We would like to update our clients and guests in regard to what’s the coronavirus current situation in Ecuador and our offered destinations.
Our guests health and safety are our priority; so here you will find updated information on the entry requirements to our destinations, as safety protocols we are applying for every trip.
ECUADOR MAINLAND
- INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS AT QUITO AND GUAYAQUIL
Quito and Guayaquil Airports where the first international airports to re-open their operations in the region and have remain open since June 1st, 2020. Both airports set strict safety sanitation protocols for their arrival and departure flights. For our guests, this will be complemented with Link Experiences safety procedures.
- ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR ECUADOR
- Entry travelers to Ecuador mainland and the Galapagos Islands, older than 3 years old, must comply with a complete vaccination card or vaccination certification with QR code, with at least two doses, and the last one applied no later than 14 days before the entry date.
- If travelers don’t have the vaccination certificate/cards against COVID, they must present a negative PCR test, taken 72 hours before the boarding date, to enter Ecuador.
- Children under 3 years are exempt from presenting a negative test or vaccination card upon arrival in Ecuador.
- Airlines that operate to Ecuador must verify at the point of origin that the passenger has one of these requirements before boarding. In the case of not having any of these, the airline must prevent the passenger to board the plane.
- All passengers should fill out a Health Form in the aircraft to Ecuador or can be submitted before in this link: https://declaracionsalud-viajero.msp.gob.ec/.
- A traveler who presents high temperature or a symptom related to COVID-19 (regardless of their negative result of PCR), will be directed to an isolation room and then to the nearest health center or hospital to complete his/her clinical evaluation. If it is determined that it is a “suspicious” case, a rapid antigen test will be carried out and if it is positive, it must comply with mandatory isolation for 10 days. Residents of Ecuador will perform isolation at the address they declare upon entry and non-resident travelers will perform isolation at the hotel regulated by the Ministries of Tourism and Government.
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- INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS PROCEDURES
- Our tour guides will be waiting for our guests outside the airport´s door with a Link Experiences sign with our guest’s name.Tour guides will take guests to its private transport.
- Before entering into the vehicle, tour guides will provide alcohol.
- Face masks are mandatory to use throughout the transfer journey to the hotel.
- AIRPORT DEPARTURES PROCEDURES
- All passengers must do their web check-in in advance. In case you need assistance with the web check-in, please inform your tour guide or any Link Experiences staff; we will be happy to help you!
- Due to the new procedures at the airport, our tour guides will accompany our guests to the main entrance of the airport. Guests should enter by themselves to the airport.
- Guests should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one.
- For travelers returning to the S. a federally mandated COVD testing requirement is now necessary. Therefore, we would be very happy to assist you by coordinating a test taking in one of the authorized laboratories in the country or directly at your hotel in Quito or Guayaquil. The antigen or PCR test price is around USD $40 per person and are normally delivered in less than 24 hours.
- In addition, please consider that in Galapagos there is not widely COVID testing. Therefore, if your last days of your itinerary are planned at the Galapagos, it is probable we would need to partially modify your itinerary or add some extra days in Quito, Guayaquil or other land destinations. If this is necessary, we would first inform and coordinate directly with our guests.
- Face masks use is mandatory at the airport.
- TOUR GUIDES AND LAND TRANSPORTATION
Our tour guides and drivers must strictly follow the established safety protocols that we have prepared to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We have established the following standards:
- Transfers will be offered on a private basis and vehicles will be daily disinfected before each service.
- Guides and drivers should always have with them alcohol and hand sanitizer and at the private transport unit as well.
- The use of face masks is mandatory at vehicles and during the guiding services.
- Social distancing will be followed in each service, and transportation, keeping a proper distance between travelers.
- Physical interaction such as shaking hands is forbidden between tour guides, drivers, and guests.
- All our tour guides and drivers are fully vaccinated.
- OUR LOCAL SUPPLIERS (HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, VISITOR SITES):
- Our suppliers should provide safety protocols and procedures according to the guidelines of local authorities, to the National Emergency Operation Center (COE).
- Reservations for churches, museums, and restaurants will be only under reservations to avoid crowds.
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
- GALAPAGOS ISLANDS / TOURISM ACTIVITIES
The Galapagos National Park re-opened operations on July 1st, 2020 and 100% of its population is already vaccinated against COVID-19.
5.1 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ARRIVALS PROTOCOLS
- Entry travelers to the Galapagos Islands, older than 3 years old, must comply with a complete vaccination card or vaccination certification with QR code, with at least two doses, and the last one applied no later than 14 days before the entry date.
- If travelers don’t have the vaccination certificate/cards against COVID, they must present a negative PCR test, taken 72 hours before the boarding date, to enter Ecuador.
- Children under 3 years are exempt from presenting a negative test or vaccination card upon arrival to the islands.
- All passengers must present his/her valid passport, round trip ticket, Galápagos Migration Card (the form should be completed online 24 hours before their trip), and Health Traveler Form for passengers that start their trip in Ecuador. For passengers that start their trip in another country, this form should be filled out at their arrival to one of Ecuador´s international airports.
