FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is Ecuador?
Ecuador is located in South America, its limits are: to the North with Colombia, East-south with Peru, and West the Pacific Ocean.

Where are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands or (Archipelago de Colon) is a province of Ecuador, located 600 miles (1000 km) west of the Ecuadorian continent on the Pacific Ocean.

How do we get to Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil?
TAME and Aerogal, as domestic airlines have daily flights from Quito and Guayaquil to Baltra and San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands.

How many kilos of luggage can I bring to the Galapagos Islands?
You can only check 20 kilos of luggage per person on board the flight to the Galapagos Islands. Notice that you can always leave some extra luggage at the hotel you are staying or at our office.

What level of guides will we have in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands?
We work with Tour Guides authorized and licensed by the Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism, with many years of experience in cultural and adventure activities.

For the Galapagos trip we have Naturalist guides highly experienced trained by the Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Charles Darwin Station for the Galapagos Islands. They are all fluent in English (and sometimes other languages).

VISA AND PASSPORT

What type of visa is required to come to Ecuador?
A valid passport is required to enter and depart Ecuador. Tourists from most countries do not need a visa for a stay of 90 days or less. Those planning a longer visit must obtain a visa in advance.

INSURANCE

It is the responsibility of every traveler that he/she is adequately insured against personal accidents and medical expenses during his/her trip to Ecuador, as well as having travel, trip cancellation and baggage insurance to protect your travel investment

WEATHER AND ALTITUDE

What is the weather like in Ecuador?
Quito is about 9,200 feet (2,820 meters) above sea level. This high altitude results in colder weather (even on the equator) and more intense UV radiation. The average temperature year-round in Quito is about 64ºF (15ºC), with daily highs up to 78ºF (26ºC) and nightly lows reaching 55ºF (7ºC). There are two seasons, dry (considered summer) from June-September and wet (also called winter) from October-May. Solar radiation is more intense along the equator than in other latitudes, so wear sun block with a high SPF even on cloudy days.

Ecuador's weather is characterized by being very variable. It is often best to dress in layers, as you may experience strong changes in temperature. Check your trip itinerary for the box of “important information” that describes the weather and climate of the location(s) you will be visiting.

How can I avoid altitude sickness?
Abrupt changes in elevation sometimes have ill effects on travelers. Altitude sickness usually manifests itself in insomnia, headaches, and/or nausea. To prevent altitude sickness, or to at least stave off some of its effects, ascend gradually (when possible) to provide your body with time to adjust to the change. In the event that you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness, in most cases, they can be remedied by drinking lots of water, getting extra rest, and taking aspirin. Skip alcoholic beverages and rich foods the first night. Symptoms usually don’t last more than two days.


PACKING

Documents
Passport
Plane ticket & itinerary
Health insurance contacts
Photocopy of your Passport
Credit Card, ATM Card (Be sure to have the phone number for your Credit card issuer in case)
Small bills ($5, $10, $20) for change

What should I wear/bring with me?

In Quito and the highlands: Wear spring attire during June, July, and August. During the rest of the months, use warmer clothing like what you would wear during the fall. Dress in layers so that you’re ready for temperature changes throughout the day. A raincoat or jacket is useful at night since it gets pretty chilly. An umbrella will be especially useful during the wet season (October-May).

Guayaquil and other coastal cities: Wear summer clothing all year round. During the rainy months, December to May, the weather is still very warm. During the months of June to November the weather is cloudy and a little bit colder. Bring along a light jacket.

Galapagos: Wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothing. Shorts, t-shirts, and summer clothing will be just fine. Don’t forget a hat, a camera, sun block, and a bathing suit. During the months of June to November the weather is cloudy and a bit colder. Bring along a light jacket.

Amazon or jungle: Wear clothing adequate for rain. If you can get yourself a raincoat (poncho), take it with you, as well as several sets of light pants and short and long sleeve shirts. Shorts are less useful because of the insects and abundant vegetation you will walk through on your excursions. A hat and insect repellent are a must. Rubber boots are usually provided.

SAFETY

What can I do to protect myself and my valuables while traveling in Ecuador and elsewhere?
Theft in Ecuador as in most countries is prevalent. Please take proper precautions, particularly in crowded places such as markets or public buses. If you keep valuables in a money pouch, it should be under clothing.
Make copies of your important documents, such as your passport, visa, and airplane tickets. (Be sure to have the phone number for your Credit card issuer). When possible, leave the originals in a safe box at your hotel. Always keep a copy of your passport with you. Don´t carry large sums of cash I in general. When walking, wear backpacks in front of you instead of on your back. When in restaurants and other public places, keep all bags and other valuables near you and within eyesight. Be wary of people who are too friendly too quickly, or that offer to show you around.

What is Ecuador’s currency?
Since 2000 the Ecuadorian currency is the US Dollar. Other currencies, like the Euro, Yen, Canadian dollars, etc. can only be changed in some banks or Exchange offices in Quito or Guayaquil with a commission.

