You are here

Home >> Dive Resources >> Diving Guides >> Exquisite Ecuador: Ruins, Volcanoes, Wildlife, And More

Warning message

The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.

Exquisite Ecuador: Ruins, Volcanoes, Wildlife, And More

Accordion Content

Overview

Introduction

Ecuador has many distinct areas to explore and is full of amazing bio-diversity, especially considering the small size of the country.  The four primary areas include the Amazon basin, the Andes Mountains, the Pacific coast, and the Galapagos Islands.  Quito is a charming city that is full colonial charm and modern city life.  Incan ruins are many in Ecuador and the Ingapirca Ruins are a sight to see, as well as the nearby colonial town of Cuenca.  However, probably the most popular reason to travel to Ecuador is to visit the famous Galapagos Islands and see all the incredible wildlife that inspired Charles Darwin to create his theory of evolution.  If you are looking for a unique twist on history, Incan ruins, adventure, or a quiet vacation, Ecuador has it all.

Geography

Ecuador is a country in the north of South America that is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and northwest, Colombia to the northeast, and Peru to the east and south.  Situated on the equator, the country has an area of 283,561 sq km and the terrain consists of coastal plains, inter-Andean central highlands, and a flat to rolling eastern jungle.

History

Ecuador was the northern part of the Incan Empire before the Spanish invaded in 1533.  The Incans pushed north from Peru during the 14th and 15th centuries after war broke out between the indigenous tribes.  This point in history saw the intermarrying of two native tribes, the Puruhas and the Caras, to create the Quitus tribe.  The Quitus and the Cañaris fought with one another until the Incans moved north.  Then in 1534, the Spaniard Pizarro invaded Ecuador and the area fell under Spanish rule.   In 1822, Ecuador found its independence from Spain, although civil war broke out and continued well into the 20th century.  Even today the conservative mountain-dwellers and the liberal coastal peoples remain divided.

Economy

Ecuador has a thriving petroleum industry upon which the country relies for much of its revenues.  The natural resources of the country include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber, gold, and hydropower and the primary exports are bananas, oil, shrimp, and gold.  The greatest contributors to the GDP are mining and oil, construction, industry and manufacturing, and agriculture. Tourism in the Galapagos Islands and throughout the rest of Ecuador add to the economy as well.

Location:
  • South America
  • Ecuador
Keywords: diving guides, south america dive travel, ecuador dive travel, galapagos islands dive travel, ecuador diving, galapagos islands diving Author:
Melissa Gwaldis
Related Tags: Diving Guides