Ecuador At a Glance
Nowhere else on earth will you find so much natural diversity and all the fun that accompanies it in so tiny a place. Ecuador (Literally Republic of the Equator) is the second-smallest country in South America, but its range of offerings is no less than astounding. In one days drive you can journey from the Amazon Basin across glaciated Andean volcanoes, down through tropical cloud forest and into the sunset for a dinner of ceviche on the balmy Pacific coast.
The country also consists of the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador's most beloved and popular national park lies in this splendid isolation about 960 kilometers off the mainland. Made famous by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are no less enthralling now than they were a hundred years ago. Every year, thousands of curious visitors journey to the remote islands to behold the wondrously variegated wildlife that inspired The Origin of Species. Visiting the islands is a definite must see for any gap year travellers to Ecuador.
Ecuador is a patchwork of indigenous communities, including people of colonial Spanish origins and the descendants of African slaves. Its capital, Quito, once a part of the Inca Empire, has some of the best-preserved early colonial architecture on the continent.
Gap Year -Ecuador At A Glance Traditionally a farming country, Ecuador's economy was transformed after the 1960s by the growth of industry and the discovery of oil. There was rapid growth and progress in health, education and housing.
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but Quichua - an Incan language - is spoken by the Indian population. Besides Spanish, ten native languages are spoken in Ecuador. English is the most spoken foreign language amongst tourist providers and professionals, making it easy to for gap year travellers to get by with limited spanisah.
Flying in Ecuador is affordable and also convenient; you can get to where you want to go in usually no more than half an hour's flying time making this a popular option for gap year travel in Ecuador . The country's main airlines offer daily services to the main towns and cities, usually departing from Quito or Guayaquil. It's also the best way to get to the Oriente, with other modes of transport unable to access the area. Flights to the Galapagos Islands, however, can be pricey and flying time from Ecuador is around 3 hours. It's also worth noting that seats are not reserved and are given on a first come, first served basis.
Buses are a cheaper option and although most long distance journeys take a day or less, it can feel longer due to the road conditions. Buses usually leave from central terminals and it's best to buy a ticket at least a few hours in advance to reserve a seat. Local buses are often very cheap but also very crowded. Taxis are a good option for short journeys or day tips out of cities if hired for the day and can be cheaper than car rental. Taximeters are in existence but not always switched on so it's best to agree on a price before the journey begin