The Galapagos Islands, a Paradise Free of Covid

Some fantastic news for adventure travelers: The Galapagos Islands are free of COVID! Authorities confirmed no Covid related hospitalizations recently.

Successful Vaccination Campaign

The Galapagos is Ecuador’s first province that is free of COVID-19 after a rigorous and successful vaccination campaign. According to the latest data from December 2021, the archipelago has vaccinated 92,65% of its population.

Consequently, and as stated by the Viceprecidency of Ecuador, the Galapagos, a World Heritage Site, was the first fully immunized archipelago in Latin America. This was of paramount importance to the island’s sustainability as they were officially the first Ecuadorian province to complete phase 1 of the vaccination campaign.

The vaccination process included tour operators and staff that travel between The Galapagos and Ecuador’s mainland.

In Galapagos, the intensive search strategy for new COVID cases is carried out through the rapid location of contacts and the performance of RT-PCR tests that identify asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases, in order to reduce the speed of transmission and minimize the risk.

Entry Requirements

As a response to the success in the vaccination process in the Galapagos and as a precaution against the new Omicron COVID variant, the following documents must be submitted to enter The Galapagos Islands territory:

• A negative RT-PCR or antigen test with a maximum validity of 72 hours prior to the trip.
• A Covid-19 vaccination certificate or its equivalent, with complete immunization, issued at least 14 days prior to the trip.
• All passengers must also complete and print a copy of the Traveler Health Statement found online. 
• Unvaccinated travelers over 16 will not be able to enter either Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands. 

As it is stated on the official Galapagos Government page, these measures seek to improve economic conditions and strengthen tourism, an activity that is developed for more than 85% of the archipelago’s population.

In addition to that, the archipelago applies the 30 biosecurity protocols. Because of all these efforts, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) certified The Galapagos as a Safe Travels destination. But, what does this mean? In general terms, it means that Ecuador has implemented all the necessary protocols to ensure the safety of travelers.

The mandatory sanitary measures that are applied include:

• Obligatory use of a mask in public spaces
• Social distancing
• Use of gels and alcohol sprays to enter public spaces

Of course, it is still important to monitor the situation and to follow safety and health guidelines.

The lack of new cases is extremely encouraging. In combination with the island’s controlled tourism, open spaces, and the fact that the Galapagos Islands are free of COVID-19, certainly makes them one of the safest destinations to travel to at the moment. According to CNN, in Ecuador, 69.1% of its eligible population is already fully vaccinated. Also, COVID vaccinations will be made mandatory for people who are eligible for the vaccine from ages five and older, becoming the first country in Latin America to impose such measures for the entire eligible population. 

Therefore, tourists and travelers can be sure that the risk of COVID-19 is being taken very seriously in Ecuador and the Galapagos, and there are protocols to ensure the #GalapagosIsOpen and we can #BreathAgain!

If you are thinking of traveling to the enchanted Galapagos Islands, then do not hesitate to contact us at Rebecca Adventure Travel to book and customize your tour to ensure that it will be a safe and memorable experience. 

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