Yellow Fever Vaccine for Ecuador: Amazon, Andes & Galápagos Travel Advice
Last updated: May 2026
Travel Health & Safety Advisory from Barefoot Expeditions
Your safety is our top priority. As part of our commitment to providing meaningful, responsible, and well-prepared journeys across Ecuador, we want to keep travelers informed about current yellow fever vaccine guidance and how it may affect trips to the Amazon, Andes, and Galápagos Islands.
Yellow fever regulations for Ecuador changed during 2025. In May 2025, Ecuador introduced a temporary requirement for certain travelers to present proof of yellow fever vaccination when entering the country. Later that year, the rule was updated, and the certificate requirement was removed for several neighboring countries.
For most travelers visiting Quito, the Andes, the Galápagos Islands, or Ecuador’s main highland routes, a yellow fever vaccine is generally not required. However, vaccination is still recommended for travelers visiting Amazon and lowland rainforest areas east of the Andes.
What Changed in 2025?
In May 2025, Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health announced that, starting May 12, 2025, proof of yellow fever vaccination would be required for:
Citizens or residents of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Travelers of any nationality who had spent more than 10 days in any of those countries before entering Ecuador.
At that time, travelers were asked to show an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, commonly known as the “yellow card.” The vaccine had to be administered at least 10 days before arrival in Ecuador.
Later in 2025, this entry requirement was updated. From late August 2025, Ecuador removed the yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement for nationals of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
Because health regulations can change, travelers should always confirm current entry requirements with their airline, official Ecuadorian sources, embassies, and a certified travel health clinic before departure.
Do You Need a Yellow Fever Vaccine to Travel to Ecuador?
For most travelers, the answer depends on where you are going in Ecuador and where you have traveled before entering the country.
You generally do not need the yellow fever vaccine if your trip is limited to:
Quito
Guayaquil
Cuenca
Cotopaxi
Highland areas above 2,300 meters
The Galápagos Islands
These destinations are not considered yellow fever risk areas for most travelers, and vaccination is generally not recommended for itineraries limited to these places.
When Is Yellow Fever Vaccination Recommended?
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting lowland areas east of the Andes, especially Amazon rainforest regions.
This includes travel to areas below 2,300 meters in or near provinces such as:
Napo
Orellana
Pastaza
Sucumbíos
Morona Santiago
Zamora Chinchipe
Tungurahua
For Barefoot Expeditions travelers, this is especially relevant for Amazon journeys such as Yasuní, Cuyabeno, Napo River lodges, rainforest community visits, and lowland jungle extensions.
Amazon Travelers: Our Recommendation
If your itinerary includes the Ecuadorian Amazon, we strongly recommend speaking with a certified travel health specialist before your trip.
Even when a vaccination certificate is not required for entry, yellow fever vaccination may still be recommended for personal health protection in rainforest regions.
This is especially important if you are visiting remote areas, staying several days in the jungle, traveling by river, or combining Ecuador with other South American countries.
Galápagos and Andes Travelers
If you are traveling only to the Galápagos Islands, Quito, Cuenca, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, or other highland destinations, yellow fever vaccination is generally not needed.
This means most Galápagos and Andes-focused itineraries are not affected by yellow fever vaccine recommendations.
However, if you are combining Galápagos with the Amazon, or entering Ecuador after spending time in other South American countries, your situation may be different.
Timing: When Should You Get the Vaccine?
If yellow fever vaccination is recommended or required for your itinerary, it should be administered at least 10 days before travel.
The yellow fever vaccine is a one-time vaccine that provides long-term, generally lifetime protection for most travelers.
After vaccination, travelers receive an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, often called the yellow card. If you already have this certificate, keep it with your passport or travel documents.
Who Should Speak With a Doctor First?
Some travelers should consult a travel health specialist before receiving the yellow fever vaccine, especially if they:
Are pregnant
Are over 60 years old
Have immune system conditions
Have severe allergies
Have had previous vaccine reactions
Are traveling with infants or young children
Have complex medical conditions
A travel doctor can help determine whether the vaccine is appropriate or whether a medical exemption may be needed.
Multi-Country Travel in South America
If your itinerary includes Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, or other South American countries before Ecuador, check the latest yellow fever rules carefully.
Entry requirements can depend on:
Your nationality or residency
The countries you visited before Ecuador
How long you stayed there
Whether you traveled through yellow fever risk areas
Airline boarding requirements
Transit or layover rules
For this reason, multi-country travelers should confirm requirements before departure and carry vaccination documentation when appropriate.
What This Means for Barefoot Expeditions Travelers
For Galápagos travelers:
Yellow fever vaccination is generally not needed if your trip is limited to Galápagos, Quito, Guayaquil, or the highlands.
For Andes travelers:
Yellow fever vaccination is generally not needed for Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Cuenca, Baños, or other high-altitude areas.
For Amazon travelers:
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many lowland rainforest areas east of the Andes. We strongly suggest consulting a travel health clinic before departure.
For multi-country travelers:
If you are visiting Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, or other South American countries before Ecuador, verify current entry rules and carry your vaccination certificate if advised.
Our Practical Advice
Before traveling to Ecuador:
Review your full itinerary, including previous countries visited.
Check whether your Ecuador trip includes Amazon or lowland rainforest areas.
Speak with a certified travel health specialist at least several weeks before departure.
If vaccinated, carry your yellow fever certificate with your travel documents.
Confirm current entry rules with your airline and official sources before flying.
Travel With Peace of Mind
Ecuador is a remarkably diverse country, with high-altitude cities, volcanic landscapes, cloud forests, Amazon rainforest, and the Galápagos Islands. Health recommendations can vary depending on where you travel.
At Barefoot Expeditions, we help travelers understand these differences and plan journeys with preparation, care, and local context.
If you are unsure whether your itinerary requires or recommends yellow fever vaccination, contact us before your trip. We’ll help you review your route and guide you toward the right professional health advice.
Barefoot Expeditions
Travel with peace of mind. Explore with purpose.
