- Geography
- Political
- Economy
- Social
- Phone Numbers
- Schools
- Immigration
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- More Information
Capital: Quito
Area: 276,840 SQ KM
Population: 14,573,101 (2009 est.)
Major Industries: Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textile, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Location
Ecuador consists of four regions: the Coast, the Andes, the Amazon Region, and the Galapagos Islands. It’s located on the equator, in South America, which means that the territory is found on both hemispheres. On the north shares the border with Colombia, and at south and east with Peru.
Climate
The dry season is from May to November and the rainy season is from December to April.
Ecuador is a representative democracy and the government is divided into three branches; executive, legislative, and judicial.
American Dollar
Banking
Ecuador has a private banking system. The major banks are:
- Banco del Pichincha: http://wwwp1.pichincha.com/web/index.php
- Produbanco: http://www.produbanco.com/GFPNet/
- Bank of Guayaquil: http://www.bancoguayaquil.com/bg/
Spanish is the official language, however English is also spoken and Quichua, which is spoken by certain groups.
Religion
Roman Catholics make up 95% of the population while other religious groups make up the remaining 5%.
Shopping
In Ecuador there are many places to go shopping; from small markets to big shopping malls. Arts and crafts (in Spanish, artesanía) such as weavings, wood carvings, rugs, toys and clothes can be found in the smaller markets. Brand name clothing such as Liz Claiborne, Nine West, Diesel, and Tower records stores can be found in the Quicentro Mall. There are also food courts where familiar fast food restaurants such as KFC and Taco Bell are found as well as traditional Ecuadorian food. The main malls in Quito are:
- Quicentro Mall
- El Jardin Mall
- Inaquito Mall
- El Bosque Mall
Shopping hours are usually Mon-Sat from 9:00am-6:00pm. Sunday hours vary depending on the store.
Restaurants
Food in Ecuador is diverse and is usually centered on a variety of potatoes, corn and fruit. There is a wide selection of exotic fruits, which are typically made into juices. Chicken and pork are usually served with rice, beans, potatoes and/or “patacones”, which are fried and mashed plantains. International cuisine such as, Chinese, Indian and Mexican which are the most popular, can also be found in most tourist towns.
Entertainment
There are many places to visit in Quito. For example, Plaza de la Independencia or Independence Plaza has a huge Cathedral called ‘El Sagrario’. Ipiales is an open-air market that covers many city blocks where local crafts can be bought. There is also, Carolina Park, which has many concert pavilions, green areas, and playing fields. Another major attraction located about thirteen kilometers from Quito is the Mitad Del Mundo or 'Middle of the World'. Here is the point which has been defined as the exact location of the equator and is marked by a monument that can be ridden to the top to get a view of the local countryside.
Police: 101
Emergency: 911
Fire: 102
Telephone Operator: 114
Directory Enquiries: 104
The Ecuadorian educational system consists of the following levels; Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, primary, and secondary education which are mandatory for all Ecuadorians. College and university studies are optional and depend on the academic ability and financial resources of the student. Ecuador offers public and private schools and universities of high quality education that are accredited by educational institutions worldwide and whose facilities are mostly bilingual (Spanish-English). Some offer a third language such as French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese and Mandarin. To attend an educational institution it is necessary to proceed with the admissions process, such as paying a fee to reserve a space in the class and taking admission tests, which also have a cost. All documents requested must be accredited by the school or educational institution from which the student is being transferred and must be duly certified, notarized with its corresponding apostle at the Ecuadorian Consulate in the country of origin.
Currently, most visitors do not need a tourist visa to visit Ecuador, only a passport that must be valid for at least 6 months and that will allow a stay of up to 3 months in the country. Ecuador has two types of visas, immigrant and nonimmigrant. The most commonly applied for visa for those who will work in the country is a temporary visa 9-IV, which is valid for 6 months and which is necessary to obtain a permanent work visa 12-VI, which is valid for 2 years and can be renewed. The procedure for obtaining a work visa usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks. Other types of visas may take longer depending on the type of visa required. Although the requirements are not the same for all visas, the following documents are necessary for most visas:
- Passport valid for 6 months
- Notarized color copies of passport
- Visa Application Form
- Two passport size photographs with white background
- Letter requesting visa signed by the legal representative of the sponsor company
- Police Criminal Record
- General health certification
- Curriculum Vitae
- Professional degree
- All documents must be duly notarized and certified by the Ecuadorian Consulate in the country of origin
Important Immigration Links
American Consulate: http://ecuador.usembassy.gov/
Ecuadorian Customs Corporation (CAE): http://www.aduana.gov.ec/contenido/procMenaje.html
Ministry of Foreign Relations: http://www.mmrree.gov.ec/
Ministry of Government and Police: http://www.mingobierno.gov.ec
Ministry of Labor: http://www.mintrab.gov.ec/MinisterioDeTrabajo/index.htm
National Council of Transit and Land Transportation: http://www.cntttsv.gov.ec/
The average cost to rent an apartment or a house varies depending on the city, industry and type of housing. The most desirable neighborhoods in the city of Quito are, Cumbaya, Campo Alegre, Quito Tenis, Sierra del Moral, Gonzalez Suarez and Jardines Del Batan.
- 1 bedroom: US $500–US $850
- 2 to 3 bedrooms: US $700-US $1,500
- 3 to 4 bedrooms: US $ 1,200-US $3,500
In the city of Guayaquil the recommended areas are, Samborondón , La Puntilla, Los Ceibos and Urdesa.
- 1 bedroom: US $700 – US $1,000
- 2 to 3 bedrooms: US $850 – US $1,800
- 3 to 4 bedrooms: US $1,500 – US $4,000
New Year’s Day: January 1st
Carnival: February
Ash Wednesday: February
Holly Thursday: April
Holly Friday: April
Labor Day: May 1st
Battle of Pichincha: May 24th
Declaration of Independence: August 10th
Independence of Guayaquil: October 9th
Columbus Day: October 12th
All Souls Day: November 2-3
Foundation of Quito: December 5-6
Christmas Day: December 25
Voltage: 120v-ac
Plugs: Standard American Plugs
Television Systems: NTS
