Despite recent international headlines surrounding the assassination of a presidential candidate, prison riots, narcotrafficking as well as cautionary statements in embassy travel advisories, Ecuador remains a safe destination for travelers.
In fact, I’d contend that it’s not that different from visiting Peru, though one must always consider that crime rates vary greatly between provinces and larger cities.
It’s important to recognize that global news often amplifies negative aspects, and regrettably, this can result in substantial declines in tourism, directly impacting the local economy, which we are currently observing in Ecuador due to a couple of exaggerated headlines (My favorite one was “Ecuador at war”, which was referring to a crackdown on drug gangs but, boy, was that too easily taken out of context!)
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How safe is Quito Ecuador for tourists?
Like many other capital cities in Latin America, Quito has its areas to avoid / places to explore with caution.
While I love Ecuador and have called it home for over a decade, I prefer staying in the surrounding valleys such as Cumbaya and Tumbaco (where I reside) rather than overnighting in Quito itself.
From these valleys, you can conveniently venture into Quito for a day trip (just a 30-45 minute drive to the city center), where you can explore museums, the main plaza, the Basilica, savor delicious meals, and then return to the tranquility of the valley for the night.
While the historic center is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Quito ( was just there recently and it was BEAUTIFUL, full of families and people trying the new metro), it’s worth noting that petty theft is common, so try not to wave the phone around. Additionally, the streets can become desolate and potentially risky at night, so avoid those too, but that’s pretty standard in Latin America!
Certain activities in Quito should be approached with caution, such as going up the steps to the Panecillo, better take an Uber up.
Another point to remember is the Quitumbe terminal terrestre, the primary bus station in the city’s south – it’s advisable not to travel to or from there after 8 pm. During the day, however, it’s perfectly fine, just keep an eye on your valuables which, again, is normal for most bustling bus stations in Latin America.
If you’re looking for a safe and enjoyable way to explore the city and its nearby areas, consider participating in cool food tours (available on Airbnb experiences) or guided day tours.
Is Ecuador safe for tourists 2024?
Yes, of course! Ecuador is more than just its big cities and dark alleys. There are so many stunning places to visit with incredibly sweet and generous people.
There are rich and secluded cloudforests and rainforests and páramos (Andean highlands) where you can safely enjoy outdoor activities without any concerns at all! People in the countryside are lovely and generous, though sometimes shy.
Safest activities / tours to do in Ecuador
I may be biased (I definitely am biased ;), but if you’re interested in expanding your consciousness and connecting with nature, joining our 5-day ayahuasca retreat is one of the safest ways to visit the Quito area as well as Mindo Cloudforest. You’ll be with a small group the entire time, we can coordinate airport pick up and drop off, you drive with us in our own cars to Mindo and then are in a lush, beautiful cloudforest for half of the retreat.
- Other safe activities:
Going on a day tour to Cotopaxi and/or Quilotoa where you can hike, horseback ride, kayak, birdwatch… - Soaking in Papallacta’s thermal baths, only 45 minutes from Quito
- Obviously the Galapagos Islands
- Exploring Antisana National Park, near where we do out 2-day ayahuasca retreats.
- Visiting Mindo Cloudforest, only 2 hours from Quito, doing yoga and drinking a cappuccino with almond milk while taking videos of toucans
- Go kayaking in some of the best rapids in the world near Baeza, Ecuador. Actually, that’s pretty dangerous, but for other reasons!
- Visit Yasuní national park in the Amazon
- Visit Cuenca and the surrounding Cajas National Park
- Check out Vilcabamba and plan on making it your second residence after a couple of days (because it’s so cool there).
- The list goes on…
Places to avoid in Ecuador (due to safety)
As a long-time residence of this magnificent country, here are the places I personally would avoid:
- Guayaquil – I know there are some cool parts to the city and some incredible food, but big cities in general are too intense for me and if you don’t know your way around, you might go to the wrong neighborhoods.
- The Lago Agrio region and the border with Colombia in the Esmeraldas province. There are some stunning spots in the area of the country, but unfortunately that’s where there has been more drug-cartel related activity, perhaps a spill over from Colombia, and generally more poverty, which can lead to increased crime rates.
- If you’re visiting Cuyabeno in the Amazon, you’re fine with a tour group, but if you’re backpacking solo, perhaps be extra careful in these areas. That said, the food in Esmeraldas is amazing and there are some beautiful beaches like Cojimíes and Portete. Muisne is also super interesting and quite safe. Just don’t be wandering around at night, make sure you know where you’re staying the night etc.
- Some parts towards the coast like los Ríos province or Quininde I would also avoid.
