ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: 

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and depart Ecuador.  Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel.  U.S. citizens traveling on regular passports do not need a visa for a stay of 90 days or less.  Those planning a longer visit must obtain a visa in advance of arrival.  Travelers who stay in Ecuador beyond the allowed entry time are charged a substantial fee.  An airport exit tax is required when departing Ecuador.

U.S. citizens whose passports are lost or stolen in Ecuador must obtain a new passport at the U.S. Embassy in Quito or the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil and present it, together with a police report of the loss or theft, to the main immigration offices in those cities prior to arriving at the airport in order to obtain permission to depart. 

Ecuador ‘s exit procedures mandate that minors (under the age of 18) who are citizens or residents of Ecuador and who are traveling alone, with one parent, or with a third party must present a copy of their birth certificate and written authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian.  When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of the death certificate is required in lieu of the written authorization.  If documents are prepared in the United States, the authorization and the birth certificate must be translated into Spanish, notarized and authenticated by the Ecuadorian Embassy or an Ecuadorian consulate within the United States.  If documents are prepared in Ecuador, only notarization by an Ecuadorian notary is required.  This paragraph does not apply to children who enter Ecuador with U.S. passports as tourists, unless they hold dual U.S./Ecuadorian citizenship.

For further information regarding entry, exit, and customs requirements, travelers should contact the Ecuadorian Embassy at 2535 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 234-7166; Internet http://www.ecuador.org/; or the Ecuadorian consulate in Chicago (312) 338-1002, Houston (713) 572-8731, Jersey City (201) 985-1700, Los Angeles (323) 658-6020, Miami (305) 539-8214, New Orleans (504) 523-3229, New York (212) 808-0211, or San Francisco (415) 982-1819.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Adequate medical and dental care can be readily obtained in the major cities of Ecuador.  In smaller communities and in the Galapagos Islands services are limited, and the quality is variable and generally below U.S. standards.  Ambulances, with or without trained emergency staff, are in critically short supply.  Acute surgical and cardiac services are not available on the Galapagos Islands.  Serious cases must be evacuated to the Ecuadorian mainland or the United States for treatment. 

Pharmacies are readily available in any city.  However, the availability of some medications is sporadic, and formulations and brand names will differ from products available in the U.S.  Narcotics and tranquilizers are extremely limited in availability.  “Pharmacists” sometimes prescribe and dispense medications.  These individuals often have little training and prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics and other inappropriate medications.  Travelers should not seek their advice.  Folk healers and traditional markets offer herbal and folk remedies which should be avoided as formulations are questionable and some components may interact with other prescription medications. 

Travelers should be aware of the presence of malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever in areas of Ecuador below 4500’ elevation.  Historically there has not been dengue or malaria in the Galapagos archipelago, and yellow fever has only occurred in the Amazon Basin.  Travelers who are on an appropriate anti-malarial drug have a greatly reduced chance of contracting malaria, while vaccine can provide protection against yellow fever.  Avoiding mosquito bites is the only effective prevention for dengue and personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellents, help to reduce the risk of contracting all of these illnesses.  Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a high-risk area, and for up to one year thereafter, should seek prompt medical attention. 

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747)

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at the corner of Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria (across from the Casa de la Cultura).  The telephone during business hours (8:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 256 2890 X4510.  For after-hours emergencies use (011) 593 2 256 1749.  The fax is (011) 593 2 256 1254.  Within the same city use the last seven digits.  Add the city code for intercity telephone calls.  The Embassy's Internet address is: http://www.usembassy.org.ec .

The Consular Section in Quito is open for American citizen services, including registration, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, excluding U.S. and Ecuadorian holidays.  The Consular Section in Guayaquil is open for those services from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Tuesday through Friday, excluding U.S. and Ecuadorian holidays.