Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Luis GALLEGOS Chiriboga
Embassy: 1050 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 465-8120
FAX: (202) 667-3482

Consulate(s) General are in:
Los Angeles
8484 Wilshire Bl., Suite 540
Beverly Hills, CA 90011
(323) 658-6020

San Francisco
235 Montgomery St Ste 944
San Fran, CA 94104
415.982.1819,1821 fax: 415.982.1833

Miami
B.I.V. Tower, 1101 Brickell Av., Suite M-102,
Miami, FL 33131.
(305) 539-8214, FAX (305) 539-8313

Chicago
500 N. Michigan Av., Suite 1510,
Chicago, IL 60611.

New Orleans
1312 Int'l Trade Mart Bldg., 2 Canal St.,
New Orleans, LA 70130.
(504) 523-3229

New York
800 2nd Av., Suite 600,
New York, NY 10017.
(212) 808-0170

Philadelphia
Public Ledger Bldg, Independence Sq., Suite 1015-1017,
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
(215) 925-9060

Houston
4200 Westheimer, Suite 218,
Houston, TX 77027.
(713) 622-1787

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Heather Hodges
Embassy: Avenida 120 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
Mailing address: APO AA 34039-3420
Telephone: (593) 2 562 890
FAX: (593) 2 502 052
Consulate(s) general: Guayaquil


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Ecuador
Embassy of Ecuador, Washington DC
U.S Consulate Web Site in Ecuador


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Ecuador always has placed great emphasis on multilateral approaches to international problems. Ecuador is a member of the United Nations (and most of its specialized agencies), the Organization of American States, and many regional groups, including the Rio Group, the Latin American Energy Organization, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and the Community of Andean Nations. From August 2009 to November 2010, Ecuador held the rotational presidency of UNASUR.

Under the Correa administration, Ecuador has increased its efforts to strengthen and diversify its political and economic ties with countries in Latin American, Europe, and Asia. In Latin America, President Correa has traveled to Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Haiti, and Cuba, for example, where his government has signed agreements to promote economic cooperation. Similarly, outside the region, Correa has visited Spain, Italy, France, China, Iran, and Russia, among other countries.

In October 1998, Ecuador and Peru reached a peace agreement to settle their border differences, which had festered since the signing of the 1942 Rio Protocol. This long-running border dispute occasionally erupted into armed hostility along the undemarcated sections, with the last conflict occurring in 1995. The U.S. Government, as one of the four guarantor nations (the others were Argentina, Brazil and Chile), played an important role in bringing the conflict to an end. The peace agreement brokered by the four guarantors in February 1995 led to the cessation of hostilities and a Military Observers Mission to Ecuador-Peru (MOMEP), which monitored the zone. In addition to helping broker the peace accord, the U.S. has been active in demining the former area of conflict and supporting welfare and economic projects in the border area.

The ongoing conflict in Colombia and security along the 450-mile-long northern border are important issues in Ecuador's foreign relations with Colombia. The instability of border areas and frequent encroachments of Colombian guerillas into Ecuadorian territory has led the Ecuadorian army to deploy more troops to the region. Although Ecuadorian officials have stated that Colombian guerrilla activity will not be tolerated on the Ecuadorian side of the border, guerrilla bands have been known to intimidate the local population, demanding extortion payments and practicing vigilante justice. The Correa administration is pursuing a policy known as Plan Ecuador to develop the northern border region and protect citizens from the drug threat. A Colombian military incursion into Ecuador in March 2008 caused the Government of Ecuador to break diplomatic relations for several years. However, in November 2010, Ecuador and Colombia fully re-established diplomatic relations.

U.S.-ECUADORIAN RELATIONS
The United States and Ecuador have mutual interests in combating narco-trafficking and cooperating in fostering Ecuador's economic development and reducing poverty. Ties have been strengthened by the presence of an estimated one million to two million Ecuadorians living in the United States, by 250,000 U.S. citizens visiting Ecuador annually, and by approximately 50,000 U.S. citizens residing in Ecuador. More than 100 U.S. companies are doing business in Ecuador. In February 2009, the Government of Ecuador expelled two U.S. Embassy officials who administered U.S. assistance to specialized police units. A Department of State spokesperson rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing by Embassy staff. On April 5, 2011, the Government of Ecuador declared the United States Ambassador to Ecuador, Heather M. Hodges, persona non grata under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. On April 7, the U.S. Government took reciprocal action, informing Ecuador's Ambassador to the United States, Luis Benigno Gallegos Chiriboga, of the decision to declare him persona non grata under Article 9(1) of the Vienna Convention. The United States and Ecuador will maintain relations at the Charge d'Affaires level for the time being.

