Ecuador Travel Information
Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
Travel Climate
Because of variations in altitude, Ecuador has a variety of climates. The lowlands are generally hot and humid. Temperatures on the coast are moderated by the Humboldt Current to a range of 65°F to 90°F. Temperatures in the Sierra are generally cool, ranging from 35°F to 75°F. Due to the altitude and thin air, temperature in direct sunlight can reach 85°F at midday. In the evenings it can range from pleasantly cool to very chilly. The tallest mountains are always snowcapped, but it never snows in the inhabited altitudes, although it hails occasionally. During the Sierra dry season, from June through September, gusty winds are common.
In Quito the temperature pattern rarely changes from day to day or month to month. Mornings are cool and crisp, and midday is agreeably warm, unless skies are overcast. Fog and mist may occur in the mornings or evenings as low-lying clouds spill over the sides of the valley. Since Quito is such a short distance from the Equator, sunrise and sunset vary only slightly from 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Average annual rainfall in Quito is 50 inches, with 43 inches falling from October through May, and 7 inches from June through September. Relative humidity averages 75%. Occasional tremors are registered in the area; these may or may not be perceptible to residents. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are infrequent but do remain a possibility.
Travel Currency
1
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Ethnic Groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
National Holiday
Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Geographic Coordinates
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru