About Us Useful information for visitors to Ecuador

On Arrival at Airport

On your arrival at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport of Quito, please take the prepaid taxi service from the Airport counter or taxis from the Hotel where you would be staying through prior reservation.  This is safe and reliable.
Airport is located within the city to its north.
Airport Tax at the time of departure is 45 US dollars.

Language 

Many businessmen speak English. But executives at middle and lower level speak only Spanish.
The visitors can hire local free lance interpreters. The price depends on qualification and experience. 

Vaccination 

Since Ecuador is in the Yellow Fever zone, vaccination should be taken ten days before starting the trip in India. Without the Yellow Fever Certificate, travelers on return to India might face quarantine.

Airlinks                 
   
Ecuador has air links with India via USA (New York) and Europe (Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam). The fastest way to reach Ecuador is via Europe – while a transit visa is required for Paris, travel through Frankfurt and Amsterdam can be undertaken without visas.

Changing Money

Ecuador has been using the US Dollar as its currency since 2000. 

Postal System

Postal system is very poor in Ecuador.  Courier agencies are used for dispatches.  

Getting around in Quito

Quito is one of the safest cities in Latin America. Nevertheless, a visitor needs to take all necessary precautions.
Quito has a rich variety of cultural, touristic and nightlife activities, besides a number of international restaurants. The visitors can certainly enjoy these, while taking precautions.
Sufficient allowance of time should be given for reaching the offices of clients taking into account the usually congested traffic.  Please be prepared for delays and last minute cancellations of meetings. It is advisable to reconfirm just before the meetings. 

Working hours 

Banks: Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Offices: Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Shops:  Monday to Saturday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Shopping Malls: Monday to Saturday - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday - 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Business

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s economic heart and 70 percent of the country’s exports pass through its port, a third of which are destined for the U.S. Over 15,000 Ecuadorian companies are located in the Guayas Province, of which Guayaquil being the capital, represent over 50 percent of Ecuador’s industrial and manufacturing activity. Companies in the province are engaged in businesses involving industrial, commercial, agricultural and service activities. Over 18 percent of Ecuador’s total GDP is generated in Guayaquil and more than 20 percent of the country’s active labor force is located there. In addition, since the majority of the Ecuadorian imports reach Guayaquil, the city plays host to a growing number of international companies.

Guayaquil is an attractive choice as a business destination with its balmy climate and pro-business environment. The national law on tax incentives offers tax holidays for ten years in the Guayas Province for investors in specific sectors such as electric power, petrochemicals, exports, aviation hubs and ports. Under the law, companies also enjoy tariff exemptions during the same period on the import of machinery, equipment and those raw materials that are not produced in Ecuador.
Useful Business Contacts in Ecuador: