Ecuador South America January / February 2006 Ecuador is a tiny country in north end of South America and many people come here on their way to the Galapagos. The Galapagos is spectacular, but the mainland has plenty to offer as well. The Avenue of Volcanoes runs down the center of Ecuador providing plenty of stunning scenery and mountaineering for those that have the skills. Compared to many other developing countries, I found Ecuador to be cleaner and more organized overall. It is comparable to Thailand and considerably more developed than Peru, Indonesia or anywhere in Africa. In 2002 the entire country switched from the local currency to the US$ in order to curb inflation that was at 60% per annum. This makes it a little easier to travel since you don’t have to change your money as much. It also makes it easier to figure out just how much things cost. It’s a pretty easy place to get around since buses run frequently and the food is mostly very good with plenty of variety. Lonely Planet Information for Ecuador

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