Location: North Western South America, on the Pacific coast, bordering Colombia and Peru
Capital: Quito
Tourist Attractions: Ecuador is a small but exceptionally beautiful nation in the rugged Andean highlands. Ecuador is famous for its lush tropical rainforests, volcanic landscapes, well-preserved colonial architecture, and an amazing variety of wildlife. The major tourist destinations in Ecuador include Quito, famous for its natural beauty and colonial charm; Cuenca, a colonial town; Galápagos Islands, a World Heritage site; Isla Bartolomé (volcanic island) famous for penguins and sea lions; Parque Nacional Cotopaxi (national park); Paraque Nacional Sangay, also a World Heritage site; and Refugio De Vida Silvestre (forest reserve). Visitors can enjoy activities like scuba diving, sailing, hiking, skiing, climbing, trekking, bird-watching, deep-sea fishing and whale watching.
Access: Ecuador has two international airports - Quito and Guayaquil- with frequent direct flights to many US cities like Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, which are directly connected from Europe, Asia and Australia. Some airlines also operate from Central and South American countries. Regular passenger cruises from Europe and the US West Coast also go to Guayaquil, the main seaport of Ecuador. Budget travelers may travel to Lima, Peru by air, and then take a bus to Quito
Climate: Ecuador enjoys a warm subtropical climate along the coast, with cooler Andean mountainous regions inland. Coastal areas receive high rainfall throughout the year.