Pacific Paradise.

Ecuador blessed with diversity of nature

Nature has blessed Ecuador with astounding biological diversity, spectacular mountains, a rich coastline on the Pacific Ocean, and the Galapagos Islands that so fascinated Charles Darwin.

Roughly the size of the U.S. state of Colorado, Ecuador is nevertheless home to 25,000 plant species (compared with 17,000 in North America) and is a bird watcher's paradise. There are more bird species here than in any other country in Latin America. In the Galapagos, visitors can watch the antics of iguanas, penguins, tortoises and many more life-forms with prehistoric family trees.

Business is most likely to bring you to the cities of Guayaquil or Quito, but try to tack on a trip to the Galapagos, which are strictly controlled to preserve their natural heritage. Travel agents and tour operators in either city can arrange Galapagos trips by ship or air, though its a good idea to make reservations well in advance.

The economic and financial capital of Ecuador is Guayaquil, the hot and humid "Pearl of the Pacific" that is home to 1.8 million people. Founded in 1538, it sprawls along the banks of the Guayas River. South of the city is the nation's most important seaport, through which 80% of Ecuador's foreign trade is moved.

Quito, a half-hour flight inland from Guayaquil, is the seat of government--surrounded by green mountains and snowcapped peaks. Set at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 meters), Quito was built on the ruins of an Inca stronghold and has preserved many of its Spanish colonial buildings.

Overlooking the Plaza San Francisco is the oldest church in South America. Built in 1536, the church, convent and museum are worth visiting.

Just 15 miles north of Quito is a monument marking the Equator, latitude 0, where tourists can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Ecuador's proximity to the Equator also means that sunscreen is a must at any altitude.

In Quito, watch for changeable weather. In the morning, it is usually pleasant and comfortable, but in the afternoon, it is common to have rain and much cooler temperatures. The dry season runs from May through October.

Safety is not much of a problem; however, avoid El Panecillo, La Mariscal, the Avenida 24 de Mayor and scenic overlooks at night. In any case, don't climb the steps to El Panecillo; take a taxi to the top to see the statute of the winged virgin and spectacular views of Quito. On a clear day, the peaks of two 19,000-foot volcanoes are visible.

While Quito has no subway, the municipal "Trolebus" provides safe, comfortable transportation throughout the city, from the south (El Recreo station) to the north (Y station).

Jackets and ties are standard business attire. Office hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a one-hour break for lunch at 1 p.m. Many offices are open on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Government offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. But some stores close from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and are open Saturdays only until 1 p.m.

Crime is a concern in some areas of Guayaquil. Avoid El Malec6n (especially at night), Los Gismos, la Via a Daule, La 28 and open-air markets.

In March 1999, Ecuador's government underwent a financial and political crisis that resulted in a six-day bank holiday to prevent depositors from withdrawing their money. The state of emergency was lifted shortly afterward, but many bank customers have had their accounts frozen for one year. In addition, new taxes were proposed on company assets, banking profits and luxury vehicles. For current government information on the crisis, see www.ecuador.org.

POPULATION: 12.2 million * AREA: 283,560 sq. Km. * GDP [*] (1998): US$ 19.2 billion * GDP [*] PER CAPITAL: US$ 1,578 * EXPORTS (1998): US$ 4,133 million * IMPORTS (1998): US$ 5,144 million * LITERACY RATE: 90.1% * LIFE EXPECTANCY: 72 years * LANGUAGE: Spanish * TELEPHONE COUNTRY CODE: 593 * TELEPHONE CITY CODE: Quito: 2 * CURRENCY: US$1 = 8,720 Sucres (As of May 21, 1999) * JANUARY MEDIAN TEMPERATURE: Quito 14.5 Centigrade, 58.1 Fahrenheit, Guayaquil; 34[degrees]C/93.2[degrees]F * JULY MEDIAN TEMPERATURE: Quito: 14[degrees]C/57.2[degrees]F, Guayaquil: 2734[degrees]C/80.6 [degrees]F

(*.) 1995 constant prices