Christmas Day (observed)

📣 Traveler notes

Ecuador is a South American nation situated on the Equator. Key destinations include the UNESCO World Heritage Galapagos Islands and the historic cities of Quito and Cuenca. The landscape is characterized by the Andes Mountains, which feature active volcanoes such as Cotopaxi.

• Dress warmly in the mountainous Sierra region (e.g., Quito).
• Wear more casual clothing when near the coast.
• Learn basic Spanish greetings and differentiate between the formal ('usted') and informal ('tú') forms of 'you'.
• Use Spanish greetings ('buenos días,' 'buenas tardes,' 'buenas noches'). Greetings often involve a handshake (men) or a cheek kiss (women/mixed groups). Use the formal 'usted' when addressing strangers or older people; 'tú' is acceptable otherwise. Be mindful of close personal space. In mountainous areas, avoid pointing with a downward-facing palm and do not motion 'come here' by sweeping the hand downwards.