Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean nations located in South America. It is bordered by Colombia to the North and Northeast, and by Peru to the South and Southeast. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures and well-preserved colonial architecture, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America.

Ecuador has four diverse regions: the Amazon rain forest, western coastal lowlands, the highland Andes, and the Galapagos Archipelago. These four regions are subdivided into 22 provinces. The central highlands are composed of two volcanic ranges separated by a central valley which is where much of Ecuador's population lives. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and it is the second highest capital in the world at an elevation of 2,850 meters (La Paz in Bolivia is the highest at over 12,000 ft). Quito is being considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Quito is a modern city with every comfort and convenience readily available, yet it retains a large historic district which has been designated a UNESCO cultural heritage site.

Ecuador is one of the countries with highest biodiversity in the world in relationship with its size. It is an extraordinary destination full of adventure, diversity, cuisines, art, and a unique contact with ancestral cultures and nature. Ecuador is a country with a happy and generous spirit.

In a few words, Ecuador is definitively an unexplored country, rich in culture and architecture due to its Spanish and Inca heritage, vast indigenous population and broad ethnic diversity. Whatever your interest may be:

Ecuador has something to offer You !

GENERAL FACTS

 
EDUCATION AND LITERACY

Ecuador has an educational system that is a three-level, eleven-year education system based on various reforms. The first pre-primary level is for children of 3 – 5 years old. The six-year primary education is for children between 6 – 12 years old. Six-year secondary education begins at age 12 –18 years old. In 2005, only 66 % percent of school-age children attended school. At this time, Ecuador has 5 public and 15 private universities. The estimated literacy rate in Ecuador is 85%.

RELIGION

When the first conquistador planted a cross in honor of God and the King of Spain, Roman Catholicism became a hallmark of Latin American culture. Aside from Mass and annual festivals, the influence of Catholicism is still felt in education, social services, and important occasions such as marriage, funerals, baptisms, and quinceañeras, a girl’s coming-out celebration on her 15th birthday.   Protestantism continues to establish itself in Ecuador, especially evangelical sects in the more remote areas of the country. Indigenous religions are also still present, although usually mixed with Catholicism, creating a diverse combination of various religions. Other religions such as Mormonism and Judaism are also present among small groups of people.

 ETHNICS GROUPS

The population is ethnically mixed: 55% Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous), 25% Indigenous, 10% Caucasian, 9% African, and 1% other 

WEATHER

Weather and climate vary with the regions. The coast has its summer from December to April. In the winter temperatures drop but it's still rainless. In the Andes May to December is the dry season, 20-25°C in the day and cold at night. The rest of the year some rain and a slight temperature drop. The jungle has its dry season from April to October with temperatures up to 35°C. During the rainy season there is heavy rainfall and high humidity

 HEALTH

The most important sickness the tourists get on the coastal line is stomach ache. The main reason could be not well boiled food. You also have to be careful with the water you drink. We recommend drinking only bottled or boiled water. In the Andes, the main sickness is the soroche (altitude sickness), which is the reason why we recommend drinking a lot of water and acclimatizing some days before start driving trough the Andes. In the jungle you’ll need a vaccine of yellow fever, recommendable is 10 days before arriving at the jungle. You may also ask your doctor about the possibilities of taking a vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, polio or hepatitis.

 FOOD

For most Ecuadorians, the basic foods are rice, potatoes, and cassava – a starchy tuber – with fish or meat and a wide variety of fruit. Some fruits are familiar, such as bananas, pineapples, oranges, and avocados and others are less well known, such as sweet custard apples and passion fruit. Fish is popular in coastal areas and in the eastern lowlands. Favorite fish dishes are ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in lemons or limes and served with onions and chili peppers, and corvine, similar to cod, which is fried or grilled. Other popular seafood dishes include squid, shrimp, mackerel, and snapper. Large catfish found in rivers in the Amazon are occasionally used to make soups.

Soups are some of the most popular and nutritious dishes in the highlands and include many vegetables combined with pieces of pork, chicken, or beef. Many soups are more like stews. Sancocho, for example, is made with green plantains and corn, while mazamorra is a thick soup of ground corn, with cabbage, potatoes, onions, and spices. Corn is another popular food, often eaten on the cob. Potatoes, which tend to come with everything, are also cooked as potato cakes with cheese.

