last edited Mar 8, 2026
Health and Safety in Ecuador
Official Recommendations
In France, both for individuals and professionals, the "travel advice" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding precautions for each country has legal value. A similar online travel advice system exists in several countries:
Health
Diseases
While not enormous, health risks do exist in Ecuador, primarily on the coast and in the Amazonian part of the country. Unlike the Andean highlands, these two regions pose the most health problems, though a minimum of precautions and common sense is usually enough to avoid any issues.
In practice, as in many countries, mosquitoes are the main concern, so bring repellent and appropriate clothing, especially in the evening. Below 1,500 meters in altitude, malaria is endemic. Additionally, dengue, chikungunya, leishmaniasis, and Zika are also present in certain areas or at certain times. All these diseases are transmitted through mosquito bites.
Beyond that, there are also sporadic cases of yellow fever. While various sources recommend vaccination against it for the Amazon, officially no vaccine is mandatory for the country, except if arriving directly from a region where the disease is endemic for yellow fever. That said, it’s always best to be up to date with your "basic travel vaccines."
In a slightly different area, there is a hallucinogenic plant in the Amazon called ayahuasca that sometimes tempts travelers. Used by shamans, its effects can be deadly if misused.
Hygiene
As often, good personal and especially food hygiene is necessary if you’re not used to "eating local." So, avoid tap water, which isn’t potable, and dishes or foods that don’t seem fresh—if only to avoid *turista*, the well-known traveler’s diarrhea that occasionally strikes.
Healthcare Facilities on Site
The best medical facilities are found mainly in the capital, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, while elsewhere they are much more limited, including at the Galapagos. Additionally, if treated in the private sector, some care can be expensive. This makes good travel insurance highly recommended.
Safety
Crime and Delinquency
While not necessarily the worst, Ecuador isn’t the safest corner of Latin America either. As in many other countries, gangs and drug traffickers are well established, to the point that regions like the border area between Ecuador and Colombia, as well as much of the coast with the city of Guayaquil, are best avoided.
For visitors, certain neighborhoods in cities like Quito or Guayaquil are also hotspots for pickpockets and petty crime, as are bus terminals, some urban markets, or even deserted coastal beaches. However, as always, by taking basic travel precautions—like not flaunting wealth, avoiding walking alone at night in isolated areas, opting for official taxis, and being careful in transport—the risks are greatly reduced. In case of aggression, it’s best not to resist and to always have "something" to give to attackers. Finally, if you have a vehicle, it’s strongly recommended to use guarded parking and never leave anything inside.
In another area, while drugs circulate widely in the country and its neighbors, possession and especially trafficking are severely punished by law, with penalties of up to twenty years in prison.
Sociopolitical Risks
This is another issue in Ecuador, with tensions and political instability that regularly surface. As always, these come with protests, movements, or even clashes—primarily against gangs and drug traffickers—and even occasional states of emergency in certain regions. In short, it’s essential to always stay informed about the current situation in the places you plan to visit.
Climate and Nature
Altitude Sickness
In a way, more than health risks or even safety concerns, *"soroche"* remains the main discomfort travelers will encounter during a trip to Ecuador.
As in the rest of the Andean massif, altitude sickness is a problem that affects most visitors, if only for some upon arriving in Quito at 2,800 meters. Headaches, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, and breathing difficulties are some of the symptoms that, for most people in good health, will disappear or lessen with acclimatization, by not ascending too quickly or beyond a certain altitude (4,000 meters and above). In short, it’s always essential to adapt your pace and moderate your efforts when in the Andean part of Ecuador.
Other Risks
Ecuador is located in a highly seismic and volcanic zone that experiences fairly regular violent earthquakes. During the rainy season (October to May), it’s not uncommon for roads in the Andes or elsewhere to be cut off due to flooding or landslides. And of course, be careful when hiking in nature, in the mountains, or in the Amazon—avoid going alone, among other things, to avoid getting lost and, incidentally, to avoid being attacked.
Animals
The country has exceptional biodiversity with a varied and not always friendly fauna, especially in the Amazon. That said, risks are low and always result from accidental encounters, whether with snakes, caimans, spiders, scorpions, or disease-carrying creatures like mosquitoes. In reality, stray dogs—sometimes aggressive—are more of a concern.
Foreign Consulates on Site
If you encounter problems while traveling abroad, your country’s consular services can assist you. It’s also worth noting that if you’re a citizen of the European Union and your country isn’t represented, you can contact any other EU member state’s representation.
France
Consulate General: Calle General Leonidas Plaza 107 y Patria, Quito. Tel.: 294 38 40. France also has three honorary consulates in Cuenca, Esmeraldas, and Guayaquil.
Other Countries
- Belgium: Juan Leon Mera N23-103 and Wilson, Quito. Tel.: 256 76 33.
- Canada: 6 de Diciembre 2816 & Paul Rivet, Josueth Gonzales Building, Of. 4-N, Quito. Tel.: 250 61 62. Canada also has a consulate in Guayaquil.
- Switzerland: Juan Pablo Sanz 120 & Av. Amazonas, Xerox Building, Quito. Tel.: 243 49 48. Switzerland also has a consulate in Guayaquil.