Ecuador
Warnings and insurance
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Coastal Region
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of:
- Esmeraldas
- Manabí
- Santa Elena
- Guayas
- El Oro
- Los Ríos
- Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province, including onward or return travel to the Galapagos Islands.
Within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, except for these areas in Carchi province:
- El Ángel Ecological Reserve
- Rumichaca border crossing
- the town of Tulcán
- the Pan-American Highway
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
State of Emergency declared
A 60-day state of emergency (SOE) was declared on 22 May due to armed violence and extended for a further 60 days on 2 July. The SOE currently applies to the following provinces:
- Guayas
- El Oro
- Santa Elena
- Manabí
- Orellana
- Los Ríos
There is no curfew in place, but the SOE allows the military and police to seize assets, conduct inspections and enter private properties without permission. There are additional restrictions on the freedoms of association and assembly and the police and armed forces are permitted to break up gatherings in public spaces.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.