Ecuador / República del Ecuador – Let’s explore here

Ecuador is a country in South America, slightly larger than the United Kingdom. To the west lie the Andes mountains and the Pacific coast. To the east, the land becomes savannah and then jungle as it enters the Amazon rain forest. Within the Andes mountain range are many of Ecuador’s volcanoes and all of its snow-capped peaks, including one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, Mount Chimborazo – 20,560 ft (6,268 m) above sea level.  Mount Chimborazo is also the most distant point from the centre of the Earth on the Earth’s surface because of the ellipsoid shape of the planet.

Ecuador also owns the Galápagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Eastern Pacific, located about 560 miles (900 km) west of South America. The Galápagos are famous for their large number of endemic species, which were studied by Charles Darwin in the 1830s and inspired his theory of evolution by means of natural selection. 

Ecuador’s population is around 17 million (2023) and its capital, Quito is home to almost 3 million. Quito is the highest capital city in the world at an elevation of 9,350 ft (2,850 m).

What currency do they use in Ecuador?

In Ecuador they use the US Dollar. Cash is widely used. The use of credit / debit cards is not widely accepted anywhere. Traveller’s cheques are not generally accepted. There are many ATMs in cities, although not all accept foreign issued cards.

You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.

What language do they speak in Ecuador?

They speak Spanish in Ecuador. English is not spoken widely outside of major cities.

What time zone is Ecuador in?

Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.

Do I need a visa to visit Ecuador?

We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!

What’s it like to drive in Ecuador?

We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂

Is wild camping legal in Ecuador?

Yes, wild camping is fine in Ecuador, although make sure the land is not private.

If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know! 

And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!