The Latin American nation of Ecuador, aptly named for it's central location on the equator, is made up of continental mainland and the Galápagos Islands, about 965 kilometers west, in the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador consists of three distinct landscape regions. La Sierra, or "the highlands", is a stretch of the Andes Mountains that runs north to south, cutting a path through the center of the country. El Oriente, or "the east", is comprised of Amazonian rainforests. The last is the Región Insular, the area of Ecuador that makes up the Galápagos Islands.

Ecuador shares its South American borders with Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The total land area equals 256,370 square kilometers. Although Quito is the capital, located in the Sierra region's province of Pichincha, the largest city in Ecuador is Guayaquil, in the coastal province of Guayas.

Just south of Quito lies Cotopaxi, home to the world's highest active volcano (pictured left). Because the earth is considered to be wider at the equator, the peak of Mount Chimborazo, at 6,310 meters, is noted for being the farthest distance from the center of the earth.

The diverse landscape of Ecuador offers high-elevation in the central mountainous region and beautiful coastlines spanning the western border on the Pacific Ocean. The El Oriente region is abundant with wildlife and breathtaking flora of the Amazon rainforest. While this region takes up nearly half of Ecuador's landmass, only 5% of the population can be found here.

Because of its centralize equatorial location, it is difficult to categorize the climate of Ecuador. Tropical temperatures are found in the coastal areas, temperate weather in the highland mountain region and humid, damp weather in the jungles of the Amazon rainforest. There is no notable change in the time of sunrise and sunset in Ecuador, also attributed to the location on the equator. There is no point in switching to daylight savings time, as the sun rises at 6am and sets at 6pm each day throughout the year.

South America is home to 17 mega-diverse countries - Ecuador is one of them. The nations bird species alone consists of 1,600 species, 15% of all bird species known to the world, with 38 endemic bird species in the Galápagos Islands, (endemic meaning unique to the region). Ecuador boasts 138 endemic amphibians and 106 endemic reptiles. There are 6,000 species of butterflies and more than 25,000 plant species.

The Galápagos Islands' claim to fame was the development of Darwin's Theory of Evolution, which took place there. The islands are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Despite the conservational efforts, the exotic ecosystem of the Galápagos Islands is constantly threatened by negative effects on the environment. Most notably the introduction of non-native animals and plants. Cats, cattle, feral goats and other species were brought to the islands, breeding so rapidly that the endemic species have fallen prey to these new creatures. Plant life, such as guava, avocado and various citrus fruits, have overgrown many of the endemic flora, as well.

Ecuador's conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands began in 1934, but did not have a significant impact until the 1950's. In 1959, the government of Ecuador declared 97.5% of the Galápagos Islands as national park territory. The remainder was pre-owned, developed land. The 70,000 square kilometers of ocean waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands was declared a marine reserve in 1986, second largest in size only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Vacationing In Ecuador

Ecuador's biodiversity and extreme differences in landscape have drawn tourists for many years. However, the tourism rate in Ecuador does not even compare to that of it's Latin American neighbors, such as Panama and Costa Rica. The same natural beauty, amazing sunsets and diverse activities - fishing, hiking, surfing, mountain climbing, sight-seeing, etc. - are found in Ecuador, however the tourist crowds are notably smaller and therefore the cost of an Ecuador vacation much less expensive.

For those interested in planning an Ecuador vacation, you will find Ecuador.Rica24 is the perfect starting point. We provide in-depth resources regarding every aspect of an Ecuador vacation. From travel agencies, accommodations, dining and tourist attractions to public and private transportation - anything you may need to know before and during your stay in the wondrous landscapes of Ecuador can be found right here.

Moving to Ecuador

The prospect of investing in or moving to Ecuador presents a host of opportunities. Just as the tourism industry does not boast as lucrative a market as many neighboring countries, Ecuador's real estate market is much more cost efficient as well, while providing the much the same glorious scenery and natural beauty. There is no better time to invest in Ecuador's abundant real estate market, whether simply for lucrative investment opportunities or to move to/ retire in Ecuador.

Ecuador.Rica24 provides Ecuador Real Estate listings, along with a complete Guide to Purchasing Real Estate in Ecuador, which includes in-depth descriptions of property rights and type, purchasing procedures and methods, taxes and fees and most importantly, how to protect your investment. You'll also find detailed materials describing how to buy a car, how to obtain a driver's license, a temporary or permanent residency visa, educational and employment opportunities - virtually everything you could possibly need to know before moving to Ecuador.

At Ecuador.Rica24, our number-one goal is to shepherd you towards, and assist in the completion, of a magnificent vacation or successful real estate acquisition in Ecuador. With a little help and expertise from Rica24, you can make your dreams a reality, whether they be investing your way to a wealthy future, or retiring in the wonderfully diverse nature of Ecuador.