PRACTICAL INFO BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE
TO GALAPAGOS
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
If you are going to Ecuador for less than 3 months you do not need a visa. An international passport is sufficient. Please note that the required validity of your passport is at least 6 months from the date of entry into Ecuador.
No vaccinations are required to enter the country. In some areas, there is a limited risk of malaria and yellow fever. For more information, please refer to the site ec.usembassy.gov.
When you bring electrical devices (chargers for cameras and the like) check that they work on 110 volts/60 hertz.
In Ecuador, a cell phone operates on the 850 frequency. So a quad-band or special tri-band cell phone (most tribands work on 900/1800/1900 MHz) will do it here. Check whether your phone meets these requirements. The fact that your phone works in Ecuador does not mean that you can call there – it depends on the roaming contract with your provider.
There are many internet cafes in Ecuador, even in the smaller cities, where you can email and chat cheaply. You can make phone calls over the Internet there.
If you travel with us, we will give you some numbers in advance so that you can remain contactable.
Spanish is the official language everywhere. In the Andes region many Indians speak Quechua and in the Amazon there are also many local languages. English will not get you very far, especially in the countryside. Guides do speak English reasonably well. On the Galapagos Islands the knowledge of English is more widely spread.
Since 2000, the US dollar has been the national currency in Ecuador. Previously the Sucre was used, but it has been abolished due to high inflation rates, although many Ecuadorians still talk about it with nostalgia today. Large dollar bills (above 50 USD) are often difficult to get rid of, especially outside the major cities.
Credit cards are widely used. In the big cities you can get money out of the wall: bank ATMs are widespread.
It is best to bring a combination of cash and credit card. Ecuador is one of the cheaper countries in South America.
On the Galapagos Islands it is one hour earlier than on the mainland.
In Ecuador, people often don’t take the time very seriously: they talk about “la hora ecuatoriana”, a kind of local clock that is sometimes a few hours behind.
THE CLIMATE
Ecuador has a huge variety of climates. Therefore, we have broken down the climate descriptions below by region.
In the Andes, temperatures vary greatly throughout the day and according to altitude. Moreover, each valley seems to have its own micro-climate. The dry season (summer season or el verano) runs from June to September. It can be very dry, hot and dusty then. But you have a better chance of seeing the snowy peaks unclouded. During the rainy season (winter or el invierno) it sometimes rains very hard, but rarely for long – the air is fresher and nature is greener. But the mountains are often in the clouds. The south of the country is considerably drier than the north. Recommended attire: you should be prepared for anything. Wear light summer clothing. A cap or hat are very useful (altitude sun!). But in a bag or backpack, always take a raincoat and warmer clothes. Beware: if you go higher into the mountains (>3000 meters) it can be really cold. Here it freezes at night.
In the Amazon, it can rain long and hard at any time of the year. However, it is usually wetter from March to September. A rain poncho and gum boots are a must if you want to hike in the forest. Most lodges in the Amazon jungle stock boots and ponchos – including American sizes.
The coastal region or Costa has a very African feel. Here you feel that you are on the equator. It is cooler from June to September. From January to May is the hottest and wettest period of the year. As in the Andean region, the south of the coastal region is drier than the north. Recommended attire: you wear light summer clothes and in the rainy season bring a light raincoat.
From January to May it is warm but usually rains more. Nevertheless, the number of rainy days in that period is still very limited. Moreover, the rain showers are usually short-lived.
From June through December it is drier but cooler.
The islands lie in a cold gulf stream that drifts westward from the southeastern Pacific Ocean at the height of the equator. Therefore, the water temperature sometimes drops between July and September.
Here you will find a Galapagos Islands Climate Table.
BOOK YOUR TRIP
- Decide which regions of the continent (Andes, Amazon and Coast) you want to visit. Look in our chapters Andes, Amazon and Coast. Here, in addition to a brief general description, you will find detailed descriptions of highlights, possible excursions and the best hotels for each region.
- You can find inspiration in our wide range of Sample Trips. Go to the chapter Sample Tours.
Step 2: the travel program Based on your itinerary we will make you a detailed offer. You will receive it within a few working days after agreement on the itinerary. When we make the travel proposal (quote) we first check the availability for
- the ship or hotel of your choice in Galapagos
- the lodge of your choice in the Amazon forest and the main hotels in the Andes or Coast.
Step 3: the booking Once you confirm your trip, we will send you a first order form with invitation to pay the deposit amounting to 30% of the trip price. This amount serves to secure your reservations of cruise or hotel in Galapagos, lodge stay in Amazon and Andes. Five weeks before your departure to Ecuafdor we will send you the second order form with an invitation to pay the balance. If your trip includes a stay in Galapagos, we send this order form 9 weeks before your departure. This is because for cruises and hotels in Galapagos we usually require the balance to be paid 2 months before departure.
Step 4: the travel documents One month before departure, we will send you your travel documents:
- vouchers for cruises and certain lodges in Amazon
- tickets for domestic flights
- the Travel Guide document with all the details (summary program, hours of pickup and dropoff for transfers and excursions, contact details of the hotels plus useful info)
Step 5: the journey According to the program you will make your trip. Should you encounter problems along the way or have questions and doubts about the fulfillment of your travel program, you can contact us 24/7 via a Whatsapp group that will be created 1 day before your arrival in Ecuador.
Step 6: after the trip After your trip, we really appreciate receiving some feedback.
I am Tom from Belgium and I have been living in Ecuador and Galapagos for more than 10 years. I got my guiding diploma here. Traveling and discovering new places is my passion. Together with the travel agency Descubre-Ecuador, we offer tailor-made tours in Galapagos and on the Ecuadorian mainland.