The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Ecuador, one of the world's most diverse countries in relation to its size, holds one of the greatest amounts of plant and animal species in the world.
The culture of Ecuador is as diverse as the landscape of the country itself. The majority of the Ecuadorian population is mestizo, a mixture of both European and Amerindian ancestry, and much like their ancestry, the national culture is also a blend of these two sources, along with influences from slaves from Africa. 95% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic.
El Oriente is characterised by rainforest, the sierra by the snow-capped Andes, and the costa by lowlands that are highly fertile and used for agriculture.
Find an eco tour in Ecuador. A list of eco tour operators, travel agents and accommodation providers either based in or that can organise trips to Ecuador. Each listing includes a full page description so click for more information.
Ecotourism Ecuador Articles & Resources
Below you can find a collection of resources related to ecotourism issues in Ecuador. Articles on ecotourdirectory.com:
Travel with Respect
Among many other cultural idiosyncrasies, it is considered impolite to use a downward-facing palm as a reference for the height of a person. Instead, the hand is held on its side, and the measurement taken from the lower edge to the floor. Gesturing with the palm down is appropriate for animals only.When motioning for someone to "come here," it is impolite to motion your hand with the palm facing up. Instead, use a downward swipe of the hand with the palm facing down.Acceptable clothing varies by region of the country. In the mountainous Sierra region, including Quito, clothes are usually more warm because of the weather. On the coast, meanwhile, more casual clothes predominate. Information from wikitravel.org*