STAYING HEALTHY ON YOUR ECUADOR HOLIDAY

We're sure that you want to make sure your Ecuador holiday or Galapagos Cruise is as enjoyable as possible, and as with any holiday, that means being well-prepared for any potential health problems. We always recommend that anyone going on holiday with us visits their doctor or (even better) a specialist travel clinic before setting off as they will have up-to-the-minute advice on how to make sure you are medically ready for your holiday in Ecuador. However, we know it's always useful to have a few pointers, so here is some information we hope you find useful when planning your holiday in Ecuador!

Jabs and Immunisations

No immunisations are currently compulsory for those going on holiday in Ecuador and the Galapagos. However, as with travel to any developing country, it is alwsys recommended that you make sure your immunisations for the following are up-to-date:

• Tetanus
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Hepatitis A

In addition to these common immunisations, some medical professionals also recommend that you have been innoculated against Hepatitis B. As always, check with your travel clinic for the best advice but most professionals advise that these jabs aren't necessary for most holiday-makers in Ecuador.

Yellow Fever and Malaria in Ecuador and the Galapagos

If you are travelling in jungle areas east of the Andes, for example on our Amazon Adventure trip, then your travel clinic will probably advise you to be innoculated against Yellow Fever and Malaria. Both these mosquito-borne diseases are present east of the Ecuadorean Andes at altitudes lower than 2,500m although it is very rare for travellers to contract either disease during short trips. Our jungle lodges are screened but on some of our more adventurous trips there is some camping involved (although nets are provided) and on all our jungle trips we recommend liberal use of a good insect repellent with a high 'deet' content.

Altitude Sickness on your Ecuador Holiday

On arrival in Quito, you are likely to notice the thin air immediately. Although the altitude here (2,800m) is unlikely to cause anyone any problems, trips further into the mountains can present you with rather higher altitudes and if you are planning to do any trekking in Ecuador, for example a trek in the Cotopaxi National Park, we always make sure you have a decent acclimatisation programme and will advise you accordingly. In addition to this, there are also drugs you can take to ameliorate the symptoms such as Diamox - which is available over the counter - but it is important to remember that these drugs only mask symptoms and don't actually help your body to acclimatise any quicker. Possibly a better solution is to drink lots of water (this usually speeds up the process), and to avoid large meals, alcohol and cigarettes.

Travel Insurance

Of course, you should always make sure you carry appropriate medical insurance. Ecuador does have good hospitals, particularly in the major cities but it is a largely private health system and so you must ensure that you are covered for all eventualities - particularly if you're thinking of enjoying any of our adventure sport options on your holiday in Ecuador.

Holidays in Ecuador from RealEcuador - Click here to visit our Ecuador and Galapagos holiday guide.