National name:

Republica del Ecuador (Republic of Ecuador)

Location: South America

Capital: Quito

Population: 12.5 million inhabitants

People:

40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent

Goverment:

Republic. President elected for a 4-year period.
President Mr. Alfredo Palacio (got to the power on 2005)

Location:
Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean on the west, Columbia on the North and Peru on the South and the East. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 600 miles west of the mainland.

Time zone:
GMT/UTC -5 in Continental Ecuador. GMT/UTC -6 in Galapagos.

Area:
283,520 sq km

Curreny & Exchange rate:
Ecuador uses the U.S dollar since january 2001

There are coin denominations, made in Ecuador (ecuadorian dollars) which are mixed with the original U.S coins.

Travellers checks are accepted in hotels. They are a safe way to transport your money. You can also use your credit card for payments in restaurants and attractions, but always take with you some cash specially in the little villeages.

Telephone: Country code: 593 Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: AMPS network is operated by Telefonica, and AMPS-TDMA network is operated by Conecel. Alegro a GSM network was set up in 2003.

Internet: You can expect to find a cyber café almost in every corner of the country.

Telegram: These may be sent from the chief telegraph office in main towns.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe and the USA takes up to one week, but incoming deliveries are less certain.

Ecuador newspapers: Dailies are in Spanish and include Diario el Comercio and Diario Hoy published in Quito. El Telégrafo and El Universo are published in the city of Guayaquil.

There are two English-language newspapers (one of them is the Miami Herald) Inside Ecuador and Quito, though both are published irregularly. International newspapers and magazines are available at international airports, main post offices, hotels and in some bookshops.

Radio: International BBC World Service and Voice of America can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.