Its got better food. They took their money and credit cards and pin numbers, drove them across the bridge to a remote, poor part of the city and, fortunately dropped them off after an hour, without harming them. Spanish is my learned language, Without it I would have been quite lost, as very very few people speak English, but I met many travelers who did fine without it. They were, we think, close to maybe killing us. Thank you! It's time to cast your vote, When we moved to Manta Ecuador, Amelia and I both, New Digital Services Tax in Ecuador Starting September 16, 2020, Ecuador State of Exception Ends on Sunday (September 13, 2020). Transnational crime groups operating in Esmeraldas province have engaged in violent crime and killed local citizens in addition to carrying out bombings targeting Ecuadorian military and law enforcement. There have also been reports of armed robberies at restaurants in the fashionable areas of Urdesa and Samborondon. Its reputation is that of one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with one hundred different types of hummingbirds and thousands of orchid varieties. The Reforma newspaper revealed over the weekend that around 20 young people traveling from Guanajuato suffered a massive kidnapping in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, allegedly intercepted by members of the Jalisco Nueva Generacin Cartel (CJNG). Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. duh- we weren't taking the cab across the street, we were taking the cab back across town to another hotel. You wont regret it. And they get killed for much more trivial reasons (look up Dylann Roof, the Charleston shooter, for example. Dont leave any valuable items on the seat of your car or in plain sight. Carchi, Sucumbos, and northern Esmeraldas Provinces Level 4: Do Not Travel. No matter what white folks and some of the confused Latin people in the U.S. will justify the unjustifiable. Express kidnappings - short-term opportunistic abductions, aimed at extracting cash from the victim - also occur. You Dropped Something someone points to the ground behind you and says you dropped something, then steals your bag while you look away. 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. The city of Cuenca is one of the safest in Ecuador with one of the lowest murder rates in Latin America, according to Governor Xavier Martinez. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. National Emergency Number: 190. 2. 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. Crime does seen to be on the uptick for tourists and Ecuadorians. Common sense says Cooperate and you wont get shot!!! If youve watched any of our YouTube videos from Cuenca or some of the other cities in Ecuador, you may have noticed a lot of graffiti. They have had other flights coming back to the U.S. but they wont allow her to get on any of them until tonightwhy? To have so many people come to our aid, such an enormous response, and to hear so many people searching for us on the ground, and then hearing there were so many people behind the scenes, we are so grateful. Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue. The local police tracked the kidnappers down, freed the rabbi and arrested the gang's Israeli leader. Ecuador has some people fooled considering its small size. its a lot safer than any big city in America, and if your black you dont have to worry about getting shot by the police.its not like LA or NYC MIA or Houston is a safe havenyou are 100 % safer in Guayaquil than LA or Miami, Houston or Chicago, if your black should be corrected to if youre black. In one month, I got robbed twice. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Among the main attractions here are the Old Cathedral of Cuenca (built in 1567), the Church of San Sebastian, Calderon Park or the huge New Cathedral of Cuenca. The Interior and Environment. If that wasn't enough, the assailants left them broke and alone in remote locations. What to do if an earthquake strikes while you're in Ecuador. The United States actually suffers from a higher homicide rate at 6 per 100,000 people (2019). The statistics about kidnapping aren't well-known but not uncommon. The goal, according to the State Department: To communicate more clearly to U.S. citizens the risks of kidnapping and hostage-taking by criminal and terrorist actors around the world.. https://liveabroadnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Quitoview.jpg, https://liveabroadnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LAN-Logo-v1-300x180.png, Is Ecuador Safe? That won't be destroyed anytime soon. And a woman's. Two women tourists rescued from kidnappers in Ecuador near its border with Colombia told how they feared they would be killed by their captors. Also don't wear an expensive watch or walk around on the street using your cell phone. Ecuador is a fairly friendly and respectful country because its citizens are like that, and I say this because I am a resident of this country, the only bad thing is that corruption abounds, even in small businesses, the corruption that the government has against the people is very greatAll Ecuadorians work very hard to feed bureaucrats who only live with the efforts of their citizensThats the only bad thing, the security of Ecuador depends a lot on how the tourist is dressed, for example if a tourist It is very elegant, it is obvious that thieves will put their eye on it and want to steal it, but if a traveler is dressed normal and simple, absolutely nothing will happen to him, also depending on how you treat Ecuadorians in the same way they They will treat youIf you plan to travel to Ecuador, I highly recommend it, there are many unique and wonderful tourist sites waiting for you! Britain's latest travel advisory to Ecuador also warned against travelling near the Colombian border, especially in Sucumbios province where the pair were abducted. many agents have been fired or removed but the geniuses will believe anything because marxists are like that. Just watch your stuff at all times pack lightly and Keep important stuff at your hotel or in your inside pockets.. Um LOL is that really the comparison? Dont put them in overhead bins and dont hand them to anyone offering to help you. Ecuador is a place for the real nature loving tourist, and a paradise for visitors trying to immerse themselves in breathtaking beaches like Salinas, Bahia de Caraquez, Manta, Crucita, San Jacinto, and San Clemente. 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. Though other South American countries are known for getting stabbed, mugged or kidnapped on the streets, the most common form of crime is petty theft and the weapons criminals use are mostly only there to scare you. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. There isnt all the much here anymore. Bump and Grab youre bumped while being passed in close quarters like a bus or mercado and your pocket is picked. So if you were born in Haiti and are black, dont expect to do any site seeing except of their airport. The U.S. State Department has released a list of. Leave your wallet and credit cards and passport in the safe in the hotel and just take cash out with you. All Rights Reserved. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, express kidnapping, and armed robbery, is common. 7.8 magnitude earthquake - 16 April, 2016. Search on the internet and you will find tales of tourists being express kidnapped from Mexico to the Philippines to Fiji. Once you become a member, youll also gain access to a variety of exclusive benefits that will help you make a smooth transition to Ecuador! believe what you want. it happened. We had a good time and we might even repeat the experience in a few years. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. ", The Foreign Office in London said: "We are grateful to the Ecuadorean authorities for recovering Kathryn and her companion, and are working with them to establish the facts of what happened and who was responsible.". Discovery Company. Many crimes go unsolved because the police dont have the time or resources to pursue every robbery or case of pickpocketing. 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. An Inter-American Development Bank study found that, by 2018, these government efforts helped reduce violence and criminality drastically.. Due to a sustained high level of violent crime in Guayaquil south of Portete de Tarq Avenue, U.S. government personnel cannot travel to this area without permission from the Embassys security office. My host family explained scams and safety to me, although they recommended a few options to me that I myself do not recommend others trying such as riding the public bus at night (unless its an overnight bus ride from one region to another) the equovia/bus station itself in historic Quit and the equova at night. I am an older woman, used to travel alone everywhere. Ecuador is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers. Ecuador was the first place I ever traveled internationally and I didn't have a single issue. Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqu Avenue Level 4: Do Not Travel. On the other hand, Ecuador is not a cheap country either, the prices for accommodation/food/transport are very comparable with European countries or US. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Been there 4 times and have never had a problem. I am a Canadian living in Baos for over three years. . This impressive, and very much active, volcano towers in the horizon from Quito and attracts both local and international tourists. American Tourist Describes Kidnapping in Uganda. Contributor. I was there the whole month of Nov 2022. Ecuadorian children are leaving, by the dozens, for the United States. Dont stand around on a dark street talking to people, this can attract unwanted attention. For example: You can counter these theft tactics by taking a variety of precautions, such as not trusting random strangers, storing cash in multiple places on your person, and keeping the items you carry to a minimum. Out more very much active, volcano towers in the horizon from Quito and attracts both and! 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