Straddling the equator in western South America, Ecuador has territories in both the northern and the southern hemispheres. The country is geographically divided into the Amazon, the Highlands, the Coast and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador is bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the south and east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Although Ecuador is not particularly large, there is great variety in the climate, largely determined by altitude. The coast is hot all year, with a humid rainy season between December and May. In the mountains, climate depends on altitude, becoming cooler the higher you go. The Amazon region is hot, humid and wet while the Galapagos Islands are dry with a steady year-round average temperature of 25°C. Ecuadorians like to say that you're likely to experience the weather of four distinct seasons during any one day, as the only thing predictable about the weather in Ecuador is its unpredictability.

Capital City: Quito

Currency: US Dollar (USD)

Language(s) Spoken: Spanish

Ecuador has a great climate all year round but high tourist seasons November to January and June to August do cause prices to increase.

• Galapagos Islands
• Amazon Rain Forest
• The Cloud Forest
• Andean Sierra