Ecuador

Latest update: 29 July 2022 - Authors: Mieke Croughs, Ula Maniewski-Kelner

COVID-19

Travelling to red countries outside the EU or Schengen area is not recommended if you have not been vaccinated.

Take a look at the general preventive measures related to COVID-19.

Carefully read the entry conditions and local measures of this country.
Carefully read the information on measures to be taken upon return to Belgium.

Check the current security situation on the federal government website and register your itinerary on Travellers Online.

This page contains the main health risks for travellers and general recommendations. Travel conditions are different for everyone and each patient's health condition varies. Discuss your trip during a travel consultation with your doctor or in a travel clinic, preferably six to eight weeks before departure.

Important health risks

There is a high risk of malaria to the east of the Andes in the Amazon region, including Yasuni National Park. We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning, in combination with the use of malaria tablets.

There is a moderate malaria risk in:

large areas east of the Andes, outside the Amazon region
in some parts of Esmeralda and Cachi, in the north close to the border with Colombia.
We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning. For people with an increased risk, we sometimes recommend preventive malaria tablets, or taking an emergency treatment with you.

There is a low malaria risk in the remaining areas below 1500 m. We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning.

There is no malaria risk in the areas above 1500 m in the Andes and also in Quito, Guayaquil and Galapagos.

In case of fever during or after your journey, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.

There is a risk of yellow fever east of the Andes: Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios and Zamora-Chinchipe.

The risk of yellow fever is low west of the Andes, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Rios, Santa Helena, Santa Domingo de los Tsachilas and designated areas of Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Imbabura, Loja, Pinchincha and Tungurahua.

There is no risk of yellow fever in the areas above 2300m, nor in the cities Guayaquil, Quito nor at the Galapagos islands.

Insects can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

Protect yourself against insects.

Ticks can transmit diseases.

Dogs and other mammals can be infected with rabies.

You may experience altitude sickness in areas above 2500 metres.

Read these tips before you leave.

Vaccinations

Yellow fever

Recommended, sometimes mandatory

Open map

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Vaccination is mandatory from the age of one year:

If you are departing from another country where yellow fever can occur (see maps).
If you have spent more than twelve hours in transit in an airport in a country where yellow fever occurs.

This vaccination must be administered at least ten days prior to arrival by an official yellow fever vaccination centre and must be registered in an International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis.