ISISWA continues to conduct through suicide bombers, vehicle-borne IEDs, raids, ambushes, kidnappings, and other means asymmetric attacks against civilians, military, and government personnel. believe what you want. it happened. That was not fun. Lying at the bottom of an active volcano called as Tungurahua, this places offers the most spectacular Ecuador sightseeing spots in the country with multiple waterfalls flowing down to the river. The kidnapping also promptedthe U.S. State Department to take action in an attempt to help warn travelers of thethreat of goingto some countries. However, taking certain precautions like traveling in groups and avoiding traveling alone at night are always your best bet to stay safe in any major city. more. Ecuador was the first place I ever traveled internationally and I didn't have a single issue. Medical Emergency: 192. We know of other taxi robberies and it's always the younger drivers. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. This travelers dream vacation soon turned into a nightmare. These officers can help you out in an emergency, such as a personal injury or to report a crime. The key in Ecuador is to travel smart, keep up with local news, and explore in groups or with a tour guide when possible. The people are nice and helpful when they know you. An Israeli Chabad rabbi working in Quito, Ecuador was kidnapped last week and held for four days by a gang of criminals who demanded $500,000 in ransom. there is certainly crime there, just as in any major city. Canberra's department of foreign affairs said the Australian woman was in the care of Ecuadorean authorities. Love a good meal with them. As tourists or embassy workers entered the taxi, a couple of men would enter the cab and force people to withdraw all the money at the nearest ATM. Just like anywhere in the world, there are areas that you stay away from. Suggesting there is crime in Baos is utter stupidity. Kidnappings have . Be wary of unlicensed taxis since you might get kidnapped and robbed. Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia. Ecuadors flora and fauna are probably among the greatest in the world! 52 Ecuador : Safety by City Guayaquil Manta Quito Ecuador - safety as a country The City of Quito, whose official name is San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador, South America and has a population of 2,671,191 inhabitants, which makes it the second-largest city in Ecuador. The statistics about kidnapping aren't well-known but not uncommon. All are amazing places to explore and take hundreds of pictures at. Some people have reported their belongings missing from their hotel rooms, so taking advantage of a hotel safe for belongings like passports and cash is a great idea. In the last few months, a Senior Police Officer and a Taxi driver were both murdered by drug cartels. "When the helicopters got right above us, the kidnappers made us hide under bushes. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. Glad youre enjoying our videos! I agree with world traveler, this seems to be another attempt at Quito hotel operators to try to create some kind of fear in travelers to keep the majority of people who are on there way to the Galapagos's islands in Quito , for years now there have been more and more trips heading out of Guayaquil , which is very bad business for Quito , So don't believe everything you hear about Guayaquil being bad , it has come a long way, and there has been allot of effort to bring people to this wonderful cityRen. Ecuador offers some of the most incredible outdoor experiences on earth. Im an immigrant and am planning on renouncing my US citizenship. Briton Kathryn Cox and Australian Fiona Wilde rescued after being abducted in Cuyabeno nature reserve James Meikle Sun 30 Sep 2012 19.09 EDT Two women tourists rescued from kidnappers in. Advice from me (the most paranoid traveler who prepares like crazy): Dont be vulnerable. The Interior Ministry reported only that it was likely a Colombian group that took the tourists. Yeah we carry weapons to keep criminals like you honest. I didnt have them when I first visited but I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised by the diversity you can find in Ecuador, from scenic landscapes, rainforests as long as the eye can see, colonial architecture and a beautiful culture awaiting to be explored. Speaking on Sky News, Wilde said: "We were very scared but we could often hear the helicopters above us and that was very comforting while we were in the jungle. I have a huge desire to visit Ecuador but my fear of it being safe is my only hesitation. Authorities in both countries worked the case. One of the most common crimes against tourists in Ecuador is pickpocketing. Kidnapping for ransom is a common activity for many extremist rebel groups, along with drug trafficking and terrorist activity. . Racism against blacks and indigenous people exist, its sad but true, someday when we all realized how important human beings are to our Heavenly Father, we will love one another. I never encountered any issues or ever felt unsafe. Anyone who harbours fear about travelling to Ecuador is denying themselves a visit to one of the most interesting an friendliest countries in the world. Find even more inspiration for Ecuador here The 30 best places to go with kids Travel Bucket List Ideas: Places To Visit Before You Die The 10 best jungle lodges in the Amazon The top 20 volcanoes around the world 20 destinations to see before they disappear Incredible forests of the world Equatorial differences in Quito, Ecuador However, there are kidnappings in taxis where the robbers keep you hostage until they take everything from you and make you withdraw all your money from the nearest ATM, so be very careful. Take care everyone. That won't be destroyed anytime soon. These are sad days. U.S. government personnel have been directed to exercise extreme caution and maintain increased vigilance when traveling in and around Guayaquil. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File), A 2014 file photo of a memorial for 43 students. My daughter calls it Hawaii hit Arizona and it got dropped in Malaga Spain. Not good at all. I was polite with strangers who genuinely seemed nice but I was always vague about who I was, where I was staying, and for how long. Once inside, the tourists were robbed at knifepoint, threatened, or driven around to ATMs to make cash withdrawals. In terms of overall crime, the city ranks on the lower end when compared to similar cities in the United States. And you added Chicago at the end which has a high black population with a lot of black-on-black crime. The country is beautiful and the people are very generous and appreciative. If youre planning to visit Guayaquil, its best to do so in the safety of a group or with a tour guide. Apart from the pickpockets, muggers and scammers, you should bear in mind that the biggest crooks in this country are the seemingly friendly experts who just want to help you, by telling you that they can get you a great deal on the Galapagos islands cruise, and then charge an astronomically high fee compared to the real cost of the cruise. kidnapped while traveling to Uganda to view gorillas. Your safest option is to travel in a group or with a tour guide. 