ECUADOR
ALTITUDE
The country is crossed from north to south by the Andes called La Sierra, where there are many remarkable sites to see. The country capital, Quito, is at 2850 meters elevation. The highest peak is at the center of the country, Chimborazo and reaches 6268 meters high.
EMBASSIES
BEVERAGES
Fruit juices are excellent. You can also find lager beers. Drink purified water.
CREDITS CARDS
International credit cards are accepted in some places but not everywhere. You can withdraw cash from ATMs in some cities including in the capital Quito. You have to be vigilant and careful when doing transactions like anywhere else.
WEATHER
Mild and humid climate in the Andes area with important temperature contrasts. It can be very cool even cold especially in the evening. Consider bringing warm clothes. The Pacific coast enjoys a tropical climate. Hot and humid climate on the Amazonian part.
ELECTRICITY
110 volts outlets, with flat blade plugs. Please bring a plug adapter. Computers and cell phones have an internal transformer, therefore, you will only need a plug adapter.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2023
- 1 January: New Year’s Day
- 20 and 21 February: Carnival
- 7 April: Good Friday
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 24 May: Battle of Pichincha
- 10 August: Primer Grito de Independencia
- 9 October: Independence of Guayaquil
- 2 November: Day of the Dead
- 3 November: Independence of Cuenca
- 25 December: Christmas
GASTRONOMY
The cuisine is diverse with good products mainly pork, chicken, corn, plantain, potato, varied greens, fish and sea-food on the coasts and in the Amazonian region.
CURRENT TIME
6 hours less than in France during the winter and 7 hours less during summer. When it is 16h00 in France, in Ecuador it is 10h00 in winter and 9h00 in summer. For Galapagos count one hour less.
WEB ACCESS
WIFI connections in general work well. Make the most of WIFI connections as they are more and more widespread whether they are free or charged.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language in addition to the languages spoken by the native communities.
CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
The US dollar replaces the old national currency, the sugar. It is recommended to bring small US dollar bills or traveler’s checks in US dollars. Like anywhere you have to be vigilant when doing transactions and exchange money in banks or official and secured exchange bureau.
TIPS
Tipping is essential. It is recommended to leave a 10% tip of the value of the beverage.
HEALTH
From July 22, 2018, it will be mandatory to present on arrival in Ecuador a contract of assistance or insurance to cover all medical expenses.
No vaccination is mandatory to enter the country. Do not forget to take with you all medication you need if you are following a specific treatment. It is recommended to be up-to-date of all your vaccinations such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis (DT Polio), Hepatitis A and B. In the Amazonian region you need to forearm yourself against malaria. Some visitors can suffer from altitude sickness. Please consult with your private doctor before traveling. We recommend to drink mineral water and to get protection for mosquito bites.
SAFETY
Respect the basic security rules by being careful. Avoid isolated places and during visits, please never take too much cash with you. We recommend: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
HOW TO DRESS?
For visits, casual outfit with comfortable shoes. Plan to bring warm clothes to wear in high elevation. Moreover, there is not much heating in hotels. Plan to bring a light raincoat.
