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Interesting Facts about Ecuador

For such a small country, Ecuador packs a wallop when it comes to interesting historical, cultural, and natural points of interest. The country’s 109,000 square miles (35 times smaller than the USA) features mountains, volcanoes, Amazonian jungle, beaches, villages, towns, and cities.

 Some interesting facts of interest about Ecuador to newcomers:

  • The most popular cities with expatriates (expats) are Cuenca, Cotacachi, and Salinas for retirees as well as large population centers such as Quito and Guayaquil for those still working.

    Popular cities in Ecuador: Cuenca, Quito, Guayaquil, Salinas
    Source: @ezekiel

  • Some of the most popular things to see and experience include Cajas National Park (near Cuenca), the beaches of Salinas, the monument at the equator (near Quito), Cotopaxi National Park (two volcanoes), the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, the Guayaquil Malecón (Boardwalk), and many, many museums.

    Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador
    Source: Crissie Hardy.


  • The climate varies by destination depending on altitude with the mountains being colder and receiving more rain while beach cities generally offer more warmth.
    Ecuador Climate Map
    Source: Wikipedia

  • Nature abounds in Ecuador with its 1,600 species of birds—a bird lover’s paradise; 16,000 species of plants, and 6,000 species of butterflies. On top of these, you’ll also find massive tortoises, beautiful vicuñas (a camelid), hammerhead sharks, and many species of whales.

    Ecuador species of birds
    Source: @bahram

  • The vast majority of the population speaks Spanish with 93% able to converse in the language. It’s not known what percentage can speak English but the foreign language is found mostly in tourist areas and in some large cities.

    Ecuador Culture People
    Source: Eva Schuster


  • Visitors to Ecuador can obtain a three-month visa upon entrance. Many expats begin their explorations of the country with a visit of several months to determine how well it suits their needs. It’s a great way to determine the preferred elevation, climate, and real estate options.

    Ecuador Visa
    Image Source: Freepik