The Republic of Ecuador, is a sovereign country located in the northwestern region of South America. A volcanic section of the Andes mountain range divides the territory from north to south, leaving the Gulf of Guayaquil and a wooded plain on its western flank, and the Amazon to the east. Ecuador occupies an area of 256,370 km². It is the tenth most populous country in America, with just over seventeen million inhabitants, the most densely populated in South America and the fifth most densely populated in all of America.
Our national flag! The first reference that we have of this country in relation to the equatorial line is registered in Secret News of America in 1826, a publication that compiles studies carried out during the course of the 18th century, including those of the French geodesic mission; The name of the Republic of Ecuador refers to the equatorial line of the Earth that passes over Ecuadorian territory, from east to west. Ecuador is the country with the most rivers per square meter in the world. The Andean mountain range is the divortium aquarum between the hydrographic basin of the Amazon River, which flows to the east, and the Pacific, which includes from north to south the rivers. 4 Worlds in 1 country
In Ecuador you can find 4 differents regions: - Galapagos Islands - Coastal región - Mountain range - Amazon region
The country has a wide climatic variety, since its geographical location (equatorial zone), its orography (the presence of the Andes), the influence of the Amazon rainforest, and the Pacific Ocean give it many modifications and altitude levels with their own characteristics.
Quito, officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital of the Republic of Ecuador, of the Province of Pichincha and the oldest capital in South America.
It is the most populated city in Ecuador since the end of 2018 with 2 million inhabitants in the urban area, and approximately 3 million in the entire metropolitan area.
It is located on the Guayllabamba basin, on the western slopes of the active Pichincha stratovolcano, in the eastern part of the Andes and its altitude is 2850 m. a. s. l. Don´t miss it when you are in Quito!
MIDDLE OF THE WORLD EL PANECILLO You can visit the latitude 0°0´0´´ You can have a beautilful overview of Quito
ExPro participant 2020 Maria Dias – IAAS Portugal MIDDLE OF THE WORLD EL PANECILLO Visiting both Equators in Quito, Ecuador View the virgin Maria of el panecillo The location of the original equator was pinpointed by El Panecillo (from Spanish panecillo small piece of Charles-Marie de La Condamie on an expedition in 1736. bread, diminutive of pan bread) is a 200-metre-high hill However, this was well before the invention of accurate of volcanic-origin, with loess soil, located between GPS systems and he was off by about 200 meters. Pretty southern and central Quito. Its peak is at an elevation of close for the 1700s, but not the exact middle of the earth. 3,016 m.a.s.l (9,895ft).
The equator is located around 14 miles north of Quito, near The virgin stands on top of a globe and is stepping on a San Antonia De Pinchincha. You could take a half day tour snake, which is a classic madonna iconography. Less there for between $9 and $30 depending on how exclusive traditional are the wings. Locals claim that she is the the tour is. There are regular buses that are marked “Mitad only one in the world with wings like an angel. del Mundo” (Middle of the World). They cost around 50 cents and they will take you right to the actual monument. You could take a bus or taxi, it costs around 50 cents to Take a bus on the blue line to the most Northern point in $5 and El Panecillo is open the whole week from 9am the city – Ofelia Station. Then, you will catch another bus until 10pm and the admission price is $5. with a sign that says Mitad del Mundo.
The Mitad del Mundo Monument is open from Sunday to Saturday from 9am until 6pm and the admission price is $6. EL TELEFÉRICO You can touch the sky! At 4050 m.a.s.l
CUICOCHA Two mountains inside a lake inside an inactive volcano
ExPro participant 2019 ExPro participant 2019 Yentel Cassiman – IAAS Belgium Max Naëf – IAAS Switzerland EL TELEFÉRICO The cable car is one of the tourist places in Quito that you should not miss. It is one of the highest in South America: its route of approximately 18 minutes begins at 3,000 meters and ends at 4,050. From those heights you have impressive panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.
Around the cable car there is one of the camping CUICOCHA sites in Quito, you can also go horseback Is a 3 km (2 mi) wide caldera and crater lake at the foot riding or paragliding. All services are hired at of Cotacachi Volcano in the Cordillera Occidental of the base of the cable car. the Ecuadorian Andes. The caldera was created by a massive eruption about 3100 years ago. Cuicocha is open from Sunday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm and the admission price is $8. Cuicocha is located around 120 kilometers north of Quito, near Cotacachi. You could take a half day tour there for Visit their webiste, for more information: between $30 and $50 depending on how exclusive the tour https://teleferico.com.ec/ is. There are regular buses that cost around $3 they will take you there.
