ABOUT ECUADOR
IS ECUADOR SAFE FOR (GAY) TOURISTS?
Ecuador is one of the South American countries with more LGBT rights’ protections and one of the few with marriage equality (June 2019). Even though you’re constitutionally protected from discrimination in Ecuador, you’re not immune from old-fashioned machismo and religious intolerance like in the United States or other countries that are traditionally more open-minded.
Same-sex PDA (public displays of affection) are not common and might get you a few uncomfortable stares; however, it’s not uncommon to see gay singles and couples hanging out freely in known gay areas like “La Mariscal” in Quito.
Like in any tourist destination in the world, caution and common sense will help you stay away from pickpockets in high pedestrian traffic areas. As far as civil unrest, Ecuador is experiencing an era of calm and optimism so nothing out of the ordinary is expected.
IS THERE A GAY SCENE IN QUITO?
You can ask your Tour Guide for his recommendations of gay establishments that you can visit during your free time. These recommendations might include discos (bars), bathhouses, video parlors and masseurs. Gay venues and areas are concentrated mostly in larger cities like Quito and Guayaquil.
DO I NEED A VISA FOR ECUADOR?
Citizens from only 11 countries in the world require a visa for Ecuador: China (burgundy passport), Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Senegal. As with any destination, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months prior to your arrival to Ecuador.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE DURING MY VISIT?
The weather in Ecuador is highly variable and unpredictable, there are no set seasons, and there are often sunny days in what could be considered the cold season and cold days in what could be considered the warm season. Overall, Ecuador is lucky to experience good weather year-round, which for many makes it one of the best in the world. A general guideline of what weather to plan for would be:
QUITO & THE HIGHLANDS: October-May: cloudy and wet | June-September: sunny and dry
PACIFIC COAST: January-May: hot with heavy rainfall | June-December: sunny and dry
AMAZON: May-December: heavy rainfall | January-April: light fainfall
GALAPAGOS: January-June: warm season | July-December: dry Season
HERE ARE SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE COUNTRY:
TIME ZONE: Ecuador is five hours behind GMT (same as EST in USA) and doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time, so during April-October, Ecuador is on CST (USA). The Galapagos Islands are one hour behind the mainland (-6 GMT).
DEMONYM: Ecuadorian (English). Ecuatoriano/a (Spanish - male/female).
CURRENCY: The official currency is the US Dollar. Non-American travelers are encouraged to exchange money prior to their trip to Quito, or you can do it at the airport upon arrival, or exclusively in banks or exchange houses.
When going to a bank or to the ATM, use common sense safety like making sure you’re not being watched or using only ATMs in well-lit public places.
SALES TAX: The Value Added Tax (“IVA” in Spanish) is 12%.
ELECTRICITY: Ecuador uses 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity, same as USA. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type so US travelers will not typically need a converter or adapter, unless you have a third (ground) prong, for which some outlets will require a 3-to-2 adapter. If you forget one, ask anyone in our team.
LANGUAGE: Feel free to address people in English, many Ecuadorians (and most definitely those in the tourism industry) speak English.
TIPPING: Even though tipping is not expected, most restaurants charge a 10% service fee to your bill, and it’s customary to leave an additional 10% in cash for your waiter. Tour guides and drivers will be very appreciative of tips when they offer you exceptional hospitality during your trip. For group tours, additional info about tipping will be provided prior to your trip.
TRANSPORTATION: If you decide to venture out on your own, ask us for a known yellow cab company number. You can also use Uber, with the particularity that in Ecuador you can pay with cash. Cab/Uber drivers don’t expect tips, but it’s up to you based on quality of service.
WIFI/CELLULAR AVAILABILITY: Free WiFi will be available for you at the Quito airport, our accommodations in Quito and at most of the places and restaurants we visit. If you need internet access beyond these places, feel free to ask our Tour Director for mobile hotspot access. While navigating the Galapagos islands, cellular signal will be spotty and even non-existent. Satellite internet service is not provided by the ship. For cellular service availability please check with your mobile service provider and make sure you manage the roaming settings on your phone to avoid any unexpected charges. WhatsApp is the best way to communicate while in Ecuador.
