Aug 17, 2018

Foreign tourists need a private medical insurance for entering to the Galapagos Islands

Foreign tourists need to contract a private medical insurance before entering to the Galapagos Islands




From November 1st 2018 tourists visiting Ecuador will need health insurance according to the Ecuadorian Government and Galapagos rules.

According to authorities, foreign tourists need to contract a private medical insurance before entering to the enchanted islands. In addition, foreign tourists will need to present hotel reservation in one or more tourist accommodation establishments legally authorized, to spend the night in the islands; or have an invitation letter from a permanent or temporary resident. National tourists also have new rules to enter to the archipelago. Ecuadorians do not need private insurance but they should present the hotel reservation or the invitation letter from a resident.



Private health insurance can be purchased by tourists from insurance companies that have the authorization, authorized companies will be published in the Technical Secretary website at the end of August 2018. The article 258 of the Ecuador Constitution, establishes that the Galapagos province will have a special government and its planning and development are organized in accordance with a strict adherence to the principles of conservation of the State´s natural heritage and good living, in accordance with what the law determines.

The administration of this special regime is in charge of a Government Council chaired by the representative of the Presidency of the Republic and composed by the mayors of the municipalities of the Galapagos province, representative of the parish boards and representatives of the agencies that determine the law. On its charge is the planning, management of the resources and the organization of activities carried out in the province.



According to this Government Council, the new regulations are supported by paragraph 11 of Article 11 of the Organic Law of Special Regime of the Galapagos, which empowers the Plenary of the Governing Council a regular procedure to control the flow of migration and residence in the province of Galápagos. Art. 49 of the Organic Law of Special Regime requires Health Insurance.

Foreign tourists, before entering the province of Galapagos, claim to have private health insurance, without prejudice to international agreements that are held on the matter of free mobility. Due to the special conditions of visit in the insular region (active tourism), the health insurance acquired by foreign tourists, to enter the islands, will need the authorization of the Galápagos Government Council.

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