• Population: 13 million
• Capital City: Quito (pop. 1.1m)
• Time difference: -5 hours GMT
• Language: Spanish and Quechua

Tiny Ecuador sits astride the equator squeezed between two larger Andean states, Peru and Colombia. It is a land of staggering contrasts – from the heights of the snow-capped Andean peaks the visitor can plunge down into remote Amazon rainforests or to wild and warm Pacific beaches.

Located in a high-level valley in the sierra, Quito is Ecuador's enchanting colonial capital. The city lies 9,000ft  (2850m) above sea level in the shadow of the snow-capped cone of Pichincha.

Quito is an excellent base from which to seek out the country’s fascinating Indian market towns. Ecuador is justifiably renowned for its colourful textiles. Many of the indigenous population still wear traditional dress and jewellery.

To the south an avenue of high-altitude volcanoes marches to the tip of the continent; to the east lie virtually impenetrable expanses of tropical rainforest.

Westward the Pacific Ocean stretches into tomorrow, across the dateline to the coast of Borneo - unbroken but for the Galápagos Islands.