Ecuador

Ecuador is a South American country, sharing its borders with Peru and Colombia. It also has a maritime border on the Pacific Ocean. As its name suggests, Ecuador lies on the equatorial line, which crosses the country from north to south. The capital of Ecuador is Quito, but the largest city is Guayaquil.

The country boasts great geographical diversity, represented by 3 main regions: the Pacific coast, the sierra (mountains) and the Amazon. Each of these regions has its own unique landscapes, climate and biodiversity.

Ecuador’s population is of mixed race, heir to both indigenous and Spanish cultures. The country therefore boasts great cultural diversity. Marked by Spanish colonization and the struggle for independence in 1830, Ecuador has a rich history.

Today, the country is a republic headed by a president with a centralized government in Quito. Despite political instability, the country is making steady progress in the fields of democracy and human rights. Ecuador’s economy is heavily dependent on its natural resources.

Tourism is also highly developed in Ecuador, thanks to its varied flora and fauna. Indeed, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

Despite growing development, Ecuador faces a number of challenges, including environmental conservation, balanced economic development, poverty alleviation and the preservation of indigenous peoples.

It is therefore interesting to understand how sustainable tourism could help meet these challenges. Thanks to the Terre Solidaire exploration mission, Justine was able to meet one of our partner associations: ATASIM. An organization whose aim is to promote, assist and carry out development activities in the social and economic fields through entrepreneurship and innovation, thus contributing to the emancipation of Amazonian families in the province of Morona Santiago.