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The most popular destination in Ecuador is the Galapagos Islands but remember the mainland has plenty to offer too, like the quaint capital, Quito. Here, you can enjoy the colonial architecture of the UNESCO heritage designated Old Town or simply browse through the famous Otavalo market. With this range of diverse experiences, we’re often asked ‘What vaccines do I need for Ecuador?’ Well, this depends on your itinerary. Firstly, make sure you're up to date with all your childhood vaccinations. Next, make sure you’ve have had your core vaccinations like hepatitis A and typhoid. Then think about the specialist vaccinations for Ecuador. These will include hepatitis B, rabies, yellow fever and possibly tuberculosis depending on your length of stay and risk exposure. Don't forget it's not just the immunisations for Ecuador you need to consider; you’re risk of altitude sickness even in the capital, Quito which is about 2850 metres above sea level. If you’re not sure which vaccinations you need for Ecuador, then come and have a chat with us. We’ll carefully evaluate your risk and give you tailored recommendations based on your trip. Once we’ve shared our expert advice, then it's completely up to you as to what you would like to do, you’re in control. To give you a rough guide, you might want to have a look at our table below to see what vaccines are needed for Ecuador.
What travel vaccinations do I need for Ecuador?
Dr Ravi Gowda, Consultant in Infectious Diseases or one of his highly trained clinical colleagues will be looking after your Ecuador vaccine requirements. Find out more about the Health Klinix team.
Who will be providing your travel injections for Ecuador?
"One important immunisation for Ecuador is the yellow fever vaccine, especially if you’re travelling through multiple South American countries.
Yellow fever is a viral disease that’s spread through mosquito bites and is common in Ecuador. You’ll generally need a vaccination if you’re travelling east of the Andes, particularly in the Amazon rainforests.
The disease is often life threatening and there is no specific treatment, so it's important that you’re vaccinated. You should also be aware of other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue fever and Zika virus. You can reduce your risk of these diseases by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing."
Dr Gowda's top tip for travel to Ecuador
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For the majority of Ecuador there is a low risk of malaria and we would generally advise insect bite avoidance rather than taking malaria tablets. There is no risk of malaria in the Andes part of Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and the City of Guayaquil.
Recommended malaria tablets for Ecuador
Although you may not need malaria tablets in Ecuador, it’s still important that you’re aware of the risk of malaria. Make sure you avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets.
As mentioned, in some cases you may need malaria tablets for Ecuador, so we have created a helpful table as a guide. Which malaria tablets for Ecuador you need will depend upon your individual circumstances and so please ask us for advice. Also make sure to remember that malaria tablets are not 100% effective and you will therefore need to take additional precautions.
Malaria risk map for Ecuador
travelhealthpro.org.uk and ACMP
We’d recommend yellow fever vaccination if you're travelling east of the Andes, particularly in the Amazon rainforests. It’s especially important if you’re travelling through multiple South American countries as you may be asked to provide a yellow fever certificate when you arrive in Ecuador.
Yellow fever is a viral disease that’s spread through mosquito bites. The disease is often life threatening and there is no specific treatment, so it's important that you’re vaccinated.
Yellow fever risk map Ecuador
Source: CDC. Use of these images does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation by the CDC
Frequently asked questions
The total cost is likely to vary depending on which vaccinations you need for your trip. You can see the recommended vaccinations and the price per dose in the table above.
Please note; you will need to book a travel consultation before we can administer travel vaccinations and this costs £30 (1 person).
This will depend on the vaccination. More detailed information can be found on the disease specific pages.
We’d recommend at least 4-6 weeks. Not only will this give you time to complete important vaccine courses, like rabies that can take a month, it will also ensure you respond adequately to the vaccines. If you’re a last minute traveller then you should still have vaccinations. Call us for advice.
Most travel vaccinations have been in use for many years and they’re all generally well tolerated. Our disease pages will have more information on specific side effects of individual vaccines.
Inactivated vaccines like hepatitis A and B and typhoid can be given in pregnancy if the risk of disease is significant.
Yes most vaccines can be given but some are age restricted such as typhoid, yellow fever and hepatitis A.
Yes, you should be fully vaccinated before you go Ecuador, especially if you have underlying illness (note you can’t have live vaccines like yellow fever and MMR if you have some health conditions).
Ecuador is a relatively small country located on the equator on the western coast of South America. It’s renowned for its diverse culture, stunning landscapes, and of course a rich and varied biodiversity. The highlight of Ecuador for many will be the Galapagos Islands, the inspiration of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Whether you are an adventurer, nature enthusiast or simply wish to immerse yourself into the steeped, colonial history of Quito and Cuenca, then there is something for everyone. You might also wish to hike through the Andes and through its Avenue of Volcanoes to catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cotipaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes. Other useful things to know: Language - Although you might hear a number of indigenous languages, Spanish is the official language just like much of South America. Safety - Ecuador is generally a safe country for travellers, but just be aware that there is poverty in some areas of the country and you need to be streetwise to avoid petty theft and scams. One thing is for sure, whatever you do, it’s important that you travel safely and so we recommend you contact us for advice on travel vaccinations for Ecuador.
All about Ecuador
Additional health advice and risks for Ecuador
You may also be at risk of the following diseases:
There is a yellow fever vaccine certificate requirement for travel to Ecuador under International Health Regulations if you are coming from another country where there is yellow fever transmission. For specific yellow fever vaccine certificate requirements for Ecuador we recommend visiting World Health Organization.
Ecuador vaccine certificate requirements
Authors:
Dr Ravi Gowda, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine
MBBS, MRCP(UK), DTM&H, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP
Caitlin Lancaster, BSc
Resources: