Ecuador is a small county in South America, crossed by the Equatorial line from where it get’s its name, also known as the country in the middle of the world and it lies over both, the North and South hemispheres. The country boards north with Colombia and East and South with Peru; there are two official languages: Spanish and Quechua, although Spanish is predominant among the population.
With only 256,270 km2, it is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world, this measured by density per square meter. The country has four natural regions that offer a completely different scenario of landscapes, food, weather and even local customs. The official currency is the American Dollar.
Highlands
The Andean Mountain Range goes right through Ecuador from North to South and its home of an amazing number of high peaks covered with snow and terrific glaciers. Among the wonders of the Andean Range the Chimborazo with 6,310m stands out as the highest mountain in the country and the Cotopaxi with 5897m is considered the highest active volcano in the world. All the mayor rivers in the country such as the Guayas and Napo are born from these mountains.
Rainforest
There are two main mountain zones; one at the east and the other up north close to the Sumaco volcano. This region is of amazing beauty where exuberant vegetation common in humid tropical forests extends all around. The jungle landscapes are filled with gigantic trees, some even higher than 45 meters long; here you will find tropical flora like cinnamon, the silk tree and the green ebony. During hot season the temperature will go as high as 36 ºC.
Pacific Coast
Renowned by its fertile prairies, its hills sown with delicate coffee, cocoa, and sugarcane plantations, the Ecuadorian Pacific Coastline gives birth to beaches in Esmeraldas, Manabí and the Guayas province from where you can observe the humpback whales swim across the waters. Temperature reaches 23 ºC.
The Galapagos Islands
Volcanic in nature, the Galapagos archipelago is located at about 1.000 kms east of the Ecuadorian coasts and it was declared as a “Human Heritage” by the UNESCO. It is composed of 13 main islands, 6 smaller ones and over 40 islets and it is characterized by its abundant flora, fauna, orography and comforting weather. It goes without saying that the Galapagos Islands is a “must” travel destination for the birdwatchers, explorers and nature lovers that enjoy being in contact with endemic animals and exotic plants.
Without a doubt, Ecuador is a destination designed for travelers; its spectacular landscapes, its rich cultural contrast, the geographical diversity, the high hotelier infrastructure and the fact that in matter of hours you can go from the rainforest to the coast and back to the highlands makes it a place to remember… a country worth discovering. We invite you to visit us, get to know our people, our customs and enjoy our tours.
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