Ecuador: Fact Sheet
Currency
Ecuador adopted the United States dollar (USD) as its currency in 2000.
Travel visas
Most travellers entering Ecuador as tourists, including citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the EU, Canada and the USA, do not require visas.
Upon entry, you will be issued a T-3 embarkation card, which is valid for 90 days. To obtain a 90-day extension (for a total of 180 days) go to the Jefatura Provincial de Migración (tel: 02 224 7510; Isla Seymour 1152 near Río Coca, Quito) one weekday before your initial 90 days expires.
Climate
There are four main regions in Ecuador with varied climates:
La Costa (Coastal lowlands): The coastal lowlands to the west of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy. Piedra Blanca is located between the lowlands and the highlands – the climate is very pleasant.
La Sierra (Highlands region): The highlands region has a much cooler climate which varies according to altitude. The average temperature in the capital city of Quito (2,800m) during the day is 66 °F (18.9 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C).
There are two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season (summer) runs from June to September and the wet season (winter) is from October to May.
El Oriente (Amazon region): The Amazon region in the east of Ecuador experiences a humid and rainy climate year round; July and August are the wettest months, September through December the driest. It’s usually as hot here as it is on the coast – 25 °C (77 °F)..
The Galápagos Islands: The mainland coastal areas and the Galápagos Islands are both influenced by ocean currents and are hot and rainy between January and April with strong and bright sunshine in the morning hours. If you hit the beaches between May and December, it rarely rains and the temperature is a few degrees cooler.
Staying healthy!
Drink bottled water if you want to avoid getting ill. It can be purchased almost everywhere (even in the most remote places) for well under $.25-.50.
It is advisable to get a typhoid vaccination, and possibly a yellow fever vaccination, depending on your specific area of travel.
Outside the major cities and tourist areas, malaria and dengue fever can be a problem along the coast during the rainy season.
Food
Basic meals can be purchased for less than $2.00, or it is possible to pay close to U.S. prices in the tourist areas, especially for food from Western-style restaurants.
If you’re on a tight budget, a good and local meal to order is an almuerzo (lunch) or a merienda (dinner). These usually consist of a soup, a meat main course and a dessert for around $1.00-$2.00.
Accommodation
There are many low-cost hostels throughout Ecuador. Hostels in smaller towns are often privately owned homes that welcome travellers. Generally there is scope to find very good accommodation for around $6.00-$14.00.
Electricity & plugs
120V
60Hz
Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin
