ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
**As the requirements related to COVID-19 are constantly changing, please check your own country's international travel advice as well as your airline's requirements before travel.
UK guests, please see the FCDO website for lates entry and exit advice; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
US guests, please see the Travel State website; https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ecuador-travel-advisory.html and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html for current advice
Passports:
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the period of stay. It is advised to have 1 blank page in your passport. Please be sure to fill out the "Emergency Next of Kin" section in your passport
Visas:
U.S., Canadian, Australian and European citizens may enter Ecuador for up to 90 days for tourist purposes without a visa. All other nationalities must check the visa entry requirements before your departure. On arrival, you may be asked about the reason for your travel. You may also be asked to provide evidence of a return or onward flight/bus ticket when you arrive as well as evidence of sufficient funds. Adequate health insurance is also a pre-requisite for entrance into Ecuador.
N.B. If crossing the border between Ecuador and Peru, please ensure that you get an exit stamp from Ecuador as you may not be allowed entrance into Peru without it.
• Galapagos Islands Entrance Fees
On entering The Galapagos National Park an entrance fee is to be paid, which is not included in the tour cost. The cost is currently USD $100 per person and only payable in cash. (You may read elsewhere that it is possible to pay by card but we highly recommend having USD$100pp in cash to pay for this fee.)
N.B. Please note, visa and entry requirements, regulations and restrictions can vary on a regular basis. Please ensure you check in good time prior to travel the current requirements applicable to you.
Travel Insurance
All passengers must have valid travel insurance before traveling, including health and cancellation insurance. Please ensure you have a copy of your insurer’s 24-hour emergency telephone number and your policy number.
Medical Conditions and Personal Medication
Please advise us prior to travel if you have any medical conditions requiring special attention during your trip. If you have a specific medical condition, it is wise to carry the relevant doctor’s prescription with you. The Galapagos Islands are remote – some 600 miles from the nearest continent, so please ensure you bring all your required medication with you. Important:
- Pack a sufficient supply of any medications you are taking, copies of the prescriptions and the telephone/fax numbers of your doctor.
- Please note, some countries require that prescription drugs be carried in their original container, with the label clearly visible. In the event of you losing your medication, a qualified pharmacist should be able to source a replacement.
Travelling with CPAP or other Medical Machines
Please inform The Big Journey Company that you are travelling with such a device as early as possible, and well before you travel. Please note, if you require distilled or ionised water, you must inform The Big Journey Company of this at the time of booking, so we are able to make preparations with our ground agents. There may be an additional charge for this.
LUGGAGE
• What to Pack and Wear
We would recommend comfortable clothes and shoes for this tour. Feel free to include a few smart-casual outfits for dinner, especially on board the boat if you wish, however there is no pressure to follow a dress code. As there are no washing facilities on board the Galapagos cruise, it is advisable to pack sufficient clothes, especially underwear and socks, so that frequent laundry is not necessary.
In Quito especially, layering clothing is advisable with a lightweight waterproof and a warm jumper/sweater. We would suggest including the following items, but please remember, The Galapagos Islands are isolated islands 600 miles from the nearest continent, and whilst there we will be on an isolated boat. If you need it, bring it along from home!
- Light breathable layers - t-shirts, long sleeve, shorts, trousers; jumper, waterproof jacket, sun hat, sunglasses
- Footwear: Closed toe sandals and trainers. We recommend you bring older, broken-in pairs rather than new shoes as they will suffer the damage of saltwater, volcanic rock, and sand and are essential to protect your feet from sharp lava
- Swimming costume/shorts. A shorty wetsuit may be useful if you wish to spend hours snorkelling in the deeper waters, where the temperature is around 18-23°C;
- Snorkelling equipment – it is available to rent locally, but if you have your own and would like to bring it with you, please feel free to do so.
- Extra prescription glasses and medication (if applicable).
- Small day pack or fanny pack for walks and Zip-lock plastic bags to protect personal belongings in case of rain.
- Insect repellent and high factor sun cream - are also essential items. Don't forget your camera, with charger/spare batteries and memory cards, as well as travel adaptor.
