Turkey ranked first for kidnappings amongst Europe in 2006. I agree with you Omar I spent 2 years in Ecuador and loved every moment Came back for family reasons and still communicate with friends there. This beautiful country is a paradise everywhere you look at it. 8:52 PM EDT, Sat September 29, 2012. Ecuador is one of the most volcanically active areas on the South American continent, and the highlands are studded with snow-crested cones looming into the sky either side of a broad central valley, which the explorer Alexander von Humboldt grandly called the "avenue of the volcanoes". All are amazing places to explore and take hundreds of pictures at. These Positions Will Pay You To Travel The World. In the last few months, a Senior Police Officer and a Taxi driver were both murdered by drug cartels. You can develop altitude sickness above 2500m. As for pickpocketing and bag snatching, it is a recurring concern on the streets of Ecuador, so be careful and hold your bags tightly by your side. U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, including Esmeraldas city, due to, Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro: (61) 3312-7400. 2022 Semilla Verde Boutique Hotel 721 Santa Cruz, Ecuador from $191/night Hotel Colon Salinas 1,007 Salinas, Ecuador from $140/night Golden Bay Galapagos 197 San Cristobal, Ecuador 2022 Eb Hotel by Eurobuilding Quito 644 Quito, Ecuador The Environment Ministry, however, said that just five tourists including the two who were taken were attacked. She and her safari guidewere kidnapped on April 2. Country Summary:Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. As for criminals, resist arrest and you see what happens!! Foreigners have been kidnapped in the past. Most of these robberies take place at night and on interstate buses. Ecuador has some people fooled considering its small size. Go to Italy instead. Airline Passenger Arrested After Complaining About Vomit On Seat. Theres the worlds highest active volcano Cotopaxi and a number of cities and sites in Ecuador that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the aforementioned Galapagos Islands, and the city of Cuenca. Take care of you and your surroundings and you still will have an incredible amazing trip to Ecuaor. 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. Im planning to visit Ecuador for 5 weeks from the beginning of October 2022. The new indicator, signaling a risk of kidnapping, has been added to the . countries with the highest risk for kidnapping. shifted its approach to gangs by legalizing them. QUITO, Ecuador Every night since March 26, when three Ecuadoran journalists were kidnapped near their country's border with Colombia, their colleagues have gathered to demand their rescue. U dont wanna be around that. Medical Emergency: 192. I have a long but informative post for any solo women or men looking to explore Ecuador but wondering about safety. Criminals have conducted indiscriminate attacks without warning on public spaces across the city. Transformative Travel: I look at how travel can change lives. Their crime family and organizations get glorified in the movies and on TV shows. Be wary of unlicensed taxis since you might get kidnapped and robbed. It was our only night to go out to have dinner on our own, and we were told the Malachon- the Riverfront- was a safe area. However, U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel to the northern bank of the Napo River in Sucumbos, an area approximately four miles wide, and the portion of Esmeraldas province that is south of Esmeraldas city. Some areas have increased risk. As an Expat in Ecuador, I know its not very safe here. This is Part 8 in our series about living abroad in Ecuador. Grab ourEcuador Cost of Living and Moving Calculatorso you can more effectively budget for your move. What Are Your Rights? In this 2014 file photo, a Malaysian armed, policeman stands guard at Singmata Adventures and Reef resort, where suspected Filipino insurgents kidnapped a Chinese tourist and a hotel receptionist. Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. Thank you! Cuenca is a wonderful place you can explore on foot. For all my preparations, I took a few too many risks as a solo traveler such as arriving at bus stations after dark in new cities and having to take the only taxi available even if it wasnt official because I had anticipated Uber to be available. LMAO! Come here for the hummingbirds, the orchids (my wife loves them) and the weather which is pretty constant all year long. 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. If youre very tall and blonde etc, youll stand out as a foreigner so probably will be a bigger target, but keep your wits about you. I had the chance to visit Ecuador with a few close family friends and we always stayed in a group so nothing bad happened. "One of the guys who rescued us got on a motorcycle and notified authorities and within 10 minutes there was 100 army people. There are people -- known as "coyoteros" in Ecuador or "polleros" in Mexico -- that charge them for the journey. This is great information. Below well go over some of the main tourist areas and examine their safety. My daughter loves it. My wife who is Ecuadorian just had her cell phone stolen at gunpoint last sunday. I can't describe the numerous and dire warnings I received about the coastal city of Guayaquil. Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue Level 4: Do Not Travel. I want to believe ANONYMOUS as I traveled extensively in South and Central America and always found kind, friendly and most helpful people. When getting here also try to go to the Charles Darwin Research Station (take the BTS tour as it is well worth it). How are you going to tell me that the police didnt fill him with lead on the spot? More white people are killed in raw numbers, but ALSO as a percentage when you divide by interactions with police, or rates of violent crimes. Last Update: Reissued with updates to security situation in Guayaquil. National Emergency Number: 190. What to do if an earthquake strikes while you're in Ecuador. Ecuador is a fairly friendly and respectful country because its citizens are like that, and I say this because I am a resident of this country, the only bad thing is that corruption abounds, even in small businesses, the corruption that the government has against the people is very greatAll Ecuadorians work very hard to feed bureaucrats who only live with the efforts of their citizensThats the only bad thing, the security of Ecuador depends a lot on how the tourist is dressed, for example if a tourist It is very elegant, it is obvious that thieves will put their eye on it and want to steal it, but if a traveler is dressed normal and simple, absolutely nothing will happen to him, also depending on how you treat Ecuadorians in the same way they They will treat youIf you plan to travel to Ecuador, I highly recommend it, there are many unique and wonderful tourist sites waiting for you! This site uses cookies. The drugs are coming through there. Didnt mean to preach. Airline Passenger Arrested After Complaining About Vomit On Seat. With 1.5 million immigrants coming in every year, plus millions more on different visas, and millions more foreigners on top of that buying homes (because you can sell them to foreigners not just Americans) prices for everything are through the roof. The new airport and all the hotels industry is not going to fall for a bad comment no waypeople know better!! But if you follow some of the tips well cover below, youll find Ecuador is a very safe place for Americans and expats from around the world. There is a large divide between the rich and poor which does not help the crime rate in the Philippines. READ MORE:Airline Passenger Arrested After Complaining About Vomit On Seat. The high Andes Mountains form the backbone of the country. Always check everything twice and negotiate everything in advance. But its not just jaw-dropping flaura and fauna that this country boasts. Australian government travel advice for the area "strongly advises" its citizens not to go to Sucumbios and other north-eastern provinces because of the "very high level of serious criminal activity". One of the most beautiful places to see the Amazon is in Ecuador and Peru. Yellow Fever. Check the Gov. "Kidnapping" means unlawfully detaining a person or persons against their will (including through the use of force; threat; fraud or enticement . 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. 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. We ran out towards the helicopters yelling, trying to get their attention. But a black man selling untaxed cigarettes gets put in a chokehold. More reassurance would be great. A man trekking in Ecuador with his teenage daughter is kidnapped. However, there are kidnappings in taxis where the robbers keep you hostage until they take everything from you and make you withdraw all your money from the nearest ATM, so be very careful. Transnational criminal groups and local gangs operating in Guayaquil have carried out a series of violent crimes in the city, to include several murders, targeted assassinations, armed robberies, bombings, and assaults. If youre careful and dont stand out, you can be okay in Ecuador. Level 3suggests that travelers should reconsider travel. Level 2 means exercise increased caution. Level 1 means exercise normal precautions. Surprisingly,somecountriessaid to have ariskof kidnapping like Uganda and Mexico are only classified as a Level1 or2 overall. And these beaches are not as packed as youd find in other, more known countries or locations so if peace and quiet is what youre looking for then here you can find it. I did have a friend robbed at knife point because he walked down a street with headphones on and an iPhone out. Review the. More white people may be killed but theres also way more white people. Yeah we carry weapons to keep criminals like you honest. Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities. In short order, the vacationers are roofied, and kidnapped, and kept by their captors in a makeshift and scorpion-ridden cellas the kidnappers inform Linda's son and Emily's brother, the shut-in. Here are the best ways to get around. In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and later killed. in South America four years later wild-camping in the Amazon rainforest and overlanding across the volatile Colombia-Ecuador border. In this article, were going to shed some light on the real crime stats in Ecuador by comparing them to the United States, and were going to give you some common sense safety tips to help you avoid experiencing crime in Ecuador. Traveling or moving abroad may be uncomfortable at times, but its probably safer than youve been led to believe. With the internet, you have all the information you need to be safe in Ecuador from whatever preventable crime that could befall you- and you will absolutely fall in love with the place. I traveled from Quito all the way to Guayaquil. Happy Valentine's Day! No matter what white folks and some of the confused Latin people in the U.S. will justify the unjustifiable. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. Audrey Fox. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. Moises, with the Baja California International Liaison Unit, stands on a beach in the village of San Felipe, Mexico . Alright, Ive said what I needed to say. Anyone saying its safer than Miami or LA is delusional. Most of these crimes occur in tourist locations, so staying vigilant in these areas and in crowds will help keep you from falling victim to theft. Before you buy a travel insurance policy, check your government travel warnings and health advice . The people are creative. Apart from the pickpockets, muggers and scammers, you should bear in mind that the biggest crooks in this country are the seemingly friendly experts who just want to help you, by telling you that they can get you a great deal on the Galapagos islands cruise, and then charge an astronomically high fee compared to the real cost of the cruise. There is that tension as the OP said, but depending where you are, there can be safer and less safer places. In that time, I traveled solo by public bus into the city, used the equova transit, and traveled by public bus both in the day and at night alone to travel across the country. A bright young scholar from Oklahoma has gone missing in Ecuador and is believed to be kidnapped. I mean I think if someone can make it work in the US if they are American, and thats their home, thats the best, but I get how people are being pushed out and thats sad. This seems to be something that may happen often in this city and goes ignored by police! "Express kidnappings" are also common in Ecuador. An Inter-American Development Bank study found that, by 2018, these government efforts helped reduce violence and criminality drastically.. Suggesting there is crime in Baos is utter stupidity. It is of no surprise that Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador's top ecotourism destinations. This impressive, and very much active, volcano towers in the horizon from Quito and attracts both local and international tourists. Contributor. Transportation is not very safe or reliable. I prepared for my trip by reading up on common scams, pick pocket schemes, and strategized worst case scenarios. We may request cookies to be set on your device. "The response was beyond our wildest dreams. The Gringo Hunters were waiting. Im not sure if thats really helping your argument that Ecuador, in Latin America, is no safer than other Latin American places in the US? 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. Is Ecuador safe? Thats one of the most common questions future expats have when considering a move to this small Latin American country. Ecuador experienced just under 1,000 murders in 2018, setting its murder rate at 5.7 per 100,000. The place is very safe. The attack occurred either inside or near the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, which is located in the northeast province of Sucumbios near the border with Colombia. Get answers to your questions about Guayaquil. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. The reason black men get killed more is that they dont cooperate with the police. I advise you to have a local trusted advisor accompany you. No one cares lol. Be prepared, keep your valuables low-key, and you'll-more likely than not-have the same experience. The western and central ranges of the Andes bordering the Sierra constitute the country's highest and most continuous mountain chains. For example: Bump and Grab - you're bumped while being passed in close quarters like a bus or mercado and your pocket is picked. Though Ecuador kidnapping rate fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to increase through 2009 - 2018 period ending at 4.4 cases per 100,000 population in 2018. Thats not true, it doesnt matter if youre black, Im from Ecuador you piece of. Guayaquil is both the largest and most dangerous city in Ecuador. The State Department already issues travel advisories for every country around the world,withadvice oncrime, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, health and other potential dangers. Rainforest and overlanding across the volatile Colombia-Ecuador border true, it doesnt if! 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