Interesting F.A.Q.s

• Did you know that that Ecuador has the highest active volcano on earth, The Cotopaxi, which is 19,347 feet above sea level? It is located 60 km south of Quito and easily accessible by car just an hour drive from Quito? Because of it high altitude, Ecuador has several mountains and volcanoes that have snow all year round.

• Did you know that in September 8th, 1978, UNESCO declared the Galapagos Islands a Natural Heritage Site for its scientific prestige and to support the conservation efforts of its National Park?

• Did you know that Quito was officially founded in the year 1,534 making it one of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere?

• Did you know that because Ecuador lies by the Equator, its temperatures remain fairly constant all year round affected mostly by the rainy season or drier weather?. Although many assume that Ecuador is mostly warm, in its highlands, temperatures remain cool most of the year because of the high altitude.

• Did you know that Ecuador is the only Country in South America, which uses the U.S. Dollar as its national currency? The former currency of Ecuador was the “Sucre” which was changed to the U.S. Dollar in the year 2,000.

• Did you know that Quito, at 9,184 feet above sea level is the second highest in Latin America after La Paz, Bolivia?

• Did you know that Ecuador has the highest number of species per km2 in the world? There are 9.2 species per km2, which makes it one of the most bio-diversified places on the planet.

• Did you know that the Equator line divides the Country into 2 hemispheres? Being that the Equator line crosses just a few miles north of Quito, it is also one of the few places in the world where you can actually stand in 2 hemispheres at the same time.

• Did you know that the Galapagos Islands are a place where you can admire endemic species, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world?

• Did you know that the Archipelago of Galapagos is of volcanic origin? Studies conclude that its islands emerged from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean more than 6 million years ago. This natural sanctuary is made of 13 main islands, 6 minor islands and more than 40 rocks and tiny islands.

• Quito was the first city to be declared by UNESCO a Cultural Patrimony of Humanity for its rich history and well-preserved buildings and monuments.

• Did you know that in Ecuador the UNESCO declared two National Parks as National Patrimony of Humanity (The Galapagos Islands and The Sangay National Park) and two cities Cultural Patrimony of Humanity? (Quito and Cuenca).

• Did you know that in Ecuador’s amazon jungle, there are still groups of native Indians who have never seen the modern world?
  Because of its relatively small size, Ecuador is one of the only places in the world where it is possible to be in the Amazon Jungle, mountains and beaches all in one day.