Its reputation is that of one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with one hundred different types of hummingbirds and thousands of orchid varieties. That was not fun. During the rainy season lasting from December to May, you can expect common flooding and tsunamis. When a local tells you to have caution in an area, not to mention -extreme caution- just listen to them! For a black guy/gal in the US, you are a thousand times more likely to get killed by a black dude than a cop. For five days, the world watched and waited in horror. Beware of Kidnappings! In 2012, Ecuador had a murder rate of 12.4 per 100,000 population. There isnt all the much here anymore. Suggesting there is crime in Baos is utter stupidity. Its not a good thing to have to look at real taxis to make sure you wont be kidnapped. However, taking certain precautions like traveling in groups and avoiding traveling alone at night are always your best bet to stay safe in any major city. Since the greatest risk to black people in the United States comes from other black people, is it the same in Ecuador? Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities. Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Grab ourEcuador Cost of Living and Moving Calculatorso you can more effectively budget for your move. Homes are neat, no American horder sloppiness. Gracias! Around 8:30, after having dinner, some of us hailed yellow cabs in front of the Ramada- which was the recommended precaution to take for safety- and three men ended up being kidnapped (the cab driver was in on it), and held at gunpoint. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Country Summary: Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. kidnapped while traveling to Uganda to view gorillas. The place is very safe. The country is beautiful and the people are very generous and appreciative. The USA was a great country but now it is the worst in the world, stay away. One of the most common crimes against tourists in Ecuador is pickpocketing. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Bump and Grab youre bumped while being passed in close quarters like a bus or mercado and your pocket is picked. While the overall crime rate has been in steady decline since 2011, following the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, there has been an uptick in theft related crimes, at least anecdotally. Comply and you wont die as the saying goes. Weve assembled a supportive community of current and future expats who are eager to share their experiences, answer your questions and offer encouragement. The Department of State raised the Travel Advisory Level for Ecuador to Level 3 Reconsider Travel on June 22, 2022. And then, for some reason, they changed their minds and told us to run. U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro: (61) 3312-7400. My host family explained scams and safety to me, although they recommended a few options to me that I myself do not recommend others trying such as riding the public bus at night (unless its an overnight bus ride from one region to another) the equovia/bus station itself in historic Quit and the equova at night. If you have to travel through a city, its better to use apps like Azutaxi (in Cuenca), Uber (in Quito and Guayaquil only as of 2020), private recommended drivers (we have several) or shuttle services provided by your hotel. Country Summary:Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. And only take yellow taxis! Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue. Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Is Ecuador a high risk Covid country? Just like anywhere in the world, its common for car windows to be broken when items of value can be seen through them. You can usually trust taxis that are registered, which are yellow with identical unit numbers on both the windshield and the doors. Keep your digital camera in your front pocket (the pickpockets usually bump into you from behind, while there is a distraction in front of you, like small kids asking for money). Others in the group were let go. U dont wanna be around that. LMAO! The beautiful places you will discover are incredible. countries with the highest risk for kidnapping. 8:52 PM EDT, Sat September 29, 2012. Other factors, such as lack of judicial resources and weak border security, also played a role. Kidnapping for ransom is a common activity for many extremist rebel groups, along with drug trafficking and terrorist activity. There have also been reports of armed robberies at restaurants in the fashionable areas of Urdesa and Samborondon. Happy Valentine's Day! (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri), In this 2012 file photo, a vehicle carries, villagers to Bermo in central Niger after six aid group employees were kidnapped from the guesthouse where they were staying in Dakoro. Recommended for travel to regions under 2,200 metres elevation, excludes Guayaquil, Quito and the Galapagos Islands. Visiting the historic sites of Quito is a must when visiting Ecuador, but the city draws large crowds making it the perfect hunting ground for pickpocketers. Canada ranked first for kidnappings amongst Cold countries in 2006. There are bad people everywhere in the world and the nationals I worked with always nudged me in the right direction if I tried to do something risky. Stop calling it hate when a police officer is trying to do his job. I love it. The Interior and Environment. Lying at the bottom of an active volcano called as Tungurahua, this places offers the most spectacular Ecuador sightseeing spots in the country with multiple waterfalls flowing down to the river. Traveling or moving abroad may be uncomfortable at times, but its probably safer than youve been led to believe. The Galpagos Islands, 