EQUADOR

Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador which literally translates as “Republic of the Equator” is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It and Chile are the only two countries in South America that do not have a border with Brazil. Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) west of the mainland.

Ecuador offers you the unique opportunity to sit back in your seat and take in the magic of the white sand beaches, the Andean Mountains and the rain forest, all within two days. Take a plane from Quito (9360ft), the capital city, and in 30 minutes you would have crossed over the snow clad Andes and reached the Amazon basin. Many visitors to this country still go into raptures recalling their journey from the Amazon to the rain forest lodges by boat, and the endless hours they spent exploring the jungle in canoe boat or merely walking.

Lying along the equator, this land has remarkable biodiversity and is prone to seismic activity. You can explore the country’s natural beauty in any way that pleases you – go bird-watching in cloud forests or maybe just walk in the Galapagos— you could even try river rafting for a truly wild experience.

Capital:  Quito

Best Time of Visit:

  1. The coast is hot and wet from January to May (rain makes passing through roads impossible) – it is humid and overcast from June to September – the rest of the year is drier and cooler.
  2. The peak season is June to August and December and January, when most of the vacationing tourists arrive.

Min Days Required: 6 days

Places of Interest: 

  1. Galapagos Islands
  2. Quito – San Francisco Church, La Compania
  3. Cotopaxi – Laguna Quilotoa, Quilotoa, Laguna Kilotoa,
  4. Banos – Ruta de las cascadas, Tungurahua, Zoologico de San Martin
  5. Montanita
  6. Nariz Del Diablo

Climate:

  1. The two main seasons are wet and dry.
  2.  The weather really depends on which geographical region you are in.
  3. The coastal areas have a hot, rainy season from January to April.
  4. Its really hot (31°C) and traveling is tough at this time. It is relatively cool from May to December.
  5. In the highlands, June to September is the dry season – April is the wettest month.
  6. The Amazon basin has rain showering down from September to April and temperatures average around 20 C.
  7. The weather is really fine here in December.
  8. In the Galapagos the worst month is September.

Currency: US Dollar

Things to carry:

  1. Take a windproof jacket, a warm layer underneath and a thick sweater if you’re going to the highlands.
  2. Carry a sleeping bag too – you can’t really depend on hotels for heating and blankets.
  3. Tampons are expensive and hard to find, so stock up before you get there.
  4. Also carry strong insect repellents and sunscreen – they cost the earth in Ecuador.
  5. Medical facilities are poor in rural areas—carry your medicines if you are on prescription drugs.

How to get there:

Air:

  1. There are direct flight connections from Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Paris to the main international airports at Guayaguil and Quito.