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Quito

Countries in the atlas · Latin America

Ecuador

A small country on the equator: the volcanoes of the Andes, colonial Quito and the Galápagos, where animals are not afraid of people.

Russian passport: visa-free · 90 daysprices ×1.2 vs Russia

Photo: Cayambe · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quito
Photo: Cayambe · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ecuador

Quito

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

The historic centre of Quito is one of the very first UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Baroque churches with gilded interiors, squares and monasteries.

A cable car takes you up the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, and the equator passes close to the city, at the Middle of the World monument.

Getting there
Fly to Quito with a connection; from the airport to the centre, about an hour.
Sources (2)
Cotopaxi
Photo: Rinaldo Wurglitsch from Vienna, Austria · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ecuador

Cotopaxi

Access 2/5 · fairly easyJFMAMJJASOND

Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, with an ice cap and a symmetrical cone. Around it are high-altitude grasslands and Limpiopungo Lake.

A day trip to the refuge at about 4,800 metres gives you a feel for the Andes; climbing to the summit is only for those with a guide and experience.

Getting there
From Quito, about 1.5–2 hours by car.
Sources (2)
Galápagos Islands
Photo: kuhnmi · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ecuador · World’s best

Galápagos Islands

Access 4/5 · hardJFMAMJJASOND

The Galápagos are volcanic islands a thousand kilometres from the mainland that inspired Darwin. The animals here are hardly afraid of people: sea lions sleep on benches and iguanas bask on the lava.

The islands are a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can travel on a cruise ship, or stay on the inhabited islands and take day trips.

Getting there
Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal, about 2 hours.
Fees and tickets
The park fee is $200 ($100 for children under 12), and the TCT transit card $20; tourists may stay no more than 60 days a year.
Why it’s hard
Expensive entry fees, biosecurity checks of your luggage and strict park rules: you walk only on trails and only with a guide. Cruises are expensive and sell out in advance.
Sources (6)

Before you go

Ecuador: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Russian citizens: visa-free for up to 90 days in every 180 (2010 agreement). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you return.

For the Galápagos: a TCT transit control card ($20), a $200 park fee and no more than 60 days a year; you need a personal return ticket.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (3)

Safety

No Russian Foreign Ministry advice to refrain from travel (as of 02.11.2026). The Ministry advises against travelling alone to the north and north-east of the country (Sucumbíos, Tulcán, Esmeraldas, Orellana).

Sources (2)

Money and cards

The Mir card does not work. The currency is the US dollar: bring cash, but notes of $50 and up may be refused.

Sources (2)

Flights

There are no direct flights. Connections are via Istanbul, Dubai, Doha and other hubs.

Sources (1)

Laws and bans

  • Drugs: the most common offence by foreigners is attempted smuggling; at least 3–5 years.
  • Galápagos: food only from the biosecurity agency’s list; stay at least 2 m from animals, no flash, no drones, only on trails and with a guide.
Sources (3)

Budget

prices ×1.2 vs Russia · price level 0.44 (US = 1), 2025

Prices are a fifth higher than in Russia. The Galápagos are the most expensive part: the $200 fee, the $20 TCT, the flight and a cruise.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (3)