In Ecuador, the government decided on new restrictions during an emergency meeting that took place just before the holidays, motivated by the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom and the increase in infections in Ecuador :
– the state of exception has been declared for a month
– driving restrictions according to license plate number. This was still effective in Quito but now becomes the rule in all the country
– a new curfew, from 10pm to 4am. Opening hours for stores have been adapted, from 8am to 8pm, and they can receive up to 50 % of capacity. During curfew, sales and consumption of alcohol are forbidden.
– Bars, nightclub and other night entertainment places are closed. Private gatherings are limited to 10 people. Hotels can receive up to 30 % of their capacity in commom areas.
– The beaches were closed for Christmas and New Year. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks and burning monigotes in public were forbidden, but that rule was obviously not obeyed.
– and of course more controls will take place in order to avoid gatherings and unauthorized parties.
Schools are still closed since March, some of them have received a green light to reopen for partial semi-presential classes (maximum 30 % of students, 2 to 3 days a week).
Rules to enter the country :
mandatory negative PCR test (less than 10 days old), the test result will be kept by the authorities to make sure it isn’t forged ; temperature control ; random testing on site. People who arrive in Ecuador without a valid PCR test will be taken to a hotel (at their own cost) for a mandatory 10-days isolation.
Can I go visit the Galapagos Islands ?
Yes, the Galapagos are welcoming tourists, under a few extra rules : have an ID and a return-ticket ; your negative PCR test must be less than 96 hours old (from the time the sample was taken, not the result date) ; always wear a mask ; having made a hotel reservation beforehand and booking all excursion with an appointed guide (the only ones that can give you a safe conduct for said excursions).
The usual rules also still apply : you need to pay for a ‘transit control card’ at the airport and for foreigners you need an international health insurance).