A practical guide for making your Ecuadorian experience a safer one
Ecuador is home to one of the wildest and most diverse and unimaginable destinations in the world. Its population is known for its kindness, warmth, and willingness to help tourists and provide them with the best possible experience during their trip.
Sadly, even if on a smaller scale, like everywhere else, tourists can also be the target of criminals or be indirectly affected by uncontrollable situations.
Plausible challenges travelers might face during their trips are robberies, demonstrations that affect their itinerary, or casual accidents that are not preventable.
Below, you will find 10 tips that will drastically reduce the chances of you being a target of crime and make of your traveling experience a safer one:
1. Know which areas to avoid. Search in advance the places you are going to visit to take proper precautions before arriving in the country. Identify high‑risk zones where violent crime and kidnappings happen. If there is a high-risk place you would like to visit regardless, try to do it with a licensed tour operator that offers a day-tour.
2. Avoid touching objects from people randomly approaching you. One common way of robbery and attacks, especially in major cities, is the use of scopolamine (a substance that will override your will and erase your memory). The way this happens might vary, but the modus operandi follows this way: an unsuspicious stranger (a pregnant woman, an old lady, someone looking for a direction, or just anyone) will approach you asking for a favor, a direction, or just trying to start a conversation; it is key that you keep a proper distance between the person and do not touch any object or paper they try handing to you, since it might contain this substance and make you a target.
At bars or during a night out, do not accept drinks or food from strangers.
3. Keep a low profile. Avoid flashy jewelry, large cash, and unattended bags. While on the metro or any public transportation, always wear your backpack on the front, beware of the zippers, and be cautious of people who seem to be getting extremely close to you. A common way of robbery in public transportation is to distract you, keeping close to you, especially in rush hours, and discretely cutting a section of your bag with a knife and stealing any valuable item you might have.
4. Use trusted transport and avoid night travel. Book reputable taxis and avoid traveling by road at night in unfamiliar or rural areas. Ridesharing apps are generally safe to use and cheaper compared to traditional taxis. However, as a local, I have gone back to using traditional booked taxis, for it is not uncommon to hear, from time to time, about cases of kidnappings, and robberies of people who have used a rideshare app. I would like to emphasize the word “booked”, because taking any cab you see in the street could be potentially dangerous; try to always book your taxis through a legally established company (you can find one on the internet or ask your hotel or host for a known driver or company). And always verify the taxi and your driver’s information before getting on the car.
5. Stay informed about demonstrations. Occasionally, Ecuador is involved in demonstrations, due to political transitions and social unrest. Check the news every day to find out about any relevant event that might affect the logistics of your day. Avoid protests and large gatherings.
6. Protect against express kidnapping and scams. Be cautious at ATMs, shield PIN entry, and limit ATM withdrawals; if approached for a “quick” ride or forced withdrawal, prioritize safety and contact authorities or your embassy.
7. Carry emergency contacts and copies. Keep digital and paper copies of passport, insurance, and emergency contacts; store the originals at the safe at your lodge.
8. Buy travel insurance with evacuation coverage. Choose a policy that covers medical evacuation and trip interruption, especially if you plan to visit the Amazon or reach a summit in the Highlands.
9. If you are hiring the services of a tour operator. Prefer licensed guides and established tour operators, especially for complex tours that require a higher level of logistics arrangement, like jungle treks, mountain hikes, or rock climbing.
10. Keep situational awareness and adapt plans. Be ready to change routes or accommodation if local conditions shift.
This post’s goal is far from making you afraid of visiting my country. On the contrary, it is a useful and brief guide for making your travel experience a safer one and preventing you from falling into common safety risks.
While I agree with the fact that trips cannot always be perfectly organized and that giving room to uncertainty is part of the whole traveling experience, it is not less true that, like it or not, potential threats exist for travelers, especially in countries like mine, where social unrest is a constant.
Do not become paranoid, just be fully aware of your surroundings all the time and everywhere, do not be trusting, and trust your gut.
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