Visa/Entry

Required documents

​Travelers, including minors, require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon entry.
Travelers must be able to provide proof of their return journey (return flight or onward travel ticket).
The passport or a (certified) copy of the passport must be carried at all times.

 

Entry without visa

A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days. Due to the state of emergency, a current criminal record extract with apostille is currently required when entering the country via the land border. Without this, you can only obtain a transit visa for 5-10 days.

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Vehicle Documents

Driver's License

For stays of up to 30 days, the Austrian driving license is valid in conjunction with the passport and the entry stamp.
For stays of more than 30 days and up to 3 months, an international driving license is required. This must be confirmed by the local traffic authority, the Agencía Nacional de Tránsito del Ecuador.
Until now, a laminated copy of the Austrian driving license was sufficient in all countries.

 

Vehicle Importation

The Tempory Import Permit can be obtained at the borders by presenting the vehicle documents.

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Car insurance

There is no compulsory insurance for Ecuador and none is available for motorcycles.

 

Camping

• Wild camping is basically possible in Ecuador, if you have no safety concerns.
  There are no pure campgrounds here, but many Finkas/Loges offer besides rooms and cabins also the possibility to camp.

 

Road network

Although Ecuador has an extensive road network, driving conditions vary considerably. Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra and Tulcan on the Colombian border are all connected to each other.
Road classification
The designation of Ecuador's national roads consists of the letter E and a number. National roads of the 1st order are marked with blue signs, national roads of the 2nd order with green signs.
Condition of the roads
Some roads are maintained and repaired; however, many roads have large potholes and cracks due to earthquakes and flooding (in the south). Between Quito and Guayaquil and between Quito and Latacunga, Ambato and Riobamba the roads are completely paved.

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Sim cards

Cell phone network is well developed. SIM cards are readily available everywhere.

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Security

Security level varies depending on the area. At the moment, caution is advised, especially in larger cities on the coast, due to the security situation.
Basically, we felt safe everywhere. However, it is always necessary to check in advance how the security situation will change in the individual areas.
However, general precautions should be strictly adhered to.

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WLan

WiFi is available throughout the country. However, depending on the region, it is often extremely slow. 
Besides hotels, there is acceptable internet in many cafes and restaurants.

 

Spare parts

Spare parts and workshops can be found in all major cities for virtually all European brands. However, delivery times of several weeks are often to be expected. Minor repairs can also be carried out in other cities. Spare parts are considerably more expensive than in Europe.

 

Cost of living

Cost of living in Ecuador is cheaper than in Europe in terms of services and accommodation. Branded goods or even spare parts are often more expensive than in Europe.

 

Miscellaneous

Payment by credit card is possible everywhere - but often only on presentation of ID.
However, cash is still king in smaller stores and at street stalls. USD bills larger than 20 USD are rarely or never accepted. There are often problems with changing even 20s.