Important information for your journey to Ecuador

We hope you are getting prepared and excited for your trip. It’s not long now!

This page provides important information that explains what to prepare before departing and what will happen when you arrive at your destination. Please make sure you have a saved copy of this page on your phone, or a printed copy to refer to.

Travel Checklist

One week before departing you should go over the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need before heading to the airport:

Valid passport for at least 6 months after your return.
Volunteer Certificate
20 USD in cash to pay for your tourist immigration transit card at Quito or Guayaquil airport
15 USD in cash to pay for the National Park Entry fee (reduced from $200 because of the volunteer certificate). To be paid at the airport in San Cristobal Island.
Proof of Sufficient Funds (printed bank statement or a screenshot of your bank balance)
A printed copy of your flight itinerary.
Travel insurance
Local address in Ecuador written down on a piece of paper and on your phone: Please use the accommodation address provided on your MYPA page.
ESTA - if you will transit via the United States
Emergency phone numbers added to your mobile phone and written down on a piece of paper in case your mobile battery dies (see below).

Arrival Procedures

Arriving at Quito or Guayaquil Airport in Ecuador

When you land at Quito or Guayaquil airport, you must hand in your passport to the immigration official.

Also have in hand these documents that immigration officials might ask for:

Proof of Sufficient Funds (printed bank statement or a screenshot of your bank balance).
A printed copy of your flight itinerary.
Travel insurance
Local address in Ecuador written down on a piece of paper and on your phone: Please use the accommodation address provided on your MYPA page.

Also, you must collect your luggage, and go through customs, This is to make sure you receive your luggage as it will not go to the Galapagos automatically. Airlines sometimes incorrectly advise that luggage will go all the way to the Galapagos. This is not the case as all luggage must be checked before at customs in Ecuador.

Travelling to the Galapagos Islands from Quito or Guayaquil Airport

1. As you start your journey to the Galapagos Islands from Guayaquil or Quito Airport, please have in hand your printed volunteer certificate and present it to the immigration service officer at the CONCEJO DE GOBIERNO counter, where you will also pay for a Transit Card ($20). This is a fee everyone must pay while having their luggage re-checked before continuing to the Galapagos.

2. You must then have your luggage scanned by the Biosecurity Quarantine Officials.

3. Check in your luggage and receive your boarding pass at the airline desk and then you will be ready to go to the boarding area to start your journey to San Cristobal Island, Galapagos.

4. When you land in San Cristobal, please have in hand your printed volunteer certificate, and please make sure the electronic QR signature is shown next to the name, apart from your transit card and passport. You will have to pay $15 cash for the Galapagos National Park entry fee (reduced from $200 due to your volunteer certificate).

Please note: No food is allowed to be brought in by passengers from the mainland to the Galapagos and the authorities will confiscate any food items from you in Quito or Guayaquil if you have them. Snacks with a supermarket seal are fine, but you can't bring in loose fruit or vegetables, for example.

Regarding Documents Needed to Enter the Galapagos Islands

You will need a Volunteer Certificate issued by the authorities and sent to you in advance by the Ecuador Country Director, William Puga. If you have not received this 2-3 days before departure, then please call your Destination Expert so they can ensure you have it before you leave. This Volunteer Certificate will reduce the National Park Fee of US $200 for the Galapagos to only $15. Projects Abroad has made special arrangements with the authorities for our volunteers.

After going through immigration, you must go to the baggage reclaim area and wait until your bag arrives. Once you have collected your luggage, make your way to the exit where a Projects Abroad staff member will be waiting for you.

Meeting our staff

Our staff will meet you at the airport arrivals hall. They will hold a sign saying Projects Abroad. Please note that the sign will not have your name on it.

They will then take you directly to your accommodation.

Depending on your time of arrival in San Cristobal you will have your induction on the same day or the following day. One of our staff members will pick you up from your accommodation before the induction starts.

In the extremely rare event that the staff member coming to meet you is late and you do not see anyone holding a Projects Abroad sign at the airport or if you experience any flight delays, please call William Puga's number: +593 (0) 96 823 6167.

Stay at the airport in the arrival’s hall until our staff member finds you.

For any other flight travel related emergencies please contact one of the phone numbers below:

European emergency numbers: +44 1273 007261 / +44 1273 007262

American emergency number: +1 917 8104520