Ecuador is a small, tranquil Andean national that boasts some of the world’s most unique & spectacular landscape (including active and extinct volcanoes, mountains), colourful flora, endearing fauna and traditional Andean culture.

The rare beauty of Ecuador has attracted a number of important events in the recent past.

LOCATION: Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in America. It lies on both the northern and the southern Hemispheres, and is divided by the Equator, which gave Ecuador its name in the 19th Century. Ecuador borders Colombia (North), Peru (South and East), and the Pacific Ocean (West).

AREA: about 270.670 km2 or 168.186 square miles.

DISTANCE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH: 1.081 km or 672 miles.

POPULATION: approximately 13 million .

LANGUAGE: Spanish. Most of the indigenous population speaks Quichua. In many schools English is the second language taught as the second language. There are 18 different languages among Ecuadorian communities.

COAST REGION: Esmeraldas, Manabí, Los Rios, Guayas, Santa Elena, El Oro.

HIGHLAND REGION: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Bolivar, Chimborazo, Cañar, Azuay and Loja.

JUNGLE REGION: Sucumbíos, Napo, Pastaza, Morona, Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe.

NOTE: The Santa Elena province – previously part of Guayas- and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas province – previously part of Pichincha- have been recently approved as such. They do not appear in our maps of this edition as the official borders have not yet been published.

INSULAR REGION: The Galapagos Islands.

RELIGION: 95% Catholics

CURRENCY: Dollars. The government has produced a series of local coins of 1,5,10,25 and 50 cents that have the same value as the American coins (which are also accepted). Banks open from 9h00 to 17h00 and on Saturdays only half day. Money exchange offered every day in main hotels.

GOVERNMENT: Democratic. Current President is Rafael Correa (2007 – 2011).

CLIMATE: Ecuador is located in the Tropical Zone. The climate throughout the country ranges from tropical equatorial rain in the Amazon to perpetual snow on the top of the mountains. Cities in the highlands have temperatures that vary from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while coastal cities’ temperatures vary from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The wather in the jungle is constant: rainy, humid and warm. The Galapagos Islands are always sunny and warm, however, temperature drops a bit during the months of June to November.

WHAT TO WEAR:

• In Quito and highlands: wear spring attire during June, July and August. During the rest of the months, bring warmer clothing like those you would wear during the fall. A raincoat or jacket would be useful at night since it gets pretty chilly.
• Guayaquil and other coastal cities: wear summer clothing all year round. During the rainy months, December to May, the weather is still very warm. During the months of June to November the weather is cloudy and a little bit colder. Bring along a light jacket.
• Galapagos: wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothing. Shorts, t-shirts and summer clothing will be just fine. Don’t forget a hat, a camera, sun block, and a bathing suit. During the months of June to November the weather is cloudy and a bit colder. Bring along a light jacket.
• Amazon or Jungle: wear clothing adequate for a rain. If you can get yourself a raincoat (poncho), take it with you, as well as several sets of light pants and long sleeve shirts. Shorts are less useful because of the insects and abundant vegetation you will walk through on your excursions. A hat, rubber boots and insect repellents are also a must. If you plan to take pictures, you will need high-speed film.

AIRPORT TAX: $26 for anyone leaving the country from Guayaquil, and $40.80 from Quito

Tourist Visa: Visitors can stay up to 90 days without a tourist visa.

Taxi rates: approximately $3 to $6 dollars per ride from the airport to the city. These rates vary among the main cities.

Transportation: Main cities (Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca) have local airports serviced by the local airlines Tame, Aerogal and Icaro, besides international airlines. Bus lines offer Land transportation where you can just jump on the next bus leaving to your destination. Each city has its own terminal, with frequent departure to each one of the different provinces of our country.

Office of Tourism Public Prosecutor: The highest duty of the Ecuadorian Republic is to respect and support human and personal rights; they offer judicial safety to tourists who visit the country. It is cost free. Hours of operation: Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am to 12:00pm and from 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Our school in Quito is the ideal base from which to discovery the numerous unique and beautiful tourist attractions that Ecuador has to offer. What better way than to practice your Spanish than while enjoying the wonderful sights, sounds and flavours of this tranquil Andean nation!

Our students and clients come from all over the globe and all walks of life, including young student packbackers to older professionals looking to improve to career potentials.