Travel insurance when visiting Ecuador
From Old Town Quito to the magnificent Galapagos, Ecuador has plenty to explore. Make sure you're covered.
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Ecuador is rich in culture, with historic cities, spectacular scenery and countless opportunities to get active. Exploring Ecuador's UNESCO historic centers in Quito and Cuenca, kayaking through the Amazon and hiking the Andes are all great ways to experience this country. And many travelers consider the biodiverse Galapagos Islands to be the trip of a lifetime.
Emergencies can affect even the best-planned trip: natural disasters, strikes, unexpected illness and theft are just a few things that can derail your travels. You should consider travel insurance in case you need to recoup losses resulting from unforeseeable events.
World Nomads may provide cover (up to the policy limits) for:
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption
- Overseas emergency medical and cover for some COVID-19-related issues
- 24/7 access to our dedicated Emergency Assistance Team
- Delayed, Lost, or Stolen Baggage cover
- Cover for 150+ adventure sports and activities
What should I look out for when traveling to Ecuador?
A travel insurance plan that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage can help protect your trip investment; baggage cover can help you recoup some costs in case of bag delay or loss; and emergency medical can help if you get sick or injured while on the road.
World Nomads offers two plans to choose from: a Standard Plan and an Explorer Plan. The Standard Plan includes a range of benefits such as overseas emergency medical, baggage delay, trip cancellation and cover for more than 150 activities. Our Explorer plan offers some additional benefits along with higher benefit limits. Travel insurance does not cover everything so be sure to read your policy wording to make sure it meets your needs.
Trip cancellation and trip interruption
World Nomads Travel Insurance may cover trip cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. If there’s a death in your immediate family, or if you or a close family member becomes sick or injured and a doctor says you can’t travel to Ecuador, travel insurance may reimburse any non-refundable, prepaid trip arrangements.
While you’re on the road, a World Nomads policy can provide important benefits. If you need to cut your trip short due to an emergency back home, your trip interruption benefits may cover the costs for your return trip home plus any forfeited prepaid, unused, non-refundable trip expenses up to the limits shown in your Summary of Cover.
When filing a claim for either cancellation or interruption, you will need to submit documentation for all non-refundable, prepaid trip costs and associated expenses.
Overseas emergency medical coverage
Your domestic health insurance is unlikely to be accepted in Ecuador. If you become ill or injured while traveling in Ecuador without overseas travel cover, any emergency medical or dental costs (or even worse, emergency evacuation back to your home country) will be at your expense.
Accidents and illness can happen on vacation, from food poisoning to twisting your ankle on the cobblestones in Quito or getting in the way of an angry sea lion on San Cristobal. A travel insurance plan which offers cover for emergency overseas medical expenses may help in unexpected situations.
Depending on your country of residence and the plan you select, you may have cover for some COVID-19-related events. For details on cover available to you, select your Country of Residence and read our What’s Covered for Coronavirus article.
Access to our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team when you need help
Having a medical emergency while traveling can be scary, but with a World Nomads travel insurance policy, you are not alone. Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team can help you find appropriate medical care and translation services, liaise with doctors and even arrange upfront payment if required.
Some of the best sites in Ecuador are remote. This is where our Emergency Assistance Team can help arrange emergency evacuation to the closest medical facility or repatriation when medically necessary.
Delayed, lost, or stolen baggage
If you’re checking a bag, there’s always a chance it could take a detour en route to Ecuador. Bag delay benefits may cover the essentials including a change of clothes until your bag catches up with you. Waiting periods may apply and vary by policy and country of residence.
Lost or stolen baggage and belongings may also be covered, for example, a phone swiped from your bag in a crowded Quito market, or a bag permanently lost by an airline (with travel insurance cover being secondary to airline reimbursement).
To keep your belongings safe, use a concealed money belt or cross-body bag to hold your travel documents, valuables and money.
If your bags or belongings are damaged or stolen, file an incident report with local authorities or your common carrier immediately. Where theft has occurred, this must be reported to the police. You’ll need this documentation and any relevant receipts when you make a claim.
Cover for 150+ activities and sports when in Ecuador
Ecuador boasts no shortage of opportunities to get active, from mountain biking the legendary Mama Rumi trail to rafting on the Quijos River. Surfing, snorkeling and hiking are just a few of the activities on offer in the Galapagos. World Nomads offers travel insurance cover for more than 150 adventure activities and sports. Read your policy to make sure your chosen activities are covered.
What’s not covered
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything – so make sure you know what you’re covered for. Some things we don’t cover include but are not limited to:
- Losses caused by negligent policyholder behavior, so no selfies in roped off areas or riding a scooter without a helmet.
- Pre-existing medical conditions as explained in your policy wording.
- Not following orders of your treating physician or Emergency Assistance Team.
- Participation in activities or sports not listed in the plan you have purchased.
- Stolen, lost or damaged personal belongings that were left unattended.
This is a summary of cover only. Travel insurance has terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Read your chosen policy carefully, and please reach out if you have any questions about what’s covered and what’s not. We’re happy to help.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.