Located at about 960 kilometres from the coast of Ecuador, the 19 island archipelago is considered to be a “living museum and showcase of evolution”. Therefore, the islands have been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.

“The Galápagos Islands are not only a national treasure but a global one. It is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve this unparalleled ecosystem for future generations. The adjustment in the entry fee, the first in 26 years, is a necessary measure to ensure that tourism in the Galápagos remains sustainable and mutually beneficial to both the environment and our local communities”, Ecuador’s minister of tourism, Niels Olsen, said in a statement cited by the Galápagos Conservation Trust.

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While the islands count a total of 30,000 inhabitants, each year around 170,000 tourists pay a visit to the unique ecosystem. According to Galápagos Conservancy, several species are only found on the archipelago and nowhere else on Earth, including giant tortoises, the Flightless Cormorant, Darwin’s finches, iguanas, including the famous Galápagos pink iguana, as well as scalesia trees. Protecting the islands, from the impact of tourism and other challenges, is of utmost importance.

“Recent years have seen worrying growth in the number of visitors to the islands, driven by a sharp increase in land-based tourism”, the Galápagos Conservation Trust writes on its website. “This is pushing waste management systems to the limit, exacerbating water and food insecurity, and increasing the threat of devastating invasive species being introduced to the Islands.”

The fee increase is applied from 1 August 2024. While the fee for Members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur, will also double, they will only have to pay 100 dollars, up from 50 dollars.

Ecuador’s decision to raise the entry fees comes at a time where many other popular tourist destinations are also raising or introducing tourist fees. Japan’s Mount Fuji, Bali and Iceland are just a few of the destinations that have recently started charging tourist taxes.

L’article Ecuador doubles Galápagos Islands’ entry fee in first increase since 1998 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Some of these warnings have now been lifted but curfews remain in place at night. Meanwhile, southern neighbour Peru has sent military and law enforcement help from the south, declared a state of emergency and checkpoints along its border region.

View and guidance from outside the region

At the time of writing, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is advising against all but essential travel to seven named coastal provinces. Ecuador has 24 provinces in total, so the reality is these seven form a large part of the country’s west. They are: Esmeraldas; El Oro; Guayas; Los Ríos; Manabí; Santa Elena; and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

Advising against all but essential travel is a first step towards tourists being able to cancel trips without losing money from insurers. But, in signs that foreign governments are also keen to protect Ecuador’s previously burgeoning eco-tourist sector, the FCDO is at pains to point out that “transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province, including onward or return travel to the Galapagos Islands” is not affected by the advice.

The USA’s State Department has long-cited “civil unrest, crime and kidnapping” as reasons for increased caution and reconsidering travel. Its website now shows a “Level 4: do not travel” warning for Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarquí Avenue due to crime, as well as the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the Province of El Oro, the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios, and Esmeraldas city and all areas north of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province.

The US says tourists “should reconsider travel to Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarquí Avenue, due to crime.” The same goes for El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas, Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, and all areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province. The provinces of Sucumbíos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo, should all be reassessed before travel there too.

Within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border 

Again, other than four areas in Carchi province (El Ángel Ecological Reserve; the Rumichaca border crossing; the town of Tulcán; the Pan-American Highway), all but essential travel to areas less than 20km from the Ecuador-Colombia border is considered ill-advised. This is due to organised crime linked to drug trafficking. The FCDO warns the situation is volatile due to the presence of “illegal armed groups and criminal gangs.”

Airports

While some airports are closed, and flights have been cancelled, others remain open and in-service and flyers should check with hubs and carriers. Anyone expecting to access airports should ensure they are able to show passport or ID, as well as a boarding pass or flight booking.

Be aware: neither family members nor friends are permitted to enter terminals to collect or farewell passengers. Since additional security checks are being undertaken, you should allow extra time for authorities to do their job, as well as verifying whether it’s safe to travel by road as well before you set out. 

L’article Is it safe to travel to Ecuador? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The country promises visa holders a good quality of life with little budget, combined with authentic travel experiences.

Ecuador is worldwide famous for its breathtaking natural assets, including the Galapagos Islands, the imposing peaks of the Andes, the biodiversity of the Amazon, and the national reserves and beaches of the Pacific Coast. 

With the introduction of the new digital nomad visa (the “Rentista for Remote Work visa”), remote workers will be allowed to maintain legal residence for up to two years in the country. 

Speaking at the World Travel Market in London last week, Niels Olsen, Ecuador’s  tourism minister, said that the Covid-19 pandemic was an opportunity for his country to rethink the tourism sector. He also promised that Ecuador delivers “authentic and genuine” experiences.

The pandemic allowed us to rethink tourism and opportunities.

Niels Olsen, Ecuador’s  tourism minister

He added that Ecuador boasts great infrastructure and connectivity, with a cost of living significantly lower than in the United Kingdom.

We have great infrastructure and connectivity and the cost of living is significantly lower than in the UK.

Niels Olsen, Ecuador’s  tourism minister

Remote workers who decide to work in Ecuador will have several options. Major cities such as Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil have plenty of co-working spaces, as well as strong Wifi connectivity.

Visa Requirements 

In order to apply for Ecuador’s digital nomad visa, you must: 

• Demonstrate income from a foreign source of at least €1,266 per month
• Provide proof that you work remotely for a company or person abroad. You can also apply if you are the owner of a company or company registered and domiciled abroad
• Have health insurance coverage

Additionally, all applicants must have a valid passport, a clean police record, and they will be willing to pay a processing fee of €460.

The visa is open to residents of most countries. Find the complete list of countries prepared by the Ministry of Tourism here.

Applications are not permitted from Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.

Remote workers can apply via Ecuador’s virtual consulate, available here. The process takes between two and four months.

L’article Ecuador launches new digital nomad visa est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. Genetic proof

Genetic tests were used to confirm the species of the tortoise, with scientists taking samples from the female and comparing them to the remains of a male from the species Chelonoidis phantasticus. Before the discovery, the last sighting of the species had been in 1906 by scientists from the California Academy of Sciences who visited the Galápagos Islands to survey flora and fauna. The scientists sighted a male tortoise which they took to the academy’s herpetology department, and it was samples from this specimen which enabled geneticists from Yale University to determine that the female is in fact from the Chelonoidis phantasticus species, also known as Fernandina giant tortoise.

¡Se creía extinta hace más de 100 años! Hemos reconfirmado su existencia. La tortuga de la especie Chelonoidis phantasticus fue encontrada en #Galápagos. Empezar con tan buenas noticias nuestra gestión es una linda coincidencia. La esperanza está intacta. #JuntosLoLogramos pic.twitter.com/KOmBMLIfEY

— Gustavo Manrique M. (@GustavoManriq_M) May 25, 2021

2. Exciting news

The discovery that the species is not extinct, 115 years after the last sighting, is a major celebration and Ecuador is thrilled with the good news. Environment Minister Gustavo Manrique tweeted his excitement, announcing, “It was believed to have gone extinct more than 100 years ago!” and adding that “Hope is alive.” The newly discovered female Fernandina giant tortoise is estimated to be more than 100 years old and is currently in a breeding centre on Santa Cruz Island.

BREAKING: The female Giant Tortoise found on Fernandina in 2019 during an expedition of Galapagos Conservancy and @parquegalapagos has been confirmed as a Fernandina Giant Tortoise, a species believed to be extinct for more than 100 years! Read more at https://t.co/tsXuZluVGy. https://t.co/VMDu7vRdYP

— GalapagosConservancy (@SaveGalapagos) May 25, 2021

However, scientists have also discovered prints and faeces on Fernandina Island which they believe suggest the presence of more of the species still living in the wild. The Director of the Galapagos National Park, Danny Rueda, announced that an expedition will be launched to the Island in the hopes of locating more members of the Chelonoidis phantasticus species.

L’article Galápagos newly discovered tortoise is from a species believed extinct est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. Exploring Ecuador whilst improving local livelihoods

The service aims to connect passengers with Ecuadorian life as well as the impressive landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands and coast region, organising one-day expeditions and providing unique and authentic experiences of Ecuador’s diverse cultural and natural heritage whilst simultaneously engaging local communities who offer tourist services along the routes. Local communities struggled when the old railroad collapsed, but the Tren Ecuador social initiative has been extremely successful in reengaging them. So much so that in 2016 it was a joint overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Awards for its work in poverty reduction and inclusion, and it has also won South America’s Leading Luxury Train several years in a row at the World Travel Awards.

2. Authentic, socially inclusive organised tours and experiences

Passengers can enjoy a large variety of authentic experiences, from spending the night at high end haciendas, eating at delicious local restaurants or snacking at one of 23 locally run station cafes. Tourists can also visit one of 14 artisan squares and take part in a variety of cultural and natural activities, from hiking in the rainforest with a local guide to exploring a local Quichua community. Tren Ecuador’s luxury trips now sustain 5,000 livelihoods for people living in remote rural communities along the train’s route, and all enterprises involved with the project are fully licensed and receive technical support, training and contracts based on fair-trade principles as suppliers.

3. The train and the journey

The landscapes which the train passes through are amazing, from the ten volcanoes on route, to the well-known Devil’s Nose in the rocky slopes of the Andes, the rainforest and the unique transition between the Andes and the coast. However inside the elegant carriages of the train the experience is also one of a kind. There are four coaches on the Tren Crucero, each with their own unique features, all of them treasures of historical design, pulled by steam and diesel locomotives with a total train capacity of 54 comfortably seated passengers.

Coach 1 is Baroque Style of the Spanish colonial period, furnished with tables and chairs for 30 people and a place to enjoy a light aperitif or read a good book, with personal lockers for storing belongings. Coach 2 is in the Neoclassical Style of the Ecuadorian Republican period and is furnished with tables and chairs for up to 24 passengers, perfect for entertaining yourself with board games or conversations with friends. Coach 3 is Hispanic Style and Andean cosmovision, featuring a handcrafts shop, panoramic windows and a coffee bar serving snacks and beverages from local gastronomy. Finally, coach 4 is the Classical Style of the Coastal region and has two sections; the first a lounge for social activities, the second an open terrace where passengers can appreciate the beautiful Ecuadorian landscapes.

L’article Tren Ecuador, the luxury tourist train supporting local communities est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.