Expert: Robin Slater - 4/9/2009

Question
I'm going to galapagos and I heard that ecuadorians get discounts going there. I was born in Ecuador but lived in the U.S. partically all my life. Will I be able to get this discount? Also I've read in your past questions that in order to travel to quito your passport has to be 6 months old, does it also apply to renewed passport? I recently renewed my passport and traveled to guayaquil and I didnt have any problems.

Answer
Good afternoon Diana,

Your passport validity actually refers to the date it expires.  All visitors are required to have passports that are valid for at least 6 months (from the date they enter the country).  You can travel on a renewed passport with no problems, but it needs to be valid for 6 months (from the date you enter the country).  Most passports are valid for a 4 year period.

Ecuadorian nationals do get the following discounted rates for Galapagos: (1) Galapagos National Park entrance fee of $6 (foreigners pay $100); (2) round trip Galapagos airfare - depending on the flight routing (i.e., to/from Quito or Guayaquil) nationals pay $285.48 for Quito-Galapagos-Quito while foreigners pay $415.30.

Some Galapagos yacht operators (generally the large, Deluxe class cruise ships) often have Ecuadorian discounted rates vs. foreigner rates.  From the mid-range down to the Economic boats, they generally do not have separate rates for nationals and foreigners.

To be entitled to Ecuadorian national rates you are required to have your CI (cedula de identidad).  As long as you have your certificado de naciamiento (Ecuadorian birth certificate), you can get you CI at any Registro Civil [much as I had to do as I was born in Ecuador but from the age of 6 until 30 lived outside of Ecuador].

Hope this helps.

Warmest regards,

Robin