25 Fun Facts About Ecuador You Probably Didn’t Know

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Ecuador is a relatively small country and might not be at the top of your travel bucket list. However, there are so many reasons to love this country.

Ecuador is full of adventures. This beautiful country is a paradise for nature lovers, with plenty of biodiverse places to visit, including national parks, cloud forests, the mountainous Sierra region, sandy beaches in the coastal region, and other scenic areas.

However, Ecuador is not just about scenic nature and unique animal species. It also has a rich culture and heritage you can discover on every corner.

Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, has enough attractions to keep you busy for weeks. And that’s just the beginning—imagine what the rest of the country has to offer!

Do you need any more convincing? Here are some fun Ecuador facts that will make you want to book your flight to South America as soon as you finish reading!

1. Nature Has Rights In Ecuador

Ecuador rewrote its constitution in 2008. During this process, a group of environmental activists led by Natalia Greene applied pressure to ensure that nature received rights.

This idea originates from the indigenous worldview of the Andean region, especially among the Quechua people. They believe that nature possesses intrinsic value and should be respected and protected.

And so, Ecuador became the first country in the world to acknowledge that nature has a constitutional right to exist, persist, and be respected by all.

2. Ecuador Was Named After The Equator

This one is probably obvious, but the República del Ecuador was named because of its location right on the equator. In fact, “ecuador” literally means “equator” in Spanish. This is the only country in the world whose official name comes from a geographical feature.

Ecuadorians are so proud of their position in the middle of the world that they have a monument called the Mitad del Mundo marking where the equator runs.

Although, this marker is off by a few yards, and the real “Middle of the World” is closer to the Intiñan Solar Museum.

3. Ecuador Has The First UNESCO World Heritage Site (And More!)

This is one of the most interesting facts about Ecuador. Where most countries only have one World Heritage Site (if any), Ecuador has five UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also home to the very first heritage site – the Galapagos Islands.

Three are cultural sites:

• The Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
• The City of Quito
•  Qhapaq Ñan, part of the Andean Road System

And two are natural sites:

• The Galapagos Islands (the first World Heritage Site in the world)
• Sangay National Park

4. There Is No Death Penalty

Although Venezuela was the first country in the world to ban the death penalty in 1863, Ecuador was not far behind. Capital punishment and any form of torture is illegal in Ecuador and has been since 1897.

5. Ecuador Has Some Of The Best Chocolate In South America And The World

Ecuadorians have consumed chocolate for over 5,000 years. But not just any chocolate. The country is home to the rare Arriba Nacional cacao beans. 

These Ecuadorian cacao beans are considered “Fino de Aroma” (“Fine Aroma”) because of their complex flavor profile, including floral and fruity notes. They’re a gold standard in gourmet chocolate making.

Ecuador is also a potential originator of cacao, thanks to archaeological findings at the Santa Ana-La Florida site in the upper Amazon. These discoveries show that the Mayo-Chinchipe culture cultivated and consumed cacao 5,300 years ago. 

They predated the previously thought originators of cacao, the Olmecs in Mexico, for about 1,500 years.

6. Ecuador Has Been Independent Since 1822

The country has had its fair share of dictators and rulers. It was even ruled by  Peru for 300 years. When the Spaniards arrived, they took over the country and brought their religion, language, and architecture.

Ecuador remained under Spanish rule for almost 200 years before becoming independent as part of Gran Colombia in 1822. Finally, Ecuador gained complete independence and became a sovereign state in 1830.

7. There Are Four Distinct Regions

One of the more interesting facts about Ecuador is that there are four unique regions in the country, and each has its own climate:

• La Sierra – the mountainous highlands of the Andean region
• La Costa – the coastal lowlands
• La Región Insular – the Galapagos Islands
• La Amazonia o El Oriente – the Amazon rainforest lowlands in the east

8. Ecuador Is The Closest Country To Space

Ecuador’s highest mountain is Mount Chimborazo, which is the Earth’s closest point to the stars and the farthest point from Earth’s center.

That is because the Earth is not a perfect sphere; it bulges out in the middle. This gives the Ecuadorian stratovolcano a little extra boost. And measured from the center of the Earth, it is taller than other mountains (including Mount Everest).

9. Charles Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution Comes From Ecuador

Ecuador is known worldwide for its incredible collection of indigenous fauna and flora. This country has the most rich biodiversity per square kilometer in the entire world. It is also one of 17 mega-diverse countries.

So, it’s no surprise that Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution while studying Galapagos Islands finches.

Charles Darwin observed that the unique creatures on each island were very similar yet carried slight differences, adapting them to their specific environments. This led him to study the origins of the islands’ inhabitants.

