Drone Laws in Ecuador

Ecuador Drone Regulations

According to Ecuador’s national aviation authority, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Ecuador (GDCAE), flying a drone is legal in Ecuador, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

Special Travel Considerations

If you’re traveling to Ecuador and want to bring your drone the GDCAE lists these special considerations for foreigners who want to fly drones:

• When entering Ecuador as a tourist you are allowed to bring in a drone valued up to $500. Any drones brought into Equador that have a market value of over $500 USD may be taxed at up to 35% of the assessed value. This tax may or may not be refundable when you exit the country, provided you bring the drone back with you.
• You can be exempt from tax if you can prove that your drone will be used for professional purposes in Ecuador.

If you’d like to contact the GDCAE directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: dacsis@ramt.com / +593 2 294 7400

Why fly a drone in Ecuador? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Ecuador

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Ecuador.

• Only fly during the day and in good weather conditions with clear visibility.
• Do not fly above 400 feet.
• Keep your drone within direct visibility.
• Do not fly closer than 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) from all airports and airfields.
• Do not fly in sensitive areas, such as government or military facilities.

*Note: Drones are completely banned on the Galapagos Islands except for scientific use.

For more information on Ecuador’s drone laws, see this document issued by the DGCAE.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Ecuador? Send us an email at support@uavcoach.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Ecuador can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Ecuador? Here you go: