ECUADOR
TRAVEL INFORMATION
CURRENCY: United States Dollar ($)
VOLTAGE: Same as United States. Costa Rica outlets and voltage are
compatible with all electronic devices from the US.
INTERNET: In the Galapagos, internet may be available for $5-10 per hour
in populated towns such as Puerto Ayora, but will not be available during
our time at sea.
TELEPHONE: Like internet, public telephones will be available in larger
towns in the Galapagos, but we will have very limited phone-time while
moving between islands, as many are uninhabited. A $6 international
calling card (bought in Ecuador) will give you 20-30 minutes of talking
time. International Calling Code is +593.
ATM, CASH, AND CREDIT CARDS: There are ATM’s in Puerto Ayora
and we’ll have a chance to take out some cash when we arrive, although
travelers won’t need to carry much money for our other destinations.
Credit cards are also widely accepted in Puerto Ayora. Program leaders
will help students find the right balance in how to handle spending
money.
LAUNDRY: Laundry services may not be available during our visit, so
come prepared with a packet of powder soap for use throughout the trip.
Travelers are responsible for the costs associated with any kind of laundry
service we may be offered.
LUGGAGE: The Galapagos is an archipelago, which means we’ll have
to move around quite a bit to visit different islands. As such, the more
manageable your luggage is, the happier you’ll be. Remember, you’ll
be responsible for carrying everything you bring with you. In many cases
large rolling suitcases are not ideal; a better option is traveling with two
backpacks, one large for the majority of your belongings and the other
a smaller size for use during day trips. But if new luggage is not in your
budget no worries; a traditional suitcase works fine. Don’t forget a few
large plastic bags to isolate wet or dirty clothing.
VISA CONCERNS: No visa is required for US citizens entering Ecuador.
Passports are required and should be valid for 6 months after our arrival
date.
CUISINE: Ecuadorian cuisine varies greatly with altitude but usually
consists of a traditional three-course meal of soup, followed by meat or
fish served with rice, and dessert or a coffee to finish. Rice and corn are
among the typical grains found in the highlands, in addition to a variety
of potatoes. Seafood is a prominent element in coastal regions, where
ceviche with plantains is a common dish.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Capital
Quito
Location
West Coast of South
America, South of
Colombia and North of
Peru (0ºN, 78ºW)
National Language
Spanish
Population
15,223,000
Size
99,706 sq miles
Economy:
Petroleum, agriculture, and
aquaculture, and tourism
are the major contributors
to Latin America’s 8th
largest economy.
Structure
Ecuador is a presidential
republic made up of 7
regions, further divided into
24 provinces.
ECUADOR
SUGGESTED
NONFICTION
The Voyage of the Beagle
by Charles Darwin
Galapagos: A Natural
History, Revised and
Expanded
by Michael H. Jackson
The Reluctant Mr. Darwin
by David Quammen
Ecuador
The Galapagos Affair
by John Treherne
My Father’s Island
by Johanna Angermeyer
The Arcturus Adventure
by William Beebe
FUN FACTS
•
The colors of the flag are yellow for the diversity in the country,
blue for the sky and the sea, and red for the blood of those who
fought for independence.
•
Ecuador was the first nation in 2008 to declare that nature has
constitutional rights.
•
At 2,800 meters, the capital city of Quito is the second highest
capital in the world.
•
Ecuador was colonized by the Spanish in 1563. They gained
independence from Spain in 1822 after defeating Spanish forces
and from Gran Colombia in 1830, making it one of the only
countries to celebrate two independence days.
•
The Galapagos Islands lie 950km west of Ecuador and were made
a part of the nation in 1832. They are famous for their unique
wildlife and as the location where Charles Darwin formed his
theory of evolution.
•
Chimborazo is an inactive volcano that is the highest point in
Ecuador. Due to its position near the Equator it is known as the
The Beak of the Finch: A
Story of Evolution in Our
Time by Jonathan Weiner
Galapagos: World’s End
by William Beebe
The Enchanted Islands: The
Galapagos Discovered
by John Hickman
ECUADOR
COSTA
RICA
FICTION READING
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
Enchanted Isles by Herman Melville
Fire from the Andes: Short Fiction by Women from
Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru by Susan E. Benner
Lost in the Andes by Myrna Ericksen
FEATURE FILMS
WEBSITES
Proof of Life (2000)
A Titan in the Ring (2002)
News
Ecuador News: http://www.ecuadornews.com.ec
Que Tan Lejos (How Much
Further) (2006)
Current Events
CNN: http://topics.cnn.com/topics/ecuador
A Tus Espaldas (2011)
Environmental Issues
The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/
regions/southamerica/ecuador/index.htm
Mongabay: http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20ecuador.htm
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Gender Issues
Social Institutions and Gender Index: http://genderindex.org/
country/ecuador
Health Issues
InterNations: http://www.internations.org/ecuador-expats/guide/
living-in-ecuador-15683/health-in-ecuador-2
Galapagos: Beyond
Darwin (1996)
BBC Earth: Galapagos
(2006)
Galapagos, Starring Tilda
Swinton (2007)
Cosmos Global
Documentaries:
Galapagos (2008)
www.walkingtree.org | [email protected] | P 303.396.5653 | F 720.306.3204 | PO BOX 18636 | Denver, CO 80218 | USA