596 miles (960 kilometers) west of the mainland of Ecuador are part of Ecuador and are home to unique reptiles, birds . If youve watched any of our YouTube videos from Cuenca or some of the other cities in Ecuador, you may have noticed a lot of graffiti. The key in Ecuador is to travel smart, keep up with local news, and explore in groups or with a tour guide when possible. She hasnt been able to eat, drink or sleep since yesterday. And we will mention top travel bloggers to give you their own opinions of each place. Getty The State Department already issues travel advisories for every country around the. Despite repeated government efforts, crime persists in the form of robberies, car break-ins, and homicides due to limited resources, a large wealth gap, and dense population. Moises, with the Baja California International Liaison Unit, stands on a beach in the village of San Felipe, Mexico . At last,Endicott and her guide were released,unharmed. Like Guayaquil, you shouldnt walk around Quito alone, especially at night. Find even more inspiration for Ecuador here The 30 best places to go with kids Travel Bucket List Ideas: Places To Visit Before You Die The 10 best jungle lodges in the Amazon The top 20 volcanoes around the world 20 destinations to see before they disappear Incredible forests of the world Equatorial differences in Quito, Ecuador As you stroll through the shops and historic sites, make sure you know where youve stored your valuables and force yourself to remain alert about anyone trying to get too close to you. Ecuador is roughly the size of Colorado and is bordered by Colombia and Peru. Trip report (Jan 26-28): enjoy Guayaquil, but do be careful! I have never felt unsafe but then Im never out after dark unless on organised local tours, vetted by the hotel where Im staying at the time. If you are in Quito, remember that you have the chance of putting one leg in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern one so visit the Middle of the World city, you wont regret it. This is common throughout Ecuador, Latin America and the rest of the world. Make your own way and experience. The primary threat to tourists is non-violent theft, so using anti-pickpocketing techniques like a belt wallet or clip zippers will help you keep track of your belongings. Marrying an Ecuadorian as a foreigner/ temporal residency, Exploring Guayaquil on foot from a Cruise Ship, Walking from Hotel Wyndham Guayaquil to Malecon, Best private/semi private van from Guayaquil to Cuenca. Id like to note I was in the wrong place for a sola gringa to be in both of those situations and I had been warned of the risk before. I traveled from Quito all the way to Guayaquil. 2. A man has been arrested on. Tourist Police: 021/3399-7170. The State Department this week announced a new risk indicator for its public travel advisories. Including the two who were kidnapped, the tourist group totaled seven people, according to the Interior Ministry. White water rafting, mountain biking, zip lining, mountaintop swinging, relaxing in hot springs, kayaking, hiking - the list . The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Airline Passenger Arrested After Complaining About Vomit On Seat. NEW: The women, ages 32 and 23, were taken in the province of Sucumbios, NEW: They were part of a group that was attacked Friday. 52 Ecuador : Safety by City Guayaquil Manta Quito Ecuador - safety as a country The City of Quito, whose official name is San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador, South America and has a population of 2,671,191 inhabitants, which makes it the second-largest city in Ecuador. People are leaving the US too due to the diversity. "One of the guys who rescued us got on a motorcycle and notified authorities and within 10 minutes there was 100 army people. The western and central ranges of the Andes bordering the Sierra constitute the country's highest and most continuous mountain chains. Those baseball hat wearing, hot dog eating, Mayflower descendant yankees in Miami act very similarly um hahahaha okay well thank you for that. Black people in the US may be 12% or so, but if they are committing more than half the violent crimes, and have the highest rate of interactions with police per capita, then you have to divide by that. Which areas of Guayaquil are worth visiting? Ecuador is a place for the real nature loving tourist, and a paradise for visitors trying to immerse themselves in breathtaking beaches like Salinas, Bahia de Caraquez, Manta, Crucita, San Jacinto, and San Clemente. Prepare for the worst so if it does happen, you will have done everything in your control to be fine. No way.I do not believe this fake storyno way..!! Country Summary:Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. We were with a travel angency group, and a large group of 70 people. Here you can see and feel wildlife in its true form as mainland Ecuador is far, far away from this place. The U.S. Embassy doesnt allow its employees to use un-vetted taxi services because there have been instances of robberies. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Well show you how to earn legitimate income from anywhere in the world! and besides Guayaquil does not have the altitude problem that Quito does *Over 9.000 feet makes hard to breath that thin air.Senior citizens would have a hard time even walking on the tours. Thats all for today, except Merry Christmas to you both from Richland, WA. My heart goes out to her. Previous travel alerts for Ecuador. [1] By 2014, this had decreased to 8.23 per 100,000, with 1,309 murders recorded that year, [2] but since 2019 the number of homicides, often related to organized crime and narcotraffic operations, has risen to 14 per . 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