7.8 magnitude earthquake - 16 April, 2016. However, social reform efforts such as rebuilding the police and criminal justice system, installing street cameras, and increasing vital social spending, has increased safety in Ecuador. The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Guayaquil south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue, as U.S. government personnel cannot travel to this area without permission from the Embassys security office. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, express kidnapping, and armed robbery, is common. Express kidnappings, often in connection with carjackings, is a concern throughout Ecuador. How are you going to tell me that the police didnt fill him with lead on the spot? Other factors, such as lack of judicial resources and weak border security, also played a role. I love Ecuador, its joyful and safe in some places. Last Update: Reissued with updates to security situation in Guayaquil. When you take off your jacket or bag, they grab it and run. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. My daughter loves it. Use common sense and you should be fine. But then you go to a place like Ecuador, and its cheaper, and you might still not fit in but there is still (its changing sadly too) a homogeneity to the place. There is always a rotten apple in some bags. The Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest ranks as the most wildlife-rich area on Earth. In the wake ofthe kidnapping, the State Departmentannounced that it was adding a new indicatorto show which countries have the highest risk of kidnapping. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Miami, LA, Houston and NYC. For example, in Quito, discover the Best Preserve Historic Center in South America. They held her captive for 460 days, during which time they raped, assaulted and. If youre using a car, dont store your valuables in plain sight. Review the. The high Andes Mountains form the backbone of the country. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on traveling to Ecuador. Criminals have conducted indiscriminate attacks without warning on public spaces across the city. Avoid walking alone at night, especially along dark streets and trails. Poor girl. Hi Dorin When did you go and did you stay in Hostils, Stay away. And the people are great too ! So its making it unaffordable. There are plenty of reserves and national parks such as Cuyabeno Wild Life Reserve, Mindo and San Luis de Pambil where you can spot many types of flora and fauna. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. This isnt to say you should walk around Ecuador without taking common sense precautions. Foreigners have been kidnapped in the past. Overall, Ecuador is a very safe country, but crime is a still a risk, just as it is across the globe. Other social reform efforts included rebuilding the police and criminal justice system, as well as increases in vital social programs. Keep in mind that taxi robbery is a danger in Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Machala, Playas, and other coastal towns. Two women tourists rescued from kidnappers in Ecuador near its border with Colombia told how they feared they would be killed by their captors. As an Expat in Ecuador, I know its not very safe here. Earlier this month,Californiaresident Kimberly Sue Endicott traveled to Uganda on a bucket-list trip to see gorillas in their natural habitat. Since Ecuador is a relatively poor nation, flashing cell phones, laptops, portable music players, cameras or cash is highly dangerous. Just so happens that Ecuador's Parliament has approved an oil drilling project. There is that tension as the OP said, but depending where you are, there can be safer and less safer places. Routine Vaccinations for Ecuador. If youre careful and dont stand out, you can be okay in Ecuador. Check the Gov. This is great information. QUITO, Ecuador Every night since March 26, when three Ecuadoran journalists were kidnapped near their country's border with Colombia, their colleagues have gathered to demand their rescue. Turkey ranked first for kidnappings amongst Europe in 2006. Ecuador Kidnapping: British Woman Rescued Two tourists who were abducted at a nature reserve in Ecuador are said to be safe and in "good condition". Transportation is not very safe or reliable. Robberies and assaults have taken place even on crowded beaches . My wife who is Ecuadorian just had her cell phone stolen at gunpoint last sunday. Always check everything twice and negotiate everything in advance. Previous travel alerts for Ecuador. The kidnapping of 16 American missionaries and one Canadian in Haiti underlines the power that criminal gangs wield in the country and has many asking where the country is headed. The risks of terrorist attacks in Ecuador are low, but since they shouldn't be ruled out, it is important that you remain vigilant at all times and aware of your surroundings. Up to $20,000 each. Gracias! I traveled from Quito all the way to Guayaquil. Carchi, Sucumbos, and northern Esmeraldas Provinces Level 4: Do Not Travel. These Positions Will Pay You To Travel The World. Adam Maksou, 36, of Methuen, is being held on $75,000 cash bail and Jamie (O'Neil) Garrity, also 36 of Methuen, is being held on $10,000 cash bail for their involvement in the alleged kidnapping. I am an older woman, used to travel alone everywhere. Also we are more than 46%, How gross Jack! 25 WEIRD THINGS CAUGHT ON SECURITY CAMERAS!Check out these crazy weird moments caught on security cameras.Subscribe to never miss a video!Leave a like . Airline Passenger Arrested After Complaining About Vomit On Seat. Most of these crimes occur in tourist locations, so staying vigilant in these areas and in crowds will help keep you from falling victim to theft. Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. The State Department already issues travel advisories for every country around the world,withadvice oncrime, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, health and other potential dangers. and real estate question, Transportaion from Guayaquil to Playas (General Villamil), Grand Hotel Guayaquil, Ascend Hotel Collection. The kidnapping of adults is often for ransom or to force someone to withdraw money from an ATM, but may also be for sexual assault. An oil drilling project didnt fill him with lead on the lower end when to... Offers some of the most paranoid traveler who prepares like crazy ): dont be vulnerable the said! 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