The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. Touch down in its picture-perfect capital, Quito, and you are no more than a day's drive from a slog through all-swallowing Amazonian jungle, a snow swept ascent of an active volcano, a sociable haggle with indigenous artesanos or a welcome wallow on a tropical beach. And all that in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada.

Squint your eyes at a map of the region and Ecuador looks something like a grinning skull, gazing across the Pacific at its lone 'overseas' holding, the blissfully distant Galápagos Islands. Owned by Ecuador since 1832, the far-flung islands are lauded as one of the world's greatest natural history treasures, their unique diversity of plant and animal life providing a living textbook for ecologists and oglers alike. It'll cost you plenty to get out to see them, but when you weigh that against the immense affordability of mainland adventuring and the rarity of the experience, you'll be hard pressed to let your purse strings tie you down.

Economic information summary:

Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Area: 283,520 sq km (175,780 sq mi)
Population: 12,920,092 (growth rate: 2.1%)
Capital city: Quito (pop 1.5 million)
People: 40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
Language: Spanish, Quechua, Quichua, other indigenous languages
Religion: Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations
Government: Democracy
President: Alfredo Palacio
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
GDP growth (2005 est): 3.8%
GDP per head: US$4,800
Inflation: 2.79%
Foreign Investment: 1.332 US dolar millions
Major industries: Oil, bananas, shrimp, fish, coffee, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Major trading partners: US, Latin America, EU, Asia, Caribbean

Quito, the capital:

The capital of Ecuador is arguably the most beautiful city in South America. Located 2850m (9350ft) above sea level and just 22km (14mi) south of the equator, it boasts a wonderful springlike climate in a spectacular setting. Vistas in Quito are dominated by mountains, with several snowcapped volcanoes standing sentinel in the distance; the city itself sits at the foot of 4700m (15,400ft). Architecturally, Quito has plenty of colonial treasures, and modern building has been strictly controlled in the old town since 1978, when it was declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. The old center is full of whitewashed houses, red tiled roofs and colonial churches, with no flashing neon to disrupt the ambiance of the past. The northern part of the city is the new town, containing modern offices, embassies, shopping centers and airline offices.

Geography:

Border countries:  Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf:  claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
Territorial sea:  200 NM
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes: lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point:  Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land:  6%
Permanent crops:  5%
Permanent pastures:  18%
Forests and woodland:  56%
Other:  15% (1993 est.) 
Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment - international agreements: party to:  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

The Exotic Blends Co. Copyright 2005 All rigths reserved

Plantain chips, Banana, tropical fruti, Musa Paradisiaca, Plantains, Ecuador is the largest banana exporter in the world, Plantains, Musaceae, Musa Paradisiaca, Fresh, green plantains, ripe plantains, platanitos, chifles, chipilos, tostones or patacones, banana chips, partially ripened bananas, coconut oil, corn oil, honey deep, snacks, healty snacks, natural, fresh, fiesta, fun, foods, potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, quality, corn party, tropical chips, ara food corp, inpromas, ecofrut, costa rica, caribe, Jamaica, vitarroz, tajaditas de platano, mariquitas, ocho rios, sweet plantain chips, maduritos, el isleño, platanitas caribas, taquitos, tex mex, Mexican food, nachos, high potassium, 0% cholesterol, crispy, natural quality, sial, anuga, fancy food show, gourmet award, ripe plantains, mariani, el sembrador, Celebes, tialandia, lucia, bansi, goya foods, dominica, Jamaica, caribe, la dominica, plantain slices, maduro sweet, dominico harton, dominico, fia, Cavendish, banana, barraganete, maqueño, platano macho, yuca chips, cassava, yuca slices, yucca, spicy , gourmet coffee, amazon rain forest, suaces, preserves, banana chips, nougat, macadamia nougat, natural food, exotic food, ethnic food, exotic spice, ethnic food, gourmet gift, bananas recipe, gourmet basket, quito ecuador, syrup, the amazon rainforest, amazon jungle, cotopaxi, ethnic recipe, amazon forest, exotic fruit, mango, amazonia, ceviche, locro, exotic food, rainforest conservation, dried, fried, recipes, ecuador, tropical food, tropical fruits, sauces, banana chips, banana preserves, exotic fruits preserves, coffee marmalade, coffee preserve, jungle juice, ginger zinger, quechua magic, andean delight, banana vinegar, chilli, cumin, tamarind, experience rainforest magic, amazon, indian, rainforest, ecuador, shop, south america, banana republic, exotic, banana, amazon rainforest, natural, gourmet, food, exotic gourmet food, gourmet food, gourmet, tropical rainforest, galapagos, Plantain chips, Banana, tropical fruti, Musa Paradisiaca, Plantains, Ecuador is the largest banana exporter in the world, Plantains, Musaceae, Musa Paradisiaca, Fresh, green plantains, ripe plantains, platanitos, chifles, chipilos, tostones or patacones, banana chips, partially ripened bananas, coconut oil, corn oil, honey deep, snacks, healty snacks, natural, fresh, fiesta, fun, foods, potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, quality, corn party, tropical chips, ara food corp, inpromas, ecofrut, costa rica, caribe, Jamaica, vitarroz, tajaditas de platano, mariquitas, ocho rios, sweet plantain chips, maduritos, el isleño, platanitas caribas, taquitos, tex mex, Mexican food, nachos, high potassium, 0% cholesterol, crispy, natural quality, sial, anuga, fancy food show, gourmet award, ripe plantains, mariani, el sembrador, Celebes, tialandia, lucia, bansi, goya foods, dominica, Jamaica, caribe, la dominica, plantain slices, maduro sweet, dominico harton, dominico, fia, Cavendish, banana, barraganete, maqueño, platano macho, yuca chips, cassava, yuca slices, yucca, spicy , gourmet coffee, amazon rain forest, suaces, preserves, banana chips, nougat, macadamia nougat, natural food, exotic food, ethnic food, exotic spice, ethnic food, gourmet gift, bananas recipe, gourmet basket, quito ecuador, syrup, the amazon rainforest, amazon jungle, cotopaxi, ethnic recipe, amazon forest, exotic fruit, mango, amazonia, ceviche, locro, exotic food, rainforest conservation, dried, fried, recipes, ecuador, tropical food, tropical fruits, sauces, banana chips, banana preserves, exotic fruits preserves, coffee marmalade, coffee preserve, jungle juice, ginger zinger, quechua magic, andean delight, banana vinegar, chilli, cumin, tamarind, experience rainforest magic, amazon, indian, rainforest, ecuador, shop, south america, banana republic, exotic, banana, amazon rainforest, natural, gourmet, food, exotic gourmet food, gourmet food, gourmet, tropical rainforest, galapagos