Mandatory Vaccines

There is no mandatory vaccine required for travel to Équateur. However, yellow fever vaccination becomes mandatory if you have previously stayed in or transited through a country located in an endemic zone.

Recommended Vaccines

We strongly recommend that you keep up to date with your routine vaccinations: diphtheria–tetanus–poliomyelitis +/– pertussis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A and B.

Yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended if you plan to visit the Amazon region or any province east of the Andes at altitudes below 2,300 meters.

Malaria

Malaria is present below 1,500 meters, primarily in the Amazon: classified as zone 3 (high drug resistance). Antimalarial treatment is necessary. Consult your physician.

Risk is moderate in coastal provinces. Protection is recommended in certain areas: Baños, along the Pacific coast, and on the Galápagos Islands.

Additionally, as a preventive measure, adopt individual protection against mosquito bites (insect repellent, loose and covering clothing).

Zika

Équateur is affected by Zika virus disease transmitted through bites from Aedes mosquitoes. In cases of pregnancy, a causal link between the increase in fetal or neonatal microcephaly cases and maternal Zika virus infection is probable. Pregnant women or those planning pregnancy are therefore advised to consider postponing their trip or consulting a physician beforehand to be informed about potential complications from Zika virus infection.

Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness Prevention

We recommend that you consult a doctor before your trip to Équateur to verify your fitness for high-altitude stays. The Andean terrain is steep and elevations are significant (Quito itself sits at 2,800 meters).

Whether on adventure tours, discovery circuits, trekking expeditions, or mountaineering climbs, all itineraries include necessary acclimatization stages and rest periods to allow your body to naturally adjust to altitude. By following a few simple tips, particularly during the first days (staying regularly hydrated, avoiding alcohol and overeating, avoiding sudden exertion), you will ease the acclimatization process and prevent the most common symptoms (headaches, shortness of breath).

For more information, you can consult the Association for Research in Environmental Physiology (www.arpealtitude.org) or the International Medical Service (www.smi-voyage-sante.com)