Tours to Ecuador

Every tourist who has chosen a vacation in Ecuador will find entertainment to their liking: national parks and eco-reserves (Cotopaxi, Machalilla, Sangay), the snowy peaks of the ancient Andes, the unique Amazon selva, the clean and soft sand of the Pacific coast, and, of course, the most luxurious hotels in the world.

According to a2zgov, Ecuador is a “saturated” country, where everything is bright and leaves an unforgettable impression of an elite holiday.

Communication and communication:
The international code of Ecuador is 593, the outgoing international code is 00.
The development of GSM 850 networks began only in 2003. In terms of the number of subscribers, Ecuador’s cellular networks are almost 2 times superior to cable telephony. Although the territory coverage is incomplete, along the main roads and in the cities, cellular communication provides almost 80% of all calls.

Entry:
Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Ecuador for a period not exceeding 90 days. When crossing the border, you must present a passport, the validity of which is at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country.
There is a $100 entry fee for the Galapagos Islands (cash only, no credit cards or travelers checks).
Upon departure, an airport tax of 25 USD is charged.

Flight: from 17 hours + time for connection (depending on the schedule of the airline)

Customs rules:
Import of local and foreign currency is not limited, declaration is required. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on the customs declaration upon arrival.

Persons over the age of 18 are allowed duty-free import of up to 300 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco; up to 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; perfumes and perfumes – within the limits of personal needs. You can also enter items under the “gifts” category for up to $200. It should be noted that high customs duties are imposed on baggage that exceeds the established allowances – up to $300 for more than 3 pieces, $400 for the fourth, and starting from the fifth piece, ALL baggage will be considered as commercial cargo and subject to customs duty, calculated from the full value of the contents of all pieces of baggage. An exception is made only for sports equipment declared in advance in the declaration.

It is prohibited to import and export without special permission objects and things of historical, artistic or archaeological value, as well as gold items, antiques, black coral and products from it, drugs and drug-containing medications, as well as wild animals or their stuffed animals. For the import of firearms, ammunition, fresh, canned or dry meat and products from it, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, the permission of the consulate or the Ministry of Agriculture of the country is required.

The export of wool and leather products, jewelry and souvenirs is allowed, while you need to present a receipt from the store where these products were purchased.

Tipping:
Tipping is around 10% in most bars, restaurants and hotels, and is often automatically included in the bill. At the same time, expensive restaurants add a 10% tax to the bill, while many cheap restaurants do not charge it. Leaving tips on the table should not be – it is better to transfer them directly to the hands of the waiter. Tipping is not required in a taxi, it is better to agree on the price with the driver in advance.

Security:
Ecuador is considered one of the safest countries in the Andean zone of South America, but personal theft and street crime still occur. There are also frequent protests, general strikes, road blockades and other forms of social struggle, which often disrupt the life of large cities.

It is recommended to avoid visiting isolated areas, including remote areas of major cities, after dark.

You should especially beware of pickpockets, often “working” at the airport, ports, railway stations, public institutions and crowded places. You should not carry valuables, documents and large sums of money with you, there are hotel safes for this. Do not take out your wallet in crowded places or leave things in the front seat of the car during stops.
It is recommended that you always have copies of important documents on hand – passports, tickets and credit cards, and keep the originals in a hotel or bank safe.

The use and sale of drugs within the country is a very serious crime, followed by a penalty of at least fifteen years in prison.

Many of the country’s ocean shores are not safe for swimming. The coast of the Galapagos Islands is rocky and heavily indented, while the Pacific coast often has strong waves and unpredictable currents.

Medicine:
International health insurance is recommended.
In view of the location of most interesting objects in mountainous areas, and at heights where simply no one lives in many other countries of the world, one should undergo gradual acclimatization at lower altitudes before visiting such high-altitude objects. Refusal to drink coffee, cigarettes and alcohol, light food, preliminary active walks at slightly lower altitudes, as well as the use of tea from coca leaves also contribute to acclimatization.

No vaccinations are required before entering the country. But if you plan to hike in the Amazon jungle, a yellow fever vaccination is recommended.

Tap water is not drinkable, only bottled water should be used

Electricity:
Mains voltage 11y0 V., 60 Hz. Plugs with two flat pins. Voltage fluctuations and surges in the network are quite common, so it is recommended to use current stabilizers and surge protectors.