Ecuador
Ecuador is in South America.
The capital is Quito.
Climate: Due to Ecuador's varied regions and because it is located on the equator, it is an
excellent travel destination year-round. Rather than rotating through four seasons, most
of Ecuador experiences oscillating wet and dry periods.
The general weather trends for each region are as follows:


El Oriente (Amazon region) normally has a warm,
humid and rainy climate. The average
temperature varies from 23 to 26 C (72 to 80 F).
The drier season is generally November to
February but varies by region.
La Sierra (Andean Highlands), though on the
equator, is generally cooler than most people
would expect. The climate in the Andes varies
according to the altitude and the time of the year.
In Quito the temperature ranges from 7 degrees
C (55 F) at night, to 26 C (78 F) at noon,
averaging 15 C (64 F).
La Costa's (Coastal lowlands) climate is
usually very warm with temperatures
averaging 25 degrees C (76 F) to 31 C (90
F) during the year. The rainy season
(December to May) is warm and very
humid. The dry season is less humid but
still a little muggy.
 The Galapagos Islands enjoy warm and
dry weather year-round, with an average
temperature of 28º C. (85 F).

Mitad del Mundo: near Quito
The 30-meter-tall monument, built between 1979 and 1982, was constructed
to mark the point where the equator was thought to pass through the
country at the time. In fact, a line down the center of the east-facing
staircase, and across the plaza, was meant to mark the equator, and
countless tourists over the years have had their pictures taken straddling
this line. Also, residents said that among other things, placing one foot in
the northern hemisphere and the other foot in the southern hemisphere
makes you stand right in the equator and weigh less at the equator.
However, the entire structure is about 240 meters south of the true
equator, which was not precisely located until recently, with the advent of
GPS technology.
Otavalo: The largest craft market in the
Hemisphere, perhaps in the world!
Baños
Hemmed in by luxuriant green
peaks, blessed with steaming
thermal baths and adorned by a
beautiful waterfall, Baños is one
of Ecuador’s most enticing and
popular tourist destinations.
Ecuadorians and foreigners alike
flock to this idyllically set town to
hike, soak in the baths, ride
mountain bikes, zip around on
rented quad-runners, volcanowatch, party and break their
molars on the town’s famous
milcocha (taffy). Touristy as it is,
it’s a wonderful place to hang out
for a few days, complementing
outdoor-activity days with
excellent dining out.
Llapingachos
Llapingacho originated in
Ecuador’s Highlands. It is a
fried, mashed plantain or
potato surrounding a center
of cheese which is generally
served with sausage and fried
eggs. Also, it is typically
served with avocado on the
side. This plate forms part of
Ecuadorian's culture, and is
one of the representative
icons of the Highlands food.
Llapingacho was later popular
not only in Ecuador's Highland
but also in the Ecuador's
coast and eastern provinces.
In this way, Llapingacho
became a typical Ecuadorian
plate enjoyed not only by its
inhabitants, but also by
people from abroad.