Frequently Asked Questions

Tourists from most American and European countries do not require a visa to visit Ecuador as a tourist for a maximum of 90 days. However, it is important that your passport has a remaining validity of at least 6 months upon entry.
Citizens of the following 37 countries need a visa to enter Ecuador (as of May 2023):

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Angola
• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• Cuba
• Congo
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Haiti
• Kenya
• India
• Iraq
• Iran
• Ivory Coast
• Libya
• Mali
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Syria
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Yemen

This list is subject to change.

If you are not sure what the entry requirements for your nationality are, please contact an Ecuadorian embassy or ask us for more information.

Due to Ecuador’s location on the equator, the country does not experience distinctive seasons and the weather does not change much throughout the year. However, the climate varies significantly from one region to another.

In Andean towns like Quito and Cuenca the temperature usually varies between 10°C to 20°C (50°F-70°F). The weather sometimes changes completely within hours, so be always prepared for sun, wind and rain when you head out. The driest months are July and August with sometimes no rainfall at all for weeks. The Andean region usually experiences most rainfall in March, April and October.

The climate in the Amazon region is hot and humid with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F). You can always expect rainfall but January is usually the least rainy month.

The average temperature throughout the year in the coastal region is also 25°C (77°F). On the contrary to the Amazon region, most months in the coastal cities like Guayaquil and Manta are arid, usually only receiving rainfall from January to April.

The climate in Galapagos is similar to the climate of the coastal region. The sea is warmer and calmer from January to April but during these months, there is more rainfall. From July to September, the sea is coolest and roughest but there is little rainfall. The water temperature also varies a lot depending on the location within the Galapagos archipelago because the Southern and Western islands are influenced by cold currents, while the warm Panama Current influences the Northern islands.

The only way for tourists to get to the Galapagos Islands is by domestic flight from Quito, Guayaquil or Manta. Daily flights exist from Quito and Guayaquil to the islands Baltra and San Cristobal. On Wednesdays and Sundays, there are direct flights between Manta and Baltra. This information is subject to change.

As soon as you have chosen your trip, we need a copy of your passport and depending on the tour, some additional personal information (e.g. dietary requirements, health issues, size for equipment rental, emergency contact).

Your travel consultant will then send you an invoice, so you can proceed with the payment. Depending on the tour and the remaining time until the tour, you can first do a down payment to confirm the booking and do the final payment until the deadline provided by your travel consultant, or you have to pay the whole amount immediately. You get an updated invoice with the new balance after every receipt of payment. Services like Galapagos tours usually have to be paid 60-90 days prior to the tour.

Depending on the travel services, you receive your travel vouchers and flight tickets after the receipt of payment or approximately two weeks before the tour starts. Most Galapagos boats for example issue the travel documents only two weeks before the cruise date.

Most of our clients choose to pay by bank transfer to our account in the USA because it is the cheapest and easiest payment method in most cases. However, we also accept credit card payments via WeTravel (4.2-5.2% surcharge) and PayPal (5.9% surcharge), and cash payments via Western Union or directly at our office (always taking into account the payment deadline).

Travelers who have visited Brasil, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda are required an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. For all other travelers, there is no mandatory vaccination to enter Ecuador. However, it is recommended to have a yellow fever vaccination if you plan to travel to the Amazon region.

The following vaccinations are recommended for all travelers: diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles and Hepatitis A. And in some specific cases: Hepatitis B, abdominal typhus and rabies.

There is a small risk of Malaria below 1500 m to the East of the Andes and in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Carchi. If you plan to travel to these areas, it is recommended to bring Malaria emergency medication. Malaria does not exist in the Andes (Quito, Cuenca), Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Islands are an excellent year-round travel destination. However, some animal species migrate and might not be in Galapagos all year. So, please let your Midland Travel trip advisor know if you have any specific interest, so he or she can tell you which time of the year is best for you to visit Galapagos.

July, August, Christmas, New Year and Easter are considered high seasons and prices might be higher. It is important to book Galapagos tours for these dates in advance.

Rates are usually lowest in June, September, October and the first two weeks of December.

From January to April, the water is warmer and the sea is least choppy but there is occasional rainfall. From July to September, the water is coldest, the sea choppiest but there is little rainfall and chances to see big marine mammals are higher.