Exercise normal precautions in Ecuador. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

• Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos provinces due to crime.

Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.

If you decide to travel to Ecuador:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Crime and Safety Reports for Ecuador.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos Provinces – Level 4:  Do Not Travel

Since January 2018, a transnational crime group has kidnapped and murdered Ecuadorian citizens in Esmeraldas province, in addition to carrying out bombings targeting Ecuadorian military and law enforcement.

The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Colombian border area, as U.S. government personnel cannot travel to the provinces of Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos without permission from the Embassy’s security office. However, U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel to the northern bank of the Napo River in Sucumbíos, an area approximately four miles wide.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.