ECUADOR

Amabato (population 140,000) is in central Ecuador 75 miles / 125 km south of Quito, 132 miles / 220 km northeast of Guayaquil.Ambato is Ecuador's sixth largest city.Almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1949, it has since been rebuilt.It is an important rug manufacturing center and has some excellent tourist shops.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Dituris, Calle Guayaquil 900, Ambato, Ecuador S.A.

HOW TO GET THERE: Bus from Quito 2.5 hours, from Guayaquil 6 hours.

Calle Guayaquil 900 y Rocafurte, Ambato.

Type: Tourist class hotel & casino.

Location: In the center of Ambato.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 60 Rooms.Restaurant.Squash.

Rates: on request.

Cuenca (population (250,000) is at 8,220 feet (2,595 m) 90 miles / 150 km southeast of Guayaquil.Cuenca is Ecuador's third largest city.It has preserved its colonial air with its cobblestone streets and quaint old buildings.

CLIMATE: The weather is spring like year round, but the nights are chilly.

HOW TO GET THERE: Daily flights from Quito or Guayaquil or take the trains which connect at Sibambe with the trains to Cuenca.

Gran Columbia 787 y Luis Cordero, PO Box 5001, Cuenca.

Tel: (7) 831-390.

Fax: (7) 831-663.

Type: Moderate first class multistory hotel & casino.

Location: In the commercial center, 0.6 mile / 1 km from Mariscal Airport.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 92 rooms.restaurant.night club.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$60 - 80.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Guayaquil (population 1.7 million) is near the Pacific Ocean on the Guayas River 207 miles / 345 km southwest of Quito.Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, its chief commercial city and seaport on the west bank of the Guayas River some 34 miles / 46 km from its outflow into the Gulf of Guayaquil and the Pacific Ocean.

CLIMATE: May to December is best with little or no rain and cool nights.January to April, the rainy season, the heat and humidity are oppressive.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Dituris, Male- con 2321 y Av.Olmendo, 1st floor, Guayaquil, Ecuador S.A.

Tel: 518926 or 526241.

HOW TO GET THERE: International flights from the U.S., Central and South America, and Europe; 10 daily internal flights to and from Quito.

___ 9 de Octubre 432 y Chimbrazo, PO Box 7524, Guayaquil.

Tel: (4) 306-700.

Fax: (4) 300-354.

Type: Modern first class business oriented hotel & casino.

Location: Downtown, 2 miles / 3.2 km from Simon Bolivar Airport.

Casino Games: 150 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 67 rooms & suites, coffee shop.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$47 - 117.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Affiliation: Casino owner / operator The Romero Group.

9 de Octubre y Garcia Moreno, PO Box 9636, Guayaquil.

Tel: (4) 327-999.

Fax: (4) 329-350.

Type: Superior first class hotel & casino.

Location: In downtown business district, 2.4 miles / 4 km from Simon Bolivar Airport.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 219 rooms, 34 suites, restaurants.swimming pool, sauna, gym.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$200-1,200.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Affiliation: Casino owner / operator The Romero Group.

Malecon y Orellana, PO Box 10964, Guayaquil.

Tel: (4) 312-200.

Fax: (4) 322-036.

Type: First class hotel & casino.

Location: In the center of the business district, 20 minutes from the airport.

Casino Games: 20 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 110 rooms, 5 suites.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / / MCNISA.

Rates: US$81 - 171.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

C.Ballen 406 y Chile, PO Box 563, Guayaquil.

Tel: (4) 327-100.

Fax: (4) 328-352.

Type: First class hotel & casino.

Location: Downtown in a multilevel mall overlooking Simon Bolivar Park and Cathedral.

Casino Games: 140 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 150 rooms, 50 suites, sauna, solarium, whirlpool, gym.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / EC / MCNISA.Rates US$140 - 270.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Affiliation: casino owner / operator The Romero Group.

Machala (population 122,000) is on the southern shore of the Gulf of Guayaquil 90 miles / 150 km south of Guayaquil.Machala is Ecuador's fourth largest city and a growing agricultural town with an annual banana fair in September.The prosperous irrigated banana zone attracts few tourists.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Dituris, Tar-qui y Primera Constituyente, Machala, Ecuador S.A.

HOW TO GET THERE: Daily flights from Guayaquil and Quito.

Guayas y Bolivar, Machala.

Tel: (7) 921-906.

Fax: (7) 933-651.

Type: Tourist class hotel & casino.

Location: In the center of Machala.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 62 rooms & suites, A / C, TV, cafeteria, restaurant.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MC / VISA.

Rates: US$ 25 - 45.

Quito (population 881,000) is in central Ecuador high in the Andes Mountains.Quito is Ecuador's capital city and the second highest in South America setting at 9,029 feet (2,850 meters).Because of its height visitors may initially feel discomfort until they get use to the altitude.Quito originated as an Inca City which was later rebuilt in 1534.Its charm is found in its old Colonial center where the cobbled stone streets are steep and winding, dipping to deep ravines.

CLIMATE: The mean annual temperature is 55? F (13?c).The rainy season is September through May with the heaviest rainfall in April.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Dituris Reina Victoria y Roca, Quito, Ecuador, S.A.

Tel: (2) 239-044.

HOW TO GET THERE: International flights from the US, Central and South America, and Europe; 10 internal flights per day to and from Guayaquil.

Calama 312 y Reina Victoria, PO Box 8703, Quito.

Tel: (2) 562-700.

Fax: (2) 563-966.

Type: First class multistory hotel & casino.

Location: 2.4 miles / 4 km from Mariscal Sucre Airport.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 50 rooms.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MC / VISA.

Rates: US$25 - 40.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Avenida Amazonas y Patria, PO Box 3103.Quito.

Tel: (2) 560-666.

Fax: (2) 563-903.

Type: Moderate deluxe tower hotel & casino.

Location: In central area overlooking El Ejido Park, near business shopping and US Embassy, 25 minutes from the Airport.

Casino Games: 90 Slots, 12 tables (6 blackjack, 1 craps, 5 American roulette).

Amenities: 415 rooms & suites, restaurants, bars.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$145 - 210.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Av.de los Shyris.

Tel: (2) 445-305.

Fax: (2) 251-958.

Type: New 14 story hotel & casino.Location In the center overlooking El Ejido Park near business district shopping, 5 miles / 8 km from the airport.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 100 suites, restaurants, cafeteria, bars, fitness club, conference rooms.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MC / VISA.

Rates: US$145 - 225.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Av.12 de Octubre 1820 y Cordero, PO Box 21565, Quito.

Tel: (2) 566-497.

Fax: (2) 569-189.

Type: Superior first class hotel & casino.

Location: Modern residential and business area.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 193 rooms, 48 suites.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$200 - 1,600 Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Affiliation: casino owner / operator The Romero Group.

Gonzales Suarez 2500, PO Box 2201, Quito.

Tel: (2) 230-300.

Type: Moderate deluxe hotel & casino.

Location: On a hilltop in a residential section, 10 minutes from the city center and 15 minutes from the Airport.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 223 rooms & suites, restaurants, bar nightclub.

Credit Cards: AE / CB / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$71 - 109.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito.

Tel: 524-260.

Type: Moderate first class hotel & casino.

Location: In the center of the city across from the US Embassy.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 70 rooms, cafe, bar.

Rates: US$66 - 114.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Salinas (population 21,000) is 100 miles / 160 km west of Guayaquil on the Pacific coast. Punta Carnero is about 6 miles / 10 km south of Salinas on the Santa Elena Peninsula. Salinas and Punta Carnero comprise the best resort area in Ecuador. Salinas sits on a crescent shaped beach and offers an abundance of marlin fishing. Punta Carnero has 9 miles / 15 km of beach and plenty of surf and black marlin, dolphin and bontio deep-sea fishing. Besides deep sea fishing and water sports there is horse racing at Rio Verde in season.

Malecon s / n, Salinas.

Tel: (2) 772-115.

Type: Moderate modern hotel & casino.

Location: On a private beach, 80 miles / 133 km or 1.5 hours from Guayaquil.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 61 rooms, restaurant, coffee shop, swimming pool.

Rates: US$35 - 80.

PO Box 10299, Punta Carnero.

Tel: (2) 772-268.

Type: Outstanding deep-sea fishing resort & casino.

Location: On a rocky point overlooking 5 miles / 8 km of seashore, 6 miles / 10 km south of Salinas and 1-1 / 2 hours.from Guayaquil.

Casino Games: slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 45 rooms, restaurant, pool.

Rates: US$32 - 80.

Santo Domingo de los Colorados (population 66,600) is a market town of the Pacific lowlands 129 km / 81 miles (2 hours) from Quito.

1639 Av.Quito, Santo Domingo de los Colorados.

Tel: (2) 75-03-16 or 75-00-23.

Type: Tourist class hotel & casino.

Location: On the road to Quito, 2 km from town.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: 44 rooms, restaurant, bar, swimming pool.

Rates: On request.

The capital of Napo Province Tena is in the Oriente, the eastern tropical lowlands of Ecuador.

Tena, Ecuador.

Type: hotel & casino.

Location: 1.5 km / 1 mi.out of town on the road to Archidona.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: rooms, restaurant, bar disco.

Rates: On request.

_ Rumichaca s / n, Tulcan.

Type: hotel & casino.

Location: In Tulcan.

Casino Games: 40 slots, tables (American roulette, blackjack, punto banco).

Amenities: rooms, restaurant, bar.

Rates: on request.

PLAYAS (Villamil): the nearest seaside resort to Guayaquil is also said to have a casino along the beach, but the address is unknown.