Living in Ecuador

Ecuador lies in the northwest of South America on the Pacific Ocean and is crossed by the Equator; it borders Colombia and Peru. Around 17.1 million people live in the country. The Andes divide the coast, highlands and Amazon lowlands, complemented by the Galápagos Islands. Accordingly, the climate ranges from warm and partly dry conditions on the coast, through cool high-altitude areas, to humid, hot regions in the east; the islands have their own conditions. In Quito and other highland cities, many people live in densely built neighborhoods and use buses, while larger cities and port activities shape daily life on the coast. In rural areas, agriculture, trade and crafts are important; leisure time is spent with family, at markets, on sports fields and in nature.