Ecuador is located in north–western South America, straddling the equator. Ecuador shares its northern border with Colombia and its southern and eastern borders with Peru. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west Ecuador. Ecuador has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, dense rainforest and sublime islands.
Geographically, Ecuador can be divided into four distinct regions: the Coast, the Highlands, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador's total area is 256,370 square kilometres and its population is over 12.5 million inhabitants. Ecuador is a multiethnic and pluricultural nation. Several different indigenous nationalities continue to live their traditional lifestyles in rural villages and towns throughout the nation. In the cities, you find mainly mestizos, African Ecuadorians, and whites. The official language of the country is Spanish.
Petroleum has been the main source of foreign currency to the country for the past 25 years. Other products of economic importance to the country are bananas, coffee, cocoa, shrimp, timber, tuna, and, more recently, flowers. Ecuador has a vast array of natural riches. Tourism is Ecuador’s fourth most important export in terms of income.