Ecuador & The Galapagos

General Information

General Facts

• Size (land area): 276,841 sq km (106,889 sq mi), Ecuador is slightly smaller than the State of Nevada or Italy.
• Population: 14,790,608 people, divided between the following ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
• Border Countries: Colombia & Peru
• Elevation Extremes: Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; Highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
• note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea-level
• Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
• Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Source: The World Factbook

The people: Of Ecuador's close to 15 million inhabitants, those in the highlands are mainly mestizo, a mixture of European and Native South American extractions. Indigenous peoples live mainly in the Andean highlands and in the Amazon regions. Coastal dwellers are descendants of Native South Americans, Europeans and Africans.

Banks & Business: Most city offices and shops open from 9:00 to 18:00 Monday through Friday. Currency exchange facilities are open week days and Saturday morning in major hotels. Banking facilities are not available in remote areas. U.S. dollars are accepted throughout the country. ATM's are easily found throughout the main cities. Cash advances can be made at most banks or ATM's.

Currency: Ecuador's currency is the Dollar of the United States of America. U.S. dollars are used for all transactions. There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency or travelers checks brought into Ecuador.

Customs:  Each passenger is allowed two bags of up to 70 pounds (31.8 kilos) each, plus carry-on luggage, photo or video camera, and binoculars. Professional filming equipment, diving and climbing gear require special permits.

Electricity:  Identical to the USA. 110 volts, 60 cycles AC is used. Most outlets are for two flat prongs. It is useful to carry a small flashlight. For TV and video equipment, Ecuador uses the NTSC system.

Language: Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Kichwa, the lingua franca of the Inca Empire, is the tongue of the majority of the Indian population. English is spoken in major visitor centers.

Entry & Exit Requirements: If you are a U.S. traveler wishing to enter Ecuador, you must present a U.S. passport with at least six months remaining validity. Ecuadorian customs officials also require evidence of return or onward travel, such as an airline ticket. If you are traveling on a regular passport for tourism or business, you will not need a visa for a stay of 90 days or fewer per 12-month period. If you are planning a visit longer than 90 days, you must obtain a visa in advance of your arrival.

Nationals of the following countries: require a visa and should approach the Consulate of Ecuador of their residence (list may change without notice): Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine Authority, People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Syria, Tunisia and Vietnam, Yemen.
If applying in the U.S., nationals of these countries will have to produce their valid U.S. visa or residence permit and fill out an application form (requirements listed above, plus 2 photographs). Visa Application

In order to depart Ecuador, you must present a valid U.S. passport. If you are departing via airplane, you will be charged an airport tax (payable in U.S. dollars only); the price depends on the city from which you depart. If you stay in Ecuador beyond 90 days or beyond the terms of your visa, you will be charged a substantial fine and will be barred from re-entering Ecuador for nine consecutive months from the date of your departure.

Taxes: There is a sales tax added to purchases; hotels and restaurants charge sales tax and service. There is also an international departure tax (approx. $41 per person) is to be paid in U.S. Dollars at the airport.

Food: International cuisine is available throughout the country, but try some of the Ecuadorian specialties: humitas and tamales (made of corn and wrapped in leaves), llapingachos (fried mashed potato patties with cheese), ceviche (a saucy shrimp cocktail), and locro (a soup of stewed potatoes and cheese topped with an avocado). There are many excellent restaurants in the main cities and a restaurant guide is distributed free to all visitors upon arrival in Ecuador.

Tipping: As in many places, gratuities are customary, but entirely at guest's discretion. Guidelines for tipping will be found in the "Welcome Kit" you receive upon arrival.

Time Zone: Local time on the mainland is Greenwich Meridian Time minus 5 hours (Eastern Standard Time in the United States). Galapagos time is GMT minus 6 hours.

Park Fees: Visitors to the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon rain forest, the Cotopaxi National Park and other National Parks and Natural Reserves must pay entrance fees. Such prices vary and are not included in tour rates unless otherwise mentioned.

Health & Vaccinations: No inoculations are required for entry. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should check with their physicians about high-altitude travel, as well as preventive measures for visiting tropical areas. Bottled water is advised and available everywhere. For guests traveling to Ecuador's Amazon Region, a yellow fever vaccination is required.

Drinking water:  Bottled mineral water, with or without carbonation, is available at all hotels, ships and lodges. Ecuadorian beer is excellent, and bottled soft drinks are available everywhere. Coffee and tea are usually served at the end of meals.

Clothing: Lightweight woolens are ideal for the highlands; and warm jackets are essential after dusk at high altitudes. Cottons for the Amazon, Pacific lowlands and Galapagos. Dress is informal. Dressing in layers is ideal. Do not forget swimming wear and comfortable walking shoes.

Children: Some tours and programs are not suitable for smaller children, and thus not recommended for them. Children over eight will have no problem in the mainland or in Galapagos. Hotels in the major cities cater to children of all ages, providing children's menus, baby sitters and extra beds/cribs.
 

When to Travel?

