Ecuador travel advice

Plan your trip to Ecuador with Insight's online travel advice on visas, embassies, transport, healthcare, currency and what to read.

Visa and entry requirements

To visit Ecuador as a tourist you need a passport (valid for at least six months before arrival) and a return ticket. Visas are required by citizens of some Central American and Middle Eastern countries as well as China, Cuba, India, North Korea, Pakistan and Vietnam. Check with the local Consulate of Ecuador before travelling.

Ecuadorian Immigration Police will give you a free T-3 Tourist Card; keep this safe as you need it to leave the country. It is usually given for 30 days (unless you ask for more), although you can easily extend it for up to 90 days by visiting the local immigration authority. Carry your passport, or a photocopy of it, at all times, as the police have the power to arrest anyone without ID should a check be made.

Embassies and consulates

Quito

British Embassy
Av. Naciones Unidas and República del Salvador, Edificio Citiplaza, 14th Floor
Tel: 02-297 0800
www.ukinecuador.fco.gov.uk/en
Canadian Embassy
Av. Amazonas 4153 and Unión Nacional de Periodistas, Eurocenter Building, 3rd Floor
Tel: 02-245 5499
www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ecuador-equateur
Honorary Consul of Ireland
Calle Yanacocha N72-64 and Juan Procel, Sector el Condado
Tel: 02-357 0156
US Embassy
Avigiras N12-170 and Eloy Alfaro
Tel: 02-398 5000
http://ecuador.usembassy.gov

Transport

Getting to Ecuador

By air
Ecuador has two international airports, at Quito (Mariscal Sucre) and Guayaquil (José Joaquín de Olmedo). Mariscal Sucre in Quito is located 8km (5 miles) north of the New Town. The José Joaquín de Olmedo airport is located 5km (3 miles) north of Guayaquil city center.

By bus
It is common for backpackers to travel overland into Ecuador, crossing at either Huaquillas or Macará on the Peruvian border, or Tulcán/Rumichaca on the Colombian side, although currently there are serious safety issues in this region due to increased drug-trafficking and the activities of illegal armed groups. The borders are usually open from around 8am to 6pm.

By road
To drive a private car across a border into Ecuador, you need to have a Carnet de Passage en Douane (CDP), an international customs document. These are normally obtained through the automobile club of the country where the car is registered. Motorbike and bicycle riders just need to show relevant registration papers.

Getting around Ecuador

By car
Traveling by private car is more convenient in Ecuador than in other Andean countries, because the main roads are in a comparatively better state, the running costs are economical, and the country is safer than neighboring republics. Beware of bus drivers who often go very fast. Many roads have also been affected by landslides and flooding and have potholes. Of the 38,000km (23,600 miles) of highways, about 18,000km (11,180 miles) are open all year and about 7,000km (4,350 miles) are paved.

By long-distance bus
Bus travel is not always comfortable, but the numerous companies connect all the main towns at frequent intervals, serve smaller localities and the fares are incredibly low. In general, buses leave from central bus terminals. The new, luxury buses leave on time; regular buses may or may not. There are four types of bus available for long-distance journeys: small buses (busetas) for 22 passengers, which have cramped leg room and are not very comfortable; larger buses (buses), which have more space; luxury buses (autobuses de lujo), serving routes between major cities; and trucks with roofs, open sides, and wooden plank seats, called chivas or rancheros, which are found mainly around the coast.

By local bus
These run frequently and are inexpensive. Destinations are shown on the front of the vehicle, and all the main towns and cities are served by urban bus lines. The buses are mostly small and usually extremely overcrowded, especially at peak hours. The large selectivo buses running in Quito's New Town are a pleasant exception. There is a smart trolley system operating between the north and south of Quito, but this also gets very crowded at peak hours. Watch out for pickpockets on all public transport.

Since taxis are very cheap in Guayaquil, buses and colectivos are mostly avoided by foreign visitors, but busetas or minibuses are safe to ride. Servicio especial buses, marked with blue-and-white diagonal stripes, are slightly more expensive but relatively efficient.

