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General InformationType of Government: Democratic, Presidential Republic Current President: ECON. RAFAEL CORREA DELGADO Capital: Quito Main Cities: Guayaquil, main port and largest city, Cuenca, Machala, Ambato, Manta, Portoviejo, Riobamba, Loja, Ibarra, Esmeraldas and Santo Domingo de los Colorados Currency: United States Dollars Religion: 95% Roman Catholic Population: 13.6 million approx. Languages: Spanish (Official), Quechua and other Amerindian languages are widely spoken by the indigenous population. English is the most swidely spoken foreign language.
The Amazon as one would expect can be rainy, sunny, humid, hot, warm, cool - very tropical weather. The Andean Mountain range have snow-capped volcanoes and mountains and can become cold at night. The Galapagos Islands are mainly sunny and warm. Location: Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in all of the Americas. It is situated on both the northern and the southern Hemispheres, and is divided by the equator, which gave Ecuador its name in the 19th Century. Ecuador borders Colombia (North), Peru (South and East), and the Pacific Ocean (West). Area: 256.370 square kilometers Official Holidays: January 1(New Year's), Good Friday (Easter), May 1 (Labor Day), May 24 (Battle of Pichincha), August 10 (National Day), October 9 (Guayaquil Independence Day), November 2 (All Souls Day), November 3 (Cuenca Independence Day) and December 25 (Christmas) International Airports: Mariscal Sucre in Quito, Simón Bolívar in Guayaquil International Dialing Code: Country code +593 - Quito 02, Guayaquil 04, Cuenca 07, Ibarra 06, Ambato 03, Galápagos 05 Weight And Measurement: Metric System Television System: NTSC-525 lines Electrical Supply: 110/120 V AC 60 HZ Local Time: Ecuador continental territory is on Eastern Standard of GMT -5. The Galapagos Islands is on Eastern Standard of GMT -6. There is no Daylight Savings Time.
Map of Ecuador
Geography
Ecuador's continental territory is crossed from North to South by the Andes mountain range that divides it into three strongly distinct natural regions: the Coastal Region (Costa), the Inter-Andean Region (Sierra) and the Amazon Region (Región Amazónica). In addition to these regions on the mainland, Ecuador has a fourth region: the Galapagos Islands (Archipiélago de Colón) located 1,000 kilometers from Ecuador's coastline. hese four regions are subdivided into 22 provinces. Besides its exuberant biodiversity, Ecuador embraces an impressive variety of ethnic groups, including some untouched communities, which still preserve traditional values and cultural manifestations from ancient times. The Coastal Region lies West of the Andes towards the Pacific Ocean. It consists of coastal lowlands and minor mountain ranges. Generally has a tropical climate - hot and moist, averaging 25º C (76º F) to 31º C (90º F) during the year; however, the cold Humboldt current modifies this heat and humidity on dry season and the beaches are enjoyable throughout the year. The Coastal Region has very active industrial, financial and trade centres like Guayaquil, main port and largest city, produces most of the country's agricultural exports as well as grains, vegetables, oil and meat for the Ecuadorian market. In addition to farming, has well developed fishing and shrimp farming industries and offers a great number of beautiful beaches and resorts.
This high, rolling plateau runs North-South between the Coastal and the Amazon Regions and includes what the German Explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt named "The Valley of the Volcanoes"; in this valley leans Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The climate varies according to the altitude; during the year a subtropical climate prevails on the Andean valleys, at higher altitudes it is tempered spring like, at nights it is cold. In Quito the temperature ranges from 7ºC (55º F) at night, to 26ºC (78ºF) at noon, averaging 15ºC (64ºF). The Inter-Andean region has extensive farming, ranching and in the last decade an impressive development of flower plantations, it has traditional cultural and handicrafts centres like Quito, where local and foreign firms have developed greatly in trade and finance. Quito is also Ecuador's largest industrial city, with many food, textiles, wood products and consumer goods factories. The Amazon Region begins on the East of the Andes. This region is characterized by its exuberant and unique rainforest ecosystems. High temperatures prevail, with abundant rainfall. The average temperature varies from 23ºto 26 ºC (72º to 80º F). The rivers formed in the mountains by the melting snow empty into the Amazon, Napo River is the longest in Ecuador and flows for 530 miles. The Amazon Region has been inhabited a long time by Indian tribes, whose rights have been recognized by the Ecuadorian government. Settlement has extended gradually along its rivers, especially the Napo. This region is home to the oilfields, which provide over 40% of the country's exports.
The climate is pleasant and sub-tropical moulded by the ocean currents, especially the cold Humboldt current, with an average yearly temperature of 28 Cº (85ºF). There are 13 major islands, 6 smaller islands and over 40 islets. The Enchanted Isles, as the Galápagos Islands are known, are of great biological interest and house an incredible array of endemic species. The Archipelago holds one of the most valuable national parks on earth and the second largest marine reserve in the world. The Ecuadorian authorities make great efforts to preserve these natural treasures.
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Climate: Ecuador enjoys spring-like weather for most of the year. Temperatures vary somewhat from the four regions of the country - Cities in the highlands have temperatures that vary from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while coastal cities' temperatures vary from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. 
The Republic of Ecuador is located on the Northwest Coast of South America and lies on both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres, divided by the Equator line. Ecuador's continental territory is bordered by Colombia to the North, Peru to the South and East and to the West by the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America and despite its small size, it is one of the most geographically, biologically, ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world.
The Inter-Andean Region is the country's geographical heartland, lying between the two major chains of the Andes mountains - the Western Chain (Cordillera Occidental) and the Eastern Chain (Cordillera Oriental). The Eastern Chain is wider and higher; however, mount Chimborazo (6.267 meters), the highest mountain in Ecuador, is part of the Western Chain. The highest active volcano in the world is the Ecuadorian Cotopaxi, reaching 5,897 meters.
Located on the Equator, 1.000 kilometers from Ecuador's coastline are the Galapagos Islands. Made famous by Charles Darwin, where he found the inspiration and substantiation for his theories regarding the evolution of species, the Galápagos Islands are volcanic in origination. 
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.
