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Learn more about Ecuador
Info about Ecuador
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. In 2007, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence.
Diseases
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Drug usage
significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with over half of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
Ethnic division
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
0.3% (2003 est.)
Climate info
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Natural Resources
petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Economic data
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracted by more than 6%, with a significant increase in poverty. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with the US. These measures led to a drop in petroleum production in 2007. President Rafael CORREA raised the specter of debt default and followed through on those threats in December 2008. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on private oil companies, then renegotiated their contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has slowed significantly.
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Travel destinations in Ecuador


9.56 C
21.8 C
29.91 C
23.06 C
  Taisha
22.73 C
  Sucúa
20.03 C
10.62 C
9.63 C
  Quito
24.71 C
26.69 C
22.57 C
17.68 C
24.16 C
  Manta
20.61 C
14.63 C
  Macas
33.08 C
11.35 C
  Loja
28.39 C
18.47 C
25.58 C
22.11 C
14.79 C
  Cuenca
17.1 C
  Coca
21.34 C
  Ambato


Airlines based in Ecuador

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Current temperature
21.34 C

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24.8 C
23.18 C
19.31 C
17.54 C
  Samos
25.55 C
20.01 C
19.13 C
24.01 C
16.59 C
  Deva
23.89 C
  Bajone
23.57 C
22.3 C
  Ceduna
23.62 C
21.9 C
23.02 C
21.01 C
20.61 C
26.11 C
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22.24 C
  Bari
24.44 C
19.36 C
23.36 C
  Lumi
22.06 C
20.91 C
19.93 C
  Masa
18.14 C
20.54 C
  Usak
23.03 C
  Patras
22.19 C
16.69 C
24.92 C
16.57 C
23.56 C
  Manega
18.63 C
18.89 C
  Ranchi
16.43 C
24.91 C
  Palu
23.98 C
  Laura
20.97 C
24.88 C
25.18 C
26.04 C
20.72 C
  Rome
18.78 C
  Vieste
19.85 C
22.9 C
18.97 C
18.76 C
22.56 C
25.27 C
  Bima
20.08 C
19.79 C
21.58 C
21.04 C
23.89 C
17.27 C
  Jauja
Flights By Weather

Most people choose a location and then start thinking about the weather over there. We like to do it differently. We choose to base our travel related decisions only based on weather. So first we search for a location with our kind of weather and then we choose between the locations that match our set weather conditions. Sounds a good idea to me.

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