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General Information - About Ecuador
A land of contrasts you will never forget, Ecuador is divided by nature, yet solidly held together by a common cultural heritage. It is a four-in-one deal offering an awesome wealth of cultural and natural diversity; trek through the Andes, swim along a tropical coast, and explore the mysteries of the jungle and the Galapagos Islands, all in one trip!
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Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Map of Ecuador: 183Kb.
Area: 283,520 sq km
Capital city: Quito
(pop: 1.2 million)
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Population: Approximately 12.5
million inhabitants (growth rate: 2.4%). There are more than ten
Indian nationalities, each one with its distinctive language and
customs, making Ecuador a fascinating multicultural land.
People:55% mestizo, 25% Indian, 10% Spanish descent, 10%
African descent.
Language: Spanish is the official
language; Quechua is spoken by a large percentage of the native
people. English, French and German are spoken in hotels, tourist
shops and in major visitor centers.
Religion: Over 90%
Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations.
Government:
Democracy
President: Gustavo Noboa Bejarano
Entry requirements : Ecuador
requires a valid passport. The traveler must also hold proof of
return or onward journey.
Visas: Citizens of virtually all
countries can stay a maximum of 90 days without a visa. Immigration
officials may initially validate a stay of only 30 days in your
passport, but this is easily extended in Quito.
Health: No vaccinations are
required for entry but we recommend to check with your physician
before departure. Additionally, because of the high altitudes in
parts of Ecuador, travelers with heart conditions or high blood
pressure should also consult with their doctors.
Health Risks: Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, and a minor
risk of cholera, rabies and diptheria. Get a yellow-fever
vaccination if you plan to visit the jungles of the Oriente.
Departure tax: There is a 25 US
Dollars departure tax on international flights.
Local Time: Eastern standard on GMT-5. In the Galápagos Islands it is GMT-6.
Money: The national currency is now the American dollar.
Relative costs:
- cheap meal: US$1
- restaurant meal: US$2 -3
- cheap room: US$3
- hotel room: $US8
Banking hours : Monday through Friday. 09H00 to 18H00.
Electricity : 110 volts. 60 cycles (Hertz) AC.Weights &
measures: Metric
Tourism: Estimated 500,000 visitors in 1996
Climate : The weather is stable most
of the year, although somewhat colder in the winter months from
December to April. The weather in the mountains varies from east to
west. The eastern mountains, especially Antisana, El Altar and
Sangay, and to lesser extent Cayambe and Tungurahua are influenced
by air from the Amazonian lowlands. The wettest months are June
through August. December and January are the best for El Altar.
February for climbing Antisana and October-January for Cayambe.
In the western mountains, the dry season is late
June-September, with a short dry spell in December-January. The
wettest months here are February-May. During the dry season
temperatures tend to be very low at night and high winds can be a
problem, particularly in August. The weather in October and November
tends to be variable.
In the Galapagos Islands, in general,
December-June are the warmest mounths, also the most lush and green
at this time. July-November is the coolest time. In the Amazon
region the climate is humid and warm with frequent rains (rain
forest). But remember the only thing predictable about Ecuador's
weather is its unpredictability.
Economic Profile:
- GDP: US$12 billion
- GDP ranking in the world: 71st
- GDP per head: US$1,070
- Annual growth: 3.5%
- Inflation : 25,4%
- Major products/industries: Oil, bananas, shrimp and fish, coffee
- Major trading partners: USA, Germany, Peru
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![Click to Enlarge](javascript:EcuaPhotos("./images/map.gif");)