ABOUT ECUADOR
Ecuador is one of the smaller countries in Latin America (269,178 Km2) with a population of approximately 12.5 million inhabitants made up of mestizos (mixed blood) comprising the majority, whites, Indians, and afroamericans.
Ecuador is rich in geographical and ethnical diversity. Each of its four geographical regions (the mountains, the rainforest, the plains and the coast) have a distinctive climate, diverse vegetation, and rich cultural differences.
The economy of the high lands is primarily agrarian as well as industrial, especially in textiles. Quito, with a population of 1.5 million inhabitants is in the highland and is the capital and the seat of the government.
The ``Oriente" or the Ecuadorian Amazon area is the source of Ecuador's vast reserves of oil... as well as a paradise for eco tourism.
The Galapagos Islands are the principal tourist attraction because of the unique and varied ecological characteristics that have made them one of the worlds most important natural reserves.
Guayaquil, is Ecuador's principal port and has a population of over 2 million inhabitants. It is the gateway to the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador (Playas, Salinas, Manglaralto, Montanita) and Galapagos Islands. It is also considered the commercial and industrial capital of Ecuador. The primary economic activities in the coastal regions are the export of bananas, shrimp, cacao, tuna as well as many industrial goods