10. Ecuador Is Part Of The Antarctic Treaty

Ecuador might be far removed from the southern continent, but this country in Latin America signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1958 with 11 other countries. Today, this treaty involves 54 countries, and Ecuador has its own research facility at the South Pole!

11. The Official Language Is Spanish

Since the country was a Spanish colony, it is unsurprising that most people speak Spanish here. This is the same as many other countries on the South American continent, except Brazil.

However, there are still some pre-colonial indigenous languages spoken by the population, including:

• Achuar-Swiwiar
• Awa-Cuaiquer
• Cha’palaachi
• Cofan
• Colorado

12. The Official Currency Is The Dollar

Ecuador might be in South America, but the official currency has been the US dollar since 2000. The dollar replaced Ecuadorian sucre to combat high inflation and stabilize the economy.

This is primarily good news for Americans who don’t have to worry about confusing exchange rates or swapping currency at dodgy market stalls.

13. “Cuy” Is A Delicacy

Don’t hate me for this, but “cuy” (pronounced “kwee”) is actually guinea pig meat. These little rodents are most often grilled and served with potatoes, rice, and a tangy sauce. If that doesn’t sound tasty, you can also have it roasted and stuffed.

14. The Panama Hat Is From Ecuador

This is one of the lesser-known interesting facts about Ecuador. You’d think that the famous Panama hat would be from… well… Panama (or at the very least, somewhere near the Panama Canal)! But, instead, these chic woven hats, made from toquilla straw, are traditional Ecuadorian hats.

15. Ecuador Is Home To Thousands Of Orchid Species

That’s right, this little country on the equator is considered the orchid capital of the world, with more than 4,000 species of this intricate flower.

Some of these species bloom for half a year, while others only bloom for a few hours. Some can live for 100 years, while others can live for only a short while. These beautiful plants are found in Cuenca and make excellent home decorations.

16. Ecuador Was Part Of The Incan Empire

When you think of the Incas, you most probably think of Machu Picchu in Peru. But not many people know that Ecuador was once part of the Inca Empire, too. The region was ruled by the Incas between 1450 and 1534 until the Spanish arrived.

17. Ecuador Is Bird Watchers Paradise

Ecuador is the ultimate destination for bird watchers. Statistically, the country has more birds per square kilometer than any other country worldwide.

This is the place to uncover new birds, with 1659 confirmed bird species. Now that’s a bird watcher’s paradise!

18. Ecuador Had The First Female President (For A Short While)

Ecuador may have been ahead of its time, with the first female president in the world in 1997. But Rosalie Arteaga only served a very short term – two days, to be exact – before she was replaced. To be fair, she was only an acting president when Abdalá Bucaram left the presidency!

19. The World’s Biggest Tortoise Lives On The Galapagos Islands

The stunning Galapagos islands are home to the world’s largest living species of tortoise. It weighs over 900 lbs and can grow up to be 5 ft tall! Tortoises are also ancient creatures, with some living up to 177 years old—that was before the American Civil War!

20. The National Tree Of Ecuador Is The Cinchona Tree

This “tree” is actually a flowering plant that can come in more than 20 different varieties. The Cinchona tree can grow to a height of 50 ft. This tree is considered a healer, providing quinine, which is used to treat malaria (and is also found in the tonic you mix with your gin!).

Ecuadorians also believe that the Cinchona tree can treat stomach ailments and cramps.

21. The National Animal Of Ecuador Is The Andean Condor

This massive vulture has a wingspan exceeding 10 ft. This is probably the largest flying bird you’ll ever see, as it is only surpassed by the Wandering Albatross.

You can see the Andean Condor gliding gracefully among the cliffs of the Andes mountains.

22. Ecuador Has Two Seasons

Ecuador is mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere, with a small part sitting in the Northern Hemisphere. The country’s location across the equator means it only has summer and winter. Winter is from June to September, and summer runs from October to May.

Usually, winters are mild and dry, with an average of 73 °F. Summers are not much hotter, with an average temperature of 79 °F, but the humidity can make it almost unbearable in the warmer months.

23. Voting Is Mandatory

Are you unsure who to vote for? You better make a plan! Everyone aged 18 to 65 must vote in the national elections.

24. Water Boils A Little Bit Differently

Most of us are used to water boiling at 100 degrees, which makes sense, right? Well, in Quito, in the northern part of the country, water boils at 90 degrees Celsius! Because of the high altitude (9,350 ft above sea level), water boils at a lower temperature.

25. Ecuador Is Among The World’s Largest Producers of Bananas

One of my favorite fun facts about Ecuador (keeping the best for last) is that it exports 25% of the world’s bananas. The country’s economy heavily depends on this tropical fruit. Many other South American countries also export bananas, but none can come close to Ecuador’s quantities.