But fauna and flora are not its only riches. Imposing colonial structures bear witness to the heritage left by the Spanish and to the skill and artistry that created the paintings and sculptures of the Quito School of Art.

Enjoy environmentally conscious programs, in the safety and comfort of reliable operators and experienced naturalist guides. Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, is a vibrant metropolis on the Guayas River delta, 30 miles 48 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.

A busy port of imposing commercial buildings, baronial mansions, Guayaquil has rich museums, great sports centers, and daily musical events along its new waterfront. Ecuador's most beautiful city is located at an altitude of 2, meters 7, feet above sea level; the beauty of its landscape combined with the harmony between old and modern architecture, has prompted, UNESCO to name Cuenca a World Cultural Heritage Site.

The impressive Cajas lake district, the subtropical valleys of Paute, Gualaceo and Yunguilla, plus the legendary Inca ruins of Ingapirca, complement this wonderful place. During the 13th century it was the prosperous center of the Kingdom of Quitus.

It later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

This section takes you to explore the highlands of the Ecuador, climb up to 4, meters and enjoy an outstanding scenery surrounded by snowcapped mountains and volcanoes. Ecuador has created a lot of national parks in the coast, andes highlands, amazon basin and Galapagos Islands, some of more recognized worldwide are Machalilla, Cotacachi Cayapas, El Angel, Cayambe Coca, Antisana, Pululahua, Pasochoa, Cotopaxi, Illinizas, Sangay, Chimborazo, El Cajas, Podocarpus.

Galapagos Island Travel Ecuador, Galapagos Island information and facts. This Ecuador maps list provide ecuador country division, as an Ecuador political map, a phisycal map of Ecuador with Ecuador regions, Ecuador andes volcanoes list, Ecuador national parks map.

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Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Galapagos Islands President: Paulina Burbano de Lara Commercial Vice-President Incoming Tourism: Galapagos Expedition Cruises, Avenue of the Volcanoes, Mashpi Cloudforest Reserve, Casa Gangotena boutique hotel in historic Quito. Please verify that your passport has been stamped with the number of days required for your visit to Ecuador. We recommend that you make copies of all your important documents and leave the originals in the safety box of your hotel.

Keep a copy of your passport with you. Please note that while travelling in mainland Ecuador, you don't need to carry your passport with you. However, when going to the Galapagos or the Amazon region, you will need to carry your passport. IT IS IMPORTANT that you keep the immigration entry form duly stamped by the Immigration authorities upon arrivalas it will be requested when you leave the country. In the event your luggage does not arrive with you, immediately submit your claim with the respective airline at the airport terminal.

The airline is responsible for your luggage and should inform you when, in which flight and at what time your luggage is due to arrive.

If this situation occurs, please do inform your guide. If you need any additional assistance to go to or from the airport, do not hesitate to contact us, although please note that we will charge for transportation. Airlines now only issue E-tickets.

You should take note of your confirmation code. Outbound flights no longer need to be reconfirmed. We suggest you to check with your airline if it's possible to check-in online the day before in order to facilitate the check-in process at the airport.

Airline policies encourage passengers to be at the airport three hours before departure time for international flights. For guests with transfer services, a message will be delivered to your hotel, informing you of the pick-up time. Please keep your carry-on luggage with you at all times; like at most big airports, leaving your luggage on the floor can increase the possibilities of losing it. The equatorial sun is very strong and is able to burn even through cloud cover. It is highly recommended to use sunscreen with a suitably high protection factor, a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Fair-skinned travellers should use sun protection at high altitudes and seashore at all times, even if the weather is cloudy, as UV rays penetrate light clouds. Ecuador's currency is the US Dollar. Bills over 20 dollars are hard to change; bring bills of smaller denominations or break larger notes in more sophisticated businesses eg.

Ecuador issues local coins for 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, which are equivalent to US coins, as well as using the 1 dollar coin; however, these are only accepted in Ecuador. Euros may be changed for US Dollars at banks, hotels and money exchange offices.

Most hotels, restaurants and shops accept Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express. Cruise ships in the Galapagos also accept most credit cards. Payment for Metropolitan Touring services can be charged to your card. Take note that Travellers' Cheques are less and less accepted by establishments, or else incur onerous transaction charges.

