“SAFE TOURIST RUNNER FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS”
Before starting the trip to the province of Galapagos the national or foreign tourist must have:
a) Identity card (card or passport).
b) Air ticket to and from the province of Galapagos.
c) Negative result of an RT-PCR test performed up to 96 hours before admission to the province. Tests conducted in Ecuador must come from a laboratory recognized by the Agency for Quality Assurance of Health Services and Prepaid Medicine (ACESS)
http://www.calidadsalud.gob.ec/laboratorios-autorizados/
. Tests will not be mandatory for minors.
d) Safe conduct issued by the tour operator or the Galapagos tourist accommodation establishment that will provide the services to you in that province. Tourist services must be contracted in establishments that have tourist registration and biosecurity protocols established.
(e) Transit control card issued by the Governing Council of the Galapagos Special Regime
(f) Traveler’s Health Declaration Form in order to identify the place of their stay, for tourists starting the trip in Ecuador. For tourists who start the trip abroad this form will be filled in upon arrival in the country.
(g) Mandatory health insurance. Applies only to foreign tourists (Art. 49 of the Organic Law of the Special Regime for the Province of the Galapagos).
Upon arrival in the province of Galapagos, every tourist must cancel:
h) Current tribute of the Galapagos National Park for domestic and foreign tourists
(i) Transfers and contracted services.
TRAVEL PROCEDURE TO GALAPAGOS FROM THE CONTINENT (step by step)
1. At the departure airport (Quito or Guayaquil)
a) At the governing council of the Galapagos Special Regime (CGREG) located at the departure airport:
– It is verified that the tourist has the safe conduct issued by the tour operator or by the accommodation duly authorized by the Ministry of Tourism (Address
Zonal Island), of the contracted services.
– Pay and remove the transit control card.
– In the case of organized groups, the tour operator can pay the value of the transit control card of their tourists through the means enabled by the CGREG.
b) Then pass the control of the Agency for Regulation and Control of Biosafety and Quarantine for Galapagos (ABG).
c) Register at the airline counter and present the negative result of the RT-PCR test performed up to 96 hours before admission to the province. Check-in at the airline counter is mandatory, even if you have the boarding pass issued and no baggage to check in. Symptoms and signs related to Covid-19 (fever, cough, joint pain, anosmia, general discomfort, headache) will also be monitored.
d) Boarding and flight to Galapagos.
(e) During the flight, fill out the Biosafety Control Form of the Agency for Regulation and Control of Biosecurity and Quarantine for Galapagos (ABG).
2. Arriving in the Galapagos
a) Perform immigration control of entry to the province. Responsible for the Governing Council of the Galapagos Special Regime.
b) Pay the galapagos National Park tribute.
c) Buy ticket for ground transfer Baltra Airport – Itabaca Canal. *
d) Remove checked baggage.
e) Baltra Airport Transfer – Itabaca Canal or Baltra Pier*.
In the case of arrival in San Cristobal, the exit is direct.
f) Buy ferry ticket to cross the Itabaca Canal.*
g) Pier transfer from Itabaca in Santa Cruz to Puerto Ayora.*
h) Arrival at hotel or boarding in case of navigable tour.
(i) In the case of organized groups, the tour operator may pay the tribute of the Galapagos National Park of its tourists through the means enabled by that entity.
*Applies to arrivals to Baltra.
PROCEDURE FOR THE TRAVEL OF FOREIGN TOURISTS TO THE PROVINCE OF GALAPAGOS (step by step)
1. The tourist reserves the tourist services in his country of origin, which may consist of:
– Tourist services contracted through a tour operator that has a tourist registration in Ecuador.
– Accommodation contracted directly with establishments in mainland Ecuador and the province of Galapagos, which have a tourist register.
2. The tourist must have the safe conduct issued by the tour operator or by the Galapagos tourist accommodation establishment that will provide the services in that province.
3. To enter Ecuador, the tourist must have an RT-PCR test with negative result, carried out in their country of origin up to 7 days before arrival in Ecuador.
4. If you have previously contracted the services and get a positive result in the RT-PCR test, the tourist may change the date or cancel his trip according to the conditions of the tourist service provider
5. Upon arrival at Quito or Guayaquil airport, the tourist will present the negative result of the RT-PCR test to the official of the Ministry of Public Health at the airport.
