Foreign travel advice

Ecuador

! Warning FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Ecuador.

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:
421 October 2024
Updated:
421 October 2024
Latest update:
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Download a more detailed map (PDF)

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel  

Coastal Region

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of:

  • Esmeraldas
  • Manabí
  • Santa Elena
  • Guayas
  • El Oro
  • Los Ríos
  • Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province, including onward or return travel to the Galapagos Islands.province.

Within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border 

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, except for these areas in Carchi province: 

  • El Ángel Ecological Reserve 
  • Rumichaca border crossing 
  • the town of Tulcán 
  • the Pan-American Highway  

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel. 

Nationwide power outage

There will be nationwide power outages from Monday 23 September until further notice, in some cases up to a total of 12 hours a day, occurring at sporadic intervals. For more information on power cut times in your location, check your local power provider’s official website or social media channels.

Water rationing

There will be water cuts as a result of rationing in several areas of the country. Check with your local water supplier for the hours and dates of these water cuts.

State of Emergency declared

A 60-day state of emergency (SOE) was declared on 3 October due to internal disturbance and armed violence. The SOE currently applies to the following provinces:

  • Guayas
  • El Oro
  • Santa Elena
  • Manabí
  • Orellana
  • Los Ríos
  • Quito Metropolitan District (Pichincha province) 
  • Camilo Ponce Enríquez district (Azuay province)

The SOE allows the military and police to seize assets, conduct inspections and enter private properties without permission. There are additional restrictions on the freedoms of association and assembly and the police and armed forces are permitted to break up gatherings in public spaces.

Curfew hours (10pm until 5am) are in place until further notice, for the following districts (‘cantons’) and/or parishes (parroquias):

Azuay province:

  • Camilo Ponce Enríquez

Los Ríos province:

  • Baba
  • Babahoyo
  • Buena Fe
  • Mocache
  • Montalvo
  • Palenque
  • Pueblo Viejo
  • Quevedo
  • Quinsaloma
  • Urdaneta
  • Valencia
  • Ventanas
  • Vinces

Guayas province:

  • Balao
  • Durán
  • Parroquia Tenguel del canton Guayaquil

Orellana province:

  • La Joya de los Sachas Puerto Francisco De Orellana
  • Loreto

If you need to travel to or from the airport for a booked flight,flight during curfew hours, you can do so by presenting your booking reservation.

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. 

View a printable version of the whole guide