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| ABOUT
ECUADOR |
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|  ECUADOR
With
its relatively small territory (256.370 Km2 98.985 square
miles), Ecuador has the biggest biodiversity per area
in the world! In a study by Conservation International,
Ecuador ranked among the 17 “mega diverse” countries,
alongside the United States, China, Australia, Brazil
and Mexico. With 9.2 species per km2, it occupies the
first place in the world with regards to species per area.
The richness
of this country lies in its DIVERSITY, both natural
and cultural.
Ecuador has 4 diverse and unique regions: the Amazon
Rain forest, the Coast, the highland Andes, and the
Galapagos Archipelago. These four regions are subdivided
into 22 provinces. Besides its exuberant biodiversity,
Ecuador is home to an impressive variety of ethnic groups,
including some untouched communities, who still preserve
their non-western or pre-Columbian values and practice
cultural manifestations from ancient times
LOCATION: Ecuador is one of the smallest countries
in America. It lies on both the northern and the southern Hemispheres,
and is divided by the Equator, which gave Ecuador its name in
the 19th Century. Ecuador borders Colombia (North), Peru (South
and East), and the Pacific Ocean (West). |
POPULATION: approximately 13 million .
LANGUAGE: Spanish. Most of the indigenous population
speaks Quichua. In many schools English is the second language
taught as the second language. There are 18 different languages
among Ecuadorian communities.
RELIGION: 95% Catholics
CURRENCY: Dollars. The government has produced a
series of local coins of 1,5,10,25 and 50 cents that have
the same value as the American coins (which are also accepted).
Banks open from 9h00 to 17h00 and on Saturdays only half day.
Money exchange offered every day in main hotels.
GOVERNMENT: Democratic. Current President is Rafael
Correa.
CLIMATE: Ecuador is located in the Tropical Zone.
The climate throughout the country ranges from tropical equatorial
rain in the Amazon to perpetual snow on the top of the mountains.
Cities in the highlands have temperatures that vary from 50
to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while coastal cities’ temperatures
vary from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The
wather in the jungle is constant: rainy, humid and warm. The
Galapagos Islands are always sunny and warm, however, temperature
drops a bit during the months of June to November. |
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|  WHAT
TO WEAR:
In Quito and highlands: wear spring attire
during June, July and August. During the rest of the months,
bring warmer clothing like those you would wear during the
fall. A raincoat or jacket would be useful at night since
it gets pretty chilly.
Guayaquil
and other coastal cities: wear summer clothing all
year round. During the rainy months, December to May, the
weather is still very warm. During the months of June to November
the weather is cloudy and a little bit colder. Bring along
a light jacket.
Galapagos:
wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothing. Shorts,
t-shirts and summer clothing will be just fine. Don’t forget
a hat, a camera, sun block, and a bathing suit. During the
months of June to November the weather is cloudy and a bit
colder. Bring along a light jacket.
Amazon
or Jungle: wear clothing adequate for a rain. If
you can get yourself a raincoat (poncho), take it with you,
as well as several sets of light pants and long sleeve shirts.
Shorts are less useful because of the insects and abundant
vegetation you will walk through on your excursions. A hat,
rubber boots and insect repellents are also a must. If you
plan to take pictures, you will need high-speed film.
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 AIRPORT
TAX: There
is a $25 tax fee for anyone leaving the country from Quito
or Guayaquil.
Tourist Visa: Visitors can stay up to 90 days without
a tourist visa.
 Taxi
rates: approximately 3 to 4 dollars per ride from
the airport to the city. These rates vary among the main cities.
 Transportation:
Main
cities (Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca) have local airports serviced
by the local airlines Tame, Aerogal and Icaro, besides international
airlines. Bus lines offer Land transportation where you can
just jump on the next bus leaving to your destination. Each
city has its own terminal, with frequent departure to each
one of the different provinces of our country. |
Railroad Adventure
Train journeys in Ecuador can be slow and uncomfortable, but
they are a sure adventure! The Trans-Andean Railroad is a spectacular
tourist attraction for the variety of climates and the fantastic
natural and cultural scenery along the journeys. Moreover, the
trains themselves are a colorful part of the landscape. The
old steam trains and peculiar "autoferros" (iron cars)
that travel along the Andes are almost a relic. The autoferro
is actually an antiquated bus complete with brakes that feed
on sand, mounted on a train’s chassis and fitted with
a diesel engine.
Foreigners are always surprised by the fact that one is allowed
to climb to the trains’ roofs. We recommend that you wear
a hat, sun block, and a jacket, and climb on the roof; it ensures
the best view! Watch out for the branches and tunnels, though!
Train travel in Ecuador began in 1910, when the Quito-Guayaquil
line was opened. In 1895, President Eloy Alfaro contacted an
American company interested in building the "most difficult
railway in the world", as it was called at the time. The
construction began in 1899. It reduced a nine-day trek along
a path that was impassable during the rainy season, to a two-day
journey. Soon, it was acclaimed as one of the "great railway
journeys of the world".
A great deal of the Quito-Guayaquil railway was destroyed by
landslides during the devastating El Niño floods of 1982-83,
but some sections have since been repaired. |
Riobamba-Nariz
del Diablo-Riobamba
The autoferro leaves from the station at the city of Riobamba,
passes through Cajabamba and the Colta lagoons, and the small
Guamote village. It climbs to a little picturesque town in
the highlands called Alausí. Then comes the most exhilarating
part of the journey, said to be one of the most spectacular
in the world. The train zigzags up and down 45-degree gradient
called "Nariz del Diablo" (Devil’s Nose) in
a breathtaking experience. The train goes backwards on the
way down, and after 30 minutes it goes back to Alausí.
The town of Alausí has beautiful cobblestone streets,
colonial houses, and a colorful food market that is definitely
worth visiting!
Actually
only "Autoferro" service is available (-->ironcar)
Departures:
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
at 7:00am
The
autoferro is getting back to Alausí at approximately
12:30am
COSTS
The fare Riobamba - Devil's Nose - Alausi is $14.00. |
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