Ecuador

General

Language:Spanish is the official language in Ecuador but English is widely spoken in tourist areas including hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.National Emergency Numbers:Dial 911 for emergency police, fire or ambulancePublic Holidays:The dates of certain public holidays change from year to year – refer below. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the Monday is also declared a public holiday.Jan. 01 - New Year’s DayFeb. 27 - CarnivalFeb. 28 - CarnivalMay 01 - Labor DayMay 24 - Battle of Pichincha DayAug. 10 - Independence DayOct. 09 - Independence of GuayaquilNov. 02 - All Souls DayNov. 03 - Independence of CuencaDec 25 - Christmas DaySocial conventions:?VAT:?Time Zone:Time in Ecuador is divided into 2 time zones: Ecuador Time & Galápagos Time. Mainland Ecuador observes Ecuador Time and is the same as U.S.A. Eastern Standard Time. Mainland Ecuador, however, does not observe daylight-saving time. Therefore, it is 1 hour behind during U.S.A. Eastern Daylight Time.The Galápagos Islands observe Galapagos Time and are 1 hour behind U.S.A. Eastern Standard Time. The Galápagos Islands, however, do not observe daylight-saving time. Therefore, it is 2 hours behind during U.S.A. Eastern Daylight Time.Tipping Tipping in Ecuador is customary. How much you decide to leave greatly depends on the service.RestaurantsIn Ecuador, a 12% tax and a 10% service charge is already included in the bill for upper scale restaurants. For restaurants that are cheaper or medium scale, the service charge will not be included in the bill. Typically, a tip of 3-5% is given at an upper scale restaurant while a 5-10% tip is given at cheaper or medium scale restaurants.HotelsIt is customary to tip hotel staff in Ecuador. Hotel bellboys generally receive $1 per bag and the housekeepers receive about $1 as well.TaxisIt is recommended that you round up the fare rates to give a reasonable tip. If you have been more than satisfied with the service received or if you have been assisted with your luggage you could give $.05 -$1 as gratuity.Tour GuidesGuides are usually paid low wages in Ecuador, so even small gratuities are greatly appreciated. For private guiding $10 a day is an appropriate amount to give while $5 per person is the appropriate amount to give for group tours. US EmbassyMailing Address: E12-170 Avigiras Ave. and Ave. Eloy Alfaro Quito, EcuadorTel: +593-2-398-5000Website: https://ec.usembassy.gov/

Electricity

Plug Type: Type A, Type B 
Voltage (V): 120V 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 60Hz 

*A travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.

Banking

Currency 

Local currency: United States Dollar 
Symbol: $ 
ISO code: USD 
Subunit: Cent 
Banknotes: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 
Coins: 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ 

Banking 

Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s club: Yes 

Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 
Weekends: Closed 
Public Holidays: Yes 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Cuisine

Food and water safety: 

Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes 
Ice: Yes 
Meat: Yes 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: 

Ecuadorian cuisine is diverse, featuring a mix of indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. Highlights include ceviche (marinated seafood), llapingachos (potato patties), and locro de papa (potato soup). Notable local drinks include canelazo (spiced alcoholic drink) and horchata (sweet rice drink). 

Tipping: 10% 

Climate

Annual rainfall: Varies by region 
Average temperature: 22°C 

Summer: 

Average highs: 26°C 
Average lows: 16°C 

Winter: 

Average highs: 24°C 
Average lows: 15°C 

Best time to visit: 

The best time to visit Ecuador is during the dry season, from June to September, when the weather is generally sunny and pleasant. 

Transport

Air: 

Main airlines: TAME, Avianca 
International Airports: Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito), José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (Guayaquil) 
Domestic Airports: Mariscal Lamar International Airport (Cuenca), Eloy Alfaro International Airport (Manta) 

Road: 

Driving on the: Right 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 

Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 

Railway system: No 
Subway System: No 

Water: 

Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: Yes 
Leisure cruises: Yes 

Dress

Spring and Summer 

Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes 

Winter and Autumn 

Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 

General 

Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Health

Please consult your health-care provider 4-6 weeks prior to travel to ensure you are receiving all required vaccinations and that the medication has enough time to take effect. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance with medical benefits and that you bring any personal medication with you. Please also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.

Required Immunizations/Vaccinations:

Yellow Fever - all travelers ≥ 1 year old coming from a yellow fever infected country will be required to show a valid Yellow Fever certificate on arrival. It is otherwise not required or recommended. You should be vaccinated at least 10 days before you travel, as this will allow enough time for your body to develop protection against the yellow fever infection. Your proof of vaccination certificate will only become valid after this time.

