Keith Crockford
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably looking for an answer to the question ‘Do I need a visa for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands from the UK?’
Welcome! You’re in the right place.
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are some of the most fascinating and stunning places anywhere in the world. From volcanoes to coral reefs, and giant tortoises to penguins (who doesn’t love penguins?!), this area of South America is packed to the brim with natural wonder.
But before you start imagining yourself on this adventure of a lifetime, let’s break down everything you need to know about travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and whether you need a visa to travel there from the UK.
Keep reading to find out ‘do you need a visa for Ecuador from the UK?’…
Good news for UK travellers!
If you’re visiting Ecuador for business meetings, artistic/sporting events, or in your case tourism, no visa is required as long as you’re not staying for over 90 days.
This visa exemption applies to mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and other Ecuadorian territories. All you need is a valid passport with at least 6 months left on it from the date you plan on entering the country.
If you’re not sure how long your passport’s got left, go check it NOW! The UK passport office isn’t famous for its speedy turnarounds, so renew it ASAP if it’s running out soon.
Make sure you get your passport stamped when you enter Ecuador – if you don’t, you could be on the end of fines or deportation, so ask the immigration desk to stamp it if they don’t anyway. Click here to look at the latest entry requirements to Ecuador from the UK.
While you don’t need a visa to visit the Galapagos Islands, you do still need a Transit Control Card. They cost $20 and you can get them from Quito or Guayaquil airport, or you can complete the online form here (just make sure you do it at least 24 hours before flying AND keep a copy of it with you).
When you actually reach the Galapagos Islands, there’s a fee for the Galapagos National Park – this is $100 for adults and $50 for children under 12. Carry some cash with you (as you should always do abroad) because card facilities may not be an option.
You’ll also need travel health insurance, confirmation of a return flight to the Ecuadorian mainland, and evidence of a hotel booking.
We’ll take care of that last one for you when you book with The Bucket List Company.
Click HERE to see more about the Ecuador and Galapagos Islands trip we offer.
The only vaccinations you should get before going to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are the routine ones you’d get in the UK anyway; things like MMR, tetanus, the flu and so on. Apart from that, there aren’t any regional specific jabs you need to worry about.
One thing to note when travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands is the tap water: don’t drink it!
The tap water in Ecuador isn’t safe for tourists to drink, so stick to buying water where possible, and if you have consume tap water then boil it first.
This no tap water policy goes for ice cubes and brushing your teeth as well. Basically, just be careful… you don’t want your dream holiday ruined by getting ill.
You can stay up to date with the latest Travel Health Pro info for Ecuador here.
The customs rules for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are what you’d expect: no firearms, fresh meat products, or wild live animals – obviously!
You can bring 3 litres of alcohol without paying customs duty, and you must declare if you’re carrying over $10,000 in cash.
So assuming you’re not fleeing the UK after completing a bank heist, you should be fine, and you’ll have lots of time to take in all the activities we offer in our Ecuador and Galapagos Islands trip – click HERE to see them for yourself.
The only other thing to keep in mind when travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands is extending your stay (and once you’ve seen these places for yourself, staying a bit longer is a very real possibility!).
You can stay for up to 90 days without a visa but if you wish to carry on after that, you should apply for a 12-IX visa before that initial 90-day period is up. The Ecuadorian immigration authority will help you do this and the visa allows you to stay for another 90 days.
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are a must-see for any keen traveller, but you want to be certain you’re seeing the best areas and experiencing the best activities… that’s where we come in.
At The Bucket List Company, we’ve spent years perfecting our trips so that everyone who travels with us finishes their adventure itching for another one. You’ll travel as part of a small like-minded group, and our expert guides are on hand every step of the way to answer any questions you may have.
You can also pay for your trip in monthly instalments, meaning there’s no need to part ways with any large chunk of cash at any point, and by the time the trip rolls round, it’s all paid for.
If you like the thought of a hassle-free holiday with a company that knows what travellers crave, you know what to do – click HERE to check out our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
If you don’t book it now… Will you ever?