Ecuador - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 565

WATERSPORTS
For watersports, including rafting and
kayaking , Tena and Baños are best for
trips on fast-flowing rapids and gentler
tributaries. The best surfing is at the
resorts of Montañita, which holds a
famous surfing competition around
Carnaval, or Canoa and Mompiche.
Scuba-diving and snorkelling
opportunities are limited on the
mainland. Parque Nacional Machalilla
has a few operators but the best place
by far is the Galápagos Islands, whose
amazing marine life makes it one of the
world's top underwater destinations.

from Claro or Movistar. Phones start at
$35 and SIM cards from $4.
You're never far from internet cafés in
tourist towns, and even remote places
have a connection. Expect to be charged
$1-1.50 per hour, although many good
hotels have free wi-fi . Skype calls are
obviously far cheaper than telephone but
connections can be poor. 6

CRIME AND SAFETY
Sneak theft is common for travellers across
Ecuador. Expert pickpockets target tourists,
particularly in Quito. Be vigilant in
crowded areas and on public transport,
keep your money out of sight and be wary
of strangers engaging you in conversation,
a common diversionary tactic. Don't carry
large amounts of cash. Armed robbery is less
common but increasing. Sadly the tourist
district of Mariscal Sucre in Quito is now
the most common place for tourists to be
mugged. There have also been some reports
of violent attacks on tourists. Gangs look for
easy targets, so don't wander around alone
and always take a licensed taxi back to your
hotel at night, no matter how close it is.
Other crime hotspots in Quito include
parts of the Old Town, the walk up to El
Panecillo (take a taxi) and Parque Carolina.
In Guayaquil, be extra vigilant at night,
particularly downtown. Esmeraldas and
Atacames also have problems with theft
and robbery; avoid the northern coastal
town of San Lorenzo completely. Drug
smuggling, Colombian guerrilla activity
and risk of kidnappings in the northern
border areas have made areas of
Sucumbíos (capital Lago Agrio), Carchi
(capital Tulcán) and Esmeraldas (capital
Esmeraldas) provinces unsafe. On the
southern border, the Cordillera del
Cóndor, southeast of Zamora, contains
landmines from the conflicts with Peru.
By law you must carry identification
- this means your passport. If you can't
produce it, you may be detained by
the police. Carry drugs in Ecuador and
you may end up in jail for up to fifteen
years, so avoid contact with drug dealers.
Foreigners are sometimes vulnerable to
drug set-ups and a bail-out is an easy way
for corrupt police officials to make money.

WILDLIFE
Birdwatching enthusiasts should head to
the cloudforests of Mindo, which have
more than 400 bird species and 250 species
of butterfly. The tiny hummingbirds are
a highlight, commonly seen in the
cloudforests and the jungle. The Andean
condor is a rare but unforgettable sight,
occasionally seen in Parque Nacional
Cotopaxi. For other wildlife-watching ,
the Oriente offers opportunities to observe
sloths, otters, caymans, tapirs and many
species of monkey. The Galápagos is of
course unbeatable for wildlife.

COMMUNICATIONS
he postal system in Ecuador is very
unreliable; your postcard will either reach
its destination late or never. Receiving
mail is worse, so if you need to send or
receive something important, use an
international courier service such as
DHL or Fedex, but bear in mind there
is a minimum charge of about $50.
Ecuador's phone system is improving
and international calls are cheap. There
are countless phone offices in towns.
These are the best places for conventional
calls, useful for calling hotels or tour
operators. There are also cellular public
phones, which use prepaid phone cards
available at shops or kiosks. Calling North
America costs as little as $0.10-0.20 per
minute and Europe $0.30-0.40 per
minute, but there is usually a connection
charge. Most travellers staying longer than
a few weeks invest in a mobile phone