SMOKING: Smoking cigarettes or cigars in public places is prohibited by law, and it’s not permitted on any group transportation, inside any accommodations, or during any of our excursions. Smoking is permitted in designated smoking sections during meal times, just ask your waiter. Very small amounts of cannabis are allowed as personal consumption and for medical purposes. Don’t try to board planes with it.
ABOUT OUR TOURS
I FOUND OTHER GAY TRAVEL COMPANIES THAT OFFER TOURS TO ECUADOR, WHY CHOOSE I CHOOSE ECUADOR GAY TRAVEL?
For one, we’re the only destination management company that specializes exclusively in gay tours to Ecuador, and the only one with offices and permanent staff in both Quito and Fort Lauderdale. Our bi-national team will make sure you’re always accompanied and safe during your tour in Ecuador.
WHO WOULD I BE TRAVELING WITH?
Our small group tours are typically limited to 16 travelers (based on double occupancy). Our tours attract English-speaking gay men from USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. Our tours are destination focused, so we often attract well-educated, frequent travelers who go on vacation to relax, have fun, meet new people, and be exposed to different cultures and points-of-view. Though it's always hard to predict exactly how each group will shape up, our tours are made all the more interesting with a broad range of life experiences. Even though our small group clients average 55 years old, we often get guys well outside of this range, from early 30s to late 70’s. Everyone is welcome and brings something unique to the group dynamic regardless of age, shape and color.
ARE THERE ANY STRAIGHT MEN, WOMEN OR KIDS IN YOUR GROUP TOURS?
The large majority of our travelers are gay males. However, we welcome gay-friendly travellers of any gender. If you have a straight relative or friend who would feel comfortable traveling with our group, then we're sure that the sentiment will be mutual. A mixture of like-minded people make for a more interesting and varied experience overall. Underage travelers are not allowed in our group tours.
I AM SINGLE, WILL THERE BE OTHER SINGLES IN THE GROUP TOURS? HOW WILL THAT WORK REGARDING DOUBLE OCCUPANCY?
Though it’s difficult to guarantee or predict, many of our group tours are comprised of 25-50% singles.
IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR ROOM: We'll be happy to match you with a same-gender roommate. Though we cannot give out personal information about your potential roommate, we will do our best to match ages and smoking/non-smoking. If we are unable to find you one, you may end up having to pay a full or discounted “single supplement” (surcharge) decided on a case-by-case basis.
IF YOU PREFER TO HAVE YOUR OWN ROOM: We can book you on a single supplement basis. Our reasonable single supplements attract many single travelers.
In order to be "single friendly," the supplements we apply are not a profit for us but just the added accommodation costs and we do our best to keep them as reasonable as possible.
WHY DO YOU HOST YOUR GROUP TRAVELERS IN YOUR OWN PLACE IN QUITO?
When we offer groups tours of up to 10 travelers, we prefer to add value and reduce costs for them by hosting them in our own property in Quito. This 3,230 sq.ft. (300 m2) apartment features 5 bedrooms with en-suite bathroom, a TV room, and a large socializing area to rest, eat, read, chat, surf the web or have a drink and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. Our place is located in one of the most sought-after and safe areas of Quito, with amazing views of the city, world class amenities, and our own housekeeping and cooking staff. More importantly, we don’t have to deal with restrictive check-in and check-out times, nor do you have to pack your bags and drop them at the front desk while you go to the Galapagos.
For our groups of 10+ travelers, we work with 5-star and boutique hotels that can easily and comfortably accommodate everyone.
For couples and solo travelers, we will find accommodations that work for your itinerary and budget, whether you want a luxurious and romantic boutique hotel, or an economic one close to the hustle and bustle.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE “ALL INCLUSIVE” TOURS? WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Our group tours include all accommodations, all meals, all transportation in Ecuador (ground, air and water), transfers to/from airports, gay tour guide, all excursions, and all tickets to attractions.
