Ecuador-Facts

General Facts

Population: 14 million       
Language: Spanish           
GDP: $108 billion
Currency: $US Dollar    
Capital: Quito
Time: ECT, GALT (UTC – 5-6)
Religion: 95% of population is Roman Catholic

Reasons to visit

If you are contemplating a visit to a completely different and diverse country, you might want to consider Ecuador. This wonderful country received its name because of its location on both sides of the equator line. Inland you will encounter ice capped volcanoes of the Andes, while the outer regions contrast with tropical rainforests.  Here are little known facts that may intrigue you, or else give you a better understanding of this place.
-Just about any climate of the world can be found within a three or four hour drive from the capital of Quito.
-Quito is said to have the most pleasant temperatures in the world and has be dubbed “Land of Eternal Spring.”
- Quito was officially founded in the year 1534AD making it one of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere. 
-The Potato’s story begins about 8,000 years ago near Lake Titicaca, which sits above the Andes mountain.
-Quinine was the first drug used to prevent and treat malaria. It is obtained from the bark of the Cinchona tree found in the Andes Mountains range.
-In the year 2000, Ecuador changed its currency to United States Dollars from the Sucre.
-The highest active volcano on Earth, Cotopaxi is found 60 km south of Quito.
-The ‘Panama hat’ originated from Ecuador. These straw hats received their name because they were shipped through the Panama Canal on their way to the United States in the early 20th century.

Who lives there

While volunteering abroad in Ecuador you will have a chance to meet people with different ethnic backgrounds. The country’s largest ethnic group is Mestizos, who are a mix of Spanish colonists and indigenous Indians, make up 65% of Ecuadorians. After Mestizos, Amerindians is the next largest ethnic group in Ecuador, who make up about 25% of the population. Other minority groups are generally European immigrants that moved to Latin America during the war period in the middle of twentieth century.

A lesson in geography

Ecuador is located on the west coast of South America. It borders with Colombia to the east, Peru to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Ecuador in Spanish means "equator", earning the name for its location as a country lying on both sides of the equator. Ecuador is a great place to do an internship abroad in marine biology or a related field due to its rich resources and its distinct fauna. Located a thousand kilometers from the coast of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands are considered to be a part of Ecuador. The country is divided into four geographic regions:
Costa - coastal plain which is little more than a quarter of the territory.
Sierra - central foothills which is a plateau surrounded by mountains.
Oriente or eastern jungle- occupy about half of the country
-Galapagos Islands – this consists of 13 main islands and 6 smaller isles, combined together creates 50, 000 sq km.

What sort of clothes to pack

Ecuador has a diverse climate due to its high altitude, although in most cases it is warm all year long which makes it a great place to visit. Depending on where your study abroad or internship abroad program will be, you will be exposed to many different temperatures, but none of the breathtaking scenery can be forgotten. Average temperature in Quito (at an altitude of about 2800 m) is about 13°C, and the southern part of the country has a range between 23°C and 27°C. Costa is mostly a hot and humid area with temperatures averaging around 26°C. An average temperature in the Sierra region, depending on the altitude range is from 7°C to 21°C. The area of Oriente is much warmer and wetter than the Costa region, with the average annual temperature of about 38°C.

The climate of the Galapagos Island is mostly pleasant, and the terrain is not very rough so tennis shoes would be appropriate footwear. This is a good area to go for a swim, so remember to pack your swimming suit or trunks and some sunscreen. The weather around the Amazon Basin is very humid and warm, but the temperatures will drop once the sun goes down, so you should bring a sweater. Fast drying material is recommended if you are going to spend large amounts of time around the Amazon Basin since it becomes extremely humid. You should pack many changes of cotton socks, and a good quality rain jacket.

If you are traveling to the Andes, a light wool jacket is recommended since the higher you are, the colder it will become. If you are planning to visit the coast area, please make a note to update your vaccinations since there is a risk of malaria in this area just as if you were in the jungle. This area is incredibly hot so the attire is casual, composed mostly of shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. Even after the sun sets, this area is still very muggy, so long sleeves shirt and pants will be enough to keep you warm. No matter what you bring, your abroad experience in Ecuador will be memorable.