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Many travelers are not aware that the Galapagos Islands are a part of Ecuador, and many people in general don't seven know where Ecuador is located. My wife, a native of the country, is sometimes asked, "Is that in Africa?" South America, actually, and if you have a map handy you can find it just south of Columbia. The following are a few other things you may not have known about the country.
There is no need to exchange your money if you travel to Ecuador from the United States. The bills and coins in your pockets will spend the same there. The country does produce some of its own coins, but the U.S. dollar is the only official currency, and bills are imported from the U. S. One important tip though: Bring some small bills, since many small shops won't have enough change for a twenty-dollar bill (and some not even enough for a five).
The equator runs through it, so most people think the country is miserably hot. In reality it only gets really hot consistently in the Amazon basin areas. In Quito, for example, the capital of Ecuador, it ' generally spring-like most of the year, because it sits at almost 9,000 feet. It may reach 80 Fahrenheit on occasion, but the daily high temperature is in the 60s most of the time. Evenings are cool, but it never goes below freezing at night. Cuenca, Riobamba and other cities and towns along the Andes mountains have a similar climate.
Although Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, can be hot and humid, it doesn't get anywhere near as hot as in many parts of the U.S. Daily highs are in the 80s year-round, with lows usually in the low 70s. This moderate weather is due to the city's proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
The weather for all the towns near the sea is moderated by the Humboldt Current, a cool-water Pacific Ocean flow that runs along this part of the South American coastline. In the town of Manta, for example, it has never been 100 degrees Fahrenheit in recorded history. It is usually in the 70s and lower 80s. In some beach resort towns, you'll even need a sweater for the cool evenings.
Where is the highest point on Earth? The answer to that depends on how you measure. The bulge at the center of the planet makes the peak of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador the furthest point out from the center of the Earth. There is no place on the planet where you can stand closer to space or the sun (and I can tell you from experience that the sky is a whole different color that far up there).
Covered by glaciers, Chimborazo is about 20,700 feet high, and there are several other mountains in the country that exceed 17,000 feet. One of the most famous is Cotopaxi. Its almost perfect volcanic cone-shape makes it popular for magazine and post cards photos. The summit is more than 19,000 feet above sea level. Those who like high altitude hiking and cold wet weather can try Las Cajas National Park, further to the south.
Ecuador is relatively safe, with a fairly stable democracy (the occasional coup d'état or electoral chaos is normally non-violent and doesn't seem to interrupt daily life much at all). Just be sure to ask around about which parts of the larger cities to avoid - big cities in all parts of the world have there dangerous areas, of course.