Cuicocha is open from Friday to Sunday from 9am until 6pm and there is not admission price but you can take a boat in order to cross around the water by $5. QUILOTOA TREN DE LA NARIZ DEL DIABLO A lake inside a volcano Cross the Andes mountain range by train QUILOTOA TREN DE LA NARIZ DEL DIABLO The Quilotoa lagoon is located to the south east of the city The Ecuadorian railway network that crosses the Andes through of Quito, within the Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve, in the the Alausi area is known worldwide for its vertiginous journeys. province of Cotopaxi. This wonderful lagoon of volcanic origin is very famous for its turquoise waters and is Its interior is made of wood, with large windows that open with a surrounded by typical vegetation of the Andean páramo. In simple latch; At the top there are some cloth nets, to leave this note, we invite you to know what to do in Quilotoa once belongings. The tourist excursion offered by the state company you visit it. Tren Ecuador covers the section that goes from the town of Alausí to the Sibambe station. 7 things to do there: 1. Get to know the viewpoints of Shalalá and Quilotoa The journey lasts about 30 minutes, descending from 2,300 2. Make the walk to the Quilotoa lagoon meters above sea level to 1,800 meters, overcoming a 500 meter 3. Visit a Quilotoa craft workshop in the community of Tigua drop, allowing the presence of various microclimates along the 4. Visit the Toachi River Canyon route. 5. Walk around the lagoon - “Quilotoa Loop” If you visit Alausí, you will most likely do it from Quito. It is best to 6. Kayak in the lagoon travel by private car or bus to the city of Riobamba, just three 7. Camp in Quilotoa hours from the capital.
To get to Quilotoa from the city of Quito, you must first go to Route: Alausí - Sibambe -‐ Alausí the city of Latacunga. You can take public transport at the Price: $ 25.00 USD Quitumbe Terrestrial Terminal, located south of the city of Hours: 08:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. Quito. The buses to the city of Latacunga leave frequently, 5:30 p.m. the cost of the ticket is approximately $2.50 and the For the boarding process the tourist. must be duration of this trip is approximately 01h30 min. 30 min before the time of. PAILÓN DEL DIABLO Crack to the sky
CULUMPIO DEL FIN DEL MUNDO Balanced towards the end of the world BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA The name of Baños de Agua Santa is due to the thermal waters of the area, being considered curative.
Baños, also known as Baños de Agua Santa, is an Ecuadorian city. It is located in the center of the Inter-Andean Region of Ecuador, very close to the geometric center of the Ecuadorian territory; on the outer flanks of the eastern cordillera of the Andes, between the Pastaza River, the Bascún River and the slopes of the Tungurahua volcano, at an altitude of 1820 m.a.s.l., and with a tropical rainy climate of 19 °C on average.
Tourism in one of the most important activities of Baños de Agua Santa, therefore, since recent years, it has been in constant change and innovation. The city has a growing reputation as a tourist destination due to its privileged location at the entrance to the Amazon rainforest, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Sports: rafting, canopy, canyoning, puenting and down hill.
Activities Cost ($) Transportation 15 Accommodation + 15 per day Food + 10 per day Touristic places + 25 PARQUE NACIONAL YASUNÍ Discover the Amazon rainforest in its natural state
MERA Where life is born AMAZON RAINFOREST Welcome to the Amazon Rainforest, the largest remaining area of tropical rainforest in the world. Also, the place with the most buzzing, cracking, trilling, roaring and howling live! from all over the planet. Did you know that an Amazonian tree can host more species of ants than all the British Isles combined? Or that in a single hectare of Amazon forest can inhabit the same number of species of frogs as in the entire territory of North America? The vast expanse of the jungle is home to more than 20% of the total vascularized plant species on Earth. Here it is possible to find a monkey so small that it can sit on the tip of a finger, a toad that weighs up to eight pounds, a spider that feeds on birds, and the largest snake in the world, the anaconda, that can reach to measure up to 30 feet.
The city of Mera is among the 20 places that rain the most in the world. At the beginning it was used as a resting place for the caravans of the settlers that traveled to the city of Puyo, along narrow, muddy paths and difficult access in rainy seasons. The city of Mera was declared by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund International), “Gift for the earth”.
Yasuní is a very remote area because it is deep in the Amazon rainforest. It is famous for its extraordinary biodiversity and its authentic indigenous cultures. Here, the chances of seeing large amounts of wildlife and unique animals are very high.
