Ecuador Travel Overview

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

Ecuador GDP - gross domestic product

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.