Ecuador is located on the northwestern coast of South America (is one of the smallest countries in the region: it is about the size of the state of Nevada). It comprises the continental territory between coordinates of latitude 01 27’ 06’’ N and 05 00’ 56’’ S and longitude 75 11’ 49’’W to 81 00’ 40’’W, that covers approximately 104,550 square miles -270,670 km2- plus the Galapagos Island(1,000 km. off the coast of Ecuador). 

Its continental territory borders Peru to the south and the east (approx. 1,420 km), Colombia to the north (590 km.) and the Pacific Ocean to the west (2,237 km. of coastline).