Ecuador travel guide

Important information about Ecuador

Travel Requirements

A valid passport for a minimum six months is required to travel to Ecuador. Most visitors are allowed to stay up to 90 days. Visas may be renewed for an additional 90 days.

According the last government laws (August 2017), a travel insurance is a requierement to enter to Ecuador.

Documentation

Documentation pouch, passport , airline ticket and insurance, photocopies; Itinerary and emergency contact numbers, traveller’s checks, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) and cash.

General Equipment

Camera, waterlight camera, small travel alarm clock, sunglasses, water bottle, binoculars, diary, pencil, ziplock bags.

Medicine

Personal medications and antibiotics (please advice your travel agency if you have any important health problems or allergies), sea-sickness tablets, the strongest green friendly insect repellent that you can find, biodegradable shampoo and soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, water-resistant sunblock, lip balm.

Clothing

Please contact us for this information, the clothes that we recommend you to bring depend on the Ecuadorian regions that you will visit.

Luggage Allowance

In Galapagos and the rainforest flights is allowed to bring one piece of luggage of 20 kilos plus one small carry on bag of 8 kilos. Any additional pieces can be stored at your hotel. The Ecuadorian airlines charge approximately US $2.00 for each extra kilo subject to space and weight availability. In inter-islands flights is allowed to bring one piece of luggage of 10 kilos and a carry on.

Currency and payments

The unit of currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. Credit cards are accepted, especially Visa and Mastercard, but there is often a service cash.Please check if all meals are included in your itinerary, all the soft drinks or alcoholic beverages must be paid for at the end of your tour.

What to tip is obviously determined by the quality of service that you have received. We suggest a tipping between USD $7.00 to USD$ 15.00 per person per day for the guides and USD $100 to be split between the crew or staff members. Take note that these are only suggestions, the amount that each person decides to tip is a totally personal decision.

Telephone Service

In Galapagos there are standard phone and cellular phone communication services available in Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela Islands.

Once you have arrived on the Ecuadorian mainland, you have reception in almost all the country except for the deepest places in the Rainforest. In all the cities there are many Internet “Cyber-cafes” with e-mail and net-phone services.

Electricity

American Household electricity of 110V AC (60 cycles). Please note that Europe uses a 50 cycle system, therefore if you are European, we recommend that you bring power-plug adapters that go from “round-to-flat”.

Vaccination

Please check with your doctor before traveling to Ecuador about currently recommended vaccinations. Although any vaccination is requiered to enter to Ecuador. In case that you travel to the Rainforest we recommend you to get the yellow fever and malaria vaccinations, please try to get them unless one week before your trip.

Previous preparation

It is a good idea to prepare yourself physically before your trip. We suggest that you walk or trek with your personal gear before coming so that you are sure that it fits well and is comfortable.

Why not do some reading about Ecuador, there are many excellent books and videos available. Please contact us if you would like us to send you a list of recommended reading.

Ecuador Travel Tips

Put your home address inside your case and your away address on a label outside.
Carry the most important things in your hand luggage, such as prescription medicine, your itinerary with the address and phone number of your travel agent.
Please bring only the necessary amount of luggage, you have to consider that in Ecuador there are many beautiful handicrafts to buy with excellent prices.