Ecuador

Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano near Baños Calms Down

Date: June 30th, 2010 |

Seismic activity at Tungurahua volcano 80 miles from Quito near Baños has diminished significantly in the past few weeks, prompting Ecuadorian authorities to reduce the warning level from orange to yellow and the U.S. Embassy in Quito to lift its notice to avoid the area around the volcano. Small explosions and emissions continue but without [read more]

Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano near Baños Appears Ready for Major Eruption

Date: June 9th, 2010 |

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Volcanic activity at Tungurahua volcano near Quito increased, prompting authorities to raise the alert to yellow-orange and the U.S. Embassy in Quito to issue an alert recommending tourists defer travel to Baños and the surrounding area. The volcano threw off large plumes of ash amid heavy explosions and officials consider the situation volatile, with a [read more]

Ecuador: Beware Counterfeit U.S. Currency

Date: August 6th, 2009 |

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Counterfeit U.S. currency is a growing problem throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Quito advised residents and visitors to inspect their bills carefully when leaving any banking institution or private business, checking for accuracy, wear and tear, or counterfeiting. Do so before leaving a banking window because banks will normally replace the bad bill [read more]

Ecuador: Pirates Prowl Waters off Ecuador’s Coast

Date: November 26th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil warned travelers of a recent armed robbery at sea and urged citizens sailing off Ecuador’s coast to travel in convoys, sail out of view of land and always maintain good communications. The incident occurred off the coast of Ensenada de Pedernales, Manabi and emphasized the risks of maritime travel [read more]

Ecuador: National Police Increase Presence to Combat Crime across the Country

Date: October 29th, 2008 |

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Violent crime has increased throughout the country, and in response to it and citizen protests demanding action, the national police recently launched an emergency operations plan to combat crime by increasing the federal police presence in each of the country’s 24 provinces. Travelers can expect more police checkpoints throughout the country and should always carry [read more]

Ecuador: Crime Rate High Around Country; Tungurahua Volcano Settles Down

Date: June 16th, 2010 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Quito issued a notice June 14 to remind travelers that the crime rate in Ecuador is very high and crime is often violent. Such crime is not restricted to Quito or Guayaquil, but also occurs in smaller cities such as Otavalo, Manta, and Cuenca where thieves and small gangs are sometimes [read more]

Ecuador: Kidnapping Threat, Blackouts, Crime in Quito

Date: November 25th, 2009 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Quito urged Americans visiting or resident in Ecuador to be vigilant about their personal security following the kidnapping for ransom of an American traveling in the northern province of Carchi near the Colombian border. The 24-year-old was abducted in the city of Tulcan Oct. 17 but was rescued 21 days later. [read more]

Ecuador: Express Kidnappings Plague Guayaquil

Date: April 30th, 2009 |

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Express kidnappings by taxi drivers working with accomplices have become a significant problem in Guayaquil. In such incidents, the victims are threatened, usually with guns, then held captive as the taxi drives them from ATM to ATM to empty their bank accounts. The crimes have occurred in upscale areas such as Urdesa, outside the San [read more]

Ecuador: Beware Yellow Taxis in Urdesa Neighborhood of Guayaquil

Date: November 6th, 2008 |

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Several U.S. citizens have been robbed recently in express kidnappings in the Urdesa neighborhood of Guayaquil. Victims have hailed yellow taxis outside popular restaurants and been threatened with guns by drivers and their accomplices, then driven from ATM to ATM to withdraw money. In all incidents the victims have been in groups of three or [read more]

Ecuador: Quito’s Old City Now a Haven for Tourists

Date: September 25th, 2008 |

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A decade ago, Quito’s old city was a dilapidated den of thieves where tourists wandered at their peril as the UNESCO World Heritage Site fell deeper into decay. But now all that has changed. Since the government launched a plan in 2000 to restore the Centro Historico, some 200 buildings have been rehabilitated including the [read more]