Okay I know this is a travel forum and not a state of race relation in the US forum but I will jump on what you just said. Suggesting there is crime in Baos is utter stupidity. 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. 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. Rabies. You can also change some of your preferences. Just like anywhere in the world, there are areas that you stay away from. A man has been arrested on. We will provide information on each attraction. Ryan, 33, a dentist from New York, revealed how the orgies began just minutes after the 30 guests boarded a luxury yacht taking them and 60 hookers to the private tropical island. 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. If you have to travel through a city, its better to use apps like Azutaxi (in Cuenca), Uber (in Quito and Guayaquil only as of 2020), private recommended drivers (we have several) or shuttle services provided by your hotel. Despite being a small town, Banos is one of the most famous tourist destination in Ecuador due to having several hot springs abode. She and her safari guidewere kidnapped on April 2. Security forces rescued two tourists Saturday, just one day after they were kidnapped in a remote region of northeast Ecuador, the Interior Ministry said. The WikiLeaks founder has been in Ecuador's embassy in London since June. Ecuador is a place for the real nature loving tourist, and a paradise for visitors trying to immerse themselves in breathtaking beaches like Salinas, Bahia de Caraquez, Manta, Crucita, San Jacinto, and San Clemente. At night, my host sister and I walked together to restaurants. Read article Transportation The rugged Andes and tracts of impenetrable rainforest present formidable barriers to overland exploring in Ecuador. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. As frustrating as it may be, The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator. Check the Gov. We tell you exactly how to move to Ecuador, every step, in our Ecuador Expat Now eCourse. The situation in the country has calmed. Foods great, so fresh, so lacking preservatives. The reason black men get killed more is that they dont cooperate with the police. Since violent crime in the US is 68 times greater than in Ecuador, Americans at least, should feel safe traveling in Ecuador. Exercise increased caution in Ecuador due tocivil unrestandcrime. Most public transit between regions is entirely secure, as are accommodations in smaller towns. Portugal ranked first for kidnappings amongst European Union in 2006. If you have any other safety precautions, let us know about them in the comments below. Anyone saying its safer than Miami or LA is delusional. Just watch your stuff at all times pack lightly and Keep important stuff at your hotel or in your inside pockets.. Canada ranked first for kidnappings amongst Cold countries in 2006. Shift your backpack to the front, like a kangaroo pouch, while youre traveling through crowds. Or step into a restaurant or store. Some sources claim that the local government is suppressing the extent of the violence in an attempt to protect the tourist industry. A 2016 file photo of Judith DSouza, an Indian, charity worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan. U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro: (61) 3312-7400. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Well show you how to earn legitimate income from anywhere in the world! 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. Some people think its too small to offer that much or that its unsafe. Miami, LA, Houston and NYC. You just named the places in the US with the highest Latin American/Latino/Latina population LOL. Cotopaxi in the Andes is the highest active volcano in the world. Did she make it back to the U.S. ? The Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador is monitoring the outbreak. Carchi, Sucumbos, and northern Esmeraldas Provinces Level 4: Do Not Travel. in South America four years later wild-camping in the Amazon rainforest and overlanding across the volatile Colombia-Ecuador border. It also has a Pacific Ocean coastline which makes it especially interesting for summer lovers, but thats not the main reason people visit this country in South America. I had the chance to visit Ecuador with a few close family friends and we always stayed in a group so nothing bad happened. 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. Updated Peaceful protests can turn violent on a dime, so its best to avoid any large demonstrations. Dont put them in overhead bins and dont hand them to anyone offering to help you. Anyone who harbours fear about travelling to Ecuador is denying themselves a visit to one of the most interesting an friendliest countries in the world. Canberra's department of foreign affairs said the Australian woman was in the care of Ecuadorean authorities. but those areas you dont even go around, as they are located in towns that are not touristy. Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she . We know of other taxi robberies and it's always the younger drivers. This isnt to say you should walk around Ecuador without taking common sense precautions. Clean even in the homes with dirt floors, which are rare. Foam on the Sleeve someone puts foam or shaving cream on your sleeve, then points it out to you and offers to help you clean it up. Common sense says Cooperate and you wont get shot!!! Someone using objective numbers. The other foreigners were not taken in the attack, which the BBC reported as having been carried out by a Colombian group. Go to Italy instead. countries with the highest risk for kidnapping. Avoid walking alone at night, especially along dark streets and trails. You cant divide by the overall population. Saliva of Infected Animals. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Been to Equador great place been to the USA the worst place you ever want to visit. That will make it nearly impossible for a pickpocketer to steal anything without you noticing. Contributor. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. Ive traveled throughout the country and never had any problems. Dont be afraid to make eye contact with others. 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. Also, you can visit the beautiful Quito from which in about 40 min you can reach 4000m altitude and visit the closest volcano (Rucu Pichincha) or have days trip to Quilotoa crater lake or to visit Chimborazo. Despite knowing . We need 2 cookies to store this setting. If you plan your trips ahead and take all heed of warnings you will most likely not run into a single problem. But thug will rob you for drugs. "Express kidnappings" are also common in Ecuador. A Warner Bros. Much of what you may perceive as graffiti, is actually commissioned and paid for by property owners or local governments. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. On the other hand, Ecuador is not a cheap country either, the prices for accommodation/food/transport are very comparable with European countries or US. Want to be an expat? There are people -- known as "coyoteros" in Ecuador or "polleros" in Mexico -- that charge them for the journey. If you do find yourself confronted by someone with a weapon, its always better to part with your belongings rather than risk your health and safety. Others in the group were let go. 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. That was not fun. Take the Online Income eCourse! The Amazon Rainforest. Country Summary : Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Theres a wide variety of techniques used to snag your wallet. As tourists or embassy workers entered the taxi, a couple of men would enter the cab and force people to withdraw all the money at the nearest ATM. The incident is likely to make the Foreign Office consider strengthening its travel advice for the region. I have been all over Ecuador. I went to Quit, Riobamba, Salinas, Guayaquil, Montaita, Manabi, Cuenca, Orellana, Tena, Baos, and Cotopaxi solo all by public transit and saw beautiful places, sweet people, ate INCREDIBLE food, and learned a lot. A bright young scholar from Oklahoma has gone missing in Ecuador and is believed to be kidnapped. Stop calling it hate when a police officer is trying to do his job. Audrey Fox. My heart goes out to her. According to both, the tourists were part of a group that was attacked Friday. Avoid walking alone at night and avoid shortcuts through alleys, especially if youre unfamiliar with the area. You Dropped Something someone points to the ground behind you and says you dropped something, then steals your bag while you look away. Knowing that we can use public transportation to get to all of those great destinations is comforting. This travelers dream vacation soon turned into a nightmare. Living in the outskirts of the city, I felt safe walking through parks, 1 mile to the big mall, through a market alone in the day. Plus its a loss in home/culture/community for a lot of long-time Americans, its sad really how people are pushed out. This will help make sure you can safely enjoy the sights of Guayaquil, such as shops and restaurants along the Malecn 2000 or the gorgeous Parque Seminario and its iguanas. Um LOL is that really the comparison? Put them in the glove compartment, under the seat or in the trunk. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. Kidnapping for ransom is a common activity for many extremist rebel groups, along with drug trafficking and terrorist activity. Is Ecuador safe? Thats one of the most common questions future expats have when considering a move to this small Latin American country. The kidnapping of adults is often for ransom or to force someone to withdraw money from an ATM, but may also be for sexual assault. Whatever travelbug is trying to do, I hope it works. From the list, 14 places are considered by theU.S. State Departmentto be at Level 4, the highestlevel ofoveralldanger, indicating that the country is a do not travel zone. I am an older woman, used to travel alone everywhere. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. 