one of the most modern cities on the Pacific Coast, allowing the large vessels from the whole world to come together easily. |
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| CUENCA |
This is currently the third largest city, with 350,000 inhabitants, and the third developed center in Ecuador. Its industry has grown and widely diversified, from ceramics, leather and preserves to gold crafts and straw hats.
In Cuenca, the second "Cultural Patrimony of Humanity" city is located in the Free Zones of most activity. |
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| MACHALA |
Located 191 kilometers to the south of Guayaquil, Machala is the second most important sea port of the country, dedicated to the exportation of products like: bananas, coffee, cocoa, shrimp, heart of palm and minerals like gold as well. Other important cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants are: Santo Domingo, Ambato, Manta, Esmeraldas, Portoviejo, Quevedo, Riobamba and Loja. |
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TOURISM |
Cultural
The country concentrates great centers of culture and history, that turn it one of their attractive main ones. two cities declared by UNESCO "Humanity Cultural Patrimony": Quito and Cuenca. Historical centers that maintain in the time, their unalterable beauty and tradition.
Guayaquil, "Pacific's pearl", the builder of its own freedom and history.
Guaranda, Tradition by its carnival, and Cultural Patrimony of Ecuador.
Loja, Cradle of music and great religious fervor.
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Riobamba, founded on 1534 and denominated "Ecuadorian Nationality Cradle". Zaruma, and its singular architecture, also declared Cultural Patrimony of Ecuador.
And without number of populations that give off culture everywhere.
Agrotourism
The agro tourism in the coruntry is one of the activities that contributes more in its development. The colonial agricultural farm's integration facilities the host and food services.
Ecuador presents multiples alternatives to develop this new alternative, that in a short time has a great acceptation, Farms that have bananas, cocoa and plantation of coffee trees on the coast. While in the sierra, farms that cultivate cereals, tubercles, and most of the part flowers, that they do not only adorn and make happy. Actually they constitute an exportation product to the entire world.
Ecotourism
Ecuador is a great natural destine, unique for its biordiversity, magic places with legends, where the guides are the own natives.
This tourism way is in the displace through the natural areas to understand the culture and the natural history of the total ambient, with the necessary precautions to do not change the ecosystem integrity, and not even the local culture, generating economic orpportunities the permit the natural areas conservation.
Puyangor, "The Petrified forest", the meeting with prehistorical wonder face to face, which is lorcated between El Oro and Loja provinces.
In the country are 1.640 species of birds (more than the double than in Europe or North America); 4.500 species of butterflies, occupying the sixth place in the world; 345 species of reptiles; 358 species of amphibiorus; 280 species of mammiferorus; 800 and 450 species of water and salt water fish.
Adventure tourism
Ecuador, for its geography position enjoys of all the weather conditions with sun and rain all the year in its four regions, you can have adventure trips discovering all the fantastic and unexplored that nature gives to you.
Expeditions to the mystery amazonic forest, take pictures to the flora and exotic fauna, visiting ethnic communities, travel in canoe for the flow of the rivers, it is an adventure that is doesn't have end.
The trail that goes through the Volcano Avenues, crossing for beautiful sceneries for woods and little town with old railroads stations, the crossing by tunnels and bridges, and the visit to the spectacular denominated site "La Nariz del Diablo (the devil's nose) descending in zigzag, becomes a dream experience.
The ascensions of the exuberant "Andes" with tops for more than 5.000 and 6.000 meters that are covered with snow , and you can climb on the rocks and also in the ice. You can finish with the adventure with rafting, kayak, biking alas delta, or fishing on the rivers that cross the cloudy woods.
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PARADISIACAL BEACHES |
A trip for the Ecuadorian Coast it is a warm experience. The fascinating beaches, for transparent water of the pacific are ideals to enjoy the beautiful tropical sun. from the most solitaries beaches to the funniest hotels centers to the sea border. |
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Watching the manglares or the typical cane houses, while the sunset is hiding little by little is an exceptional show.
The sports practice like the aquatic motorcycling, surf, Hawaiian board and sport fishing will maintain you active. The tranquility of the waters and the calid sand are adorning the big palmers.
Wealth tourism
Talking about the privileged location, with the Andes Mountain Range, blessed with volcanic zones and with the Pacific's Ocean influence, the existence of many thermal pools and cascades with temperatures from 20°C, to 68°C, becormes a fact.
In the province of Loja exist a place called Vilcabamba, which weather, life conditions and the purity of the water have originated a longevity phenomenon.
The chemistry compositions of the waters have an important therapeutic properties, recuperation centers are on the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Azuay, Napo, Guayas and Loja.
The country on the scientific circles is recognized like center of energetic points with great electromagnetic properties that produce phenomenon of fast curative process.
The wealthy amazonic biodiversity has attracted the science, especially in the native medical field, because of it's important curative worth of the vegetables and the ancestral flavours which power is given by Yachac and Shamanes (native doctors) who live all around the country.
Gastronormy
Ecuador is a center productions during the whole year, because of the diversity of weather and zones, exists a lot of vegetables variety, meats, fish and shell-fish, with no distinction of age or period or even season. That permits and extensive and diversify gastronormy which has a mixture in the quality of the products with its elaboration and traditional indigenous, colonial and international recipes.
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