Introducation of Ecuador

The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. The country also includes the Galapagos Islands (Archipelago de Colon) in the Pacific, about 965 km (about 600 mi) west of the mainland. Named after the Spanish word for equator, Ecuador straddles the equator and has an area of 272,045 km² (105,037 mi²). Quito is the country’s capital.

Travel to northern border areas with Colombia, particularly Napo, Orellana and Sucumbios provinces, is not recommended. For further advice visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.

Ecuador is bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. There are three distinct zones: the Sierra or uplands of the Andes, the Costa, a coastal plain between the Andes and the Pacific with plantations of bananas, cacao, coffee and sugar; and the Oriente, the upper Amazon basin to the east, consisting of tropical jungles threaded by rivers. Quito, the

capital city, is in a setting of great natural beauty, overshadowed by the volcano Pichincha with its twin peaks of Ruca and Guagua. Guayaquil, Ecuador’s biggest city, is also the chief port and commercial center. The Littoral is a narrow coastal belt, 560km (350 miles) in length. The chief ports provide visitors with some of the best resorts for deep-sea fishing on the west coast. The Oriente is a primeval world of virgin forests and exotic flora and fauna, still inhabited by Indian tribes.

Food specialties include llapingachos (pancakes stuffed with mashed potato and cheese) and the national delicacy of roasted guinea pig. There is little nightlife except in Quito and Guayaquil where there are excellent restaurants and other attractions.