Ecuador is one of our favorite destinations for adventure. In December 2018, on our Ecuador: Volcanoes, Hiking, and Wildlife trip, you’ll have the chance to explore this small but extraordinary country.
Here are some facts about Ecuador to know before you go!
#1: Ecuador is home to 2 of the original UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first is Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, and the second is the Galapagos Islands.
View from the roof of the cathedral in the historic colonial center of Quito, Ecuador
#2: Speaking of the Galapagos, this archipelago of unique islands is one of the most bio-diverse places on earth and shelters many plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world!
#3: Quito has the highest elevation of any capital city in the world (9350 feet above sea level).
#4: Ecuador, named for “sitting on the Equator”, is the only country named for a geological feature.
#5: Ecuador has 4 distinct geographical areas – the Amazon jungle, the Andes mountains, the coastal region, and the Galapagos.
Two common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) playing on a tree branch
#6: You can see dolphins in the Ecuadorian waterways of the Amazon. These rare river dolphins live only in freshwater and are often pink in color.
#7: Most wildlife in the Amazon is nocturnal. One of the best ways to experience the Amazon is by hiking at night with a headlamp.
#8: Compared to other nations, Ecuador has the greatest biodiversity per square kilometer.
#9: The summit of Ecuador’s highest mountain, Mount Chimborazo, is also the point on Earth closest to the sun.
#10: The U.S. dollar became the official currency of Ecuador in the year 2000.
#11: While Spanish is the official language, Ecuador also recognizes 13 indigenous languages which are spoken throughout the country.
There is so much to see and learn in Ecuador. We are excited to have you visit with us later this year!
