Galápagos Islands Travel Safety: Illness While Traveling
If you’re going to get sick while traveling, it will probably be from water or food. Get in the habit of washing your hands at least 2-3 times a day, preferably before every meal and certainly after every restroom visit.
Hygiene is generally of a good standard on organized tours, and you’re more likely to get sick eating and drinking at cheap places in the ports. Obviously, drink only bottled water and never from the faucet. Regarding food, the biggest risks are raw produce; although many travelers happily eat salads and have no problems, others can get a case of traveler’s diarrhea. Probiotics taken daily can be good preventative measure; if you get an upset stomach, drink plenty of water and noncaffeinated liquids and head to the nearest pharmacy.
Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, is present on the Galápagos, although it is rare. There have been outbreaks occasionally on San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz. Flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, bad headaches, joint pain, and sudden high fever are often misdiagnosed as other tropical diseases. Severe cases leading to shock syndrome or hemorrhagic fever are rare, but if you have already had dengue fever, a second case can be more dangerous. The only treatments known so far are rest, fluids, and fever-reducing medications. Medical attention is strongly recommended, if only for diagnosis.
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