The Galapagos Islands
The Highland Region
The Pacific Coast Region
The Amazon Region
General Information
Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America. It consists of the mainland and the Galapagos Islands. The privileged geographical position of this country means that there is little bit of everything, here are the enchanted Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Coast, the Andes Mountains and the vibrant Amazon.
The altitudinal range goes from 0 to 6300 meters above sea level.
The limits are to the North with Colombia, to the South and East with Peru, and to the West with the Pacific Ocean.
The name of the country is due to the imaginary line that divides the planet into two hemispheres north and south, this imaginary line named the equator was discovered in 1736 by a group of the scientific part of the French Geodesic Mission, before that what is now Ecuador was named The Royal Audience of Quito.
- Surface:: 98,985 miles or 283,560 km2 is like Colorado 269 358,7 km² or Uk 243.305 km2
- Population: 18’000’000 people – 0,90% growth rate
- Demography: It is a multiethnic and multicultural country. 71.9% of the population identifies themselves as mestizo, 7.4% as Montubio, 7.2% as Afro-Ecuadorian, 7% as indigenous, 6.1% as white, and 0.4% as other ethnicities.
- Currency: US Dollar since 2000
- Electricity: 120 Volts
- Temperature: average 24 C – 45F
- Main Cities: Quito’s Population is 2.8 million, Guayaquil’s Population 2.6 million, Cuenca’s Population is 600.000 million.
Official Language: Ecuador is a country with great ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Spanish is the official and most spoken language in the country 93% but there are at least other native languages spoken, such as
- In the Coast Region: The Awa, Awapít, Chachi, Epera, Tsáchila.
- In the Amazon Region: The Cofán, Ingae, Secoya, Siona, Paicoca, Waorani, Wao tedeo, Shiwiar, Shiwiar chicham, Zápara, Achuar, Andoa, Andoa, Kichwa, Shuar.
- In the Andes Region: The Kichwas are 14 original towns that speak kichwa.Karangues, Otavalos, Natabuelas, Kayambis, Kitu Caras, Panzaleos, Chibuleos, Quisapinchas, Salasacas, Wuarankas, Puruahes, Canaris, Paltas, Saraguro.
The language of the indigenous peoples cannot be literally translated into Spanish, since each language represents a certain vision of the world.
Through language they differentiate themselves and know who they are and to which group they belong; language is identity.
Geography
The Galapagos Islands Region:
It is a living laboratory, Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1832 aboard the Beagle, giving rise to the theory of the origin of species.
The Galapagos are located 1,000 km / 600 miles out in the Pacific, it is known worldwide for the large number of endemic species that cohabit on a total of 13 islands of which only 4 are inhabited. The cold and warm sea currents modify the climate, the continuously growing volcanic islands have created exceptional conditions where a unique collection of animals and plants cohabit the Enchanted Islands.
The weather here is not changing drastically so you can visit the Galapagos Island all year round, the weather will be pleasant.
The Galapagos warm and rainy season runs from December to May, the temperature at this time is from 22C (71F) to 32C (89F).
The Galapagos Dry or Cold season runs from July to December approximately, the highlands of the larger islands have constant misty fog, the temperature at this time is from 21C (69) to 28C (82F).
If you are diver this is the water temperature varies during the year:
December to June from 21C (70F) to 27C (80F)
July to November from 18C (65F) to 23C (75F)
Weather
Ecuador has no dramatic changes in weather, just changes in seasons: the dry and the rainy season. Here in Ecuador, the sunrise is at 06:00 am and the sunset at 06:00 pm/ 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark is always the same. So, in general weather is uniform over the year.
Here the facts that explain the weather:
The Tropics:
Provide Uniform Temperature-no Limit Factors Of Extreme Temperatures
The tropic is considered the area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
This area has the most diverse ecosystems on Earth (the largest number of species per surface) and is also the most fragile. Is an area of enormous cultural diversity.
The area is warm all year, averaging 25 to 28 Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). This is because the tropics get more exposure to the sun, they are in the widest part of the planet. Because of that, the tropics don’t experience the change of seasons the rest of the Earth does. The tropical seasons are just two: the wet season and the dry season.
The Equator Line:
Latitude 0 – Millions Of Years Of Uniform Weather
The Equator is an imaginary line that crosses and divides the globe into two equal parts, the northern hemisphere, and the southern hemisphere.
There are 13 countries that lie on the Equator. In América: Ecuador, Colombia, Brasil. In Africa: Gabon, El Congo, Uganda, Kenia, Somalia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Equatorial Guinea, Maldives Islands, Kiribati.
In Ecuador country, the Equator line divides the mainland and The Galapagos Archipelago in two, leaving most of the Ecuadorian territory in the southern hemisphere.
The Andes:
Varied Ecosystems
Ecuador’s mainland is located on the South American Plate, this plate started to separate from the African Plate approximately 100’000.000 ago creating the Atlantic Ocean since this event the South-American plate has been moved to the west, and eventually encountered the Nazca Plate which moves to the east under the Pacific Ocean.
When these plates collided, the Nazca plate began to slide under the South American plate creating this force that pushed the rise of the Andes Mountains. This process is known as subduction and it is still happening it’s responsible for volcanic activity and earthquakes.
The origin of the Andes dates from 20’000.000 years, the name Andes could be a Quechua word translated to a high crest. It constitutes one of the widest mountain ranges on the planet
The Nazca plate (moves 65 mm per year, 2 inches) under the South American plate (moves 31 mm per year). It is divided into three sections: North-Center and South Andes. This Mountain Rage provides climatic diversity therefore biotic diversity. The Andes also act as barriers that isolate populations and speciation occurs.
It is the largest Cordillera of the world with 8500 kilometers (5281.655 miles) long and the widest part of the Andes is 750 km. It is estimated that around 25% of the world’s biological diversity is found in the Andean region.
The Marine Currents:
Dryness And Wetness
Strong and constant winds push the superficial water of the Humboldt’s Current, this cold water that comes from the Antarctic is very rich in nutrients and oxygen and it brings dryness.
On the other hand, the warm Panama or El Nino current brings humidity and rain to the Coast of Ecuador, this phenomenon occurs every 3 years the warm water stays on the Pacific Coast and it causes rain.
About Explore & Conquer
Vision
Explore&Conquer is a B2C business specialized in creating tailored proposals in terms of travel experiences. Our purpose is to guide, support and complete travel projects for clients who like to explore and connect through experiences that match their interests and life projects.
Mission
Explore&Conquer es un negocio B2C especializado en crear propuestas a la medida en cuanto a experiencias de viajes, nuestro propósito es orientar, apoyar y concretar proyectos de viaje a clientes que gustan de explorar y conectar a través de experiencias que van de acuerdo a sus intereses y proyectos de vida.
Values
We care about people, you are our reason for being, we are loyal to a sustainable, honest business model in which respect for nature and human value are essential.
Services
Private Guide
Languages: English and Spanish
At Explore&Conquer we work with a team of specialized and experienced guides to meet your needs. Our guides are here to accompany you whatever the focus of your trip is: whether it´s for a high mountain ascent, a cultural visit or for a specific project. We are here to facilitate your trip, ensure a safe stay and make sure you receive all the essential information you need. Whether for an individual traveler or a group, we have the experience to make your travel experience enriching!
Transport
We offer private transportation, so you feel safe and do not have to worry about anything. We offer a wide range of services, from a shuttle service between the airport and your hotel till several day of services. Whether you are a single person or a group, we have vehicles at your disposal.
Tailor Made Experiences
Ecuador land Tours – Galapagos Tours
The expertise and experience are at your service to help you plan your dream trip! Let us know your needs and budget and we will provide a tailor made itinerary. Whether you want to visit the Galapagos, the coast, the Amazon, the Andes, climb volcanoes, visit communities, live an authentic cultural experience, bird and mammal watching, photography, I will be happy to organize them
Day Tours
Yanacocha Reserve
Nature And Birdwatching
The Yanacocha reserve is located 30 kilometers (18,64 miles) by car at west of the city of Quito, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano. Here in the Andean Forest, there are native birds and plants of this stunning ecosystem. The reserve was created to protect the Black-breasted Puffleg, a rare and critically endangered hummingbird endemic to Ecuador.
It is a full-day tour to enjoy nature and disconnect from the city.
Private Services
Contact us to receive the detailed program
Multiday Tours
Walking In The Footsteps Of The Karanqui
3 Days / 2 Nights
On day one, the journey begins in Quito, from here we head northwest about 58 km to Cotacachi, a sacred mountain in the religious conception of the northern Indians. It is an ancient eroded and extinct volcano located in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, we will walk through its crater, go to the most visited handicraft market in South America El Marcado de los Ponchos and visit a textile workshop, we will finish our day in the community of San Pablo del Lago and spend the night in a local family’s house, there by the lake.
Day two begins with a visit to the Kichwa Cayambi de Angla indigenous community, this place is full of Andean traditions that have been preserved generation after generation, the women will perform an energetic cleansing before continuing our hike to Zuleta which is also a Kichwa Karanqui community. This place is characterized by being an archaeological zone, rich in cultural diversity which has been manifested in music, dance, food, etc. This place is part of the Sacred Karanki Valley, where sacred rituals have been performed for thousands of years as part of the celebrations of the Andean Raymis. We will spend the night in Zuleta, in the home of a local family.
All these places are connected by Andean ancestral trails, which for thousands of years our ancestors have used for trade, pilgrimage and healing of the physical, emotional and mental body.
On day three we walk to the area of Cubilche, here there are two small lakes located on the top of this hill. This sacred and highly energetic place is a space to awaken our connection with nature. We end this experience with a visit to the Mucha Naju Rumi viewpoint and return to Quito.