 MONEY

The national currency of Ecuador is the US Dollar. You can find ATM machines on every street corner which are MasterCard and Cirrus compatible. Besides we do recommend bringing one of the following credit cards only: Master Card, Visa Card and American Express Card. It is possible to bring travel checks, but remember that you have to pay a commission of 1-2% when you want to change them. Public transportation in the city costs US$ 0.25 one-way regardless of distance, a regular meal $5, drinks at bars from $1, 50 to $5 each. There are many interested places to visit in Ecuador, the average price if you take a private one day tour are between $30 - $50. If you plan to visit the Galapagos Islands you are going to spend around $1300 for 5-8 days depending of the boat. The public transportation between the main cities in Ecuador cost between US$ 5 and 12 one way. The airplane tickets for a flight between Quito-Guayaqui-Cuenca or the jungle cost approximately between $60 to $110 round trip including taxes.

Chile constitutes a country unlike any other geographically speaking: it is a long sliver of land spanning 4000 Km long and no more than 180 Km wide, limited by natural borders such as the Andes mountain range acting as a great icy barrier to the east and the Pacific ocean to the west. This characteristics have created a country distinct from any other country in Southamerica: it's westernized, stable politically and with an orderly government and the safest and most relaxing country to travel in, while it's main capital Santiago it's one of the easiest and least intimidating cities to arrive in. People are warm and hospitable, and the police are uncorrupt, polite and helpful. Recognized as a trade pioneer in Latin America, Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Due to the huge distance the country covers, Chile has a great variety of landscapes, from the immense deserts of the "Altiplano" in the north, to the giant icefileds and glaciers of "Patagonia" in the south. Chile's population of 16 million is predominantly concentrated in the Santiago and Vina del Mar regions, making it hardly noticeable throughout many parts of the country. This explains the country's many vast and untouched wilderness regions. Many of these regions have turned it into a paradise for outdoor activities and adventure tourism, however a large number of these areas still exist and are not difficult to find.

  
Useful Facts

•  Language: Spanish.

•  Currency: Chilean Peso. (US$ 1 = CLP$ 530 approx.)

•  Arrival to the country: Visas required for: New Zealand, Haiti, India, Lebanon, Egypt, Philippins, Russia. On arrival, visitors recieve a 90 day visa.

•  Taxes:VAT (locally known as IVA): 19%. Visitors paying for accommodation in US$, will have IVA automatically discounted.

•  Electricity: 220 volts

•  Communications Telephone Country code: 56, Santiago city code: (0) 2.

As the name of the country yet suggests, Costa Rica (rich coast) is a country endowed with incredible natural beauty, varying from the tropical rainforests of the lowlands, various active volcanoes and an enormous diversity in flora and fauna, that is being vigorously conserved by the extraordinary status that the Costa Rican constitution grants.  However, Costa Rica is far more than only nature: the unique cultural traditions, the relatively high development, the political and economical stability and the peacefulness (no army) of the Ticos make this country unique.

Costa Rica is a relatively small country, surrounded by Panama in the south, Nicaragua in the north, on both sides by the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, and a modern capital San José. San José is known for its pleasantly cool climate and its central location makes the city a perfect base for almost any destination within Costa Rica.
 
 The friendly and peaceful culture of the ticos, the unique nature and biodiversity in combination with the political stability definitely has converted Costa Rica in one of the most preferred travel destinations in Latin America, and besides an ideal place for intern positions and volunteer projects. Traditionally, a lot of environmental organisations and international enterprises are active in Costa Rica. So, if you are looking for an ambitious and tempting internship or volunteer position in this Spanish speaking country, then Costa Rica should be a perfect opportunity.
 
San José is the capital of Costa Rica as well as the capital of the province of San José. The city comprises an impressive amount of adjacent villages that in decades has melted with the original centre of San José. The city is actually habited by some 700 thousand people. San José was founded around 1737-1738 and its first habitants named the new settlement the name of (the holy, San) José de Nazareth. Nowadays, San José is a mix between modernity and history, and enjoys a favourable reputation as one of Central America's least violent cities. The most visited locations in San José are the National Theatre, the Gold Museum, several parks and other colonial buildings.