Think twice.
Ecuador dropped to a 46/100 sketch score today, down nine points from yesterday, while US, UK, and Canada maintain level 2 travel advisories. Watch for a global measles notice before you book.
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 theft
Peddlers who board buses to sell wares are often thieves. Keep a close eye on your belongings when they are present.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
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
- Trump FIFA Intervention sparked by far reaction across world – Shafaqna English2026-07-12
- US , Latam partners urge peaceful transition in Colombia2026-07-11
- Call for Proposals : America First Public Diplomacy Grants ( Ecuador ) 2026-07-10
- Türkiye brings back 54 wanted suspects from 12 countries2026-07-10
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
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 (12 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- gdelt — observed 2026-07-10
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12