Population: 12, 013, 000

Area: 109,488 square miles

Language: Spanish

Time: Same time as New York

Electricity: 110 volts AC / 60 Hz.

Geography: The country sits on the Equator and borders only Colombia and Peru. The Andes (the highlands) divide the country into the lowlands of the west and the Amazon Basin to the east which is also known as the "Oriente." In addition to the South American continental landmass, Ecuador owns the Galapagos Islands which also lie on the Equator about 650 miles to the west.

International Airports

Quito - (UIO) - The airport is 7 miles from the downtown. Both taxi and the frequent bus service are very inexpensive. Make sure with the taxi driver that the rate is clearly understood. Transit time is usually 15-20 minutes.

Guayaquil - (GYE) - The airport is 3 miles from downtown. Bus and taxi service is quite good. Note: there is a US$25 departure fee.

Tipping: Tipping is not usually expected except that all Americans do it. In upscale restaurants the 10% tip is included in the bill while in smaller ones no tip is expected at all. Do leave one if you can or at least small change. Tour guides should get about $2 per day. Porters about 50 cents a bag. Taxi drivers should get small change.

Shopping: Many shops are open by 9 am and close at around 6 pm. Many shops will close during the siesta time. Stores will close by 1:30 pm on Saturdays. No stores are open on Sundays. Woolen goods are usually quite good quality and priced well also. Weavings are also good. Leather goods tends to be well made but hard to find. Be careful if you are getting embroidery and clothing from anyone other than a large store. Colors will tend to quickly fade and clothing shrink when washed.

Food and Drink: Something called "Churrasco" is a good meal which consists of beef (usually fried) a couple of fried eggs, boiled beef strips, fried potatoes, tomatoes and possibly some avocado and, of course, rice. "Panadillas" are popular. These are mixed grills with various meats in addition to blood sausage, tripe and liver. This is all served on a grill at the table. It is usually more than enough food. Fish is good here - even in the Oriente. Vegetarian, Chinese and other international restaurants do exist here with the Chines being the most prolific and least expensive. Do not be too eager to trust the purity of the ice. Never take water from the tap. Always get bottled water. Soft drinks are plentiful but deposits on the bottles are very high - often more than the price of the drink. When getting fruit drinks be sure that they are not mixed with water. Hot chocolate is readily available, so is black tea with lemon. Coffee is not very good and frequently tastes like it been diluted. In upscale restaurants, this is not usually the case. Beer is plentiful and very good. Local wines and rum are both inexpensive and good. All imported alcohol is expensive.

Social: The population is of varied background with 40% mestizos (white + Amerindian), 40% Amerindian, 15% whites and the remainder from other races. The literacy rate is about 90% (slightly less for women). Ecuadorians are approachable and will assist if they understand you. English is not widely understood outside the hotels and travel services industry.

Banking: Banks are open from 9 am to 1:30 pm weekdays only.

Currency: The Sucre (S/)

Money Exchange: In the cities of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuence it is not difficult to change money. Travelers checks are usually fairly easy to exchange. Passport identification is compulsory. In the Oriente, exchange is very difficult, so it is best to exchange sufficient funds before going there. ATMs are in use in the main cities and nowhere else. Beware of Black Market exchanges (on the street) as there is frequent short changing and counterfeit money is frequently passed.

Credit cards: Master Card, Visa, American Express and Diners Club.

Climate

Due to its position on the equator, Ecuador has only two seasons which are simply wet or dry. The highlands area has its dry season from June to September and another one in late December into early January. All other times are wet even though it does not rain daily. Temperatures during the day hours in the highlands average about 72F and at night drop to 55F. In the Oriente it seems that it rains all the time particularly in June through August. September to December are the driest months. In the coastal areas and the Galapagos the temperature stays usually around the 86F mark and is almost always humid with its rainy season January to April. Downpours are genuine inundations and tend to effect the life in adverse ways. From May to December the temperatures are somewhat lower with occasional rain.