Ecuador

The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. Touch down in its picture-perfect capital, Quito, and you are no more than a day's drive from a slog through all-swallowing Amazonian jungle, a snow swept ascent of an active volcano, a sociable haggle with indigenous artesanos or a welcome wallow on a tropical beach. And all that in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada.

Full country name : Republic of Ecuador
Area : 283,520 sq km (175,780 sq mi)
Population : 12,920,092 (growth rate: 2.1%)
Capital city : Quito (pop 1.5 million)
People : 40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
Language : Spanish, Quechua, Quichua, other indigenous languages
Religion : Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations
Government : Democracy
President : Lucio Gutiérrez GDP: US$58.7 billion
GDP per head : US$4,800
Inflation :43%
Major industries : Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Major trading partners : US, South America, EU, Asia, Caribbean

More about Ecuador :

Quito - facts and information about Ecuador's capital city.

Andean Food - some information about the food of the Andes.

The Galapagos Islands - Ecuador's unqiue offshore wildlife experience.

Galapagos Islands History - Information about the discovery and colonization of the Galapagos Islands.