Ecuador
Travel restrictions
Ecuador approved resumption of commercial flight operations beginning June 1st, 2020, with limited flight capacity.
All arriving passengers are required to have the results of a PCR (polymerise chain reaction) COVID test from within the last ten days prior to arrival in Ecuador. If testing is not available in the departure country, arriving passengers need to sign a document promising they will undergo testing by Ecuadorian health authorities.
A traveler who presents symptoms of COVID upon arrival in Ecuador is required to perform a PCR or rapid antigen test (possibly at their own expense) and proceed to quarantine even if the traveler presents a negative PCR test at the airport of entry.
As of August 15th, as long as travelers do not present symptoms of COVID, they do not need to perform mandatory preventive quarantine and may freely move within the continental territory of Ecuador (note there are special rules for the Galapagos Islands).
All travelers arriving from the European Union, the United Kingdom, South Africa, or Australia, must present a negative PCR test taken within 10 days prior to arrival, and must take a rapid antigen test at the airport upon arrival in Ecuador.
Regardless of whether a negative COVID PCR test is provided, random rapid antigen testing may be conducted at the airport and upon arrival. The testing will be administered by the Ministry of Health. If the rapid antigen test is positive, the traveler must isolate for 10 days. The isolation will take place at a shelter designated by the Ministry of Health. As of January 11th, 2021, it is no longer permissible to perform the isolation at a private residency or hotel. If the rapid antigen test is negative, no isolation is required.
From July 1st, tourist activities will be allowed in the Galapagos.
Any international traveler wishing to transit via Quito or Guayaquil International Airport to the Galapagos should first arrive in-country with proof of a recent PCR test and then take a second PCR test at their own expense upon arrival. Travelers should then proceed to local lodging (in parts of Ecuador currently rated as Green or Yellow, but not Red, for COVID) for at least 48 hours to await test results. A second negative test result is required to be able to proceed to the Galapagos Islands
All persons present in Ecuador (regardless of nationality or residence status) wishing to travel to the Galapagos Islands must present negative results from a PCR test taken no more than 96 hours prior to arrival. In all cases, a negative PCR test is required prior to travel to the Galapagos. With such results in hand, there is no quarantine required upon arrival in the Galapagos (nor to return to the mainland of Ecuador).
Measures taken by the government
On June 15th, President Moreno renewed the state of emergency for a further 60 days. It will now remain in force until August 15th. This includes general nationwide measures such as self-isolation advised for people 60 years old and older & mandatory use of face masks in public spaces.
On August 14th, President Moreno extended the state of emergency through September 15th, 2020.
The Government of Ecuador lifted movement restrictions throughout the country, but some provinces maintain local restrictions on movement.
On December 11th, 2020, the health emergency was extended until March 14th, 2021.
On December 21st, 2020, the Government of Ecuador enacted a 15-day curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Alcohol sales and consumption are also prohibited during those times.
Social and family gatherings are limited to a maximum of ten persons until January 1st, 2021.
Please see https://www.gestionderiesgos.gob.ec/coe-nacional/ (Spanish only) for general information regarding restrictions and https://www.gestionderiesgos.gob.ec/resoluciones-coe/ (Spanish only) for specific resolutions for the most up to date information regarding curfew times and other restrictions.
On January 2nd, 2021, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court concluded that the nationwide state of emergency declared on December 21st, 2020 and its associated movement restrictions are unconstitutional. Certain provinces and municipalities have now adopted their own mobility restrictions.
The Government of Ecuador provides coronavirus-related information at this website (Spanish only): https://www.coronavirusecuador.com.
Emergency number (related to COVID-19) while visiting the country
Individuals with symptoms may call 171 or 911.
Source:
US Embassy in Ecuador https://ec.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-ecu-2/
Published on January 11th (checked on January 20th)
For more information please visit our COVID-19 Updates page at https://www.hiddentrails.com/article/covid19update.aspx