New Rules in Galapagos

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Clients frequently ask if they should fly to Galapagos via Quito or Guayaquil. Quito is about 10,000ft altitude while Guayaquil is on the coast. Flights to Galapagos start from Quito and pickup passengers in Guayaquil, before flying on to Baltra or San Cristobal in Galapagos. The main reason for flying via Quito is if you plan to extend your stay there to visit the city or do land options to the Amazon or mountains, otherwise it is better to fly via Guayaquil.

All the Galapagos flights are currently changing as some airlines have declared chapter 11 and others have reduced their frequency due to COVID. Here are what we hope will operate in August, along with new rules for entry to Galapagos. You can contact us by email if you have any questions.

LATAM does not fly every day right now. They are on a reduced schedule. IN August they fly Aug 3,7,11,17,21,25, 27,31. Avianca flies 9, 16, 23 and 30. One week is San Cristobal and the next is Baltra. These are the CONFIRMED flights the government has published. There will likely be no changes or additional flights in August but may change again in September. We have a trip on HUMBOLDT originally scheduled for Aug 24-31 which we have now changed to Aug 27-Sept 3, as these dates work with LATAM and allow 7 nights in Galapagos, and currently LATAM is the most reliable airline with the most flights.

We have trips in Sep/Oct/Nov and dates might be subject to change while the airlines get themselves sorted out.

New rules require one to be in Quito or Guayaquil for 2 nights on arrival as they require you do a PCR test on arrival and quarantine for 24 hours in a hotel until test results are ready.

Visitors to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, must present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Covid-19, taken up to 10 days prior to departure in their country of origin. ON arrival in Quito or Guayaquil they must do another PCR test at the arrival airport and go immediately to their hotel Results will be available within 24 hours of the test. 2 nights in hotel are required. With the negative PCR result from the test in Ecuador they can travel to Galapagos with a letter from the company running the cruise or hotel in Galapagos.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or want to book something in GPS.

Dominick Macan
Dive Advice Travel
dom@diveadvice.com
www.diveadvice.com
Tel: +33 492 94 02 99 (France)
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[champ]

Thanks for the updates. Definitely would want a travel agent like you who specializes in scuba if planning a trip during these crazy times

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Thank you sir - our services will not cost you any more and often it may cost you less, but most important is that we have a very good knowledge of the process and have offices in Europe and the US. At your service.

 

[Angelo Farina]

I like the approach taken for visiting Galapagos in complete safety. These rules should be applied everywhere, allowing tourism to restart safely!

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Thanks Angelo - I agree whole heartedly and a few countries are following similar practices but if we are to have any hope of learning to live with this virus - which we now have to do - in addition to face masks, social distancing and washing hands frequently, we need to have mandatory tests before departure and at the destination. More and more countries are understanding this is critical if people are going to have confidence in travelling again. Already many boats are adopting safety protocols and have policies with crew and guests to limit the risk. Unfortunately it is impossible to completely eliminate all risk but no one wants to get it so there is a lot being done behind the scenes that will substantially decrease the risk until one day we have a vaccine. I take my hat off to Ecuador who have taken this measure to reduce risk and we hope that all will adopt this.

 

[Dom@DiveAdvice]

Update to my post above, they changed the time of when you have to get a PCR Swab test from 10 days prior to arrival, to maximum 7 days prior to arrival in Ecuador. Your international airline may not allow you to board without proof of that test. You will then be required to take a 2nd test at the arrival airport in Ecuador. Wyndham have hotels at both Quito and Guayaquil airports and they are first class and convenient for this quarantine period until you receive the test results. There are other smaller hotels close by with gardens and nicer views where you are not required to stay that entire time in your room, but you are not permitted to take a tour or sight see during this period. As with everything connecetd with COVID, regulations can change at any time.

 

[AlvaroDiver]

Thanks Dom for the updates on the Galapagos protocols. It's really changing all the time, I understand that once the first trips will take place, they will set a standard and don't change them that often.