Ecuador

Visited: April 1997, 2000-2004, April 2011, June 2019

Duration of travelling: 105 days

Duration of living: 1,195 days

Capital city: Quito

Population: 17.40 million (2019)

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

• Impressive diversity of the landscape from the coast through the Andes to the jungle.
• My second / third home – I visited Ecuador on many occasions, worked and finally lived in Quito for 4 years.
• Incredible dedicated and humble people that formed the best team in my professional career.
• Quito – from the Inca capital, to UNESCO’s 1^st World Cultural Heritage City and my home for almost four years.
• Visiting the Galapagos Island on a military cargo plane and meeting endemic animals at close range.
• Sweets feast at Corpus Christi in the beautiful colonial city Cuenca.
• Negotiating for a bus ride in Guayaquil.

Ecuador has a unique position in my life. I got in touch with Ecuador for the first time in 1997 as a part of my American Big Tour in 1996-97, which started in New York and ended in Buenos Aires 15 months later.

Only 3 years later I received a job offer to run a company in the capital Quito. Over the period of the next three and a half years I visited every corner of the country; for business and pleasure.

The connection with Latin world strengthened to the extent that today I consider myself half Latino, believing that I understand pretty well the culture, way of thinking, working habits and mindset not only of Ecuadorians, but much wider Latino population.

I started my Ecuador business adventure in the era, when the country was on the knees, practically in bankruptcy. High inflation, political instability, indigenous protest and unsupportive international environment caused hyperinflation, lack of foreign currency, bankruptcy of financial system and high unemployment rate.

Still, Quito was one of the safest places to live in Latin America and the kindness of humble people, cooperative coworkers and positive environment positioned Ecuador in my hearth forever.

Two decades later, when I visited Ecuador with my family, the country has changed. Socialism of the 21^st century orchestrated by ex-president Correa converted Ecuador to an insecure territory, where drug cartels compete for prohibitive business, causing atrocities to anybody in their way.

I was constantly worried to take precautions, avoid walking at night or circumvent certain areas that were considered safe years ago. Ecuador was on the way to become dangerous for its inhabitants and risky to visit for the tourists.

Despite the fact that Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean countries, it can be compared to medium-sized European countries. At 283,520 square kilometers, Ecuador is one of the most colorful countries in the world, extending from the Amazon basin through Andean mountains to the coast of Pacific Ocean.

The most unique attractions of Ecuador are the Galapagos Islands and the Equator line that also gave name to the country. While the Galapagos Islands are somewhat more exclusive destination, the equator line in the immediate vicinity of Quito is certainly the most visited place in the country. The Galapagos Islands and Quito were the first ever designated UNESCO sites.

Internationally known as the largest exporter of bananas in the world, Ecuador accounts for almost 25% of the world’s total banana exports. Other important crops are flowers, especially roses and cacao. Only 5% of the cacao in the world is the so-called fine aroma quality and Ecuador produces nearly 2/3 of it. However, the main source of income is actually petrol, which accounts for 33% of revenue and 40% of exports.

In general Ecuador is a peaceful country, but it was engaged with a long-running war (dispute) over the border with Peru from the day of their foundation. Finally, in 1998, after 171 years since the first attack, a peace agreement was signed that finally brought a definitive end to the dispute over mostly uninhabited Amazon jungle.

While Ecuador is renowned for a variety of products, there is one specific item that, although it originates from Ecuador, bears the name of a different country.

Panama hats were popularized during the building of the Panama Canal, after President Roosevelt bought one in 1906 and subsequently wore it during his inspection tour of the Panama Canal construction, hence the name.

Ecuador is a special country.

Not only due to my personal connection through years of visiting, travelling, living and working in this South American state, but mainly because of historical importance from Pre-Columbian civilizations, being one of the most colorful countries in the world, location on the Equator line, volcanos, biodiversity and the unique Galapagos Islands.

Visiting Ecuador during various occasions as a backpacker on a long transcontinental trip, as an expat running a company in demanding economic environment and as a father with two kids, I had a chance to live, understand and savor Ecuador from various perspectives. The country has changed from being an adventurous, inexpensive destination for backpackers in the 1990s to a rather dangerous area where drug trafficking, robberies, blackmailing and kidnaping have marked not only the coastal zone, but also always peaceful Andean region in the 2020s.

The socialism of the 20^th century, intended to improve the lives of the impoverished and middle class, has unfortunately led to a decline in the quality of life for many average Ecuadorians.

Ecuador remains a banana country that has used petrol-based incomes to increase official statistics of development, but the quality of life for individuals has not improved according to the expectations.

I sincerely hope that the politicians and army will find the path of returning Ecuador to the tracks of peace, honesty and security.