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Info for your flight
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What to wear on the plane T-shirt with pants and a jacket (it will be cool when you land in Quito). If you are flying COPA, you will land and drive down to Shell the same day (most likely). The weather in Shell is spring all year round, so you can take off your jacket and still feel comfortable once you arrive. The drive to Shell is a long one, approximately 5 hours. We haven't had any problems with crime, but have been warned of it in Quito. It's best not to look to too wealthy. Don't wear flashy watches or jewelry when coming through Quito just to avoid tempting any problems. We will not be spending a lot of time in Quito though, and don't expect problems, but please be aware of your surroundings. On the flight When you are getting close to Quito the airlines will pass out TWO papers that need to be filled out - one for immigration and one for customs, if you need help just ask one of the attendants. The papers are in Spanish and English so it should be easy. The address for the form and for your luggage is below.
Craig and Celeste Welch
NONE OF THE STUFF YOU ARE BRINGING IS FOR COMMERCIAL USE SO YOU DON'T NEED TO CLAIM A VALUE ON YOUR FORM. YOU ARE ALLOWED $1250 FOR PERSONAL SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. You are also allowed up to $10,000 in cash. IF CUSTOMS WANTS TO TAX YOUR STUFF (which has not yet happened to us) YOU CAN TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT THE ITEMS ARE NOT FOR RESALE AND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SHELL TO DO MISSIONS WORK, BUT IT IS USUALLY EASIER TO PAY IT AND GET REIMBURSED BY WHOEVER YOU ARE BRINGING IT TO THAN TO MAKE A BIG FUSS OVER IT (Why not rather be wronged....). THE CUSTOMS AGENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK ENGLISH. DO NOT TRY TO USE YOUR SPANISH AS MISUNDERSTANDINGS CAN HAPPEN. If there is a flu scare, you could also be asked to fill out a health screening. In Panama, they take this when you exit the plane (if you have a connecting flight). In Ecuador, you will most likely turn this in to a doctor after going through immigration and before picking up your baggage. They might ask you questions and take a photo of each team member individually. We put pictures of our filled out forms below (You will get one customs form PER FAMILY and one immigration form PER PERSON). Have a pen, your passport, and our address here handy. You need to take these two filled out forms with you when you exit the plane. You will give the immigration form to a person at the first counters you come to (remember the restrooms are to the right of these - if you need to go, go after going through immigration). The customs form will be given to a person after getting your checked luggage (remember your pick up tags, which are most likely on your ticket envelope).
use the above address to put on your immigration form. (keep this somewhere convenient with you on the plane as you will need this).
Upon arrival When you exit the plane, you might feel slightly out of breath - remember, you are at an elevation of about 9,000 ft above sea level. You will exit the plane and turn right into a glass hallway. There is a tiny elevator or escalators for you to go down. We have had one team member break a knee at the bottom of the escalator. Please be careful getting off of the escalator and make sure that you carry-on will not prevent you from getting off.
Immigration You will then go to the immigration booths. You will wait in line to go through immigration. There is a good chance the attendant will not speak English. Do your best or let her know you don't understand. If they keep asking you a question, it's probably, "How long are you staying in Ecuador?" You can answer anything less than 90 days and be alright. (Two weeks "dos semanas" is easy to say) She/he will stamp your passport. THEY WILL TAKE ONE OF THE PAPERS YOU FILLED OUT, KEEP THE CARBON OF THE PAPER YOU GIVE THE IMMIGRATION MAN YOU WILL NEED IT WHEN YOU LEAVE QUITO FOR THE STATES. THE OTHER PAPER WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMS PEOPLE. (The restrooms are to the right of the immigration stands - be aware that it is customary that male maintenance workers are allowed in the women's bathrooms and vice versa - just pay attention to the signs on the doors - and welcome to Ecuador - and do not flush your toilet paper). Baggage Claim and Customs After you get through immigration you will go to the baggage claim. Sometimes 3 or 4 planes all come in at the same time so there are lots of people and luggage. The handlers will take the luggage off the conveyer belts after they have gone around 1 or 2 times, so you may need to look around for your bags. Sometimes they are over by the luggage claims people on the far side of the room, sometimes on the floor by the conveyer belts.. You can get carts in the luggage area for $1. You will wheel these through customs. You will hand your customs form you filled out on the plane to a man in front of the xray machines. You will need to put each piece of checked luggage on the xray machine and then back on your cart. Unless you speak good Spanish don't use any Spanish. The custom guys are suppose to speak English. It often goes faster and you have less misunderstandings if you only use English. There will be guys wanting to help you with your cart, use them if you want, they get $1 or $2 but be sure you only use one and only pay one. After customs there will be guys wanting your BAGGAGE CLAIM TICKETS and they will remove your baggage tickets from your luggage at that time. BE SURE to have these handy as they will not let you outside without them (they are usually attached to the little envelope that your boarding passes came in). When you leave there, you will be in a room with the general public. You should see one of us waiting for you, stay in that room without exiting the building until you see us. Keep track of your luggage and handler. Upon leaving customs and entering the public area, you will be approached by people asking if you want a cab, just say no and smile. This is a good time to get all your luggage in a pile near the exit doors and have several people watching it, again, we've not had problems with pickpockets or thieves, but if you do, this is likely the place. For you return flight you will be required to pay an exit tax for each member of your group. This fee is not added into your ticket price, so you have to pay it in cash after checking your luggage when leaving Quito. This tax is just over $40. Be sure to have this amount in cash when you leave! |
