The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. Touch down in its picture-perfect capital, Quito, and you are no more than a day's drive from a slog through all-swallowing Amazonian jungle, a snow swept ascent of an active volcano, a sociable haggle with indigenous artesanos or a welcome wallow on a tropical beach. And all that in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada.
Squint your eyes at a map of the region and Ecuador looks something like a grinning skull, gazing across the Pacific at its lone 'overseas' holding, the blissfully distant Galápagos Islands. Owned by Ecuador since 1832, the far-flung islands are lauded as one of the world's greatest natural history treasures, their unique diversity of plant and animal life providing a living textbook for ecologists and oglers alike. It'll cost you plenty to get out to see them, but when you weigh that against the immense affordability of mainland adventuring and the rarity of the experience, you'll be hard pressed to let your purse strings tie you down.

Warning
Since a national state of emergency was declared in January 2000, in the wake of a popular non-violent uprising inspired by the Council of Indigenous Nations of Ecuador (CONAIE) and the resignation of ex-president Jamil Mahaud, the security situation in Ecuador has progressively worsened. Must of the unrest is in opposition to widespread privatization, the dollarization of the economy and to other International Monetary Fund (IMF) 'structural adjustment' proposals, which threaten to raise costs of essential goods and services, and to essentially tighten the screws a bit more on the already screwed.
Regions north and south of Quito, including Otavalo and Latacunga, as well as Tena in the southeast, have witnessed riot police greeting protestors with water cannons and tear gas. General strikes, road blockades, building occupations, media outlet hijackings and bombings have also been reported in Quito. In early 2001, state of emergency declarations have become as common as winning lottery ticket announcements.

Full country name: Republic of Ecuador
Area: 283,520 sq km (175,780 sq mi)
Population: 12,920,092 (growth rate: 2.1%)
Capital city: Quito (pop 1.5 million)
People: 40% mestizo, 40% Indian, 15% Spanish descent, 5% African descent
Language: Spanish, Quechua, Quichua, other indigenous languages
Religion: Over 90% Roman Catholic, small minority of other Christian denominations
Government: Democracy
President: Gustavo Noboa

meer op lonelyplanet.com