The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
Coastal Region
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of:
- Esmeraldas
- Manabí
- Santa Elena
- Guayas
- El Oro
- Los Ríos
- Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province, including onward or return travel to the Galapagos Islands.
Within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, except for these areas in Carchi province:
- El Ángel Ecological Reserve
- Rumichaca border crossing
- the town of Tulcán
- the Pan-American Highway
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
State of Emergency declared
A nationwide 60-day state of emergency (SOE) was declared on 19 April due to the energy crisis in Ecuador. It will end on 18 June. This may see increased military and police presence around public buildings, including key energy infrastructure, to avoid threats or sabotage.
A separate 60-day state of emergency (SOE) was declared on 22 May due to armed violence. This covers 7 provinces:
- Guayas
- El Oro
- Santa Elena
- Manabí
- Sucumbíos
- Orellana
- Los Ríos
- and the district Camilo Ponce Enríquez in the province of Azuay
It will end on 21 July. There is no curfew in place, but the SOE allows the military and police to seize assets, conduct inspections and enter private properties without permission.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