6. At the control of the Ministry of Health at the airport of arrival, the tourist must be carried out a new RT-PCR test, at his cost.
7. Every tourist must complete the Traveler’s Health Declaration Form in order to identify the place of their stay in mainland Ecuador and galapagos. This document must be filled in upon arrival in the country.
8. Once the health checks have been carried out (sampling for RT-PCR, control of symptoms and signs), migration and customs, the tourist may move to the accommodation previously de alojamiento contracted for a stay of at least 48 hours or until the result of the test carried out.
9. Accommodation in mainland Ecuador shall be made in establishments located in the urban centres of arrival or in rural locations located at yellow or green traffic lights.
10. In the event of a negative RT-PCR test result, the tourist may continue with the travel plan in accordance with the general requirements and the travel procedure for the entry of tourists to the Galapagos.
11. If the tourist has proved positive for COVID 19 in the test carried out upon arrival in the country, he must comply with the mandatory isolation established in the regulations approved by the National Emergency Operations Committee.
SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR TOURISM OPERATORS
Tour operators are part of the Voluntary Programme for Monitoring the Implementation of the Protocol for Covid-19 in the Galapagos. The guidelines to be followed by ltheoperators and tour guides in the province of Galapagos are as follows:
1. Stay informed through official sources regarding the guidelines issued by the National COE and the Ministry of Public Health in the context of the health emergency.
2. Avoid greeting with physical contact, including shaking hands, both other tour guides, suppliers as well as visitors. The safety distance should be respected whenever possible of at least 2 meters.
3. If the tour guide experiences any symptoms of the disease, even on a mild basis, he should refrain from providing the service.
4. Always wear the mask (or protective screen) except for water activities or for feeding.
5. Permanently inform tourists about the mandatory use of the mask.
6. Explain the technique for disposing of the mask according to the manufacturer’s instructions and its useful life. In cases where protective screen or reusable mask is used, it must be disinfected properly after each use.
7. Dispose of any personal hygiene waste – especially disposable handkerchiefs – immediately into the eligible bins or containers.
8. Recommend to tourists the use of non-disposable personal protective equipment.
9. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or, if there is no possibility, use a disinfectant solution such as 70% alcohol gel. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces (knobs, railings, etc.)
10. Frequently disinfect personally used objects with soap and water and, if not possible, with a disinfectant solution, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. For the disinfection of electronic work equipment it is necessary to use products ofdisinfectants applied with a cloth, or disinfectant wipes.
11. Avoid, as far as possible, sharing work equipment or devices with other tour guides or with tourists. In the event of alternation in the use of certain equipment or devices(walkies,radio guides, telephones, umbrellas, etc.), the tour guide should establish guidelines focused on cleaning and disinfection, and otherwise on the use of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of contagion.
12. The tour guide should urge tourists to comply with the measures arising from the GUIDELINES FOR THE INCOME OF TOURISTS TO THE PROVINCE OF GALAPAGOS – SAFE TOURIST CORREDOR FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
13. The administrator of the accommodation establishment or the captain of the vessel shall carry a tourist log with daily monitoring of symptoms and signs related to Covid-19. The instrument will be provided by the Ministry of Public Health.
14. With regard to the number of passengers on the vessels, they may operate at 100% of their capacity. However, the capacity allowed by the Provincial COE of the Galapagos for the development of common activities, such as food service, talks, landings, among others, will be observed.
15. With regard to the number of passengers in the cabins of overnight tourist boats, they may not be occupied by more than 1 person except in the case of belonging to the same family centre or social group.
16. Disinfection of life jackets must be carried out before and after each use, with a dilution of hypochlorite with 3 tablespoons per litre of water.
17. Disinfection of aquatic and terrestrial sports devices should be carried out before and after use, with a dilution of hypochlorite with 3 tablespoons per litre of water.
18. Recommend the use of personal equipment for water activities (snorkeling and/or diving equipment).
19. The location of tourists in restaurants in the Islands and in boats should be guaranteed in ventilated areas, preferably outdoors. Avoid more than one family per table.
20. For the provisions of these guidelines, the protocols for biosecurity approved by the National COE.