Ecuador entry, customs and Galápagos: a practical guide

Ecuador is a compact and diverse country: in a few days you can go from the volcano-studded highlands to the Pacific coast or the Galápagos Islands. That variety attracts many couples, but it also means entry requirements change with your itinerary. This guide summarises what the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice and the US CDC health information say, consulted on 7 November 2026. They are written for British and American passports: if you hold another nationality, confirm everything with the Ecuadorian consulate or embassy before buying tickets. Rules change at short notice. For a city overview, see our guide to Quito.

Passport and length of stay

The FCDO says your passport must expire at least six months after your arrival date. British citizens may make visa-free visits of up to 90 days in any 12-month period, and the stay can be extended for another 90 days by paying a fee, but the extension must be requested before the first period ends, or you could be fined. All travellers must register their entry and exit in the national immigration database. At border control you may be asked the reason for your trip and for a return or onward ticket, so carry it printed or on your phone. If you arrive by air there are no additional restrictions.

Entering by land from Colombia or Peru

Anyone arriving by land or river from Peru or Colombia must use an official checkpoint to have the passport stamped. In addition, the FCDO notes that a criminal record certificate legalised with the Hague Apostille is requested, except for some exempt groups. It is a requirement that surprises many travellers: if you plan to combine countries, sort it out before leaving home. For border areas specifically, the FCDO also advises against all but essential travel within 20 kilometres of the Colombian border, except some areas of Carchi province, so check the advice map before choosing a route.

Customs and cash

Since 29 July, adults carrying taxable goods or cash worth 10,000 dollars or more must register online at least three days before travelling and show the QR code on arrival or departure. When leaving the country cash must be declared, and amounts above 1,350 dollars are taxable. If you carry camera equipment, jewellery or significant sums, keep the receipts and avoid carrying excess cash.

The Galápagos Islands

Tourists may stay up to 60 days. A hotel booking or a host's invitation letter and a return ticket to the mainland are required. Before check-in at the departure airport you must buy the transit control card and keep a copy. For foreign tourists, travel health insurance is mandatory, and the FCDO recommends it include air evacuation, because medical facilities are limited: San Cristóbal has a relatively well-equipped public hospital, Santa Cruz a basic one under refurbishment and Isabela only a very small health centre. The advice does not state the card fee; check the rate at the official source.

Yellow fever and vaccines

The FCDO advice does not mention a yellow fever certificate as a general requirement. The CDC, for its part, says proof of vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 to 60 who have spent more than 10 days in Colombia, Peru, Brazil or Bolivia, given at least 10 days before arrival. For the other vaccines and risks, see our Ecuador health guide.

Before you leave: quick checklist

1. Passport valid for more than six months. 2. Exit ticket and accommodation booking. 3. Insurance with evacuation (mandatory for Galápagos). 4. Customs form if you exceed the cash threshold. 5. Digital copies of documents. 6. Check the safety advice: Ecuador safety.

And adult life, what about it?

We could not verify any club or lifestyle event in Ecuador with an official website and a clear consent policy, so we list none. On permits and closures in Quito read this guide.

How to prepare the trip as a couple

Planning together helps nothing get forgotten. Build a shared folder with passports, bookings, insurance and copies of the embarkation card or customs form, and decide who carries what. Print the essentials in case battery or connection fails, something the FCDO flags in other contexts in the region. Agree a prudent cash budget and split it in two places. If you combine highlands, coast and Galápagos, leave a buffer day between flights to absorb delays, and check baggage allowances on domestic flights with the airline. Finally, review your government's advice a few days before flying: entry conditions and states of emergency can change at very short notice.

Sources and limits

This guide relies on official sources consulted on 7 November 2026; travel advice, entry requirements and health recommendations change at short notice and depend on your nationality, so always confirm with your consulate, the country's embassy and a health professional. We have not added data that does not appear in those sources, and where something could not be checked we say so. References:

• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/ecuador

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Ecuador? For British passports, the FCDO says up to 90 days per 12-month period; other nationalities vary.

Can I travel to Galápagos on my own? Yes, with an accommodation booking or invitation letter, a return ticket, the control card and insurance.

Is the yellow fever vaccine compulsory? Only in the cases the CDC lists; check your situation.

What if I stay more than 90 days? You could be fined; request the extension before the first period expires.