Updated March 23, 2020 

Note: For travelers with trips coming up within the next 2 months we strongly suggest postponing your trip. Most of our travel providers have made it possible to change your dates with minimum to no costs. Please keep in mind that third party entities – like airlines, government permits, etc – are out of our control. 

For travelers with trips more than 2 months away, most operators are allowing for people to postpone trips even further out with minimal to no costs – with the exception of Galapagos cruises. For those on cruises, we suggest waiting to see what happens with the current travel bans. For everyone else it is relatively easy to postpone your travel dates. 

If possible please postpone vs. cancel your trip at this time. We work with small, local operators because they offer better, more personalized service and provide good local jobs while helping to protect ecological and social resources. If every traveler asked for their money back now, they could be forced out of business. Which would have very real and negative impacts on local people and destinations.  

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS BY COUNTRY:

Argentina: Has 266 positive cases of COVID-19

• March 17, 2020: The Argentine Minister of Transportation has announced that from March 19 – March 26 there will be no long distance buses, trains nor domestic flights
• March 16, 2020: Argentina closes its borders for the following 15 days. No foreigners will be allowed into the country during this period, no matter their origin .Only Argentine citizens or foreign residents who are returning home will be allowed entry under strict sanitary control. Foreigners will be allowed to leave the country, but it is not yet clear if these means only those having completed the mandatory 14 days quarantine.

Belize

• March 16, 2020: Effective immediately, Belize will be mandating quarantine for travelers from China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Japan, South Korea and Spain. Additionally, anyone coming from cities in the United States that have documented community spread will be placed under quarantine as well.
• March 12, 2020: No confirmed cases. All nationals coming from an area with ongoing transmission will be placed under self-isolation upon arrival. There are currently no travel bans.

Bolivia

• March 21, 2020: The government announced a total quarantine in the country for 14 days to combat the spread of COVID-19.
• March 18, 2020: 12 confirmed cases. Suspension of all international flights, closure of land borders, suspension of inter-provincial transport, except cargo, curfew from 5pm to 5am.

Brazil

• March 19, 2020: Brazil has closed all land borders. There are no entry restrictions for those arriving by air and sea. A seven day self-quarantine is required for those entering the country.
• March 17, 2020: Brazilian Ministry of Justice announced that all people in or entering Brazil must follow medical advice regarding quarantines. Failure to follow guidelines for quarantines will be treated as a crime.

Chile: 746 confirmed cases of COVID-19

• March 23, 2020: Chile moves into Phase 4 of the outbreak (uncontrolled and widespread community transmission)
• March 22, 2020: Chile institutes a daily curfew from 10pm to 5am.
• March 18, 2020: Chile closes its borders for the next 14 days.
• March 13, 2020: Passengers arriving to Chile will fill out a form to document previous travel for the last 30 days and will have their temperature taken upon arrival. Those having been to Italy or Spain within the last 14 days will have a mandatory self-quarantine.

Colombia: Has 93 total cases (as of March 18th)

• March 23, 2020: All international air arrivals will be suspended for the next 30 days

Costa Rica: Has 158 confirmed cases of COVID-19

• March 23, 2020: Foreign residents in Costa Rica who leave Costa Rica will lose their status as legal residents and will be unable to enter under current restrictions.
• March 16, 2020: From March 18 – April 12, only Costa Rican citizens, residents, and foreign diplomats will be able to enter Cost Rica.
• March 13, 2020: No travel restrictions. The government has issued a Yellow Alert for travel. This just means authorities have access to additional economic resources for preventative measures and treatment of current confirmed cases.

Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands:

• March 17, 2020: Ecuador prohibits all foreigners and Ecuadorians from arriving by air, land or sea. Domestic flights to the Galapagos. Restrictions are scheduled to be in place until April 5, 2020.
• March 16, 2020: The Ecuadorian authorities banned all international flights arriving at the country’s airports, as well as, entry by land and sea. This also means prohibited entry into the Galapagos Islands by any foreigner. This ban will be in effect until April 15th.
• March 10, 2020: All passengers arriving to Ecuador will be asked to fill a sworn Declaration of Health. This will be given to you on board your aircraft and will need to be submitted to Ecuador officials upon arrival. You will then undergo a first sanitary control by MPH (Ministry of Public Health). If a passenger is suspected to be with Covid-19 symptoms, they will be taken to the airport’s Sanitary Control Unit for an interview and further examination. Those who do not present symptoms will pass on to Immigration. All passengers traveling to the Galapagos will be reviewed for coronavirus. These controls are taking place in the Guayaquil & Quito airports before taking the flight to the Galapagos. This will involve having your temperature taken with a laser sensor. For this reason we suggest you arrive 2.5 hours prior to your scheduled departure.  

Guatemala

• March 16: Guatemala will be prohibiting all visitors from the USA and Canada. There is already an existing ban in effect for visitors from Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Korea, China and Iran.
• March 12, 2020: The government has announced a quarantine of passengers arriving in Guatemala from Spain, Italy, Germany, China, Iran and South Korea.

Mexico: Has 316 confirmed cases of COVID-19

• March 23, 2020: There are currently no entry or exit restrictions in place because of COVID-19

Panama: Has 200 confirmed cases (as of March 20)

• March 22, 2020: All international commercial flights in and out of Panama are suspended.

Peru

• March 15, 2020: Peru’s President announced a “State of Emergency”. All international borders will be closed for 15 days starting Monday, March 16th. Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail will be closed during this time.
• March 12, 2020: Peru announced a ban on all flights arriving from Europe and Asia. This will go into full effect on Monday, March 15th.