• Luggage Allowances
International airlines are often strict about the size and weight of checked in baggage and carry-on luggage. Prior to your departure, please contact your airline or visit their website for specific luggage requirements, as size and weight limitations may vary according to the airline and destination.
Galapagos Island Tours – This tour includes an internal flight in Ecuador. On all flights to and from the Galapagos islands each passenger is permitted to take 50lb (23kg) of baggage that must be checked in. In addition, each passenger may have an item of carry-on luggage up to 17lb (8kg).lease check with The Big Journey Company regarding specific luggage allowances for this flight.
LANGUAGE
The main language of Ecuador is Spanish, though Quechua and other Indian languages are spoken around the country in the different regions. English is spoken widely across the country, especially by younger generations.
WEATHER
Quito is on the Equator, but high in the mountains with a cool climate. Arriving at the airport dressed for cold weather is wise. The daily average temperature in May is 13°C, with rain also likely. In the Galapagos Islands in May / November, the water temperature averages 25°C and air temperatures are around 22-30°C. Seas tend to be calmer. Rainfalls are common for a short period of time each day, but the remainder of the day tends to be very sunny resulting in high humidity. Flowers come into bloom and vegetation is more colourful. This is a good time to observe birds mating or sea turtles nesting on the beaches.
ELECTRICITY
In Ecuador, the standard voltage is 120V and the frequency is 60Hz. You will need a Type A (US/North American) plug adapter, and/or converter depending on which electrical appliances you bring with you.
MOBILES & INTERNET COMMUNICATION
Moblie coverage is widely avaliable across Galapagos, be sure to check with your mobile provider for coverage and rates, as data roaming can be extremely expensive.
MONEY
• Currency
The currency of Ecuador is the US Dollar $ (USD). Credit cards are widely accepted at mid-high range establishments, but it is advisable to carry money in cash with you as well. ATMs are widely available in cities, but not so in smaller villages. Apart from €uros, Peruvian Soles and Colombian Nuevos Soles, it’s very difficult to change foreign currencies in Ecuador. Travellers cheques are often accepted in the big cities, but less so in rural areas.
Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards however many places do not accept cards such as Diners Club or American Express. If you intend to use any of your debit or credit cards whilst away, please make sure that you contact your bank before you leave to inform them that you will be travelling in order not to cause any problems using your cards or whilst on the trip.
After feedback from previous guests, we offer a group tipping package for this tour, more information on this will be shared in the 'Pre-Tour Emails'.
WATER
The tap water in Ecuador is not safe and you should drink bottled water instead. Bottled water can be bought at supermarkets, kiosks and many shops.
SAFETY & SECURITY
As visitors, tourists may be more vulnerable to petty crimes like pickpocketing and scams, so we recommend staying aware and taking simple precautions
RELIGION
Ecuador is mostly Catholic, with over 75% of the population declaring of this faith.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ecuador offers photo opportunities one after another. You will return with many photos that can never be repeated. Remember to pack your camera, along with the charger, spare batteries and a spare memory card! For the Galapagos Islands, as we know you will take a lot of photos, if you run out of memory space, getting more can be expensive or difficult. For those that have quality digital cameras, bringing a wide-angle/macro lens and a 70-210mm zoom lens is advisable. The zoom lens will let you frame animals at any variety of distances and reduce the amount of camera equipment required. A polarizing filter helps to reduce the glare of the sunlight on the water and make the dolphins more visible as well as helping with sunset shots.
Disposable underwater cameras work surprisingly well and let you take photos of the sea lion you befriend or the sharks that make you look twice.
ARRIVAL IN ECUADOR
Please note, standard hotel check-in is around 3pm, so should you arrive earlier than this, your room may not be available upon arrival. For those arriving early morning, we will do everything we can to work with the hotel to get you an earlier check-in subject to availability.
If you have any other questions that we have not covered here; then please send us an e-mail to: info@thebigjourneycompany.com
Disclaimer: The above information is provided as a guideline only. The Big Journey Company assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in this document.
Updated November 2024