There is no specific vaccine required to travel directly to the Galápagos Islands. If your trip is limited to Quito, Guayaquil, and Galápagos, you will normally not need any additional vaccine as an entry requirement.
Even so, there are a few important things worth checking before you travel.
Yellow fever
The yellow fever vaccine is not specifically recommended for Galápagos, Quito, or Guayaquil. It is more relevant if your itinerary includes areas of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Ecuador currently requires an international yellow fever vaccination certificate from travelers arriving from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil under certain conditions. The vaccine must have been given at least 10 days before entering the country.
If you are arriving from one of these countries or have spent several days there before entering Ecuador, check the latest official requirements before traveling.
Recommended vaccines
Although they are not mandatory for Galápagos, it is a good idea to keep your routine vaccinations up to date.
Travel health authorities recommend checking vaccines such as tetanus, diphtheria, and measles, and hepatitis A is commonly recommended for unvaccinated travelers visiting Ecuador.
There is also no malaria transmission in Galápagos, so preventive malaria medication is not recommended for travelers visiting only the islands.
A few health tips
- Galápagos is an active destination. You will likely walk, travel by boat, snorkel, and spend many hours outdoors.
- Use sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Bring insect repellent.
- If you are prone to seasickness, bring medication for boat trips.
- Carry enough of any personal medication you may need.
- Travel insurance with medical coverage is recommended, especially because Galápagos is a remote island destination.
Remember that you will also go through biosecurity checks before entering Galápagos. These are not related to vaccines, but are designed to prevent the introduction of plants, animals, seeds, food, and other products that could affect the islands’ ecosystems.
In short: most travelers flying directly to Galápagos do not need any special mandatory vaccines. Keep your routine vaccinations up to date and check yellow fever requirements if you are arriving from a risk country or if your itinerary includes the Amazon.
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