Ecuador
Ecuador in South America sits on the Pacific Ocean surrounded by Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
Keep up-to-date with the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) before travelling to Ecuador.
Ecuador in South America sits on the Pacific Ocean surrounded by Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
Recommended Vaccinations for Ecuador at a Glance
All Travellers: Routine Vaccinations: MMR, DTaP
Most Travellers: Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Some Travellers: Hepatitis B, Rabies and Yellow Fever
There is a risk of Malaria in Ecuador. See advice below.
There is a risk of Yellow Fever in Ecuador. See advice below.
Keep up-to-date with the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) before travelling to Ecuador.
The table below provides a general guide as to the Travel Vaccinations that may be advised to you for travel to Ecuador.
The Vaccinations and Medications that are needed for travel vary from person-to-person. Everyone should have a personal risk assessment with a travel health professional to take into account a range of factors such as itinerary, medical condition, occupational and lifestyle risk factors and previous vaccination history.
Vaccination | All Travellers | Most Travellers | Some Travellers | Major Risk Factors | Course | Price Per Dose |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MMR | Yes | Person-to-Person | MMR, Course of Two | £60 | ||
DTaP | Yes | Person-to-Person | Revaxis, Single Dose | £50 | ||
Typhoid | Yes | Contaminated Food and Water | Typhim Vi, Single Dose | £50 | ||
Hepatitis A | Yes | Contaminated Food and Water | Avaxim, or Havrix Single Dose | £86 | ||
Hepatitis B | Yes | Body Fluids, Medical Intervention | EnergixB, Course of Three | £65 | ||
Yellow Fever | Yes | Mosquitoes | Yellow Fever, Stamaril, Dingle Dose | £80 | ||
Rabies | Yes | Infected Animals | Course of Three | £66 | ||
Rabies | Yes | Infected Animals | Rabipur, Course of Three intradermal in rabies clinic | £45 |
All Travellers should ensure that they are up-to-date with Routine Vaccinations including Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio and Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
Most travellers will also need to consider a course or booster of Hepatitis A and Typhoid as there is a risk of these diseases across most parts of the world.
Some Travellers may also be advised additional vaccinations such as Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Hepatitis B based on their individual risk assessment.
Malaria is a viral illness spread by Mosquitoes that bite from dusk to dawn throughout the tropical world. It causes high fever and severe joint and muscle pains. In serious cases, malaria can be fatal.
There is a High Risk of Malaria throughout Ecuador at all times during the year in all areas below 1500 meters. There is a Low to No Risk in the coastal areas and No Risk in Quito, Guayanquil or the Galapagos Islands.
Travellers to areas where there is a Risk of Malaria should get advice regarding Malaria Medication which can be taken to help stop the illness from developing. The type of medication required depends on your destination, itinerary, length of stay and current medical condition. Further reduce the risk of by practicing mosquito Bite Avoidance by using Insect Repellant such as DEET 50% and covering exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and trousers.
Yellow Fever is a serious viral illness spread by mosquitoes in the tropical regions of Africa and South America. For further information, please see Yellow Fever Vaccination.
There is a Risk of Yellow Fever across the whole of Ecuador. There is also a Yellow Fever Certification Requirement for some travellers.
Under International Health Regulations (2005), travellers who have been to an Area affected by Yellow Fever, or who have travelled via an airport of a country affected, are required to present an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP).
Ecuador
Many tourists plan a visit to Ecuador not only for the exceptional scenery, but to see for themselves the perfectly preserved Spanish colonial treasure that is Quito. The Mariscal Sucre area in Quito is rich with fine restaurants, cafés, and charm. The city nestles on an Andean plain, and is surrounded by volcanic peaks, offering incomparable vistas. The largest city, Guayaquil, will surprise you. Guayaquil is the business centre of Ecuador, and has everything a visitor could want, including fine hotels and restaurants, beautiful parks, museums, as well as land iguanas living downtown.
Whatever your interests might be, do take a cruise to the Galapagos Islands, where time stands still. Before you finalise your trip to Ecuador, plan a visit to our Travel Health Clinic, to make doubly sure that you will be completely safe and up-to-date with the Travel Vaccinations you need for Ecuador.
Heat and Humidity
If you are visiting Quito, the period from June to September is comfortably warm. At the Pacific coast, and in the Galapagos, December through April, temperatures are quite warm, with periodic rain. While touring, drink lots of bottled water.
Drinking Water
Do not drink the tap water in Ecuador. Use only bottled water, and also use bottled water for brushing your teeth, no matter which area you visit. Avoid ice cubes.
Food and Drink
In Ecuadorian cuisine, diversity is the key. Favourites range from grilled Cuy, which is guinea pig, to a delicious potato pastie stuffed with cheese, called llapingauchos, traditionally served with a fried egg and slices of avocado, sometimes served with beef. If you are served a salad with this or any dish, don’t take the risk. Uncooked vegetables can transmit parasites. Seafood is plentiful, but best saved for visits to the Pacific coast. Most fizzy drinks are available, but the local fruit juices are excellent. Ecuador brews many types of beer, although they are not for connoisseurs.
Seeking Treatment Abroad
In Ecuador, it is best to seek care through Private clinics. Generally, health care services are good. It is important to find out more before travelling to remote locales. Arrange in advance to have enough money with you to pay for any health care you might need, since private health care providers expect payment in cash. ATMs are available throughout larger cities.
Travel and Health Insurance
Protect yourself, and your family, with adequate travel health insurance which will cover your intended itinerary and any unusual activities.
Personal Safety
Ecuador is very safe for tourists, but it is always best to use normal precautions when visiting city centres. When touring in rugged areas, and especially in the rainforest, it is important to remember that mosquitoes are a danger. Cover exposed skin as much as possible.