Ecuador

Ecuador consists of the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean and a portion of mainland between Colombia and Peru. The country is approximately seven times larger than the Netherlands and is the second smallest country in South America. Ecuador has nearly 18 million inhabitants and is named after the equator, as the country lies precisely on it.

From the Netherlands, you can fly there in about 12 hours. Ecuador has various climates. The lowland areas have a tropical climate, with an average temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius year-round, and the least rain falls between July and November. However, in the Amazon region, it rains heavily throughout the year. In the Andes, it is often dry and sunny, but as you ascend, the temperature decreases. At night, temperatures frequently drop below freezing. Finally, the Galapagos Islands have a unique climate. The rainy season runs from January to June. During the rainy season, it is warm and usually sunny, making it the best time to visit the islands. For the rest of the year, it is cooler and often shrouded in mist.