We have selected what we believe to be the key points that you should be aware of when travelling in Ecuador.
Gap 360 follows advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and we recommend that you frequently check the FCDO for updated travel advice. You can find the website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Crime
Petty crimes such as muggings and pickpocketing are common in Ecuador. Take particular care in ‘La Carolina’ and ‘El Ejido’ parks, the districts of ‘La Mariscal’, ‘La Floresta’ and ‘La Marin’, the old town including the central bus station, and ‘El Panecillo’ hill in Quito. Don’t travel to ‘El Panecillo’ hill alone, or on foot, use reliable transport or tours. Be watchful in the Kennedy, Alborada, Urdesa and Malecon Simon Bolivar districts of Guayaquil.
Keep an eye on your bags while travelling on public transport and in restaurants and cafes. Wear your rucksack on the front of your body and avoid storing anything under your seat or in overhead storage on public transport. Keep your passport and money on you at all times.
Stay vigilant when withdrawing money from a bank or ATM machine, as gang members from inside the bank can alert other gang members of potential targets at ATMs.
Drugs such as a homemade version of ‘scopolamine’ can be used to subdue victims of crime, so don’t accept food, drinks, leaflets, telephone cards or cigarettes from any stranger.
Armed robbery is a problem in Quito, Guayaquil and in remote areas. There has been an increase in robberies on interstate transport and at bus stations, especially in the tourist location of Baños. As most incidents take place at night, avoid road travel after dark. Take care in the provinces of Pichincha, El Oro, Los Rios, Guayas, Azuay, Manabi, Tungurahua and Chimborazo. Avoid interstate buses that pick up passengers at night as these are a target for criminals.
So-called ‘express kidnappings’, and short-term opportunistic abductions aimed at extracting cash or money from ATMs have been reported, particularly in Quito and Guayaquil. If you are the target of a robbery, don’t resist attack.
Ecuador’s northern border with Columbia has an army-controlled 20 km exclusion zone and we advise against all travel to this area except the official border crossing town of Tulcan (Carchi province), using the main highway. Crime and kidnappings are high in this area due to drug-related criminal groups. Avoid the area of Tarapoa and the Cuyabeno reserve in Sucumbios. Crime rates are higher in southern parts of Sucumbios province, including Coca (also known as Francisco de Orellana). The area along the Napo river, between Sucumbios and Orellana provinces, is home to many eco-lodges, but only visit this area when travelling with a reputable tour operator. Do not accept unsolicited offers of cheap tours or accommodation. Another area where crime is on the increase is Quininde in Esmeraldas province.
A state of emergency is in place at the National Assembly in Quito (as of May 2014). Travellers are advised to avoid all demonstrations.
Passports
It is a legal requirement to carry ID while visiting Ecuador, so keep a photocopy of your passport pages (including your photograph) and your Ecuadorean immigration entry stamp with you at all times. If you enter Ecuador via the border with Peru or Colombia make sure you are given an entry stamp at the border showing the date of your arrival.
Typical Scams
Criminals have been known to squirt liquids on potential victims and then steal your bag while pretending to help you get cleaned up. Other typical scams include false requests for assistance, staged fights and pushing or shoving.
Transport/Travel
Road accidents and travel delays can be caused by heavy rain or mudslides. Ecuador has one of the highest rates of road accidents in Latin America. If travelling by public bus make sure the bus company is insured with a ‘SOAT’, a ‘mandatory traffic accident insurance policy’.
Do not use illegitimate taxis as their drivers have been implicated in robberies and kidnappings, and avoid hailing cabs on the street. Try to book a taxi through a hotel or by using a reputable radio taxi service. Authorised taxis in Quito and Guayaquil have yellow cabs, which should display the municipality registration number sticker on the windscreen and doors, as well as on the orange (or white with orange strip) license plates. Legitimate taxi ranks operate at airports and at larger supermarkets. Make sure the taxi meter is reset (the minimum charge in Quito is USD1).
Quito has a ‘safe taxi passenger’ scheme in which a taxi passenger can send an SMS to 2468 with the taxi’s registration number to get an instant confirmation about the taxi’s status. The Ecuador-wide “Secure Transport” project has installed video cameras, panic buttons and GPS inside interstate buses and registered taxis, so you should only use yellow registered taxis with a video camera inside, or a radio taxi.
Much of Ecuador’s railway system has recently been repaired, but travelling on train roofs is no longer allowed as it poses serious risks. Accidents involving tour-company boats have been reported on the Galapagos Islands, so always ensure any boat you travel on has adequate safety features, lifeboats and life vests.
We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.