All bills in circulation are US-minted currency, while coins include US and Ecuadorian versions, which are different but equally accepted. Many locations will be wary of accepting bills of denominations larger than $20, so you may want to try to change your $50 and $100 bills before arriving or at a bank.

Is there ATM access in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands?
In the bigger cities, there are numerous ATM machines (called cajeros in Ecuador) that will work with Visa and Master Card-linked debit cards. Larger stores and restaurants are likely to accept credit and debit cards for payment, but many will not. Cash in small denominations is almost always needed.

In small towns, almost all transactions occur in cash, and there are likely to be no ATMs. In the Galapagos Islands, there is only ATM access on Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabella Islands. Banks will exchange Traveller’s checks with a commission of 1% up to 3%

Can I pay with credit and/or debit cards?
Many small and medium sized businesses don’t accept credit cards. Bigger businesses accept them (VISA, America Express and MasterCard) but often apply an 8 -10% surcharge. Only the major airline companies and expensive restaurants accept them without a surcharge. For cash advances at bank machines VISA and MasterCard charge a 4% commission, so in case you will need to withdraw cash use a debit card.

When do we have to pay for our trips?
As soon as you decide to confirm your trip, a 20% deposit is required, and the balance is due 60 days prior departure.

What form of payment does Alma Ecuador accept?
Payment may be made by transfer to our account in our account in United States or in Ecuador or pay by cash in our office in Quito.

 

BASIC INFORMATION

Business Hours
Banks 09:00-15:00 Mon-Fri (some agencies until 20.00)
Offices 08:00-17:00
Shops 09:30-19.30 Mon-Sat (Shopping Malls open Sun)

National Police: Phone: 101
Emergencies: 911

Time differences:
West Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland) -6 hrs
Great Britain (Greenwich Mean Time) -5 hrs
Eastern Time USA (New York) 0 hrs
Pacific Time USA (Los Ángeles) +3 hrs
Japan +10 hrs

Communication:
There are a lot of Internet cafes all over the big cities in Ecuador, where you can have access to internet and make international phone calls. One hour of Internet service is about 1 US$. Some restaurants, cafes and hostels are now offering wireless connection for free.

There is effective cell phone coverage throughout the entire country, although some companies work better in more remote areas than others. Porta has the most extensive coverage network in the Galapagos Islands and most places in the coast, while Movistar is more prevalent in the Highlands. You can easily buy a used cell phone for $40 or buy just the sim card for $5 at any cellular phone shop in every city/town.
Posting a letter to Europe is about 1.30 US$, to the USA 1.00 US$.

Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.


FOOD AND WATER

Are there foods or drinks I should avoid? Can I drink the tap water?
Only eat food that has been cooked, or fruits/vegetables that you have washed. Avoid food from street vendor.

Drink bottled water only. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. As Ecuador´s tap water is not drinkable. Make sure that fresh juices are prepared with bottled water as well.

TRANSPORTATION

What are the best modes of transportation elsewhere?
Buses and taxis are quite cheap. Bus fare is $ 0.25 in the city

The Trolley and Ecovia buses in Quito are the most modern and efficient public transportation in the country. Their routes are clearly published on maps and at the bus stops. There are also numerous private buses that traverse the city, but their routes are not published other than on the buses themselves, and they are complicated to navigate. It’s better to use taxis, as they are relatively inexpensive.

Taxis use meters to calculate the cost of your ride. In Quito, the cost begins at US $1 and goes up based on time and distance. An average ride will be between US $2.50 to US $5. During the day, be sure to ask that the taxi driver set the meter at the beginning of your trip. At night, all the taxis stop using meters and the fare may be almost double the price of the day fare. It is important that you establish the price before getting into the taxi. We don’t tip the taxis in Ecuador

There are no charges for extra passengers (up to 4 passengers per car). Be sure the taxi has a number on the doors. It’s safer to use a radio taxi at night than to catch just any taxi off the street

HEALTH

Are there particular ways to prevent travel-related illnesses? Do I need any vaccines before arriving in Ecuador

It is possible to contract Hepatitis A from unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the country, so this vaccine (which is not routinely administered in the U.S. or many European countries) is recommended before your arrival. Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria are for the most part only present in the Amazon region.

 

When traveling in the Amazon, along the coast, or in other wet and warmer regions, wear plenty of bug repellent with a high DDT factor to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may carry diseases.

Wear plenty of sun block with a high SPF and reapply throughout the day to avoid sunburn.

 

AIPORT TAX

How much do I have to pay for airport taxes?
There is a $41.60 tax fee for anyone leaving the country from Quito or Guayaquil airport. When you visit Galapagos Islands you have to pay a $10 airport tax at the Quito or Guayaquil airport. Only cash is accepted.

HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES IN ECUADOR

 

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