The U.S. launched a Bilateral Dialogue with Ecuador in November 2008, during which cooperation in human development and poverty reduction, economic development, commerce and investment, and migratory issues was discussed. The second plenary meeting, along with a meeting of the Ecuador-United States Trade and Investment Council, took place in November 2009, and included a discussion of security-related issues, in addition to continuing initiatives begun in the first plenary meeting. The U.S. Department of State announced April 7 that it in addition to declaring Ecuador's Ambassador Gallegos persona non grata it had also suspended the third plenary meeting of the Bilateral Dialogue, which had been tentatively scheduled for June 2011.

The United States assists Ecuador's economic development directly through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through multilateral organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, and through trade and technology transfers facilitated by the Foreign Commercial Service. In addition, the U.S. Peace Corps and the State Department's Narcotic Affairs Section operate sizable programs in Ecuador. Total U.S. assistance to Ecuador amounted to over $70 million in 2010.

The United States is Ecuador's principal trading partner. In 2010, Ecuador exported about $6.04 billion in products to the U.S., more than a 30% increase over 2009, and accounting for about 35% of Ecuador's total exports. For over 15 years Ecuador has benefited from duty-free entry for many of its exports under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and received additional trade benefits under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) in 2002. The U.S. Congress approved a number of extensions of those benefits. However, the ATPDEA expired on February 12, 2011. In May 2004 Ecuador entered into negotiations for an Andean free trade agreement with the U.S., Colombia, and Peru, but negotiations between the U.S. and Ecuador lapsed in 2006. The Correa administration has stated it has no interest in negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States, but has expressed interest in negotiating a “trade for development agreement.”

The United States exported $5.4 billion in goods to Ecuador in 2010, a 38% increase over 2009, accounting for about 26% of Ecuador's imports. Ecuador is the 39th-largest market for U.S. exports. Major U.S. exports to Ecuador include machinery, chemicals and fertilizers, computers and electronic equipment, petroleum products, transportation equipment, and paper. The best prospects for U.S. firms are in the printing and graphic arts, construction equipment, automotive parts, cosmetics, medical equipment, telecommunications equipment, and travel and tourism sectors. U.S. firms remain competitive and successful in many sectors of the market.

Although there are problems with money laundering, border controls, and illegal immigration, Ecuador shares U.S. concern over narco-trafficking and the activities of illegal armed groups. The government has maintained Ecuador virtually free of coca production since the mid-1980s, and is working to combat money laundering and the transshipment of drugs and chemicals essential to the processing of cocaine (with U.S. support). Ecuador also gives priority to combating child labor and trafficking in persons. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Action Task Force of South America are evaluating a new money laundering law enacted by Ecuador in 2010. Meanwhile, Ecuador remains on FATF’s list of countries that have strategic anti-money laundering and counterterrorism finance deficiencies they are working to address.

Ecuador and the U.S. agreed in 1999 to a 10-year arrangement whereby U.S. military surveillance aircraft could use the airbase at Manta, Ecuador, as a Forward Operating Location (FOL) to detect drug-trafficking flights and drug-laden fishing vessels in the region. The Ecuadorian Government informed the United States in July 2008 that it would not renew the lease for the Forward Operating Location when it expired in November 2009. The U.S. ceased these counternarcotics flights in July and departed the FOL in September 2009.

Ecuador claims a 320-kilometer-wide (200-mi.) territorial sea. The United States, in contrast, claims a 12-mile boundary and jurisdiction for the management of coastal fisheries up to 320 kilometers (200 mi.) from its coast, but excludes highly migratory species. Although successive Ecuadorian governments have declared a willingness to explore possible solutions to this issue, the U.S. and Ecuador have yet to resolve fundamental differences concerning the recognition of territorial waters.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Heather Hodges
Deputy Chief of Mission--Andrew Critton
Political Section Chief--Nan Fife
Economic Counselor--David Edwards
Consul General--Elizabeth Jordan

U.S. Embassy
Avenida Patria 120
Quito, Ecuador
(tel. (593)(2) 256-2890/256-1634)
The mailing address is APO AA 34039


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Ecuador check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


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.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco....................300 Cigaretts or 50 Cigars or 200 Grams Tobacco

Liquor........................1 Liter of Alcohol

Perfume....................Reasonable Amount for Personal Use

Cameras....................No Restrictions

Film...........................Reasonable for Personal Use

Gifts...........................$200 USD Maximum Value

Agricultural Items .....Refer to Consulate

Currency....................Refer to Consulate

Export Restrictions ....Gold Bars/Antiques are Prohibited

Note: Prior permission is required for the import of firearms, ammunition, narcotics, fresh or dry meat and meat products, plants and vegetables.



Back to Top