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COUNTRY INFORMATION - ECUADOR

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Location Of Ecuador
Ecuador is bordered to the north by Colombia, to the east and south by Peru, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. There are three distinct zones: the Sierra or uplands of the Andes, running from the Colombian border in the north to Peru in the south, of which there are two main ranges, the Eastern and Western Cordilleras; 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. The latter, although comprising 36 per cent of Ecuador’s land area, contains only 3 per cent of the population. Colonisation is, however, increasing in the wake of the oil boom.

Airports
Quito airport is 5 miles from the city centre. A bus service operates frequently, 1100-0300 and the travel time takes around 20–30 minutes. Return is from Avenida 10 de Agosto. Taxis are also available.
Guayaquil airport is 3 miles from the city. There are bus and taxi services into the city.

Language
Spanish is the official language but Quechua and other indigenous languages are common. Some English is spoken.

Places To Go
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 centre. The Littoral is a narrow coastal belt, 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 specialities 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.

Travel Warning
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.

Ministerio de Turismo (Ministry of Tourism)
Avenida Eloy Alfaro N32-300 y Carlos Tobar,
Quito,
Ecuador
Tel: (2) 250 7559.
Fax: (2) 220 7565.
E-mail: promocion@turismo.gov.ec
Website: www.vivecuador.com

Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador
Flat 3B,
3 Hans Crescent,
London
SW1X 0LS,
UK
Tel: (020) 7584 1367.
Fax: (020) 7823 9701.
E-mail: embajada.ecuador@btclick.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.

British Embassy
Piso 14,
Edificio Citiplaza,
Avenida Naciones Unidas y República de El Salvador,
Quito,
Ecuador
Postal address:
PO Box 17-17-830,
Quito,
Ecuador
Consular Section:
Piso 12,
Edificio Citiplaza,
Avenida Naciones Unidas y República de El Salvador,
Quito,
Ecuador
Tel: (2) 297 0800/1.
Fax: (2) 297 0809.
E-mail: britembq@impsat.net.ec
Website: www.britembquito.org.ec
Consulates in: Galápagos and Guayaquil.

CIA World Factbook - Ecuador

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