Here's some travel advice to keep you informed and
safe when it comes to travel to Ecuador...
Terrorism
Travellers should be aware of the threat of terrorism globally
and should read this travel advice in conjunction with the General
Advice to Australian Travellers.
There is a general threat in Ecuador from locally-motivated terrorism.
Commercial and public areas, as well as buildings and symbols
associated with the government of Ecuador are potential targets.
Australians are advised to avoid travel to the north-east border
region of Ecuador. Terrorist and organised criminal groups from
neighbouring Colombia are active in Carchi, Orellana, Sucumbios
and Napo provinces in north-eastern Ecuador, bordering Colombia
and Peru. A number of foreign workers have been kidnapped, and
in one case, killed.
Civil Unrest/Political Tension Violent anti-government
protests and demonstrations in April 2005, largely centred in
Quito, have abated and the situation has improved. However, the
potential for further demonstrations remains.
Public demonstrations and large public gatherings occur throughout
Ecuador and may turn violent.
Personal Security
Violent crime, including murder, kidnapping and armed assault,
continues to increase in Ecuador, particularly in Guayas province,
Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca. This risk is heightened when travelling
alone or after dark. Following attacks on female travellers, Australians
should avoid hiking to the antennas of Volcan Pichincha via Cruz
Loma, west of Quito.
Serious crime, including assaults and armed robberies, occur regularly
on Guayaquils buses and on long distance and international buses,
especially after dark. The routes between the cities of Guayaquil
and Cuenca and between Guayaquil and Riobamba are particularly
affected by crime. The number of muggings and sexual assaults
has also increased.
Travellers have been robbed and assaulted after accepting spiked
food, chewing gum, cigarettes and drinks. Travellers have also
been robbed and assaulted after being sprayed by aerosols containing
incapacitating chemicals.
There have been reports of river tour boats being commandeered
and robbed at gun point, with passengers left stranded.
Travellers staying at jungle lodges in the Lower Rio Napo and
Cuyabeno National Reserve areas have been robbed by armed criminals.
Prior to travel, Australians should ensure they have a variety
of financial
Local Conditions
Unexploded and unmarked minefields are a danger in the Cordillera
del Condor region of the Ecuador/Peru border. Australians should
exercise particular caution in Zamora-Chinchipe, Morona-Santiago
and El Oro provinces when travelling off-road.
The safety standards Australians might expect of tour operators
are not always met, including those operating in the Galapagos
Islands. Written confirmation should be obtained from the travel
agent or tour operator that their vessel is certified by the Ecuadorian
navy to meet the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention standards.
Ecuador is located in an active seismic zone and is subject to
volcanic eruptions. There are several active volcanoes in Ecuador,
three of which have erupted recently: Guagua Pichincha (11km west
of Quito), Tungurahua (120km south of Quito - overlooking the
town of Banos) and El Reventador (95km northeast of Quito). In
the event of a natural disaster, local authorities will provide
advice.
Heavy rain often results in landslides and mudslides.
Local Law and Customs
Travellers are reminded that when overseas, they are subject to
local laws. Local laws and legal processes can be very different
from those at home. A violation of local laws may result in a
jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot
override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or
unjust by your standards.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include lengthy prison
terms. The minimum sentence for trafficking of any illegal drug
is 12 years imprisonment.
Curfews may be imposed.
It is a legal requirement to carry identification at all times.
Individuals unable to provide proof of identity to the authorities
may be detained.
For children (under 18 years of age) travelling alone or with
one parent, local immigration authorities may require a letter
of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) and a copy of the
childs birth certificate. Both documents should be translated
into Spanish and notarised and certified by an Ecuadorian embassy
or consulate.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa conditions are subject to change. For up-to-date visa information,
Australians should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of
Ecuador, well in advance of travel. If you are travelling from
a yellow fever endemic country, a valid Yellow Fever Certificate
is required for entry into Ecuador. Travellers are advised to
consult the World Health Organization (WHO) for a list of yellow
fever endemic countries. Ecuador is listed by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines
flying out of Ecuador require evidence of a valid yellow fever
vaccination before allowing passengers to board. In the case of
at least one airline, evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination
is required if the passenger is travelling to Australia within
six days of departing Ecuador. If in doubt, travellers are advised
to check with their airlines for further advice. If you have visited
Ecuador in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia,
Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow
Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia. Australians
travelling to Ecuador through the United States of America (USA),
including those in transit in Honolulu or other USA points of
entry, are required to meet USA entry/transit requirements. Travellers
to Ecuador are advised to check their visa needs well in advance
of travel with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. This advice
should be read in conjunction with our travel advice for the USA.
Health Issues The altitude in Quito (2800 metres) and other parts
of Ecuador may cause problems for travellers with medical conditions.
For information on prevalent diseases and inoculations, travellers
should consult their doctor, travel clinic or the World Health
Organization (WHO). Further information can be found in our 'Travelling
Well' brochure.
Source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
& Trade
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