- All foreign passengers should have health insurance.
- At Galapagos airport, passengers should pay the Galapagos National Park Entrance fee.
- TOURISM ACTIVITIES PROTOCOLS AT THE ISLANDS
The Galapagos National Park and the Ministry of Environment have established some safety guidelines.
- All boats should provide alcohol and hand sanitizer for guests and crew to be used before and after any excursion.
- The use of masks is mandatory for guests and crew for disembarking.
- The maximum capacity allowed for each point of the visit will be reduced according to the Galapagos National Park new regulations
As your local travel company, our client’s well-being is a priority. Every day we are working together with our partners to promote safe and sustainable travel so we can keep offering effortless vacations to our guests!
- PERU SERVICES:
All passengers that want to travel to Peru should present the following documents at the airline in his/her departure country:
– All travelers older than 12 years old must present a mandatory negative RT-PCR test carried out up to 72 hours before their flight OR their vaccination card against COVID-19 with its complete doses valid at least 14 days before entering to Perú.
– Healthy passengers under 12 years of age may enter the country without having to present the RT-PCR test or the vaccination card.
– Electronic Health Affidavit can be found on the website of the National Superintendency of Migration (http://e-notificacion.migraciones.gob.pe/dj-salud)
- *IMPORTANT NOTE: Peru authorities could ask you for the above-mentioned documents, so please save a copy with you.
-Passengers over 12 years of age must present their complete vaccination certificate when boarding domestic flights and passengers over 40 years of age, must present their vaccination certificate of a booster shot (third shot). In case any passenger does not have a vaccination card with the complete doses, they will have to present a negative molecular test result (PCR), issued within 48 hours prior to boarding their domestic flight.
- Every passenger will be surveilled by the Ministry of health through mandatory self-checkups.
- Each passenger should inform his/her medical condition that includes pre-existing diseases upon the quoted request to the agency.
- Each passenger should wear in Peru a double + face mask only for Machu Pichu bus and train.
- Each passenger must transport their carry-on bag to the vehicle to avoid external manipulation of it.
- For domestic flights, you must submit an affidavit that the airlines provide on their website.
6.2. TOUR GUIDES AND TRANSPORTATION:
- Guides and drivers should always have with them alcohol and hand sanitizer and at the private transport unit as well.
- Guides and drivers will have with then a digital thermometer in order to be aware of passengers’ corporal temperature.
- The use of face masks is mandatory at vehicles and during the guiding services. Guides will use microphones.
- Vehicles will be daily disinfected before each service.
- Luggage will be fumigated before loading into the vehicles.
- Social distancing will be followed in each service, and transportation, keeping a proper distance between travelers.
- Physical interaction such as shaking hands is forbidden between tour guides, drivers, and guests.
6.3 MACHU PICCHU & ARCHELOLOGICAL SITES & CLOSED PLACES:
Archaeological sites in Sacred Valley, Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras, Moray, Pikillacta and Tipon are open to visitors with security measures and with a restricted capacity of 50%. Here, the entrance is subject to a prior reservation, in some cases, and to follow the established protocols of each place.
Machu Picchu archaeological site entrance is allowed with a reduced capacity of 60%. This archeological site will apply safety protocols that include the following parameters:
- All visitors must have their protection elements.
- Visitors should show their ticket, ID or passport and a signed affidavit of health.
- The maximum capacity per group will be 8 passengers, including the guide.
- The purchase of the tickets will be just online.
- The buses that transport passengers from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and vice-versa will operate every 5 minutes with half capacity.
- The maximum capacity of this site is 897 visitants per day. The schedule for visits is from 06h00 to 16h00.
- Children under 12 years old are allowed to visit Machu Picchu, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
- The Inca Trail can only be taken in its short version of 2 days/1 night, also in groups of up to 8 people.
- Neither Machu Picchu Mountain, nor Huayna Picchu are currently open at the moment.
- Social distancing should be kept during the visit to the archeological site.
- Passengers’ shoes´ soles will be disinfected before entering the complex.
- All passengers should wash their hands before entering the complex.
- At the entrance of the complex, there are also thermal points to control passengers’ body temperature.
- The use of face masks is mandatory during the visit.
- From December 10th, 2021, every person from 18 years old and over must carry a fully vaccinated certification, by vaccines validated by the WHO against COVID-19, to enter closed spaces, such as museums, trains, restaurants or nay other closed space.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: These protocols and guidelines are subject to change due to the instructions of the authorities in charge of each destination.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: These protocols and guidelines are subject to change due to the instructions of the authorities in charge of each destination.
Our team is continuously monitoring how the situation progresses, and in case any significant changes occur in our offered destinations we will notify our guests immediately.
If you need have any questions about future trips, please do not hesitate to contact us we are here for you.
Due to the current circumstances, we would like to encourage you to purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance coverage, and make sure to understand clearly the cancellation coverage policy.
Novel Coronavirus Facts & Updates
For travel recommendations of the CDC, find information HERE
Thank you for your responsibility and trust in our services during these days. We hope to see you soon in our offered destinations!
If you have any questions do not hesitate to CONTACT US
