Planning Your Trip to Ecuador

North Americans do not need a prearranged visa and do not have to pay a fee to enter Ecuador. Upon arrival in Ecuador, North Americans will be granted a 90-day tourist visa at no cost. All travelers must have passports valid for at least 6 months beyond dates of travel. You may also be required to show “proof of onward travel” before boarding your inbound flight (your return flight information fulfills this requirement).

No immunizations are currently required for travel in Ecuador. For any international travel the Centers for Disease Control recommends being up to date on routine vaccinations, and Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are also recommended.

The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for those traveling to the Ecuadorian Amazon and required for those entering Ecuador from a country of perceived risk. This vaccination is valid for life and must be administered at least 10 days before your arrival to be effective. It is recommended that travelers bring along their International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) as proof of vaccination. If traveling to multiple countries, please check your specific itinerary with your medical professional. For travelers only visiting the Ecuadorian highlands and the Galapagos Islands, this vaccination is not recommended.

The mosquito-transmitted Zika and dengue viruses are found in some regions of Ecuador, and as such the CDC recommends travelers take extra precautions to avoid being bit by mosquitos. Use insect repellents with 25-30% Deet or 20% Picaridin, and in regions such as the Amazon wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes to protect against mosquito bites. Malaria preventatives are also recommended if visiting the Ecuadorian Amazon. In accordance with the CDC, Knowmad Adventures does not advise travel to Ecuador if you are pregnant.

It is a good idea to visit a travel clinic 4-8 weeks prior to any international travel. For more information, you can also check out the Centers for Disease Control website.

For specifics on Covid-19 vaccination requirements, please visit our Current South America Covid Regulations & Info page.

Ecuador’s official currency is the U.S. dollar. We recommend bringing a large sum of cash in varying denominations with you from the United States (for tipping, souvenirs, and any meals not included in your itinerary). If traveling to the Galapagos Islands, the National Park entry fee ($100 USD), and INGALA card fee ($20 USD) must be paid in cash as well (note that you may have already pre-paid these fees – please check your Knowmad Adventures invoice to see if it is listed).

Keep small bills on hand, as it can be difficult for many stores, restaurants and taxis to change bills of $20 or larger. For most cruises, tips and discretionary costs must be paid for in cash as only a few cruise boats have credit card capabilities.

ATMs are the easiest way of getting cash in Ecuador, and there are several at the Quito and Guayaquil airports. Make sure you have a four-digit PIN, as many Ecuadorian ATMs do not recognize longer ones. The safest and most secure ATMs are those found inside banks or at malls. ATMs can sometimes run out of cash and are difficult to find in more remote areas, such as the cloud forest or near haciendas. There are no ATMs in the Amazon. In the Galapagos there are no ATMs at the Baltra airport but a few on Santa Cruz Island and one on San Cristobal; however, we recommend bringing cash with you from the mainland as most cruises do not allot for time to stop at ATMs. If you have questions or encounter issues, your guide can assist you.

Credit cards are often accepted at restaurants and shops, and can usually be used for discretionary costs at hotels. To avoid your cards being flagged it is important that you notify your bank and credit card company about your dates of travel. Additionally, take note of your credit card emergency numbers and daily withdrawal limit. Traveler’s checks should be an emergency option only, as they are rarely used in Ecuador and can only be cashed at large banks.

Tipping in Ecuador is seen as a bonus, and it is Knowmad’s hope that you use these guidelines simply as a framework and tip according to the quality of service you receive. The recommendation for private guides is between $10-20 USD per full day of guiding per traveler, and $3-5 USD for private drivers per full day per traveler. If the tour is a half-day or any other length, you can prorate accordingly. Please note for large groups it is appropriate to tip guides closer to $10 USD per traveler or less. At lodges such as Mashpi, Napo Wildlife Center, or Galapagos Safari Camp it is also suggested to tip the additional staff involved in your stay (housekeepers, cooks, boat crew, etc.) between $10-20 USD per day per traveler, which will then be equally distributed amongst them (lodges will provide specific tipping recommendations upon your arrival). For cab drivers and porters, spare change or small sums are customary.

