Basics

Entry

Citizens of any nationality can enter Ecuador without a visa and stay for a period of 90 days.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Ecuador.

For official information visit your home government travel bureau.

Getting Around

More detail is to come in this section, but you can read about general advice regardingGetting Around When You Get There

Accommodation

Ecuador has a wide variety of hostels and you should never have any problem finding one.

The average price of a hostel is $8-15 a night. Hotels can also be relatively cheap, but vary in quality.

All hostels in Ecuador will provide linen and bathroom facilities. Usually there will be cooking and internet facilities as well as common and laundry rooms.

Read more about Accommodation When You Get There and Living in Hostels

Food And Health

Food hygiene and safety in Ecuador is satisfactory, but is not up to Western standards. Use your instincts; if the place looks dirty, don’t eat there; if your food isn’t piping hot, don’t eat it.

Water is generally not safe to drink, so it is best to buy bottled or boil.

Good medical treatment can be expensive and is not always available outside the main cities. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. If you intend on visiting the Galapagos Islands make sure your insurance covers the cost of being flown by air ambulance to mainland Ecuador if you become seriously ill.

Always contact your GP around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Visit here for Recommended Vaccinations and read here for more about Travelling Health In General

Weather & Time To Go

The coastal and Amazonian regions are tropical; inland and at higher elevations it is much cooler and dryer. Rainy season is usually from December to May.

Communications

Internet and wifi is widespread and is accessible in most hostels and hotels. International calling cards are also cheaply available.

Dangers And Considerations

Crime levels are high.

Travel is advised against to some parts of Ecuador, so always check with your foreign office (British Foreign Office webpage) or travel advice bureau before travelling for official advice.

Thieves, pickpockets and scam artists commonly operate at country borders, and in cities and tourist areas. Pickpockets often work in gangs, some distracting you while the others go into your bags, so be alert and try not to get distracted around tourist attractions and cash points.

It is not uncommon for thefts to take place when withdrawing cash from ATMs. ‘Express kidnappings’ occur in Ecuador; where victims are normally held while criminals empty their bank accounts with cash cards. Once the ransom is paid the victim is usually quickly released.

Passport thefts are common. Leave your passport in a hotel safe or security box and keep a photocopy of the details page with you at all times, as it is a legal requirement to carry ID.

Don’t store anything under your seat or in the overhead storage on buses.

Avoid taking buses at night, as there are more likely to come under attack from criminals.

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides are always a possibility in Ecuador, so familiarise yourself with safety procedures. Climbing volcanoes in Ecuador is highly advised against, due to frequent activity.

Dangers constantly change. Always check with your foreign office (British Foreign Office webpage) or travel advice bureau for the latest information regarding your destinations safety.

Read more about Safety And Security here

Respecting Culture

It is considered impolite to signal someone to “come here” using your hand with the palm facing up.