Need to Know

For more information, see Survival Guide

Currency

US dollar ($)

Language

Spanish

Visas

Visitors from most countries don’t need visas for stays of less than 90 days. Residents from a handful of African and Asian countries (including China) require visas.

Money

The official currency is the US dollar. Aside from euros, Peruvian soles and Colombian nuevos soles, it’s difficult to change foreign currencies in Ecuador.

Cell Phones

Cell (mobile) numbers are preceded by 09. Bring your phone and purchase a SIM card (called a ‘chip’, costing $5 to $10) from a local network. Add credit at convenience stores and supermarkets.

Time

Ecuador Time (GMT/UTC minus five hours), Galápagos Time (GMT/UTC minus six hours)

When to Go

High Season (Jun-Sep)

ASunny, clear days in the highlands; less rain in the Oriente.

ADecember to April is high season on the coast: expect warm temperatures and periodic showers.

AJanuary to May is high season in the Galápagos.

Shoulder (Oct-Nov)

ACooler temperatures, more showers (usually sun in the morning and rain in the afternoon) in the highlands.

Low Season (Dec-May)

ACooler, rainier days in the highlands.

AJune to December is low season in the Galápagos, with cooler, drier weather and rougher seas.

ALow season is April to July in the Oriente, when heavy rains are common.

Useful Websites

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) Destination information, hotel bookings, travel forum, photos.

Ministry of Tourism Ecuador (http://ecuador.travel) Handy overviews of highlights, cuisine and travel tips countrywide.

Latin American Network Information Center (http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/ecuador) Scores of useful links about everything Ecuadorian.

Important Numbers

To call any regular number, dial the area code, followed by the seven-digit number.

Ambulance	%131
Directory Assistance	%104
Emergency (major cities only)	%911
Fire	%102
Police	%101

Exchange Rates

Australia	A$1	US$0.78
Canada	C$1	US$0.79
Europe	€1	US$1.18
Japan	¥100	US$0.88
New Zealand	NZ$1	US$0.70
UK	UK£1	US$1.32

For current exchange rates see www.xe.com.

Daily Costs

Budget: Less than $40

ABudget guesthouses: $15–20 per person

ASet lunches: $2.50–3.50

AOne-day bike rental for trip from Baños to Puyo: $10

Midrange: $40–100

ADouble room in midrange hotel: $40–90

ADinner for two in a good restaurant: $20–30

AClimbing, cycling and bird-watching tours: $60–80

AJungle lodges: from $175 for four days

Top end: More than $100

AGalápagos tour: from $300

ATop Amazon lodges: around $400

AHaciendas on Cotopaxi: from $100

Opening Hours

Opening hours are provided when they differ from the following standard hours:

Restaurants 10:30am to 11pm Monday to Saturday

Bars 6pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, to 2am Friday and Saturday

Shops 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 9am to noon Saturday

Banks 8am to 2pm or 4pm Monday to Friday

Post offices 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm Saturday

Telephone call centers 8am to 10pm daily

Arriving in Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands

Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (Quito) The capital’s airport is about 38km east of the city center. Taxis charge $22 to $30 to town, or take a shuttle bus ($8) to central Quito.

Aeropuerto José Joaquín de Olmedo (Guayaquil) Taxis to downtown cost around $5. A Metrovia bus stops in front of the airport and runs downtown ($0.30).

Getting Around

Ecuador has an efficient public transportation system, and because of its small size you can usually get to most places fairly easily.

Air Apart from the Galápagos Islands, flights from Quito also serve several destinations on the mainland, none of which last much more than an hour.

Boat In the Galápagos and the Oriente, boat travel is not only practical and/or necessary, but also part of these regions’ attractions.

Bus Long-distance buses cover most of the country, with smaller local buses and shared taxis or trucks serving smaller villages.

For much more on getting around, see Transportation