8 Surprising Facts about Ecuador

While researching for my trip to South America recently, I learned a lot of interesting things I never knew about several countries there.

Since I’m starting my South American odyssey in Ecuador, I researched even more extensively about that amazing country. Here are eight of the most intriquing, surprising and unusual things I learned about Ecuador during my travel preparations:

1. Quito is the world’s second-highest capital city

Ecuador’s capital is situated in the Andes Mountains at the alarming elevation of 9350 ft / 2850 M. Only La Paz, Bolivia (also in the Andes) is set at a higher elevation than Quito.

2. Visitors to Quito can experience altitude sickness

Quito is so high in elevation that people who fly into the capital can easily wind up with altitude sickness.

The safest way to reach high elevations and avoid altitude sickness is to gradually arrive at higher and higher elevations over a period of several days, like when hiking up mountains. The general rule of thumb at higher elevations is to not acsend more than 3000 ft / 1000 M in one day. That’s the safe, gradual way for the human body to naturally accliimate to the thinner air, lower oxygen levels and dried air found at great heights.

From that perspective, it’s easy to understand how someone flying into 9350 ft, arriving instantly at such a high elevation, can end up with altitude sickness. Especially if they’re arriving from a low-altitude location.

3. The equator passes through Ecuador

It may not be surprising to hear that Ecuador is named after the Equator, nor that the Equatorial Line passes directly through the country.

More specifically, the Equator is located just 16 miles / 25 km north of Quito. That also makes Quito the world’s closest capital city to the Equator.

At the country’s famous latitude line, there’s a large monument marking the spot and a sign declaring “The Middle of the World” – “La Midad del Mundo” in Spanish.

4. Ecuador’s official currency is the $US

In the year 2000, the Ecuadorian government declared the $US as the country’s official currency. It replaced the former Ecuadorian Sucre.

Ever since, Ecuadorians have been using $US dollar bills and coins, just the same as in the USA.

There are several countries that readily accept $US in addition to their own local currency. That’s mainly due to a high influx of American tourists. My most recent experience with that was in Aruba, where many stores list prices in both local currency and $US.

Howeer, it’s quite rare for any country to use the $US exclusively as the official currency. But it certainly makes it extra easy for Americans to visit as they don’t have to deal with a different currency or figuring out the value of things by continuously checking the exchange rates.

5. Quito was the very first city to be declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site

Way back in 1978, UNESCO designated its first two cities in the world with this lofty title. They selected Krakow, Poland and Quito, Ecuador.

6. The world-renowned Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador

I’m guessing most people already know that the Galapagos Islands are located off the coast of Ecuador. I did know that much myself. But I wasn’t sure if they were legally/technically part of Ecuador or not.

Yep, they are.

Interestingly, for visitors going to/from the Galapagos, the separate Galapagos immigration and customs behaves as if the islands are an independent country.

First of all, there are no direct international flights to/from the Galapagos. All flights originate to/from mainland Ecuador.

Even so, there’s a separate immigration procedure to fly to Galapagos, as well as customs rules and bag inspections, which are distinct from the Ecuador immigration & customs inspections for visitors arriving from abroad.

In addition, all visitors to the islands must pay a $20 ‘transit fee’ to reach the Galapagos. Visitors to Galapagos can even get a Galapagos immigration stamp in their passports if they want.

7. Tungurahua Volcano is one of South America’s most active volcanoes

Soaring to a height of almost 16,500 ft / 5032 M, this nearly-perfectly conical volcano has many distinctive features. Nicknamed “Throat of Fire” Tungurahua is one of South America’s most active volcanoes.

Since August, 1999 Tungurahua has been developing a new lava dome and regularly spitting out thick plumes of gray ash and pyrotecnic fire shows. In late 1999 the town of Banos, set near the base of the volcano, had to be evacuated.

Located in central Ecuador’s Andes Mountains, close to the geothermal town of Banos, the volcano is one of Ecuador’s many famous destintations. It’s steep dark-ash cone towers over the town, providing spectacular backdrop and dramatic volcanic explosions. The dark ashy cone rises 3 miles up from its northern base, giving rise to its second nickname, “The Black Giant”.

8. Quito’s historic town center is the best-preserved in South America

During the centuries that the Spanish conquerors captured and occupied South America, they built many beautiful Spanish-style cities throughout the continent. In nearly every country, there are towns and cities that still have some of these Spanish centers, to some degree or other, and in various states of preservation / restoration.

Quito’s rather large and beautiful historic center is considered the best.

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