Ecuador FAQ

Due to its mild climate, Ecuador is a year-round destination. High season is mid-December through January and June through August.

U.S. citizens are permitted to enter Ecuador and the Galapagos. As of March 22, 2021, all travelers (including minors) arriving in Ecuador must provide proof of either a negative COVID PCR (polymerase chain reaction, called a PCR test, performed by a nasal swab) or rapid antigen test taken no more than 72 hours (3 days) before entering the country, or present a vaccination card showing the traveler received a complete series of the COVID vaccine.

Airlines are now required to verify that travelers have a negative COVID test before boarding at the point of origin.

All persons present in Ecuador wishing to travel to the Galapagos Islands must present negative results from a PCR test taken no more than 96 hours (4 days) from the time of arrival in the Galapagos. This can be the same test as the test used to get into Ecuador, assuming it was taken within 96 hours of arrival in the Galapagos. (Source: U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador)

The best places to visit in Ecuador are Baños, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Otavalo, Quito, the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands. For more information on this topic, you can read our blog post.

There are two time zones in Ecuador (Ecuador time UTC-5 and Galapagos time UTC-6). There are no daylight savings time changes. Eastern Standard Time in the US, for example, is either UTC-5 or UTC-4, depending upon daylight savings time.

The flight from Miami to Quito takes 4 hours.

The best way to plan a trip to Ecuador is to tell us what trip you want, when you want to travel, the number of passengers, and where you want to depart from. For an existing trip, you can either call us or complete the “Get Pricing Now” form on the itinerary page. If you want a personalized tour, you can either call us, email us, or complete the “Contact Us” form on our website.

Yes. Our clients choose their own departure dates, unless there is a cruise involved. In that case, we defer to the departure date of the ship.

All meals are listed on each itinerary as (B,L,D Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner). Breakfast is included daily. The other meals are either included or not, depending upon the itinerary.

We do not include airfare in the cost of our tours. We do, however, quote it for you and you can purchase it through us if you like. The cost of our airfare is usually the same or lower than what you can purchase yourself.

U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Ecuadorian embassy in their country before traveling.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website provides recommended and/or required vaccinations for each country. For Ecuador, it recommends that you should be up-to-date with routine vaccines such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and that you get your yearly flu shot. It also recommends that you get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid, and Hepatitis B, depending upon your travel plans. Since rabies can be found in bats and other mammals in Ecuador, rabies vaccine is recommended if you will be involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put you at risk for animal bites, such as adventure travel and caving. The government of Ecuador requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling to the following provinces east of the Andes Mountains: Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios, and Zamora-Chinchipe. It is not recommended for travelers visiting Guayaquil, Quito, and the Galapagos Islands. You should see a health-care provider at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect.

There is a relatively low risk of malaria for travel to Ecuador. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling.

Yes, we recommend travel insurance and strongly believe that you should be protected in the event that something unforeseen happens either before or during your trip. We work with Allianz Travel Insurance, AIG (Travel Guard Travel Insurance), and Travelex Insurance Services. **A Travelex plan can provide coverage for trip cancellation if you or a traveling companion test positive for coronavirus and must physically quarantine as a result, as certified by a physician.

You will need to check with your cell phone carrier prior to traveling, since every carrier is different.

Voltage: 110 V, 120-127 V; Frequency: 60 HZ; Plugs: Type A (Flat blade attachment plug), and Type B (Flat blades with round grounding pin). Travelers will require a voltage converter for 110-volt devices and plug adapters.

Independence Day is celebrated on August 10.

The main language in Ecuador is Spanish.

The main religion in Ecuador is Catholicism.