Tours inside Amazon Cost ($) Mera (2 days) + 100 Yasuní (3 days) + 360 Cuyabeno (3 days) + 250 Napo (4 days) + 500 RUTA DEL SOL Tourism in all the beaches of Ecuador RUTA DEL SOL The Ruta del Sol, also known as the Manabí-Santa Elena Route, is the name given to a part of the Ecuadorian coast, on the shores of the Gulf of Guayaquil. It is a natural and cultural space of great importance for tourism in the coastal strip of Ecuador.
The Ruta del Sol is part of the “Ruta del Spondylus”, which covers all the provinces of the Ecuadorian coast, from north to south, also including Loja and northern Peru. Both share similar objectives for sustainable development, considering tourism as a key factor for this region.
Traveling the Ruta del Sol from south to north, it begins in Salinas, a modern city with beautiful beaches, condominiums, five-star hotels, yacht clubs and shopping centers, home to important sports and beauty events. From one of its cliffs you can see the fabulous spectacle of the El Niño and Humboldt currents clashing.
The cost for a complete tour of 5 days is $300 GALÁPAGOS Dive into enchanted islands GALÁPAGOS The Galapagos Islands (also the Galapagos Islands and officially the Colón Archipelago or the Galapagos Archipelago) constitute an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean located 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador. It is made up of thirteen large islands with an area greater than 10 km², nine medium islands with an area of 1 km² to 10 km² and another 107 small islets, as well as rocky promontories of a few square meters, distributed around the equatorial line. that together with the Malay Archipelago, they are the only archipelagos on the planet that have lands in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
7 days escape to the galapagos islands
From + $1,376 per person plus taxes Discover the most remote islands of the Galapagos for 7 days aboard expedition cruises. The most iconic species of the islands and their beautiful landscapes await you.
*Price tag fees may vary. Prepare your tummy! Let´s talk about traditional food
AGUADO DE SHRIMP RICE GALLINA Rice mixed with Thick soup made shrimp, peppers, with chicken, rice, achiote. potatoes, onions, peppers,vegetables ( + $5) ( + $3)
SEAFOOD CHURRASCO RICE Steak with fried Made wirh rice egg, rice, french cooked in seafood fries, ripe plantains broth sauteed with ( + $12) shriimp
( + $6) PESCADO GUATITA ENCOCADO Ecuadorian stripe Fish seasoned with stew citrus and spices and then cooked in ( + $5) coconut milk ( + $5)
EMPANADAS MAITO DE VERDE A papillot with fish Green plantain weapped in bijao or empanadas with kwan panga leaves cheese filling ( + $5)
( + $2) HORNADO CUY Baked pork, Baked vegetables guinea pig, and avocado potatoes and ( + $4) vegetables ( + $25)
ENCEBOLLADO FANESCA is a fish broth bacalao, with cassave, zapallo, tomatoe, onion and lemon beans ( + $10) ( + $3) Do you want to shop in grocery stores, looking for cultural events, buy some clothes, cosmetics or handicrafts in Quito?! SCALA SAN LUIS SHOPPING SHOPPING Located in the north of Located in the Valley Quito of Chillos, near to ESPE university
PASEO MERCADO Located in the north of ARTESANAL Quito, near to San Located in the center Francisco university of Quito, buy handicraft Which is the way Ecuadorians speak? Chulla Vida! Only one life! No sea mailto Not be bad ¿Qué más ve? What´s up? De una As soon as possible or ASAP Pana Friend Mijo o mija Friend Chachay What cold it is! (weather) Arrarray What hot it is! (weather) Mucha Kiss Caleta House Guagua Kid Estoy chiro I have no money Miti-miti Half-and-half Turro Ugly Camellando Working BASIC LIVING COST Source: www.numbeo.com
In Quito In Guayaquil In Cuenca In Loja Meals: Meals: Meals: Meals: Low rate/cheap + $1.75 Low rate/cheap + $1.50 Low rate/cheap + $1.75 Low rate/cheap + $1.50 (Normal lunch) (Normal lunch) (Normal lunch) (Normal lunch) High rate/expensive + $3.75 High rate/expensive + $3.50 High rate/expensive + $3.00 High rate/expensive + $3.00 (Expensive restaurant) (Expensive restaurant) (Expensive restaurant) (Expensive restaurant) Super High rate + $6.00 Super High rate + $6.25 Super High rate + $6.00 Super High rate + $4.50 (Meal at McDonalds) (Meal at McDonalds) (Meal at McDonalds) (Meal at McDonalds) Beer + $1.75 Beer + $1.50 Beer + $1.50 Beer + $1.50 Artesanal beer + $2.50 Artesanal beer + $2.50 Artesanal beer + $2.50 Artesanal beer + $2.50 Imported beer + $3.00 Imported beer + $3.50 Imported beer + $2.50 Imported beer + $2.50 Water + $0.50 Water + $0.53 Water + $0.48 Water + $0.45 Coffee shop + $2.50 Coffee shop + $2.25 Coffee shop + $2.10 Coffee shop + $1.90
