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By Suzanne Blake
Reporter
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The United States has updated its travel warning for Ecuador, adding "increased risk" guidance for American travelers visiting the area.
In an update posted Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State said: “Exercise increased caution in Ecuador due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”
Why It Matters
Ecuador is experiencing a rise in drug-related crime, especially in Guayaquil and Esmeraldas. This has led to an uptick in robberies, muggings and overall gang violence in certain areas.
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In the State Department’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress on International Child Abduction, Ecuador was listed for “demonstrating a pattern of non-compliance with respect to international parental child abduction.”
What To Know
Travelers are urged to exercise caution, especially when traversing areas with high crime rates. The Galápagos Islands are generally considered safe for tourists, but much of the rest of the country is facing a high risk of violent crimes, including robberies and kidnappings.
In the new alert, Americans are urged to avoid the following areas due to terrorism and crime:
- Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue.
- The cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the province of El Oro.
- The cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios.
- The canton of Duran, in the province of Guayas.
- Esmeraldas City and all areas north of Esmeraldas City in Esmeraldas province.
- The area north of Esmeraldas City to the Colombian border and east to Carchi province.
Meanwhile, travel to Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarqui Avenue, El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas, Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, all areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province and the provinces of Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo should still be strongly reconsidered, according to the alert.
“The recent travel warning issued by the U.S. for Ecuador should not be either unexpected or surprising and may very well be only a reflection of and just another sign of what may also be coming in the very near future, involving potentially additional travel warnings due to the increasingly rising tensions, over immigration policies, ICE enforcement and related issues…” Webster University Adjunct Professor William Hall told Newsweek.
To enter the country, you’ll need a passport valid for at least six months. No tourist visa is required for stays less than 90 days.
However, Ecuador still maintains relatively low levels of crime compared to other South American countries. Tourists are advised to exercise caution and avoid areas like the exclusion zone along the Colombian border and the city of Guayaquil.
If you do still travel to Ecuador, you can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
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What People Are Saying
Webster University Adjunct Professor William Hall told Newsweek: “It would also appear very likely that these increasingly rising tensions will potentially result in many more travel warnings being issued in the near future, absent any concrete measures taken to address and resolve them.”
What Happens Next
Additional travel advisories may be posted as the United States continues harsher immigration policies and ICE enforcement under President Donald Trump’s immigration.
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