CLIMATE
Ecuador is divided into four different geographic zones: the Amazon, the highlands, the Pacific lowlands and the Galapagos Islands. Since Ecuador is located right on the equator, the country as a whole experiences no extreme weather changes. Rainy seasons vary in each zone. The geographic location of Ecuador makes it a perfect destination for a year round travel. Seasonal differences are reflected mainly in variations in rainfall as the temperatures variations are minimal.

The Andes (Quito):
The mighty Andes of Ecuador range from 8,000 feet to the highest peak in Ecuador at 20,703 feet above sea level. The weather in the high elevations is usually pleasant (even warm) during the day and cool during the nights. The higher you travel is the more extreme this difference is felt…
In Quito located at 9,600 ft (3,000 m) the temperatures tend to be moderate and “spring like” throughout the year. The average temperatures range from 55ºF (7ºC) at night, to 78ºF (26ºC) at noon. The average temperature between the warmest month and the coolest month varies only by 0.5 degree Fahrenheit. It tends to be drier from June to September and wettest from January to May.
While traveling in high elevation it is very important to wear a sun hat and to apply plenty sun screen lotion, of a high SPF, (due the intensity of the sun). However, as soon as the sun sets, the temperatures will drop immediately and a warm coat is recommended (as well as a winter hat & gloves in the extreme elevations of over 10,000 feet above sea level).

The Pacific Coastline (Guayaquil):
Along the Ecuadorian Coastline, the climate is mostly hot and humid with average temperatures ranging between 76º and 90ºF. Here as well, the Dry Season usually lasts between June to December, when the air is cooler and it is often overcast with a mist that can hide the sun, for up to three months. To Enjoy the beach, we recommended to travel during the Rainy Season (December through April). This time of the year, offers bright sunny days with occasional heavy downpours (mostly in the afternoons). Here as well, use extra caution when exposed to direct sun.

The Amazon Rainforest:
Mostly hot and humid throughout the year, averaging 80ºF , with frequent showers. Those, often help to cool the air and expose beautiful blue skies. Expect more rain during April through September.

The Galapagos Islands:
Visitors of The Galapagos Islands enjoy a subtropical climate regulated by a cold Ocean Current, traveling north from Antarctica: The Humboldt Current, as well as the warm El Niño Current. Most of the Galapagos babies are born around April through May, while the Mating Season is between Septembers to November. The islands are indeed a year round destinations, offering a different scenery and nature experience, each and every season.
The warmest months of the year are December through May with temperatures reaching the upper 80ºs F (31ºC ). While this is also the rainier season, the shorelines of the islands as well as the lower elevations, (these are the area where most travelers visit during their Galapagos tours), still offer beautiful blue sky with occasional haze. The ocean temperature is higher than the rest of the year, and the water is calmer, offering better conditions for snorkeling and bathing as well as a smoother sailing.
The Dry Season is from June to November, offering sunshine but cooler days with sometimes cloudier skies. The air temperature usually stays around the upper 70’s, while the ocean temperature drops to as low as 68ºF (20ºC).

NATURAL EVENTS IN THE GALAPAGOS

JANUARY
 Land birds start nesting, usually after the first rain
 On Española Island, adult male marine iguanas become brightly colored
 Green sea turtles land on beaches to lay eggs
 Land iguanas on Isabela Island begin their reproductive cycle

FEBRUARY
 White-cheeked pintails begin their breeding season
 Nazca boobies on Española Island are at the end of their nesting season
 Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island
 Peak of the Galapagos dove nesting season

MARCH
 Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina Island
 Waved albatrosses begin to arrive on Española Island

APRIL
 Mass arrival of waved albatrosses on Española Island, and the beginning of their courtship
 Hatching season of giant tortoises ends
 Sea turtle eggs begin to hatch
 Land iguanas hatch on Isabela Island

MAY
 Galapagos penguins begin to show remarkable activity
 Sea turtles hatching in Gardner Bay & Puerto Egas
 Palo santo trees begin to shed their foliage
 Waved albatrosses on Española Island begin to lay their eggs
 Band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period
 Marine iguana eggs hatch on Santa Cruz Island

JUNE
 Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places
 Beginning of giant tortoise nesting season
 Southern migrant birds on their way north can be seen

JULY
 Sea bird communities breeding, especially on Española Island
 Flightless cormorants court and nest on Fernandina Island
 Oystercatchers nest on Santiago Island
 Whales and dolphins more likely to be seen, especially off the coast of Isabela Island
 Lava lizards begin mating ritual

AUGUST
 Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago Islands
 Migrant shore birds start to arrive
 Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island

SEPTEMBER
 Galapagos penguins begin to show remarkable activity on Bartolomé Island
 Sea lions are very active, especially among the western and central islands
 Most sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites

OCTOBER
 Lava herons begin nesting
 Galapagos fur seals begin their mating season
 Boobies raise their chicks on Española Island
 Giant tortoises continue to their lay eggs

NOVEMBER
 Sea lions are sexually active in the east of the islands
 Brown noddy breeding season begins
 Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period
 Sea lion pups are born

DECEMBER
 Giant tortoise eggs begin to hatch
 Green sea turtles display mating behavior
 First waved albatross fledglings appear
 Northern migrant birds on their way south can be seen
 

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