An Australian couple was recently turned away from the Galapagos Islands due to an obscure new regulation requiring travellers to present the yellow fever vaccination certificate, known as the “yellow card,” when entering Ecuador under certain conditions.
The couple had been on a trip of a lifetime when they were unexpectedly denied boarding for Ecuador because they did not have a physical copy of their yellow fever vaccination certificate. While Australians typically do not need the yellow card to enter Ecuador, the requirement applies if travellers have spent more than 10 days in certain South American countries, including Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
The couple had originally planned to stay in Colombia for only nine days. However, due to a personal situation, they extended their trip to 12 days. When they attempted to fly to Ecuador from Colombia, the airline noticed their entry date stamp and refused them boarding.
Frustratingly, the couple had been vaccinated against yellow fever but only carried electronic copies of their certificate – these were not accepted. Obtaining a physical yellow card can take over 10 days, which made it impossible for them to continue their journey as planned.
The regulation was introduced in response to a recent yellow fever outbreak in the region. However, many travellers and travel agents remain unaware of the change. In this case, the couple had booked through an agent who was also unaware of the updated entry requirements.
As all flights to the Galapagos Islands depart from mainland Ecuador – specifically Quito or Guayaquil – travellers must first meet the same entry conditions as those entering Ecuador itself. There are no direct international flights to the Galapagos.
Following the incident, a travel health doctor advised that anyone travelling to South America, Central America, or Africa should obtain all recommended vaccinations and carry official documentation, including hard copies, to avoid such complications.
Smartraveller update
The updated requirement was listed on Smartraveller on May 6. The site notes:
“We continue to advise exercising a high degree of caution for Ecuador overall. You’ll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have spent 10 days or more in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, or Peru.”
Due to strict conservation laws, trips to the Galapagos require extensive planning. Travellers are encouraged to book more than a year in advance for peak periods, and at least 6–12 months ahead for off-peak travel.
