Ecuador

In geographical terms Ecuador is quite striking. The capital city of Quito, truly one of the most picturesque cities in Latin America, is aptly nicknamed , the city of perpetual spring., Many roads traverse beautiful mountain scenery and indigenous culture is never far from sight. The Galapagos Islands, off the Western coast, stand out as a unique treasure. Visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, these islands are home to species of plants and reptiles found nowhere else on the planet. Ecuador has not been immune to political turmoil nor economic booms and busts. The discovery of oil changed the fabric of the economy but it remains susceptible to ups and downs as a result of the continued reliance on bananas and petroleum. Shrimp raising has proved to be an advantageous venture since the 1980s as shrimp is now the second largest export product.