Ecuador
Where the Andes meet the Amazon and the Pacific, and the equator gives the country its name.
Eugenio Espejo is remembered as the intellectual spark of Ecuadorian independence. A writer and physician of humble birth, he used pamphlets and public argument to challenge colonial rule, and his ideas helped lead Quito to declare the Primer Grito de la Independencia, the first independence call in Latin America, on August 10, 1809.
Ecuador's national motto is Dios, patria y libertad, meaning God, homeland and liberty. It captures a nation shaped by volcanoes, rainforest, and coastline all at once. In a hemisphere built on common ground, Ecuador shows how a small act of courage in one city can echo across an entire continent.
Get to Know Ecuador
Capital: Quito, known as the Luz de América. Official language: Spanish. Currency: US Dollar. National motto: Dios, patria y libertad. Independence declared August 10, 1809, the first call for independence in Latin America.
Fun Facts
- Ecuador is the only country named after a geographic feature, the equator.
- Ecuavoley, a national variation of volleyball, is the country's most popular sport.
- The Galápagos Islands were the first site ever added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1978.
Why Visit
The Galápagos Islands offer close encounters with giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Quito's historic center, one of the largest and best-preserved in the Americas, blends colonial churches with Andean mountain views. The Amazon rainforest covers Ecuador's eastern lowlands, reachable from Quito in a matter of hours. Otavalo's Saturday market is one of the largest indigenous markets in South America, filled with textiles and crafts.
Made in Ecuador
Ecuador is known worldwide for Panama hats, which actually originated in Montecristi, Ecuador, along with fine-flavor cacao, coffee, and roses grown in the Andean highlands. This space is reserved for a future Local Marketplace Spotlight, featuring Trust Standard certified Ecuadorian businesses once that pillar of the Americas Ecosystem exists. Soon.