More Things to Know

 

LANGUAGE: Spanish is the official language, although English is spoken in most tourist areas.

TIME: Eastern Standard on GMT-5 (same as New York, except during daylight savings months when Ecuador is one hour behind). The Galapagos are one hour ahead of the mainland.

VOLTAGE: Ecuador's electrical current is 110 volts 60 cycles, the same as North America, so adapters for North American equipment are not needed. The plug-in is small and recessed, so large plugs may not fit. Hair dryers are provided at most Quito hotels, and it is so warm and sunny in the Galapagos you may let your hair dry naturally.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: U.S. Citizens should avoid crowds in large cities and street demonstrations and maintain a low profile. It is unwise to walk alone at night outside the immediate grounds of city hotels. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local authorities and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlet “A Safe Trip Abroad” provides useful information on personal security while traveling abroad. It is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Good medical care is available in large cities such as Quito and Guayaquil,where many of the bilingual doctors were trained in the USA and Europe. Medical care is available, but varies in quality and is generally below U.S. standards. Ambulances, with or without trained emergency staff, are in critically short supply. Visitors to the Galapagos Islands are advised that acute surgical and cardiac services are not available. Serious cases must be evacuated to the Ecuadorian mainland or the United States for treatment.

DID YOU KNOW?
Named after the Spanish word for equator, Ecuador straddles the equator and has an area of 105,037 sq mi