ECUADOR : A COUNTRY OF MEGA BIODIVERSITY

Attending CIMAS experience a wide range of cultures, urban and rural communities, and an extensive variety of natural environments. The extraordinary ecological diversities of Ecuador is known throughout the world. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in Latin America, yet it is one of the seventeen countries with mega biodiversity found in the world (20,000 to 25,000 plant species, 2,500 vertebrate species inhabit the country, and ten percent of the world's bird species are found here).

There are four major ecological regions and many diverse ecological niches, theses include Coastal region, the Andean Mountains, the Amazon forest and the Galapagos Islands. In less than 7 hours you could change "seasons", from the wonderful, tropical and sunny beaches on the Pacific Ocean, to the cold snow capped Andean mountain peaks, and to the exuberance of the tropical rain forest of the Amazon region.

The cultural diversity in Ecuador is truly outstanding. You could directly learn about many ethnic groups, with unique traditions and cultures. Their worldviews provide important alternatives for a sustainable relationship of human beings with nature, as well as a strong sense of social solidarity, reciprocity and caring among communities.