Ecuador Travel Overview
Important facts
Capital: Quito (See more on SIMPLYYELLOWPAGES.COM)
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Dollar 1USD = 0.91EUR
Continent: South-South America
From the Pacific coast to the Andean highlands
Ecuador has many relics of the Inca Empire that await travelers interested in culture.
According to Countryaah, Ecuador is a state in the Andes in South America, with borders with Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean.
Travel time
The best travel time for the jungle region and the Andean highlands is the same in Ecuador as in Bolivia. If you want to vacation on the Pacific coast, the best time is from December to June. However, the water is very cold due to the Humboldt Current.
landmarks
What is the difference between Ecuador and Bolivia? Apart from more Incan ruins, the Galapagos Islands are the national territory of Ecuador. They are located about 1000 kilometers off the coast. You can reach the islands by plane or cruise. You can book both on the coast. Places that are interesting for booking a cruise: Baltra, Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal)
Important facts
Capital: Quito
Official language: Spanish
Currency
Currency (sub-unit)
Dollars (100 cents)
ISO 4217 code
USD / 840
Geography
Continent: South America
Region: south
Geo coordinates: S -1 ° -49 ‘-52.5 ” W -78 ° -11’ -0.3″
Highest mountain: Chimborazo (6,267 m)
Total area: 283,560 km²
Mainland: 276,840 km²
National border: 2,010 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Politics
Dependency: Spain until 1822
UN member since: 1945
Other political affiliation: Organization of American States
Form of government: Parliamentary republic
Houses of Parliament: unikameral
Party system: Multi-party system
State building: central
Political culture: Subject culture
Particularities: Compulsory elective for alphabets between 18 + 65 years
Economy
Export goods: Bananas, coffee, cocoa
BSP: $ 35,662,000,000
GDP: $ 37,628,000,000
GDP purchasing power parity: $ 61,200,000,000
Economic growth: 4.3%
GDP share of agriculture: 7%
GDP share of industry: 32.4%
GDP share of services: 60.6%
Inflation rate: 2%
Unemployment: 10.2%
State budget revenue: $ 4294967295
State budget expenditure: $ 4294967295
National debt: 38.4%
Export: $ 10,883,000,000
Import: $ 9,862,000,000
Foreign debt: $ 19,230,000,000
Gold and currency reserves: $ 2,543,000,000
Electricity consumption: 11,370 million KWh
Gas reserves: 9,789 million m³
Gas production: 40 million m³
Gas consumption: 42 million m³
Oil reserves: 4,512 million m³
Oil production: 509,000 million m³
Oil consumption: 160,000 million m³
Cultivation area: 10.48%
Bovine: 4,470,000 pieces
Pigs: 3,211,000 pieces
Fishing: 697,400 t
Demographic data
Residents: 13,547,500
Residents in cities: 8,281,000
Minorities: About 20% indigenous and 5% African American
Average age: 23.6 years
0-14 years: 33%
15-64 years: 61.9%
> 65 years: 5.1%
Population growth: 1.5%
Birth rate: 22.67 / 1,000 residents
Death rate: 4.23 / 1,000 residents
Migration: -3.11 / 1,000 residents
Ratio men / women: 1
Fertility: 2.68 children / woman
Infant mortality: 22.87 ‰
Life expectancy men: 73.55 years
Life expectancy women: 79.43 years
Country codes and abbreviations
ISO 3166 Alpha 2: EC
ISO 3166 Alpha 3: ECU
ISO 3166 numeric: 218
Top Level Domain: ec
IOC country code: ECU
UN / LOCODE: EC
Source: Abbreviationfinder
Communication
Telephone connections: 1,946,000
Cell Phones: 2,637,000
Radios: 5,840,000
TV: 3,561,000
Computer: 887,000
Internet users: 1,060,000
Transportation
Railway lines: 966 km
Paved roads: 7,958 km
Cars: 405,000
Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 31
Pipelines: 3,346
Health
Number of doctors: 19,080
Daily food intake: 2,460 kcal / resident
HIV- infected people: 23,000
Education
Illiteracy: 7%
History
Foundation: 1822
Last sovereign since: 1822
Religion
Main religious group: Christians
Distribution of religions: 94% Roman Catholic
Crime
Prison inmates: 13,400
Military
Armed forces (troop strength): 60,000
Defense Spending: $ 650,000,000
GETTING THERE
Arriving by plane
TAME (EQ) (Internet: www.tame.com, ec) is Ecuador’s national airline.
LAN (LA) flies from Frankfurt to Madrid. From Madrid, LAN offers connecting flights to Guayaquil and Quito. Lufthansa (LH) offers feeder flights from all cities in Germany and from Austria to LAN long-haul flights. Swiss International (LX) serves as a feeder from Switzerland. Ibera (IB) can also be used as a feeder to Madrid from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Iberia (IB) flies non-stop from Madrid to Quito.
Air France (AF) ua offer connections to Quito.
Air passes
The Oneworld Visit South America Pass is valid on routes operated by the participating airlines Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), Iberia (IB), LAN (LA) and Qantas (QF)within South America in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Applicable only to passengers residing outside of South America. Valid for a maximum of 6 months from arrival in South America. The Airpass contains a minimum of 3 coupons, a maximum of 20. One coupon is required for each section of the route. The stopovers are limited to the number of coupons purchased. Children from 2 years of age: no discount. Infants under 2 years of age are free (no seat occupancy). The reservation of the entire route must be made before departure or the ticket is issued. A fee will be charged for each route change or change in the flight date. Cancellation fees apply (no reimbursement after departure). Purchase of tickets / issue before departure in Germany.
Departure fee
US $ 25. Transit travelers are excluded.
Arrival by car
The Panamericana runs south from the Colombian border at Rumichaca via Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca and Loja to Macará near the Peruvian border. Part of the route is subject to a toll.
Long-distance bus: U. a. Rutas de America ( Tel: (02) 254 81 42. Internet: http://www.rutasenbus.com/) offers direct connections to Venezuela, Colombia and Perú as well as connections to Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Arrival by ship
Guayaquil (Internet: www.puertodeguayaquil.com) is the most important passenger and cargo port next to Esmeraldas, Manta and Puerto Bolívar. Regular passenger / cargo connections from Europe via Chile, which travel from Rotterdam, La Rochelle, Hamburg or Le Havre for 20 to 22 days.
ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
Ecuador’s national airline TAME (EQ) operates regularly between Guayaquil and Quito. There is also a connection between Quito and Tena.
The airline LAN Perú (LP) offers domestic flights from the capital Quito as well as from Guayaquil to Galápagos, from Quito to Guayaquil and from Quito and Guayaquil to Cuenca, the capital of the Azuay province.
LAN Ecuador (XL) has daily direct flights from Guayaquil to Quito. Several smaller airlines fly to the coast and the eastern part of the country; the airplane is a common means of transport in domestic traffic.
LAN Airlines (LA) connects Quito with Manta.
Galápagos Islands: There are daily flights to the Galápagos Islands from Quito and Guayaquil. Foreign visitors pay a higher price for plane tickets. Baltra Island has an airport.
Flight times
from Quito to the following major cities (approximate hours and minutes):
plane | train | Bus / car | |
Guayaquil | 0.50 | 7:00 | 7:00 |
Cuenca | 1.30 | – | 9.30 |
Ambato | – | – | 2.30 |
Riobamba | – | 3.00 | 3.30 |
Esmeraldas | 1.00 | – | 7:00 |
Puerto Ayora | 2.30 | – | – |
Departure fee
Airport fee: 12% of the ticket price, already included in the ticket
On the way by car / bus
The road network is extensive, but the driving conditions vary considerably. Some roads are being renovated, but many roads have large potholes and cracks due to earthquakes and floods (in the south). The roads between Quito and Guayaquil and between Quito and Latacunga, Ambato and Riobamba are completely asphalted. Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcan on the Colombian border are connected by a road.
Long-distance bus:Bus connections are good and mostly faster than in the other Andean countries, as more asphalt roads are available. Reservations are required on the routes between Quito and Guayaquil and from Quito to the other major cities in the highlands. Intercity buses from Quito leave from the bus stations Quitumbe in the south and Carcelén in the north of the city.
Rental cars: International rental companies are represented.
Documentation: international driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
In Quito and Guayaquil there are regular buses and minibuses with flat fares. Taxis are mainly found in larger cities. Fares are generally cheap, but the fare should be agreed in advance. In Quito, taxis are metered.
On the go by train
One of the train connections of the national railway company Ferrocarriles del Ecuador (Internet: www.ferrocarrilesdelecuador.gob.ec) is the route from Alausi to Sibambe, known as the Devil’s Nose (Nariz del Diablo). The train travels on a spectacular route through the mountains. Due to weather-related or technical difficulties, you should find out exactly whether the train is running before you start your journey. There are other connections with trains and rail buses between Riobamba and Urbina or Colta, between El Tambo and Baños del Inca, as well as between Ibarra and Salinas and on small routes from San Lorenzo. There are also trains from Durán near Guayaquil to Yaguachi and Bucay.
The historic Tren Crucero train (Internet: www.trenecuador.com) connects Quito via Alausí with Guayaquil (journey time: 4 days).
On the way by ship
The rocky coast makes coastal shipping quite slow and sometimes even dangerous. There are several navigable rivers in the Amazon. There are only a few roads in the Oriente jungle and in the northern coastal region, and the dugout canoe (up to 25 passengers) is often the only means of transport. There are hardly any passenger ships that operate between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands; However, within the group there are numerous tourist boats, mail boats and rental yachts.