I’ve planned several trips before but the Galápagos Islands are definitely forcing me to rethink the way I usually plan when it comes to vaccines and medications.

Going into this, I had assumed that it would be like when I went to Vietnam and got my usual vaccine triad for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid. 

But it’s not as straightforward as I thought it would be. 

When people think of the Galápagos Island they think, “isolated from civilization and tons of unique animals”. (Check out part 1 of the Galápagos series for an overview of this destination.)

Why is it different?

It’s not wrong to assume you might need several different vaccines and medications given that healthcare will be more limited. 

But in reality?

Planning for the Galápagos islands isn’t about adding more vaccines – it’s about understanding where your actual risks are coming from. Tourism is highly controlled there so it is unlikely that you will stray from the planned itinerary. 

What matters more is your time in Ecuador before and after your tour of the Galápagos islands.

Some people will choose to fly to Ecuador earlier to acclimate to the environment before they meet up with their tour group. Not all tours start from Quito, so this can factor into what vaccines and medications you need for your trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.

To Vaccinate or Not Vaccinate – That is the Question

I’ve already mentioned the usual vaccine triad (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid) because these are my usual go-to’s when I look over my travel health checklist, since they are the bare minimum protection from relatively common risks. 

But this time around I would like to consider a few more, not because I want more, but to see what actually applies to my partner’s itinerary

1. Malaria

Malaria was one of the first things I looked into. Based on the information from the CDC, there is currently no malaria transmission in Quito and the Galápagos Islands, so we are going to rule out this vaccine.

However, malaria medications may be necessary depending on which parts of Ecuador you are going to. In eastern Ecuador, there is more malaria transmission where it is recommended by the CDC to get preventative medications. Since my partner is only staying in Quito, bug spray should be enough to keep away the mosquitos and reduce his risk.

2. Yellow Fever

The need for the Yellow Fever vaccine depends on your length of travel, where you fly in from, and what areas of Ecuador you may be going to. Since this trip is going to be just over a week and my partner is only staying in Quito and the Galápagos Islands, we are going to opt out of this one since it is not recommended. What it is recommended for is if you are going for longer than 9 months and to the east of the Andes Mountains. 

If you are travelling from a Yellow Fever endemic country then you may be required to show proof of immunization. Make sure you check with your country’s embassy to see if you need to get this vaccine or not before you fly out.

3. Rabies

When you think of the Galápagos, you think of wild animals, which in turn makes you consider rabies. This vaccine is dependent on what kind of activities you will be up to, such as if you are handling any animals or working with bats. For the most part the Galápagos tour will ensure you are not exposed to these risks, but if you are doing your own exploration around Ecuador then be aware that rabid dogs may be present. For this trip, we will probably opt out of this vaccine because there are currently no activities that increase our risk.

Going into this, I had assumed we would be needing more vaccines to the list. 

But if anything, it made me realize the opposite.

We’re not getting every vaccine “just in case” because by doing proper research and getting a better understanding of the itinerary, we realized that the risks are minimal on the islands and that most of our decisions were based on the time spent in mainland Ecuador.

So if you’re planning a similar trip, look at the full itinerary and where and what you’re planning on doing before and after visiting the Galápagos Islands.

That’s what really determines what you might need, and what you probably don’t!