Most city offices and banks are open from 9: Currency exchange facilities and banks are also open on Saturday morning and throughout the week only at asian paint stock market hotels and malls.

ATMs are easily found throughout the main cities. Cash advances can be made qcom stock premarket most banks or ATMs. Banking facilities are not available and use of credit cards less common in remote areas, so it's advisable to carry cash.

Cash maker anglia square varied geography has produced an equally varied cuisine. A dazzling range of potatoes and corn from the highlands; bananas and tropical fruits in the coastal areas, together with the bounty of the waters of the Pacific, particularly shrimp, makes dining in Ecuador a remarkable experience.

Some foods are ever-present — like bananas that come in varied sizes and colours, from tiny "finger" bananas to large, green plantains - and potatoes; every Indian market displays an amazing range -- all colours, sizes and shapes. Ecuador has one of the tastiest cuisines in South America, with a great variety of fruits and vegetables, reflecting the country's biodiversity. Apart from more traditional recipes, creative chefs in major cities and at hotels today offer what stock exchange does samsung trade on Ecuadorian cuisine: The tap water in most of Ecuador is potable, but the chemical content varies from place to place.

To avoid problems, we recommend that you always drink bottled water. Bottled mineral water, with or without carbonation, is available at all hotels, ships, and lodges.

Ecuadorian beer Pilsener or Club is excellent and bottled soft drinks are available everywhere. In establishments which we include as part of stock investing beginners guide programmes, juices and salads are safe for foreign stomachs.

All major cities have an ample selection of fine restaurants featuring international cuisine or regional culinary specialties. Dining out in Ecuador will be a remarkable experience. See suggestions for restaurants in each city in the next pages. The key is casual and comfortable. In the highlands, dressing in layers, with clothes that you can either put on or take off as required, is ideal: T-shirt, blouse or shirt, sweater and a warm jacket, as evenings get chilly.

Cottons are ideal for the coast and rainforest. When visiting churches, monasteries, and shrines, women should not wear shorts or miniskirts. Comfortable, waterproof shoes are a must. Laundry service is available in most hotels. Rates vary among the main cities. It's safest to have your hotel or a restaurant call you a cab on your behalf. Children over six will have no problem in the mainland or Galapagos excursions.

We do not recommend that very young children join some of our tours such as Galapagos or other adventuresome destinations. The hotels, haciendas and lodges used on our tours are the best available in each location. The excitement of visiting remote areas amply compensates for the lack of luxury or some urban comfort in rural accommodations.

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Local dailies are available in Spanish. The Miami Herald in English is sold or available daily at selected hotels and bookstores. Foreign language magazines and pocketbooks are available at larger bookshops, such as Libri Mundi or Mr Books. Cable TV news is available in main hotels. When calling from outside of Ecuador or with roaming on your own cellphone, country code and city code omitting the 0 are required:. Sinceall cellphone numbers have 10 digits, with a 9 after the first 0.

If you are dialling an old number without 10 digits, add the 9. Most shops are open from 9: Shopping malls in main cities are open from Please note that to guarantee authenticity in your jewellery, antiques or artwork, shop at specialized stores. Archaeological pieces and colonial art are not allowed to be taken out of Ecuador.

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The safest option is a money belt worn under clothing. Keep spare cash in a separate purse for easy access. Like in most big cities, heavily loaded wallets or pockets are attractive targets for pickpockets. Remember to leave your documents and valuables in the safety deposit box of your hotel.

In the city, you just need to carry the copy rs best way to make money eoc your passport. Filming or pictures are not allowed inside many churches and some museums. It's advisable to use 'fill-in' flash for portraits in strong sunlight touring bands need to make money avoid binary options profitable strategies tactics download. In Quito, there is also a small city hotel tax.

Gratuities often represent part of a worker's earnings and are regarded as an incentive to provide the best service possible.

Here are some guidelines; adjust them to represent the service you receive and the thanks you want to express: Taxi drivers are not tipped in Ecuador.

