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ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS
ECUADOR
General Information and What to Bring
QUICK FACTS ON ECUADOR
Population
17,400,000
25% indigenous, 65% mestizo, 7% European, 3% African/Asian origins
48% of the population lives on the coastal plain
47% in the Andean highlands and
5% in the Eastern lowlands.
Climate
Central Highlands and Quito: The weather is spring-like most of the year. The dry months are July through October, when the temperature averages 20 degrees C during the day and 11 degrees C during the evenings.
The Coast: The average temperature on the coast is 32 degrees C. January to April is the hot season and May to December is the dry season.
The Eastern plains: In the jungle the weather is tropical year round, with average temperatures of 31 degrees C. It rains here most of the year, but heavier from June to November. It is this time the jungle is at its best and the rivers most navigable.
History
1527: First Spanish contact; Pizarro’s men land at Esmeraldas, in Northern Ecuador.
1535: Incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru; what in now Ecuador is known as the Real Audiencia de Quito.
1822: Ecuador gains independence from Spain after the battle of Pichincha, May 24, under the leadership of Mariscal Sucre. It is incorporated into the Gran Colombia.
1830: Becomes fully independent under its first President, Juan Jose Flores.
1942: War with Peru, much of the Ecuadorian Amazon is lost to Peru.
1998: Peace has finally been signed with Peru
Size
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, with an area totaling at: 283.520 sq. km. It is 685 km. from North to South.
Main Cities
Quito: The capital, in the highlands; altitude 2,850 m.
Population: District 1,850,000 / City 1,400,000
Guayaquil: Largest city and main port,
Population:2,100,000
Cuenca: Main city of southern highlands; altitude 2,595 m.
Population: 305,000
Electricity
110 volts, 60hz, A.C.
Local Time
Mainland Ecuador: G.M.T -5 hours
Galapagos Islands: G.M.T -6 hours
Currency
As of 2000, the monetary unit of Ecuador is the US dollar.
PLANNING FOR YOUR TRIP
What to bring
Different tours may require different items - please contact your travel consultant for exact information.
We recommend the following clothing: Lightweight clothes for the day, adding a sweater or jacket for the evenings. More formal wear is required for certain restaurants. A rain jacket is useful during the wet months and a heavy sweater or jacket for mountain travel. T-shirts, bathing suit, shorts, comfortable shoes, hat and rain poncho are also suitable items to bring along. Please bring insect repellent, sunscreen, a flash-light, plenty of batteries and memory cards.
For the tours to the Amazon please bring:
Binoculars
Flashlight and batteries
Camera, and extra batteries / memory
Insect repellent
Sun protection (sun cream / sunglasses / hat or cap)
Water bottle
Lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts for walks
Shorts, short sleeve shirts and bathing suit for the lodge
Comfortable shoes and extra socks
Small day pack
Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, film, etc... from rain
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