Dreaming of deserted beaches, delicious exotic foods, unique cultures, and unimaginable wildlife encounters? Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are open for travel, just a short flight away, and offer all that and more. Plus, take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this incredible destination with next to no one — except of course the animals.
While the last few months have certainly been a whirlwind, we couldn’t be more excited to have some positive news coming out of one of our favorite destinations. With Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands open for travel & with safety protocols in place, people are finally dusting off their passports and packing their bags for international adventures yet again. Read on for 5 reasons we think travelers should consider Ecuador as their first international trip in this new age of travel.
Ecuador + Galapagos Open for travel: 5 Reasons to GO
1. Ecuador is open to travel now + granted the ‘Safe Travel Seal’
Ecuador is open, ready, and receiving travelers right now. All that is required is a negative PCR Covid test from within 10 days of arrival and then you are free to travel around mainland Ecuador without quarantine.
If you’d like to travel to the Galapagos Islands as part of your trip, a negative PCR Covid test from within 96 hours is required. Depending on your itinerary and access to testing in your state, this can be your same test taken in the U.S., or we can arrange for another test in Ecuador prior to your flight to the famed islands.
Additionally, Ecuador joined the list of international destinations that have received the Travel Safety Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), certifying that Ecuador complies with global protocols for the safe and responsible reactivation of tourism.
2. Marvels all to yourself
With the decrease in international travel, this is a rare opportunity to share such a magical location without the usual numbers of tourists. Your family could have the run of an historic (and presidential) hacienda in the Andes mountains; visitor sites in the Galapagos with no one but the tortoises, iguanas, and sea lions to ‘social distance’ from; and the quiet, unspoiled cloud forest with no sounds but the birds.
3. Short travel times
Currently, many people looking to travel are looking for trips where they can minimize their time in crowded, public spaces and avoid additional long flights or transfers. This makes Ecuador the perfect destination. The flight from the U.S. is far shorter than many other international destinations; from Miami it’s just a 4-hour flight. Once there, you can cover a lot of ground just in mainland Ecuador, without great travel times and with all private transfers. Without ever getting on another flight or overland transfer of more than 2 hours, you can visit colonial cities, hike to a waterfall in the cloud forest, horseback ride from historic & picturesque haciendas in the Andes mountains, bike down volcanoes, and much more. If willing to travel further, with a short, 45-minute flight you can also head to the Amazon Jungle, or in 2 hours to the Galapagos Islands.
4. Flexible postponement policies
Any trip you book right now with Knowmad will have flexible postponement policies.* If travel ends up not possible, or you decide you’re not comfortable, we will work with you to postpone your trip to future dates. It’s never before been possible to offer so much flexibility.
5. Incredible deals
We’ve never before seen so many incredible deals, from discounts on chartering a boat for a fully private experience to over $1000 off on some individual departures. Knowmad’s also gotten a special 20% off for our travelers on one of our favorite luxury Galapagos cruises — see more on this special, limited-time deal here.
Ready to start looking at some trip ideas? Reach out to a Trip Specialist at 612-315-2894 or [email protected] to begin planning your trip today! Or, read on for some of our favorite Ecuador Trip Ideas.
Some of Our Favorite Ecuador Itineraries
GALAPAGOS & ECUADOR LUXURY ADVENTURE
This adventure highlights some of the best of Ecuador, from a luxury lodge in the cloud forest to island hopping on a small, 16-passenger catamaran and finishing up at the former president’s cozy hacienda nestled in the Andes mountains.
ULTIMATE GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING
This trip is the best of both worlds, marrying a shorter duration, small expedition cruise ship with a few nights on land in private, safari-style luxury tents. By combining styles you get both the incredible wildlife experiences of the remote shore excursion areas as well as the more independent, flexible adventures that being land-based affords.
GALAPAGOS LAND-BASED ACTIVE ADVENTURE
Looking for something to do that’s entirely private? This is the trip for you. This active, land-based adventure can be entirely customized to you and will minimize your time spent with travelers outside your own group.
If you’d like to keep your trip to just mainland Ecuador, perhaps an extended stay in the Andes at Hacienda Zuleta (check out their own 6 reasons why Zuleta is great for travel right now) or combine it with a visit to Mashpi Lodge in the cloud forest or Napo Wildlife Center in the Amazon Jungle. Find more on our 6 favorite mainland Ecuador destinations here.
It is always Knowmad’s goal that our travelers feel prepared for and excited about their adventure to Ecuador and South America. If you have any questions we can help answer, or if you’d like to discuss planning your own adventure to Ecuador, give one of our Trip Specialists a call today at 612-315-2894, or fill out the short form above to begin planning your personalized Ecuador itinerary.
*Exact postponement policy will be noted on your custom trip proposal, prior to trip confirmation or deposit payment, and will vary based on your itinerary & the hotels and providers involved.
Saludos, Renee
Renee is a Trip Specialist at Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to creating unique, private and custom trips in South America. She lived in Mexico for over 3 years and is excited to help Knowmad travelers discover the wonderful impact not just travel, but really experiencing a different country and culture can have on your life. Read Renee’s biography and more about the Knowmad team.