TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(USD)
US Dollar |
| Electrical |
120-127
Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 593, City Code Bolivar 3+7D, Pichincha 2+7D, Guayas 4+7D |
Time:
GMT - 5 (Galapagos Islands GMT - 6).
Electricity:
110/120 volts AC, 60Hz.
Telephone:
Country code: 593. Outgoing international code: 00.
Climate:
Warm and subtropical. Weather varies within the country due to
the Andes mountain range and coastal changes. Andean regions are
cooler and it is especially cold at nights in the mountains. Rainfall
is high in coastal and jungle areas. In the Galápagos the
weather is dry and mild.
Required
clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens, and rainwear
in subtropical areas. Warmer clothes are needed in upland areas.
Food
& Drink: Best of the jungle fruits include chirimoya,
with a delicious custard-like inside; mamey, which has a red,
sweet, squash-like meat; and pepinos, a sweet white and purple
striped cucumber-like fruit. Specialities include llapingachos
(pancakes stuffed with mashed potato and cheese); shrimp or lobster
ceviche. This is traditionally accompanied by popcorn and chifles
(thinly sliced and fried green bananas) and a nice cold beer;
locro (stew of potatoes and cheese); humitas (flavoured sweetcorn
tamale); and the national delicacy of roasted guinea pig. Bakeries
offer delicious sweet pastries and empanadas (hot crispy meat
or cheese filled pastries). Another popular snack is patacones
(squashed fried green bananas). You will often find that most
Ecuadorian homes have a special pounding stone for making this
tasty snack. Restaurants have waiter service and there are cafe-style
bars.
Ecuador has some of the best beer in South America. The most popular
brand is Pilsner. International drinks and whiskies are available,
but expensive. An Ecuadorian speciality is a unique fruit juice
called naranjilla – a taste somewhere between citrus and
peach. Good Chilean wine is available, but expensive. The best
local drink is canelazo, made from sugar cane, alcohol, lemon,
sugar and cinnamon. Another local drink is pisco, made from fresh
lemon. Alcohol cannot be sold after 0200.
Shopping:
Bargaining
is acceptable in small shops and in markets, but prices are usually
fixed in ‘tourist stores’. A few stores around the
major hotels have fixed prices. In the Province of Azuay, the
cities of Cuenca and Gualaceo offer a wide variety of handicrafts
at ferias or special market days. The top attractions are the
ferias of Otavalo, Ambato, Latacunga, Saquisili and Riobamba,
most held once a week. They offer the visitor excellent bargains
for Indian crafts and silver. Principal silver stores are in Quito.
Special purchases include native woodcarvings, varnished and painted
ornaments made of bread dough, Indian tiles, woollen and orlon
rugs, blankets, baskets, leather goods, shigras (shoulder bags)
and hand-loomed textiles, indigenous art and native weapons. Shopping
hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1900, Sat 1000-1400. Some shops
open Sunday.
Photography:
A tip may be requested if you wish to take someone’s photograph
and it is better to seek permission first. Tipping: 10 per cent
service charge is usually added to the bill in hotels and restaurants.
Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Currency:
US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of US$100,
50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of US$1 and
50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The US Dollar replaced the Sucre as
the official currency of Ecuador in September 2000.
Currency
exchange: Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks
and at exchange houses (casas de cambio), the latter being generally
the best option. It may be difficult to exchange money in the
Oriente. The rate of commission varies between one per cent and
four per cent, so it is worth shopping around. ATMs are available
in large urban areas.
Credit
& debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Visa
and Diners Club are accepted. Check with your credit or debit
card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services
which may be available.
