Foreign travel advice

Ecuador

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

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:
1115 April 2025
Updated:
1115 April 2025
Latest update:
Due toState Presidentialof electionsemergency onrenewed 13for April,60 alldays landdue borders will be closed to foreigninternal nationalsdisturbance fromand Fridayarmed 11violence('Warnings April 16h00 until 14 April 23h59 inclusive ('Warnings and Insurance'insurance' and 'Entry Requirements' pages).page).
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.

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. 

Regional state of emergency (heavy rainfall)

On 11 March the Committee of Emergency Operations (COE) declared a regional state of emergency for 60 days, due to heavy rainfall, in the following provinces: Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, Loja and Azuay.

Regional state of emergency declared (internal disturbance and armed violence)

DueA to60-day Presidentialstate electionsof emergency (SOE) was renewed on 1312 April,April due allto landinternal bordersdisturbance willand bearmed closedviolence. You should always follow the instructions of police and local authorities. The SOE currently applies to foreignthe nationalsfollowing fromprovinces:

  • Guayas
  • El FridayOro
  • Santa 11Elena
  • Manabí
  • Orellana
  • Sucumbios
  • Los AprilRíos
  • Quito 16h00Metropolitan untilDistrict 14(Pichincha Aprilprovince)
  • Camilo 23h59Ponce inclusive.Enríquez Ecuadoreandistrict citizens(Azuay andprovince)

Curfew foreignhours nationals(10pm whountil 5am) are resident in Ecuadorplace canuntil enterfurther Ecuadornotice, withfor validthe ID.following Expectdistricts heightened(‘cantons’) policeand/or andparishes military(parroquias):

Azuay presenceprovince:

  • Camilo nationwide,Ponce andEnríquez

Los potentialRíos travelprovince:

  • Baba
  • Babahoyo
  • Buena disruptionsFe
  • Mocache
  • Montalvo
  • Palenque
  • Pueblo dueViejo
  • Quevedo
  • Quinsaloma
  • Urdaneta
  • Valencia
  • Ventanas
  • Vinces

Guayas province:

  • Balao
  • Durán
  • Parroquia Tenguel

Orellana province:

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

Sucumbios province:

  • Shushufindi
  • Lago Agrio

If you need to extratravel securityto checks.or from the airport for a booked 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. 

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