Key facts
Ecuador is a country located in South America. There are 2 countries (Colombia, Peru) that Ecuador shares its borders with. The official language of Ecuador is Spanish. Traveling across Ecuador if English is your first (and only) language may be difficult due to language barriers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Ecuador was ranked 90th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Ecuador is United States dollar (USD). The dollar ($) is subdivided into 100 cent (¢).
Ecuadorean
Banknotes
$1$5$10$20$50$1002$
Ecuadorean
Coins
1¢5¢10¢25¢$150¢
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Ecuador is 154.26 Mbps and mobile is 42.44 Mbs.The global average is 194.02 Mbps and 126.09 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density The number of ATMs per person in Ecuador is close to the world average.37.60 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Ecuador, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Ecuador. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Ecuador will celebrate 11 national public holidays. The next one Independence of Guayaquil will take place on October 9.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayAño Nuevo | |
| February 12, 2024Moving holiday | CarnivalCarnaval | |
| February 13, 2024Moving holiday | CarnivalCarnaval | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayGood Friday | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | International Workers’ DayInternational Workers’ Day | |
| May 24, 2024Moving holiday | The Battle of PichinchaBatalla de Pichincha | |
| August 10, 2024Moving holiday | Declaration of Independence of QuitoPrimer Grito de Independencia | |
| October 9, 2024Moving holiday | Independence of GuayaquilIndependencia de Guayaquil | |
| November 2, 2024Moving holiday | All Souls’ DayDía de los Difuntos, Día de Muertos | |
| November 3, 2024Moving holiday | Independence of CuencaIndependencia de Cuenca | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayDía de Navidad |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Ecuador?
There are no Mariott hotels in Ecuador.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Ecuador.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Ecuador.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Ecuador.
There are Radisson hotels in 2 cities: Guayaquil and Quito.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Ecuador.
What fast food chains are present in Ecuador?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Ecuador.
The KFC chain operates in Ecuador.
The Burger King chain does not operate in Ecuador.
The Subway chain operates in Ecuador.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Ecuador.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Ecuador.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Quito?
Weather data for Quito (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are no passenger trains available.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Quito.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Ecuador
Sources
- Ecuador Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Ecuador (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Decriminalized up to 10g
Medical usage: Legal
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)