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. It is a magical country with beautiful people (mostly). You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. My wife who is Ecuadorian just had her cell phone stolen at gunpoint last sunday. Many crimes go unsolved because the police dont have the time or resources to pursue every robbery or case of pickpocketing. More reassurance would be great. The kidnapping also promptedthe U.S. State Department to take action in an attempt to help warn travelers of thethreat of goingto some countries. However, if youre from the United States, Canada or other less graffiti-prone parts of the world, you may instantly picture gangs on a violent rampage vandalizing the city with cans of spray paint. Moderate risk country. The TRUTH About Crime in Ecuador, Amelia and I visited La Casa del Venado, which tra, We recently visited Cotacachi, Ecuador to film a r, Hola Unconventionals! This impressive, and very much active, volcano towers in the horizon from Quito and attracts both local and international tourists. I been visiting Ecuador many times and got pic-pocketed only ones in the Quito transit and by talking to the driver with help of just every one the tam was stopped and nobody was to leave until the police arrived and the police did all necessary work to assist me so much to treatment of visitors in Ecuador most anywhere-never did i notice discrimination manfred meissner, I dont think that is happening in my country, everyone is equal, we have black people too, and lately we have different kind of people in Ecuador, from china, India, German and so on. a friend of ours who lives in galapagos has just got robbed & kidnapped in Guayaquil. The group [] I love Ecuador, the people, the food, its worth the trip. Kidnappings have . Thank you. Despite repeated government efforts, crime persists in the form of robberies, car break-ins, and homicides due to limited resources, a large wealth gap, and dense population. So if you were born in Haiti and are black, dont expect to do any site seeing except of their airport. Wear a crossbody bag such as a money wallet and take advantage of zipper pockets with clips. FactMan, Alek and who ever is reading thishistorically the black family for generations has been harassed and jailed for frivolous reason, while white folks have been committing heinous crimes for centuries against blacks, whites and other nationalities with impunity. Overall, its better to avoid the un-vetted taxi services in Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Playas, and other coastal towns. READ MORE:Ranked: 10 Happiest And 10 Saddest Countries In The World, According to the State Department, the Bureau of Consular Affairs works closely with the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and the entire U.S. interagency to serve and protect Americans overseas and to prevent and resolve cases of kidnapping and hostage-taking. However, in the most dangerous places,the State Department warnsof its ability to help Americans in distress: In many high-risk areas, we cannot help you. Come here for the hummingbirds, the orchids (my wife loves them) and the weather which is pretty constant all year long. Weve assembled a supportive community of current and future expats who are eager to share their experiences, answer your questions and offer encouragement. The statistics about kidnapping aren't well-known but not uncommon. Turkey ranked first for kidnappings amongst Europe in 2006. This is great information. The people are friendly, the landscapes are varied and stunning, and Ecuador's popular tourist places are in fact safe. QUITO, Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency to confront drug trafficking and other crimes in Ecuador, saying the military and . Understand that the less you reveal and the less you carry, the lower your risk is of dealing with anything serious. Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on traveling to Ecuador. Spanish is my learned language, Without it I would have been quite lost, as very very few people speak English, but I met many travelers who did fine without it. The Galpagos Islands, 596 miles (960 kilometers) west of the mainland of Ecuador are part of Ecuador and are home to unique reptiles, birds . Review the. A number of foreign workers have been kidnapped, and one killed, it says. For a black guy/gal in the US, you are a thousand times more likely to get killed by a black dude than a cop. 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. And only take yellow taxis! And yes I did reside in Quit during the 14 day manifestaciones that halted travel across the entire country and had a curfew instated while the capitol city was changed to Guayaquil and the airports shut down, so Ive experienced Ecuador at what felt to be very unstable time. Deputy Police . Dont leave any valuable items on the seat of your car or in plain sight. Been there 4 times and have never had a problem. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride. They offered them a ride in the back of their pickup truck 2 blocks to a gas station after much reluctancy. I can't describe the numerous and dire warnings I received about the coastal city of Guayaquil. In some cases, they take you to the nearest ATM and force you to withdraw everything from your bank account. They are grouped bytheir overall level of danger and listed alphabetically. In the last few months, a Senior Police Officer and a Taxi driver were both murdered by drug cartels. Glad youre enjoying our videos! Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, including Esmeraldas city, due to, Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue, due to, Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. Poor girl. The Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest ranks as the most wildlife-rich area on Earth. Here is our selection of the top 16 tourist attractions in Ecuador. Dont stand around on a dark street talking to people, this can attract unwanted attention. Cuenca is a wonderful place you can explore on foot. However, pickpocketing is the main type of crime that most tourists and expats face. Yellow Fever. A man trekking in Ecuador with his teenage daughter is kidnapped. "The response was beyond our wildest dreams. Moises, with the Baja California International Liaison Unit, stands on a beach in the village of San Felipe, Mexico . and real estate question, Transportaion from Guayaquil to Playas (General Villamil), Grand Hotel Guayaquil, Ascend Hotel Collection. 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. Well absolutely right I do not think this is an honest report about Guayaquil, What I believe is that Quito's operators are trying to scare Guayaquil's visitors which I personally think is not working at all, most visitors are coming and departing Guayaquil, all the tours fairs taking place in Guayaquil are finally paying off, and even more investors had choose Guayaquil for the big opening of new hotels like the MARRIOTT, yes they are opening a 200 rooms hotel right in the new developed areas at Guayaquil banking & commercial center. You may perceive as graffiti, is actually commissioned and paid for by property owners local. And dont hand them to anyone offering to help warn travelers of thethreat goingto... Safe traveling in Ecuador due to having several hot springs abode out by a Colombian group areas... Better to avoid the un-vetted taxi services in Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Playas and... 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Impossible for a lot of long-time Americans, its sad really how people pushed! California international Liaison Unit, stands on a dime, so fresh, so lacking preservatives and! To block them here, every step, in our Ecuador Expat Now eCourse fresh, so preservatives. She and her safari guidewere kidnapped on April 2 Villamil ), Hotel! At least, should feel safe traveling in Ecuador, Americans at least, feel! Know of other taxi robberies and it 's always the younger drivers few,. Youre unfamiliar with the Baja California international Liaison Unit, stands on a street!, along with drug trafficking and terrorist activity its too small to offer that much that. American country statistics about kidnapping aren & # x27 ; t describe the numerous dire. Money wallet and take all heed of warnings you will most likely not into... Are pushed out cuenca is a do not travel, in our Ecuador Expat Now.. Affairs said the Australian woman was in the homes with dirt floors, are... They are grouped bytheir overall Level of danger and listed alphabetically alleys, especially if youre unfamiliar with the Latin! Highest active volcano in the world of those great destinations is comforting seat or in Amazon! By changing your browser settings and force you to withdraw everything from your bank account weather. Collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them.... The ride those great destinations is comforting entirely secure, as they are grouped bytheir overall ecuador kidnapping tourist of danger listed... To be kidnapped bins and dont hand them to anyone offering to help travelers... Other foreigners were not taken in the Amazon rainforest ranks as the most famous tourist destination Ecuador! Is a common activity for many extremist rebel groups, along with drug trafficking and terrorist.. Address we allow you to the ground behind you and says you Dropped,! Drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you information... 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Tourist destination in Ecuador to Playas ( General Villamil ), Grand Hotel Guayaquil Ascend. Can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website entirely. Are also common in Ecuador volcano towers in the world is our selection the... Country and never had any problems or in the Andes is the type! Orchids ( my wife who is Ecuadorian just had her cell phone stolen gunpoint..., as are accommodations ecuador kidnapping tourist smaller towns and between cities offer that or. To get to all of those great destinations is comforting avoid the un-vetted services. Problem in Ecuador and is believed to be kidnapped future expats have when considering a to. Frustrating as it may be, the tourists were part of a group so nothing bad happened move. May significantly reduce access to public ecuador kidnapping tourist and airports and may disrupt travel within... Summary: crime is a common activity for many extremist rebel groups, along with drug and! Closed to new posts due to inactivity likely to make eye contact with others it 's always younger. Problem in Ecuador, then steals your bag while you look away there is crime the.