Transportation: Transportation: Transportation: Transportation: One way ticket + $0.25 One way ticket + $0.30 One way ticket + $0.30 One way ticket + $0.30 Subway + $0.50 Inter-provincial bus + $5.00 Inter-provincial bus + $5.00 Inter-provincial bus + $5.00 Inter-provincial bus + $5.00 (Depend on the distance, it can (Depend on the distance, it can (Depend on the distance, it can (Depend on the distance, it can change) change) change) change) Standard taxi route + $1.50 Standard taxi route + $1.50 Standard taxi route + $1.25 Standard taxi route + $1.50 BASIC LIVING COST Source: www.numbeo.com In Quito In Guayaquil In Cuenca In Cuenca Per person / Day: Per person / Day: Per person / Day: Per person / Day: + $18 / Day + $17 / Day + $14 / Day + $14 / Day
Include: Include: Include: Include: Meals 3 times a day, water Meals 3 times a day, water Meals 3 times a day, water Meals 3 times a day, water and transportation and transportation and transportation and transportation
Per person / Month: Per person / Month: Per person / Month: Per person / Month: + $400 / Month + $325 / Month + $300 / Month + $300 / Month
Include: Include: Include: Include: Meals 3 times a day for a Meals 3 times a day for a Meals 3 times a day for a Meals 3 times a day for a month, daily transportation month, daily transportation month, daily transportation month, daily transportation and additional cost for and additional cost for and additional cost for and additional cost for shopping and traveling shopping and traveling shopping and traveling shopping and traveling
(The costs will be lower if (The costs will be lower if (The costs will be lower if (The costs will be lower if the food and the food and the food and the food and accommodation are accommodation are accommodation are accommodation are provided) provided) provided) provided) Apparently, the plumbing system in all of Ecuador was not planned with toilet paper in mind. So wherever you go there's a trash can next to the toilet overflowing with used toilet paper. As you can imagine bathrooms don't smell too good. When out and about you may also stumble upon nudity without expecting it. It's not uncommon to see people in their yard bathing naked or almost naked. In conversation, we tend to avoid topics that will embarrass the person we are conversing with. Ecuadorian children, however, can be especially direct. Questions that we would consider offensive or hurtful just need to be shrugged off. Examples..."What are all those spots on your face?" or "How much did you pay for that?“ One of the hardest culture shocks for me in Ecuador is the food. I still tend to loose my appetite when I see chicken feet or cow hooves floating in my soup. Buying meat is a culture shock all it's own. The meat hangs in big slabs and the vendor will cut off the chunk you want. There's usually no refrigeration. To live in Ecuador "you can't be afraid of a little dirt." The natural beauty of Ecuador is amazing, but sometimes the manners of the people is lacking. Nothing is thought of spitting, peeing, and worse in public. In Ecuador, life is much slower that in "rat race" countries. This can be annoying if you aren't used to it. One popular phrase is "ya mismo," which technically means "any minute now." But in reality, it could be a long period of time. If you ask a local when the will bus come, they will more than likely say "ya mismo." Which really seems to mean that they know it's coming, but no one knows when exactly. So the "ya mismo" could be 15, 20 minutes or more. The saying "why do tomorrow, what you can do today" has no meaning in Ecuador. Everything can wait until tomorrow. Pierina Corro Local Exchange Coordinator Leonardo Tapia Roberto José Haro Sevilla of IAAS Ecuador – UTEQ National Exchange Coordinator Local Exchange Coordinator of IAAS Ecuador – IASA
Andrea Calderón Eduardo Herrera National Proyect Coordinator Vice-president of Exchange IAAS Ecuador of IAAS World Hey FamilIAAS! We have established since 2015. With only 5 years of experience we have received 10+ exchange participants from Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Mexico and Chile. All of our members from each term always try their best run the operational as good as they can. We currently have 150 active members in 2020.
We will be so glad to received any time, and we are going to welcome you always in our home.
This national booklet has been done by the ExPro Team Ecuador 2020.