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Are you thinking about to travel to Ecuador, but not sure about ecuador travel safety?
Traveling to South America can be an unforgettable experience, especially when you know how to stay safe and connect with locals. As a Spanish teacher and travel organizer based in Ecuador, I help travelers explore this beautiful country with confidence and also learn the language in a way that traveling feels safe. I am also the host of Survival Spanish Podcast, created with the objective to help students with an intermediate level in spanish to improve their level through culture, traditions, traveling tips and much more. But in this guide, you’ll learn everything about Ecuador travel safety — what Ecuador really means. Wondering if Ecuador is safe to travel? Let’s find out together and make your trip both meaningful and secure.
Why is important for you to know more about Ecuador before considering its ecuador travel advisory?
Ecuador is quite a small country compared to our neighbors, Colombia and Peru, but large compared to some European countries. For example, it’s very similar in size to the United Kingdom (UK)—that’s England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales together. And if we compare it to the United States, it’s about the size of Colorado.
We have 4 regions: the mountain region, which we also call La Sierra; the Pacific Coast, with beautiful beaches; the Amazon or jungle; and the Galápagos Islands. A country full of contrast, there are so many different colors, and the people are also very different from one region to another.
Some Interesting Facts about Ecuador
When it comes to geography, I think Ecuador is a very privileged country. We have many natural resources and plenty of water. Our climate allows us to grow food all year round—you can produce absolutely everything here!
Ecuador is one of the countries with the highest density of active volcanoes in the world, since it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and also includes the Galápagos Islands.
🔹 In total, Ecuador has around 84 volcanoes, of which:
- 27 are potentially active (17 in the Andes highlands and 10 in the Galápagos).
- The rest are considered dormant or extinct.
Among the most well-known and active volcanoes are:
- In the Andean highlands: Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Sangay, Reventador, Guagua Pichincha, and Chimborazo (potentially active).
- In the Galápagos: Wolf, Fernandina (La Cumbre), Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul.
In the last 45 years, there have been significant eruptions in the Andes, the Amazon, and even in the Galápagos. For us, this has become a normal situation that we’ve adapted to. In fact, it’s even used for tourism, as in the city of Baños, where visitors can take tours to observe volcanic activity from Tungurahua.
If you would like to watch the video about Ecuador, Volcanoes, Galápagos Islands and Narcos in spanish, right bellow there is the link to check it out, and you can use this blog as practice to improve your spanish! This video is part of my Podcast "Survival Spanish Latam" available in Spotify, Apple podcast!
Thinking about the volcanoes in Ecuador reminds me of the phrase that the researcher Alexander von Humboldt used to describe us.
He said: 'Ecuadorians are strange and unique beings; they sleep peacefully in the middle of rumbling volcanoes, live poor in the midst of incomparable wealth, and rejoice with sad music.'
This is a very accurate observation because, even though we are a very poor country, we have an abundance of natural resources.
Ecuador, Volcanoes, Islas Galápagos and Narcos
The Galápagos Islands are an Ecuadorian paradise in the middle of the Pacific, about a thousand kilometers from the coast. They’re not just a destination—they’re a magical place where time seems to stand still and nature is the main attraction.
Imagine walking alongside marine iguanas that look like little dragons, swimming with sea lions, or spotting penguins right in the tropics. All of this surrounded by stunning volcanic landscapes and pristine beaches that look like they’re from another planet.
Their history is also fascinating: discovered almost by accident in 1535, the islands later became a hideout for pirates and gained worldwide fame after Charles Darwin’s visit in 1835, when he found inspiration here for his theory of evolution.
Maybe you’ve heard that Ecuador has become a dangerous destination in recent years due to the growth of drug trafficking in the region. Sadly, this is true—it’s a reality. According to analysts, there are several reasons that have fueled the expansion of drug trafficking in Ecuador:
- Colombia now has stricter controls, which makes it harder to export its drugs, but it’s still the largest producer.
- The US dollar is Ecuador’s official currency, which makes money laundering easier here than in other countries.
- Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to go through quarantine without work, without income, and without any government support. Unfortunately, some people began to look for money illegally or through high-interest loans. This became the perfect scenario for drug traffickers to expand in Ecuador.
The Reality about Ecuador safety
Ecuador is now a transit point for exporting drugs produced in Colombia. Finally, corruption within governments and authorities has also facilitated this growth, making control increasingly difficult—and as a result, violence began to rise.
In January 2024, with the arrival of the new government under current president Daniel Noboa, Fito, one of Ecuador’s most important drug lords, organized a plan to escape from prison. This created violence and chaos in the city of Guayaquil, which led the government to deploy the military in the streets to control the situation. Although it all happened in a single day, the videos from that day circulated on international news outlets—often out of context. The truth is, we don’t live in constant violence throughout the country. This was an isolated event in one city that generated collective fear. The reality is that most of us live normal lives. I won’t lie—yes, there are places that are not safe to travel to or visit. They are places I personally would never go, and I have no reason to. The truth is, millions of us wake up every morning to work and live a normal life.
Tips and Ecuador travel advisory
Yes, there are people linked to drug trafficking, but their lives are very different. Here we always say that if you don’t use drugs, buy, sell, or get involved with easy money and those people, then you’re fine—completely safe and living a normal life.
Sadly, this situation is dramatized even more by TV series like Narcos and others, which promote violence. While entertaining, they show a narrow view of Latin America’s social realities, which could be presented in a better way. The media also plays its role in damaging a country’s reputation, sometimes exaggerating reality.
No, Ecuador is not the most dangerous country in Latin America—the statistics prove it. It’s not 100% safe, but no place in Latin America is. You just need to travel smart, make the right decisions, and I promise the experience will be worth it.
Don’t be afraid to start an adventure. Those of us who work in tourism are very happy to help you create an unforgettable experience. If you need help, I have more information on my website about safe places to visit for example Montañita our home town, in Ecuador.
Traveling to Ecuador not only gives you an unforgettable experience among mountains, beaches, and unique cultures, it also supports millions of families who depend on tourism. Drug trafficking is not our daily story. If you travel with intelligence and common sense, you’ll discover an authentic, hospitable country that is much safer than you imagine.
Here some extra tips:
- If your flight arrives to Guayaquil, and you would like to stay overnight there, pick hotels in the airport area, which is safe and easy to reach by taxi.
- If you would like to commute from the airport to near places or bus station, please use the airports taxis.
- If you arrive on the evening, you can arrange a private taxi directly with us, that would bring you here at our hotel on the beach Balsa Surf Camp, prices are affordable compare to other countries and its worth it.
- If you are planning to travel by bus, I have a course that might help, "Traveling in South America by bus".
- Of course, the safest way to travel in Ecuador is to be able to speak the language, speaking spanish with not only help you to communicate with locals but also learn the important information for safe travel, warnings and advises. You will feel not only safer but also more comfortable. If you are interest, I definitely can help you with that check our options here.
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