Ecuador offers an astonishing variety of sights to the traveler: The Amazon area impresses with an unbelievable diversity of flaura and fauna. Life in the Andean highlands is simple and original. The inhabitant’s characteristic close spiritual link to nature and its overwhelming forces (e.g. volcanoes) is a striking experience in itself. Ecuador’s Pacific coast offers quite different attractions: Deserted beaches, tropical rhythms and the breathtaking vitality of Guayaquil to name but a few.

The Galapagos Islands, situated about 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast, present yet another first class attraction: Come and witness the unique variety of plants and animals that inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution. Few fail to be impressed by this amazing show of nature.

Ecuador is a democratic republic. The country’s currency is the US-dollar. Apart from Spanish the indigenous Quechua is also taught in schools. Although several indigenous natural religions still exist to the present day, Catholicism is the prevalent religious conviction (85%) in Ecuador.