Cruise providers have varying tipping guidelines and will provide exact tipping recommendations on board. In general, it is customary to tip the guide and the cruise staff separately; approximately $10 USD per traveler per day for guides, as well as $10-20 USD per traveler per day for the rest of the staff (these tips are equally distributed amongst all crew members). On most cruises any tips you would like to give will need to be in cash, although a few do have credit card capabilities. Please ask your Knowmad Adventures Operations Specialist if you have questions about your specific cruise operator.

In higher-end restaurants, a 10% tip (often called a service charge) will automatically be added to your bill. For exceptional service, you can choose to add a few dollars to this tip. If you are unsure if the tip is included in a price, your server or the menu can often provide this information. Most cheaper restaurants will not automatically include a tip. In all restaurants, should you choose to tip, it is recommended that you give your server the tip directly, not leave it on the table. Please note for included meals tips are not prepaid as they are at the discretion of the travelers.

Trip insurance is not included in your trip cost. Knowmad highly recommends insuring your trip, as the unforeseeable is just that, unforeseeable. A few days after confirming your trip you will receive an email from our recommended travel insurance provider, Travel Guard, with a pre-built quote. The policy will be built corresponding with your trip dates, total cost including estimated international and regional airfare, and your personal information. Should you choose to purchase this recommended policy, simply click the blue “Review my travel insurance quote” link, review the coverage, and enter payment information.

Additionally, some countries are requiring specific coverage due to Covid-19. Please see visit our Current South America Covid Regulations & Info page for details.

U.S. travelers will not typically need a converter or adapter. Ecuador has the same electric system as the United States, providing 110 volt, 60 hz cycle electricity. Plugs are usually the 2-pronged flat type.

While you’re in the Galapagos, we suggest planning to disconnect. Any cell service is intermittent and unreliable. Depending on your service provider, you may get some service only when you are close to one of the four main towns in the islands, which is often for a short period of time. Wi-Fi is not available on most cruises. Cruises that do offer Wi-Fi often charge significant extra costs for it, and the signal can still be quite weak. Most Galapagos hotels do have Wi-Fi. We encourage travelers to take this as a rare opportunity to disconnect! In case of an emergency, there is a satellite phone on board all cruises.

Tap water in Ecuador is generally not safe to drink. We recommend using only bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. It’s also important to request your beverages without ice (“sin hielo”) while at restaurants, as the ice may not be made with purified water. Most Galapagos cruise ships provide bottled water in your room, serve purified water and ice, and will refill your bottles with purified water upon request. Some hotels also provide purified water from dispensers, so we recommend bringing a reusable water bottle on your trip. Also, it is best to avoid eating the skin of raw fruits or vegetables (apples, salads, etc.) and any dairy products that have been sitting out.

Ecuador is considered a very safe country; however, on occasion, petty crime does occur. Travelers should take the same precautions that they would in any unfamiliar city. Be aware of your surroundings, travel with a companion, especially at night, and stay in populated and well-lit areas. Non-violent demonstrations are common in Ecuador and travelers are advised to avoid them. We also recommend always having your accommodations or the restaurant you’re at call your taxi rather than getting one yourself. When dining out at night in Old Town, Quito, we suggest asking your hotel concierge if they recommend walking or taking a taxi to your destination.

To help reduce the chance of petty theft, keep a close eye on your belongings especially in airports, crowded tourist sites, and busy markets. Do not use loosely hanging bags or purses (bags that zip are recommended), avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewelry, and when in crowds move backpacks and purses to the front of your body. Carry only the money you’ll need each day and keep the rest in the safety deposit box in your hotel room, along with your passport and other valuables.

Check out the U.S. State Department travel advisories for the latest information.