Recommended Immunizations/Vaccinations:

Malaria prophylaxis - highly recommended for all travelers

Travelers should carry and use insect repellents containing either 20% DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, as well as clothing treated with permethrin, and bed nets, to prevent insect borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever.

For visitors traveling to the Amazon region for several days, precautions against malaria and immunization against typhoid, tetanus, Hepatitis A and yellow fever are sensible. 

Malaria

Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. 

We strongly recommend you take the following preventative measures:

Use plenty of mosquito repellent. Some properties provide a locally made repellent but please bring your own as there may be skin sensitivity.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings.
Please use the mosquito net over your bed where supplied/available.
If staying in a bungalow or tent, spray with a suitable insecticide to kill any mosquitoes that may have flown into your room.
Mosquito coils are also effective.

There is a six to seven day minimum incubation period before symptoms present themselves. If you become ill on your return, while still on prophylaxis or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria. Please remember the best precaution is the preventative kind. 

It is inadvisable for pregnant women to visit malarial areas as malaria infection during pregnancy can be detrimental to both mother and child.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is a risk, particularly if traveling to Quito (elevation of 9,400 feet above sea level) or other highland areas. Altitude sickness can occur at heights of 8,000 feet above sea level. As soon as you pass the 8,000 feet mark, you are at risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS), the mildest and most common form of the condition. More severe forms also exist. The symptoms of mountain sickness include headache, nausea and/or shortness of breath. A slow ascent to become acclimatized is the best defense against altitude sickness, and in all cases, the best treatment is descent. If heading to a lower altitude isn’t an option, stay where you are and rest for a day or two. Acetazolamide (Diamox) tablets can also help. Whatever you do, don’t go any higher. (In most cases, rest and two aspirins will relieve the discomfort.) Drink plenty of water. Note: Persons with heart, circulatory or respiratory problems should seek medical advice prior to traveling to areas of higher elevation. Mountain climbers especially should not disregard the time required to adjust before attempting such elevations.

Drinking tap water is not advisable anywhere in Ecuador, so drink only bottled or boiled water. You should eat well-cooked meat and fish only, and vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Medical care is adequate in Ecuador’s major cities, especially Quito and Guayaquil – but services are limited in smaller communities, especially rural areas. However, pharmacies are readily available in any city. As acute surgical and cardiac services are not available on the Galápagos Islands, patients may be evacuated to the U.S.A. for more serious illnesses. Note that major or specialized medical care in Ecuador can cost some tens of thousands of dollars. Comprehensive medical insurance (to include emergency repatriation) is highly recommended.
 

Safety

Ecuador is a generally safe country but crime remains a widespread problem. Pick-pocketing, robbery, and hotel room theft are the most common crimes. Use hotel safes if available, avoid wearing obviously expensive jewelry or clothing, and carry only the cash or credit cards that you need. Stay alert in crowds and on public transportation. Be aware that thieves might create distractions to target you.Avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash at one time. Use ATMs in well-protected indoor areas.To avoid carjacking or theft from your car while you are stopped at intersections, drive with your doors locked and windows rolled up. Don’t leave valuables in plain view.It is strongly advised that travelers always call for a taxi or use a taxi service that is affiliated with a major hotel rather than hail taxis on the street. Note that registered taxis in Ecuador are typically identifiable by the following characteristics: yellow in color, display matching unit numbers on windshields and doors, feature a taxi cooperative name on the door, and have license plates that are either orange or white with an orange stripe on the top. For your safety, is advised that you do not leave bars/clubs or restaurants with strangers, do not seek entertainment in groups of people you do not know, and do not consume food or drinks you have left unattended, or accept food or drinks from "friendly" people.Political demonstrations are a frequent occurrence in Ecuador – which are known to at times be violent (e.g. throwing rocks, burning tires, damaging cars and personal property – and on occasion, the detonation of small incendiary devices such as Molotov cocktails). While police response varies, water cannons and tear gas are among the used methods. While both U.S. citizens and U.S.-affiliated interests are not typically targeted, travelers should avoid gatherings or any other event where crowds congregate to protest. Note that demonstrations in Ecuador are known to disrupt travel, including major arteries such as the Pan American Highway.Don’t let your credit card out of your sight in order to avoid credit card “skimming.”

Visa

U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays under 90 days. Non U.S. citizens should consult with your local embassy.