By taxi
Taxis are very cheap compared to the US and Western Europe, but meters are only used by taxi drivers in Quito, and often only on request. Tell the driver your destination and agree on a charge beforehand, or insist the taxi-metro (meter) is used. In smaller town, meters do not exist.

Take great care with taxis in Guayaquil, due to a spate of taxi-kidnappings of late. It is better to order one by phone from a company recommended by your hotel than to flag one down in the street.

By rail
Quito's train station is 2km (1 mile) south of the center. Trains run from here to several destinations – for schedules see www.trenecuaudor.com. Services go to Latacunga in the Andes, Boliche and Machachi on Saturday and Sunday. There is also the "Tren de la Libertad" running between Ibarra and Salinas in the Andean highlands; information is available on the same website. A notable journey is the Riobamba-Sibambe route, the Devil's Nose section of which is one of the most spectacular train rides in the world, famous for its hair-raising switchback.

By air
There are domestic flights bewteen all the main cities, with flying time between Guayaquil and Quito about 30 minutes. The Oriente is the one area where airlines have virtually no competition from other forms of transport. There are many villages whose only contact with the rest of the country is by air.

By boat
Traveling by boat is the principal means of transport in the Amazon, and many lodges are only accessible by motorboat or canoe.

Health and safety

Medical care

Vaccinations against diphtheria, polio, tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A are strongly recommended. A yellow fever certificate is compulsory if arriving from a tropical South American or African region. If traveling into the Amazon or tropical lowlands, anti-malaria pills should be taken. If you are hiking or cycling in rural areas, a rabies vaccination will mean more time to reach medical help and fewer post-bite shots if you get bitten by a rabid dog.

The most common illness for tourists is mild diarrhea. Sufferers should have plenty of liquids (hot tea without milk is ideal), avoid eggs and dairy products, and rest as much as they can. Do not drink tap water in Ecuador, and stay clear of ice, uncooked vegetables, salads and unpeeled fruit. Altitude sickness can sometimes affect travelers arriving in Quito by air. Most people will need a couple of days to get used to the thin Andean air. There are several good private hospitals in Quito and Guayaquil, but they are expensive so take out travel insurance.

Crime

Most of Ecuador is relatively safe, although petty theft does occur in large cities. In major cities it is best only to use marked taxis: Guayaquil has seen a spate of taxi-hijackings whilst Quito has experienced an upsurge in crime, particularly (as far as tourists are concerned) on the ascent to El Panecillo. In hostels, particularly dorms, secure your belongings in a locker. Although drugs such as marijuana may seem common in areas where travelers visit, use or purchase is punishable by up to 16 years in prison, where a number of foreigners now reside.

Money and budgeting

This is the US dollar. However, other foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks and currency exchange offices in the business districts of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Outside major city centers it becomes difficult to exchange other currencies.

Cash and cards

Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels, restaurants and tourist-oriented shops. ATMs are now ubiquitous, even in small towns, but only those that accept Visa are widespread; those that accept MasterCard and Cirrus/Maestro are less easy to find. ATMs are sometimes closed after 10pm for security reasons. Try to find an ATM that is not on the street.

Tipping

In many restaurants 22 percent service charge and tax is added to the bill, but some cheaper establisments will leave it to your discretion. It is customary to leave a 10 percent tip for the waiter if service has been good. Airport porters can be tipped about 50 US cents. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip.

Budgeting for your trip

Quito and Guayaquil remain more expensive than other places, noticeable in accommodation and food prices, as well as taxi fares. In large cities and major tourist destinations, budget accommodation will run from as little as $8 per night, but a top hotel will charge several hundred dollars for a room. Getting around by bus is fairly cheap ($1–2 per hour, depending on the level of comfort) and journeys are never more than a few hours due to the size of the country. Trains are also economical, although less reliable.

Some locations in the Oriente, as well as the Galápagos, can only be reached by airplane. A round-trip plane ticket to the Galápagos will cost around $550. In large cities and the Galápagos, rarely will you be able to eat out for less than $5, and meals can cost as much as $40 per person in a top restaurant. In rural areas, small local restaurants will serve set menus for a couple of dollars. Drinks tend to be relatively cheap, as a beer will cost just over a dollar in most bars and pubs, although in a large club in Quito, you will likely have to triple that price.