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Capital: Quito
Airports: Airports with commercial passenger services are located at Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE).
Currency: The sucre (= 100 centavos) is the basic monetary unit. For the current rate of exchange visit the Olson and Anderson web site.
Time Zones: Mainland: Current local time. Standard time is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Galapagos Islands: Current local time
Languages: Spanish is the main language.
Visit the CIA World Fact Book for a wide range of interesting particulars regarding Ecuador.
Travel Advisories: Travelers should check the web sites listed on our international pages that provide advice of possible security and health risks when visiting this region.
The web site for the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, DC is a very good source of political, commercial, cultural and travel information. The site is in English and Spanish and has a useful collection of links.
The Ministry of Tourism and the PurEcuador web sites are excellent resources for planning travel.
Four sites in Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
The Andean Community is an excellent resource for information about Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The Virtual Andean Tourist Routes on this site will be very helpful for planning travel in countries. Extensive lists of links to other site provide a wealth of useful information.
Visit the Hostelling International web site for Ecuador for information about low-cost accommodations.
Recommended Reading: Let's Go - Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands | Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador; Lonely Planet - Colombia, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands; Moon Handbooks - Ecuador; Rough Guides - Ecuador