Ecuador is located in South America along the equator. The capital of this country is Quito which has a very high altitude meaning that some travellers struggle to breathe when visiting the city. The official language of Ecuador is Spanish and the country has a population of just over 15 million. The currency used here is the United States dollar (USD). This beautiful county is home to many great jungles and mountains, including the Andes mountains. There are also beautiful beaches along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The Galápagos Islands, which are a part of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, were explored by Charles Darwin and these islands were the birth place of his theory of evolution. Ecuador many interesting plants and animals; 16,000 plant species, 1,600 bird species, 6,000 butterfly species, 106 endemic reptiles and 138 endemic amphibians. Ecuador is also home to many beautiful churches and cathedrals.