Ecuador is bounded to the north by Colombia, to the east and south by Peru, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The latter, although comprising 36 per cent of Ecuador's land area, contains only 3 per cent of the population.
Colonisation is, however, increasing in the wake of the oil boom.
Spanish is the official language but Quechua and other indigenous languages are common. Some English is spoken. More than 90 per cent are nominally Roman Catholic. International calls must be made through an operator. Not compatible with GSM handsets.