Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Ecuador
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Bus Peddler Thieves
Peddlers board buses to sell wares but often act as thieves. Keep a close eye on your belongings when these individuals are present.
Distraction Robbery
Attackers use a distraction to approach a target from behind, apply a choke hold to induce unconsciousness, and commit robbery. Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
Taxi Robberies
Robberies occur involving taxi cabs hailed off the street. Use only official or radio taxis to mitigate this risk.
Coordinated Pickpocketing
Highly skilled groups of three or four people operate to pickpocket or snatch purses. Avoid carrying a wallet and keep bills split between different pockets.
Credit Card Fraud
Tourists are being targeted for credit card fraud, particularly in the Mariscal area of Quito. Exercise caution when using cards.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Most visitors to Ecuador can enter the country without a visa. However, visitors from certain countries must first obtain a visa in advance before being allowed to enter.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Ecuador cannot be ruled out.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex relations are legal in Ecuador. However, local attitudes towards the LGBT+ community can be conservative and there is still societal discrimination. People may be less tolerant of same-sex couples showing affection in public than they are in the UK. Showing affection may attract negative attention, especially in small towns. Transgender people in particular could face unwanted attention. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Tourists should use common sense to ensure their safety.
- •You can always ask tourist police officers, police officers or in tourist information centers for the dangerous regions.
- •Ecuador offers great opportunities for hiking and climbing; unfortunately, some travelers have been attacked and robbed in remote sections of well known climbs and several rapes have also be…
Staying healthy
- •Ecuador is widely considered to be a developing country and health hazards are a significant issue.
- •Bottled water is key in Ecuador if you don't want to get sick.
- •It is advisable to receive a typhoid vaccination, and possibly a yellow fever vaccination, depending on your specific area of travel.
- •Outside the major cities and tourist areas, malaria can be a problem along the coast during the rainy season.
- •Ecuador has a high altitude terrain in many regions, which may cause altitude sickness or breathing difficulties for some travelers.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
- Mano Dura Policies Return to Bolivia2026-08-16
- Colombian president sanctions US military operations amid earthquake disaster2026-08-15
- Colombia declares economic emergency after deadly earthquake2026-08-13
- Police in Ecuador seize 1 , 000 pounds of cocaine bearing the face of soccer star Erling Haaland ; woman arrested2026-08-13
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report that while locations like the Galapagos and Banos are widely considered safe, Quito requires increased caution. A recurring piece of advice for Quito, particularly the Historic Center, is to avoid going out after sunset. Travelers express significant anxiety regarding crime in Ecuador, specifically citing concerns about mugging, carjacking, and violent assault. While some tourists plan their itineraries to minimize time in major cities like Guayaquil and Quito due to these safety fears, others rely on established local connections or group volunteer programs to navigate the environment. There is no consensus on the absolute safety of these urban areas, leading many to prioritize strict avoidance of nighttime activities.
“I've seen multiple people online say to not go out as soon as sun sets especially in Histoic Center.
— r/travel
“I was recently in Colombia and I was robbed at gunpoint in Bogotá, so I have a lot of anxiety about a repeat of that horrible situation.
— r/travel
“I will land in Guayaquil at 9 pm on 24 May and stay there 1 night in a hotel close to the airport. Is Guayaquil airport and around safe to visit? I can spend all night inside the airport as well if the outside is not safe.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B · 120V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Tipping
Bars, restaurants and hotels include a 10% service charge in the bill, so tipping is not required. In the case of restaurants, it is customary to leave some spare change in reward for good service. Some restaurants that don't include the service charge will include a small piece of paper along with the bill, in which the client can specify a tip (approx. 5-10%) if they are paying with credit card.
Cash vs. Card
Ecuador adopted the United States dollar ("$", ISO currency code: USD) as its currency in 1999. Other types of currency are not readily accepted.
Zoom in
3 Ecuador cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09