We provide 3 meals per day, one of which might be a “to-go” box since most of our travelers prefer to eat lightly midday or forgo meals altogether to explore, shop, etc. Occasionally, due to logistical considerations, your Tour Director may substitute lunch for dinner should it better fit our schedule and activities. This will be announced while on tour. In some of the restaurants we’ll visit only 1 soft drink is included, you will have to pay separately if you want more than 1 or a different type of drink. Our Tour Director will let you know beforehand in each different venue.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: International airfare to/from Ecuador, alcoholic beverages, and tips. If you’re traveling to Galapagos, there are 2 payments that we cannot collect or pay on your behalf to the government: a US$20 transit card, and a US$100 National Park entrance fee, both of which will be collected in cash directly from you by the authorities in both the Quito and Galapagos airports. Snorkeling equipment rental in the Galapagos is also not included, but very cheap.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE MY OWN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS?
You can, but we’ll be happy to help you with your flights to Quito and back home. Local flights within Ecuador are included in our tour rates.
HOW MUCH EARLIER DO I NEED TO ARRIVE TO ECUADOR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GROUP TOUR? WOULD YOU ARRANGE THAT FOR ME? HOW ABOUT AFTER THE TOUR?
We’ve designed our group tours itinerary so all our travelers arrive to Ecuador about the same time, which is close to midnight on a Saturday. Our first activities start the morning of Sunday.
Some travelers may prefer to arrive a day or two early to get acclimated, to rest from previous travel, or simply to enjoy the city by themselves. Some others may prefer to stay a day or two after the tour ends to visit places that weren’t part of the itinerary or to spend time by themselves. We’ll be happy to work with you to extend your tour at either end of our itinerary at an additional cost, to include additional accommodation, private transfers from/to airport, private transportation, and activities outside of our itinerary.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A SMALL YACHT FOR THE GALAPAGOS TOUR?
Small ships allow passengers to enjoy the advantages of cruising with the advantages of other kinds of travel. Small yachts are perfect for higher quality tourists that look for comfort and intimacy for small, like-minded groups like ours. More importantly, small ships have less environmental impact and help the economy of small, Ecuadorian-owned companies.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAVEL ASSISTANCE AND TRAVEL INSURANCE?
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually very different types of coverage. We provide all our travelers with complimentary travel assistance.
Travel assistance provides support services in case of an emergency while traveling.
Travel insurance provides monetary compensation for losses that occur while traveling.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELATION POLICY?
Please visit our Terms & Conditions page.
ABOUT MOVING TO / retiring in ecuador
WHAT’S EXPENSIVE IN ECUADOR ONCE YOU MOVE THERE?
Imported anything is expensive in Ecuador, as tariffs are usually high. Cars and brand clothing are usually the 2 items that expats find unusually expensive in Ecuador.
IS ECUADOR HANDI-CAPABLE FRIENDLY?
Ecuador’s current President is handi-capable and governs from a wheelchair, and he has done a lot to include the handi-capable population into the workforce, created laws to help with mobility, etc. Unfortunately, most Ecuadorian cities and towns are hundreds of years old, so many streets, tourist spots and old buildings are not handicap-friendly.
HOW IS THE GAY SCENE IN ECUADOR?
If you want to retire to a gay heaven, Ecuador is not the right choice. While Quito and Guayaquil -the largest cities- have an active gay scene with bars, clubs, bathhouses, etc., the medium-sized cities and small towns where expats usually live in are traditionally more quiet in this aspect. However, you can find a community and gathering places in every city.
ABOUT COVID-19
Last updated: October 19, 2022
As of October 20, 2022, travelers arriving to Ecuador and the Galapagos are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination (your physical CDC card with the completed doses), or a negative PCR test taken prior to arrival.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions traveling back to USA: For information and the latest updates, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s COVID-19 website. Note that individual cities and states may have additional requirements upon arrival. See the CDC recommendations posted on their website.
Consular Operations:
For current status of operations for the American Citizen Services section click here.
For current status of operations for visa services click here.