The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides advice on travel risks to help UK nationals make informed decisions. Discover more about FCDO travel tips.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against the advice of the FCDO.
Coastal region
FCDO advises against all travel, except essential, to the provinces of the coastal region of:
- Esmeraldas
- Manabi
- Saint Helena
- Guayas
- El Oro
- Los Rios
- Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas
This does not apply to airside transit at Guayaquil Airport, Guayas Province, including return travel to the Galapagos Islands.
Less than 20 km from the Ecuador-Colombia border
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20 km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, with the exception of these areas in the province of Carchi:
- El Ángel Ecological Reserve
- Rumichaca border post
- the town of Tulcan
- the Pan-American Highway
Learn more about Why FCDO advise against traveling.
State of emergency declared
A nationwide state of emergency (SOE) was declared on April 19 due to the energy crisis in Ecuador. It will end on June 18. This could lead to increased military and police presence around public buildings, including key energy infrastructure, to prevent threats or sabotage.
A separate state of emergency (SOE) was declared on April 30 due to gun violence. This covers five provinces: El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí and Santa Elena. It will end on June 29. There is no curfew, but the SOE allows the military and police to seize property, conduct inspections, and enter private property without authorization.
Before traveling
No journey can be guaranteed to be completely safe. Read all the tips in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information on specific travel topics.
Track and Contact FCDO Travel in Twitter, Facebook And Instagram. You can also register for receive email notifications when this notice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and take out appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and emergency expenses.
