U.S. State Department Tells Travelers to ‘Exercise Increased Caution’ in Ecuador

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans traveling to Ecuador to exercise increased caution, in a new travel advisory issued this week.

The Level 2 advisory warns travelers about civil unrest, crime, and kidnapping in Ecuador.

“Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, kidnapping, and armed robbery, is prevalent and widespread,” the advisor reads. “The rate of violent crime is significantly higher in areas where transnational criminal organizations are concentrated.”

It alerts travelers to not travel to five regions in particular: Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue; the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the province of El Oro; the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios; the canton of Duran, in the province of Guayas; and Esmeraldas city and all areas north of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province.

It also says to reconsider travel to five other regions, also due to crime: Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarqui Avenue; El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas; Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo; all areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province; and the provinces of Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo.

Ecuador has become a popular tourist destination for North American travelers, in particular, because of its place as a departure point for Galapagos cruises. Some cruise lines have already changed plans this year due to that crime, including Lindblad, which canceled two departures in January due to violence by drug gangs in Ecuador. Airlines, including United and American, waived change fees around the same time.

Other countries, including the U.K., and Canada, have also warned against travel to Ecuador. Canada also warns against traveling to some specific parts of Ecuador, which does not include Quito, the country’s capital city. 

Still, while travelers should be aware of the advisory, the Level 2 warning is only the second-highest warning that the State Department issues. Other countries in the Level 2 category include Denmark, France, Italy, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands.