Traveling Luck for Ecuador. Ecuador, South America

Crime

Muggings and pick pocketing are common, particularly in the cities.  You should avoid wearing expensive jewellery in the streets and on public transport.  When travelling on public transport, we recommend that rucksacks should be worn on the front of your body.  Do not store small bags under your seat or in overhead storage.

You should be aware of the increased number of so called "express kidnappings" - short-term opportunistic abductions, aimed at extracting cash from the victim - that continue to occur in Ecuador.  Victims are normally selected at random and held while criminals empty their bank accounts with stolen cash cards.  Once the ransom is paid the victim is usually quickly released.  Although tourists are not currently targeted, visitors to the Guavas area in and around Guayaquil should be particularly aware as the majority of reported cases come from this area.

There have been occasional cases of rape and armed attacks against visitors both in rural and urban areas.  Remote sites should be visited in groups.

There have been several cases of assailants using drugs to subdue their intended victims. The drug 'scopolamine', which is manufactured in Ecuador for medical purposes, leaves victims in a sedated, compliant state and causes amnesia.  Drugs can be administered through food, drinks, cigarettes, aerosols, or powder.  In one incident drugs were administered through a chemical soaked into a leaflet.  You should be wary of unsolicited approaches from strangers offering you food, drinks, leaflets, telephone cards or cigarettes, no matter how friendly or well dressed the individual appears.

There have been cases of attacks by drivers of unregistered taxis.  Only use registered taxis, which display their taxi registration sticker on the windscreen or side doors.  If possible do not hail taxis on the street but book through hotels or taxi radio services.  Larger supermarkets and airports also have reliable taxi ranks.

There have been several incidents of armed gunmen holding up buses after daylight hours.  You should therefore avoid travel by road after dark, in particular on long distance and international coaches.

Political Situation

Ecuador Country Profile

Street demonstrations, protests and strikes are commonplace in Ecuador, and sometimes turn violent.  You should take care to avoid any area in which large crowds are gathering.

Towards the end of 2005, and during the early part of 2006, States of Emergency were declared across Ecuador.  A State of Emergency gives the armed forces responsibility for law and order.  The States of Emergency were called by the government in response to demonstrations against oil companies and protests by indigenous groups against Ecuador potentially signing a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.  Some of these demonstrations turned violent, but there have been no significant demonstrations since March 2006.

Following elections in Autumn 2006, Congress resumed on 5 January 2007.  The new President Rafael Correa took office on 15 January 2007.  There were demonstrations on 30 January 2007 and more may follow, especially in the old centre of Quito and other major cities.  These are not directed against foreigners, but there is some danger of being caught up in any violence which ensues. Visitors should therefore be vigilant and caution is needed until the situation improves.

Local Travel

You should avoid all travel to the northern provinces of Sucumbios.  There have been cases of armed robbery of jungle lodges in Sucumbios and on the lower Napo River, which borders the province of Orellana.  Colombian guerrilla groups are known to have influence in all regions bordering Colombia.  Foreign oil workers are targets for kidnappers in these areas and the rate of crime is also high.  In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and subsequently killed.

You should avoid hiking to the antennas of Volcan Pichincha via Cruz Loma, west of Quito, as violent gangs are known to operate in the wooded areas.

Road Safety

If you intend to hire a car you must hold a valid British or international driver's licence.  The Ecuadorian police also recommend the use of a local temporary driver's permit.  You should contact the British Embassy if you require further details.

General road conditions are adequate in Andean and coastal areas, but driving can be dangerous due to the condition of the vehicles on the road and local driving techniques.  Road conditions in the Amazon region are generally very poor and driving is hazardous.  Roads in the coastal province of Manabi were badly damaged by floods in Spring 2005, and have yet to be fully restored.

Sea Safety

There have been attacks of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around Ecuador’s waters.  Mariners are advised to be vigilant and take appropriate precautions.

Trafficking is a serious crime, penalties are harsh and prison conditions are grim.  Do not get involved in the trafficking or use of illegal drugs.

It is a legal requirement to carry some form of identification with you at all times.  A photocopy of your passport is sufficent.

British nationals do not need a visa in order to visit Ecuador. This may not be the case if you have been involved in criminal activity in Ecuador. On arrival, you will be issued with an entry stamp, which is valid for up to 90 days.  Visit extensions of a further 90 days can be obtained through the local immigration authorities.  You must ensure that your passport has a minimum validity of six months.

Overstaying without permission from the immigration authorities is an offence and will result in a substantial fine and deportation.  In order to avoid a $200 fine, if you enter Ecuador via the border with Peru or Colombia you must insist that you are issued with an entry stamp at the border. 

If, as a British national, you intend to marry in Ecuador, you do not need to obtain a visa before travelling to Ecuador, as you may enter on the entry stamp provided on arrival, as above.  However, you will need to fulfil some requirements before you can marry.  Please contact the British Embassy in Quito for further details or refer to the Consular services section of the Embassy’s website:  British Embassy, Quito

If you wish to work or study in Ecuador or if you have been involved in criminal activity in Ecuador, you should check visa requirements with the Embassy of Ecuador, Ecuadorian Representation in the UK.

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting their children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required please contact the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see: Travel Insurance. 

Good medical treatment can be expensive and is not always available outside the main cities.

Malaria and dengue fever are health risks in all the coastal and jungle provinces, the interior and in the highlands up to 2000 metres.  In 2006, there were reported cases of dengue in the provinces of Guayas, Manabi and El Oro.  A small number of cases were also reported in Los Rios and Esmeraldas.  Nearly 100 cases have been reported so far in 2007, including the potentially deadly strain of dengue, mainly during the rainy season in the coastal region.  Dengue has been reported in the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios, Esmeraldas and Sucumbios.  Malaria is traditionally found mainly in the coastal province of Esmeraldas.  More than three-quarters of British travellers who contracted malaria in 2005 did not take preventive measures, such as malaria prevention tablets.  Other good preventative measures include wearing light coloured clothes and using insect repellent.  However, malaria can occur despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in the first year following your return from travelling to a malaria risk country.  Before travelling you should seek medical advice about the malaria risk in Ecuador.

High altitude, eg in Quito (2800 metres) can affect some people's health.  You should take sensible medical precautions and seek advice from your doctor before travelling.  If visiting Quito you are advised to take it easy for the first few days and drink plenty of water.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk.

NATURAL DISASTERS

There are many active volcanoes in Ecuador given that the country lies on a destructive plate boundary. 

You should exercise caution if travelling to the tourist destination of Baños and certain areas to the west, southwest and northwest of the Tungurahua volcano.  Since the start of May 2006, there has been a considerable increase in seismic activity around the Tungurahua volcano. Major eruptions took place on 16 August 2006 and 14 July 2006.  The 16 August 2006 eruption had significant effects.  The volcano continues to fluctuate in activity, but it greatly subsided towards the end of 2006. Evidence suggests that there is still magma inside and the possibility of new eruptions remains. You should be aware of local evacuation procedures and if you are planning to visit this area be aware of the status of the latest volcanic activity.

Sangay Volcano, located between the provinces of Chimborazo and Morona Santiago, has shown increased activity since the end of December 2006, and particularly during mid January 2007.  Ash clouds have been seen by planes on the south-eastern routes.  Although it is not in a populated area, we advise climbers to avoid the volcano in its current state.  In 1976, some British climbers were struck by volcanic rocks on Sangay in a similar period of activity.  Therefore, climbers should not attempt to climb Sangay at present.  Cotopaxi Volcano, in Cotopaxi province, is closely monitored and considered active.  Reventador Volcano, in Napo province, has shown increased signs of activity since April 2005.  From July to October 2005, there was a slight increase in explosions with moderate ash content.

Before visiting the surrounding area, you should ensure you are aware of the current levels of alert for the Cotopaxi, Reventador and Tungurahua volcanoes, the areas of highest risk in the event of an eruption and also evacuation plans.

For further information see the National Ecuadorean geophysics Institute website: http://www.igepn.edu.ec (in Spanish) or Smithsonian Global Volcano Programme (in English).  We also advise that you consider what action to take in the event of an eruption.

Earth tremors also happen occasionally.  In 2005, Ecuador experienced a number of earth tremors, which were most prominent in coastal regions.  On 14 June 2005, 15 October 2006 and 20 January 2007 earth tremors were felt in Quito and the surrounding region.

Ecuador is also affected by the irregular “El Niño” climatic phenomenon.  The last time strong effects were experienced was between 1997 and 1998.  It is difficult to predict when strong effects might be felt but some experts are of the view that moderate effects might be felt this year.  The strongest effects are normally felt in coastal regions but it may also affect the jungle regions of Orellana, Morona Santiago and Sucumbios (we advise against travel to this province), where widespread flooding can occur.  Other “El Niño” effects include the risk of landslides in the regions of Bolivar, Cañar and Azuay; and a hotter climate in all parts of Ecuador. 

If things go wrong when overseas, please see:  What We Can Do To Help.

Longer-term visitors are advised to register with the British Embassy.

From 10 December 2006, airport tax for international departures increased from US$31.60 to US$37.93.

You should reconfirm your onward flight at least 72 hours before departure.

The US Dollar is the only legal currency in Ecuador.  Credit cards and travellers cheques are generally accepted in the cities.  You should ensure you bring enough money, in the form of US dollars or travellers' cheques.

You should use your credit and debit cards with caution.  If you use an ATM, do so during business hours at a location inside a bank, supermarket or large commercial building.