Ecuador General Information

NOTE: Country Information & Maps at the bottom of the page

Traveling through this wondrous land is a thrilling adventure with touches of fantasy and gratifying emotions. Ecuador is the perfect setting for an action-packed and truly unforgettable vacation.

Ecuador is located on the northwest of South America, straddling latitude 0°. Its four natural regions are easily accessible and offer a wide variety of landscapes: From pearly beaches on the Pacific to magic rainforests in the Amazon. From snowcapped mountains and volcanoes to quaint Colonial cities. From business oriented centers to the fabled Galapagos Islands.
Traveling in and around the highlands and lowlands of Ecuador, you will particularly enjoy the amazing biodiversity of the country -- 1,800 species of birds, 1,000 species of fish, 680 of reptiles and amphibians, 230 of mammals, and more than 20,000 species of plants.

Beyond fauna and flora, the people of this endowed place developed, through centuries of civilization, a culture of rich heritage, as is evident in its traditions, archaeology and all manifestations of art, from architecture, to music and plastic arts.

Ecuadorians are gentle and friendly; you will be warmly welcomed in cities large and small. Local cuisine is highly appealing and varied, including the best Pacific shrimp and assorted tropical fruits. The weather is another plus -- springtime around the year.

Ecuador has some of the most fanciful handicrafts in South America. You can find them in local Indian markets and at shops and galleries in the main cities. Best buys are: ponchos, hand-knit wool sweaters, hand-woven rugs, embroidered dresses and blouses, wall hangings, shawls, the famous Panama hat (an original Ecuadorian handicraft), jewelry (including designer pieces with pre-Columbian beads worked in silver and gold), ceramics, primitive and modern paintings, leather, woodcarvings, etc.
This is Ecuador: A world of a country, a fascinating land blessed by nature, ready to fulfill your dreams of discovery.