Ecuador travel guides

Most nationalities including EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days in a year. You need a passport valid for six months and, officially, proof of onward travel and travel insurance covering your stay, which is occasionally checked. Visiting the Galápagos requires a separate transit control card bought at the mainland airport plus the national park entrance fee paid on arrival in the islands.

Ecuador sits on the equator, so temperature depends on altitude rather than season. June to September is the dry season in the highlands and best for volcano hiking and clear Andes views. The Galápagos have two seasons: December to May is warmer with calmer seas and better snorkelling, while June to November is cooler and rougher but brings nutrient-rich currents and the most active marine life. The Amazon is wet year-round, with heaviest rain from March to July.

Budget for the mandatory costs first: the national park entrance fee, currently USD 200 for most foreign adults, plus a transit control card and the flight from Quito or Guayaquil. Liveaboard cruises of four to eight nights typically run from USD 2,500 to well over 6,000 per person and reach the remote outer islands. Land-based island hopping, staying in hotels on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela with day tours, costs a fraction of that and suits travellers on a tighter budget.

Security in Ecuador has deteriorated in recent years, particularly in Guayaquil, Esmeraldas and the coastal provinces near the Colombian border, so check your government's current travel advisory before booking. Quito's old town, the Galápagos and the main Andean tourist route remain considerably safer, though petty theft is common. Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps, avoid displaying valuables, and do not travel intercity roads at night. Altitude in Quito also warrants a gentle first day.

Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency, adopted in 2000, which removes any exchange-rate concern for American travellers and simplifies budgeting for everyone else. Bring small denominations, as change for USD 50 and 100 notes is genuinely hard to find outside cities and many businesses refuse them. Ecuador also mints its own coins in the same denominations as US cents, valid only within the country.

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