The Municipal Council of Quito has implemented (as of April 1) a new hotel tax for all registered hotels in the city. The tax will be as follows:

3 star hotels = $1 US per night per room
4 & 5 star hotels = $2 US per night per room

Some hotels will be collecting the tax directly from their guests and some hotels will be passing that responsibility on to the booking agents.

As a result of Presidential decree No 921 issued by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Feb 20, 2008, many of the ships and yachts in Galapagos will be implementing a “fuel surcharge” to the 2008 rates to cover the increase in the cost of diesel fuel.  The increase in the cost of fuel only affects those vessels that consume more than 4000 gallons of fuel per month.  The decree eliminates a previous government subsidy on fuel in the Galapagos Islands.

We have been informed by the Ministry of Tourism that the President of Ecuador has authorized an increase in fuel prices for the Galapagos Islands. The prices of fuel in Ecuador have been subsidized by the Government for years and this is one of the first steps the Government is taking towards creating a healthier economy for the country.

We understand the measure will be effective in the next months, although the exact date has not yet been made official. When the price raise becomes effective all Galapagos ships and yachts may have to add a fuel surcharge to existing and future bookings to cover for this increase in costs.

An international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever is now required to enter the Ecuadorian provinces of Sucumbios and Orellana where many of our Amazon rainforest programs take place. Although no cases of yellow fever have been reported in Ecuador in the last 20 years, the Ministry of Health has issued a yellow fever vaccination to all travellers visiting Orellana and Sucumbios Provinces, starting March 1st, in order to avoid any possible contamination to a yellow fever outbreak in some areas of the Brazilian Amazon jungle. All travelers entering the mentioned provinces will be required to present their vaccination certificate.

The San Cristobal Airport in the Galapagos Islands is now “officially” scheduled to re-open on Feb 7. All flights that have been diverted to the Baltra Airport will resume their original schedule and all yachts using the San Cristobal Airport will revert to their regular itinerary as of Feb 7.

As of Feb 1, 2008, the international departures tax from Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil will increase to $27.15 US and the domestic departure tax will increase to $4.43 US.

The local government of the Province of Galapagos has been working to establish a new municipality tax to be paid by visitors to the Islands. This new tax is meant to cover expenses of many basic services, such as handling, processing and recycling of waste materials, potable water treatment and implementation of a functional sewage system, to name a few, on the populated Islands and it will be collected upon arrival of visitors in Galapagos.

The funds obtained will be shared by the 3 municipalities of the province: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela islands. We have just been notified also of the intention to implement this tax in the amount of US$ 100.= per person starting January 2008 although the exact date remains uncertain. In this respect please note that there is still controversy between the different sectors involved about the amount and the legality of this measure although the Galapagos mayor claims to have full authority for the enforcement of this tax.

This municipality tax will be in addition to the Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100) and the transit control card ($10); even though the latter has not yet been charged.

We have received reports that Bolivian authorities are requiring an international certificate of yellow fever vaccination for US citizens entering the country. You must have had the vaccination at least 11 days before entering the country.

In order to increase the maintenance budget for the Nazca Lines, the National Institute of Culture (INC) has established a tourist tax for every guest overflying the lines:
- From October 1° to December 31, 2007 : Soles 11  or US$ 3.70
- January 1°, 2008 onwards : US$ 10.

As of December 1, 2007, American citizens entering Bolivia will require a $100 US Visa. The visa’s will be available at all Ports of Entry for Bolivia. US citizens will be obliged to:

1. Fill out a Visa request form
2. Provide a valid passport
3. Provide one passport-sized photograph
4. Have proof of hotel reservations
5. Have proof of means out of Bolivia (flight, bus, etc)
6. Provide a photocopy of the front side of a valid credit card (without PIN)