Ecuador is a small country that makes up for its size with an array of indigenous cultures, colonial architecture, scenic landscape and dense rainforests. Climbing and trekking are popular but strenuous whereas the tropical beaches provide relaxation opportunities. The Galápagos Islands is a national park with excellent wildlife viewing and chances to scuba dive with the abundant marine life.
The predominant and official language of Ecuador is Spanish, in addition to Northern Quechua and other pre-colonial American languages, which are spoken by 2, 300, 000 (Adelaar 1991). Ethnologue lists 24 languages of Ecuador
The climate of Ecuador varies by region, due to differences in altitude and proximity to the equator.
The coastal lowlands to the west of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy.
The weather in Quito is consistent to that of a subtropical highland climate. The city has a fairly constant cool climate due to its elevation and proximity to the equator. The average temperature during the day is 66 °F (18. 9 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17. 8 °C) There are only really two obvious seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season (summer) runs from June to September and the wet season (winter) is from October to May.
Given the variety that defines Ecuadorean culture, art, geography, and politics, it would be logical to assume the country also offered a fair amount of culinary variety -- however, the typical cuisine nationwide relies heavily on potatoes, rice, and beans. Coastal cuisine differs most from that of the mountainous regions, with an emphasis on seafood, spices, and coconut milk. The major cities of Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca all have sophisticated dining scenes, with a range of restaurants serving contemporary takes on Ecuadorean classics and a host of international cuisines.
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador (República del Ecuador; which literally translates to the Republic of the Equator) is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border with Brazil. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about west of the mainland.
Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name, and has an area of 272, 046 km2 (109, 483 sq mi). Its capital city is Quito, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1970s for having the best preserved and least altered historic centre in Latin America. The country's largest city is Guayaquil. The historic centre of Cuenca, the third largest city in the country, was also declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, for being an outstanding example of a planned inland Spanish style colonial city in the Americas. Ecuador is also home—despite its size—to a great variety of species, many of them endemic, like those of the Galápagos islands. This species diversity makes Ecuador one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world.. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
Ecuador is a presidential republic and became independent in 1830, after having been part of the Spanish colonial empire and the republic of Gran Colombia. It is a medium-income country with an HDI score of 0. 695 (2010), and about 35. 1% of its population lives below the poverty line.
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