US Embassy issues travel safety alert for popular Latin American country

With a captivating culture, beautiful coastlines, bucket-list islands, wondrous wildlife and affordability across the board, you’re probably wondering where to sign up, right?

Please note, safety was not mentioned…

We here at Travel Off Path have all been under extra scrutiny at some point in the midst of our adventures, not waking up with a sore neck from the springy mattress in a run-down hostel, but mostly because we’re keeping our heads spinning.

In this case, that might be how some visitors feel Ecuador.

In the same week that the bustling city of Lima, Peru declared a state of emergency, Ecuador seems stuck for ‘repeat’ as this isn’t the first time something has made less than stellar headlines.

Following a spike in crime rates, Ecuador’s U.S. Embassy issued an order safety warningand it’s not a quickie!

Let’s see a comprehensive list of issues that could do that potential impact tourists visiting Ecuador in the near future.

Ecuador is experiencing an influx of violent crimes

Traveling anywhere comes with risks. Just today I had to make, shall we say, a “transitory” stop in downtown San Diego, during which I dropped a legendary quote: “Wine is one thing. Afghanistan is another. And don’t get me started on Iraq…”

Where that conversation might have led, who knows, but it didn’t seem like a happy ending.

Needless to say, I’ve been doing the old nod and smile maneuver, and that’s a practice you have to build up as you explore the world and inevitably stand out like a sore thumb.

My quick jolt of consciousness is probably what tourists have been feeling in Ecuador lately for good reason.

As we are no strangers to criminal activity, be it the underrated capital Quito, the popular entry point Guayaquil or even lesser known, sleepy but beautiful coasts, it is difficult to consider Ecuador safe as there appears to be no improvement since the last state of emergency we declared about a year ago – but there is no curfew this time.

According to the embassy’s latest alert, their data shows: 37% increase in homicides nationwide from January to August 2025.

Although more recently and just as disturbing, a group of suspected “narco-terrorists” detonated improvised bombs, ultimately killing at least one bystander and injuring dozens of others.

While this abhorrent act certainly horrified the locals, to make matters even more worrying from a tourist’s perspective, this group of bad apples had no concern for outsiders either, as this attack took place in close proximity to well-known hotels such as Sheraton, as well as the popular Mall del Sol.

Should You Avoid Guayaquil?

For the record, Quito, Cuenca, the Galapagos Islands, and any other notable destination in Ecuador were not singled out due to the increase in crime spreading across the country.

However, the alert was issued for the entire country rather than a single city, with the following provinces still under a state of emergency:

• Guayas
• Los Rios
• El Oro
• Manabi

But if there’s one city to keep an eye on, it’s that Guayaquil – more often seen as a major gateway to Ecuador to visit places like the aforementioned Galapagos, or to head to the mainland coast for surfing and relaxing in an unsuspecting paradise.

Guayaquil is well connected to US airports such as Miami, New York and Fort Lauderdale, but doesn’t seem the most inviting at the moment as this is where the explosion took place (outside the city’s Nobis building), while another bomb was fortunately not triggered.

The government has apparently taken a page out of El Salvador’s book by ordering a “major security operation,” including weapons seizures. air raidsand directly infiltrating criminal networks without an end date.

While Guayaquil hasn’t been a mainstay for most travelers, it has no question of avoiding the airport if you are one of the many who want to reach the beautiful Galapagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin.

Tips to stay safe in Ecuador

There are no blanket statements or statistics that can say whether any destination in the world is truly safe or dangerous.

Crime is a fickle subject, but if it is any consolation, the embassy states that tourists are not a direct target of attacks.

That’s why the best thing you can do, especially abroad, is to remain aware of your surroundings and trust your gut.

The U.S. Embassy urges Americans to follow these steps to stay safe:

• Avoid areas with a clear presence of heavy security operations
• Stay informed by following local media and official sources (e.g. ECU911Policia Nacional)
• Be aware of your surroundings and practice personal safety measures
• Follow the instructions of the local authorities
• Report emergencies involving U.S. citizens to the U.S. Embassy in Quito or the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.