Ecuador is a producer and exporter of oil and member of the OPEC. The oil is drilled for and piped from the Amazon Basin and then carried to the Pacific Coast via two pipelines. It was recently proved that cocoa or cacao actually comes from Ecuador and not Central America.

Most outlets are for two flat prongs like in North America. It is advisable to have an outlet adaptor. This usually means clear mornings and an afternoon heavy downpour, followed by the sun coming out again. In the Galapagos January to April are the warmer, wetter months. The islands are humid, and days can be hot, especially around noon.

May to December are the drier, cooler months. This is the time of the year where wildlife is at its best, since most will be reproducing. The coastal lowlands are tropical, warm all year. From May to December is the dry season, with often overcast days and pleasantly cool nights. The warmer, rainy season goes from January to April; expect high humidity. The rainforest is, of course, the wettest region of the country with high rainfall throughout the year.

Nights are cool in the rainforest, a windbreaker comes in handy. Please note also that in recent years the traditional seasons in Ecuador, as elsewhere in the world, have become less predictable. Anyone who puts shopping high on the list of activities that make a destination desirable will find Ecuador not just desirable, but irresistible.

Craftsmanship is skilled, the artistry highly imaginative and the prices low. Whether it be a misnamed Panama hat, an alpaca sweater, silver jewellery, scarves, flutes, music, leather goods, wood or jade carvings, ceramics, coffee, chocolate or even fruit liquor, you can't leave Ecuador without at least half of your suitcase full of the country's little treasures. In fact, it's wise to bring a suitcase that's going to be big enough to cram in all your purchases!

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Home Our Fleet Galapagos Islands Galapagos Information Galapagos Islands Information Galapagos Trip Planning Galapagos Islands Cruise Tours Family Travel Galapagos Wildlife Galapagos Cruises Santa Cruz II La Pinta Isabela II Galapagos Hotel Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel Special Deals Best Seller Tours F. Ecuador - Galapagos National Parks and Protected Areas. Contact our Staff Established in: Calling in and outside Ecuador.

To make a local call, no city codes are necessary and the number will have 7 digits. When calling from city to city, respective codes should be included. When calling from outside of Ecuador or with roaming on your own cellphone, country code and city code omitting the 0 are required: Ecuador country code Quito 02 Guayaquil 04 Cuenca 07 Galapagos Taxes and Service Charges.

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Your Galapagos Travel Expert Since EcuadorTravel to Ecuador. Ecuador Naturalmetropolitan touringTravel Ecuador. You might also like. Galapagos Cruise versus Galapagos Hotel: Which Should I Choose? Metropolitan Touring Celebrates World Environment Day Travel agencies and Tour operators. Travel Agent desk hotline: One history, a thousand inspiring strories. The Ecuadorians celebrate the New Year with dances, costumes and masked parties, and burning effigies in the street.

The carnival date depends on the day of Passover. Many towns celebrate with parades, dances and allegories. Throughout the country, throwing water is popular — be warned!

The week begins with Palm Sunday. The passion and death of Christ are remembered with masses and processions full of devotion and sadness.

In Quito, the biggest procession is Jesus del Gran Poder on Good Friday. The battle of Pichinchathat sealed the independence of Ecuador, is remembered with cultural parades and activities.

The most important celebration of the Central Highlands vary according to the place it is made. For example in Salasaca it is celebrated with music and dances.

The dancers get dressed in spectacular embroidered suits, plaster masks and hats adorned with shining tapes and feathers. In some communities of Imbabura Cotacachi and Cayambethis festivity is celebrated with dances, parades, bonfires and delivery roosters ceremonies. Parades, dances in the streets and the International Beauty Contest "Pearl of the Pacific" are held.

Also cultural exhibitions of art and activities are organized. National Festivity that commemorates the Independence of Ecuador Military and scholastic parades are traditional for this date. Celebrates to Our Lady of Mercy with masks dances, typical bands, fireworks, mass of rooster and folkloric festivals.

Guayaquil Independence is commemorated with an International Industrial Fair, concerts, dances, parades, exhibition and other activities. The Old Year ends with the burning of effigies, usually representing politicians or famous people.