Ecuador
Travel restrictions
Effective December 1st 2021, travelers whose “point of origin, stopover, or transit” is South Africa, Botswana, Egypt, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Namibia are prohibited from entering Ecuador.
Ecuador approved resumption of commercial flight operations beginning June 1st, 2020, with limited flight capacity.
As of December 1st 2021, all travelers arriving in Ecuador must provide:
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than three days before entering the country
- Vaccination card showing the traveler received a complete series of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before entry.
- Declaration of traveler health (the declaration is available on the Ministry of Public Health website: https://encuestas.msp.gob.ec/index.php/947917?lang=es ).
Airlines will verify that travelers have a negative COVID-19 test and vaccination card before boarding at the point of origin.
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.
Beginning December 1st 2021, any international traveler wishing to transit Quito or Guayaquil International Airport en route to the Galapagos Islands should first arrive in country with proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the last three days and a COVID-19 vaccination card showing the traveler received a complete series of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before entering Ecuador?(as per instructions above).
To enter the Galapagos Islands, the traveler must present:
- a complete vaccination card, with at least 14 days of validity or a negative RT-PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to boarding the aircraft to the Galapagos, counting from the time the sample was taken
- a “transit control card” issued by the Government of Galapagos.
Measures taken by the government
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.
Public and private events in bars, nightclubs, convention centers, festivals, parties, and neighborhood events are prohibited between December 23rd 2021, and January 23rd 2022. Ecuador has also placed strict occupancy requirements on supermarkets, restaurants, banks, government offices, churches, gyms, theatres, and cinemas during this same period.
The Government of Ecuador provides coronavirus-related information at this website (Spanish only): https://www.coronavirusecuador.com.
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.
Testing
A list of laboratories licensed to perform RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests is available on the website maintained by Ecuador’s Medical Services and Prepaid Medicine Quality Assurance Agency (ACESS): http://www.calidadsalud.gob.ec/laboratorios-autorizados/
RT-PCR tests cost between $80 and $120.
You should advise the laboratory that the test is needed for imminent air travel and results are needed within 72 hours. Laboratories generally promise results within 24 to 48 hours.
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 December 27th 2021 (checked on January 19th 2022)
For more information please visit our COVID-19 Updates page at https://www.hiddentrails.com/article/covid19update.aspx