The 35 million U.S. tourists who visit Mexico dwarf the number of their compatriots (1.5 million) who go to nearby destinations such as Jamaica. Hi Dorin When did you go and did you stay in Hostils, Stay away. These Positions Will Pay You To Travel The World. I traveled from Quito all the way to Guayaquil. Around 8:30, after having dinner, some of us hailed yellow cabs in front of the Ramada- which was the recommended precaution to take for safety- and three men ended up being kidnapped (the cab driver was in on it), and held at gunpoint. Which areas of Guayaquil are worth visiting? "Kidnapping" means unlawfully detaining a person or persons against their will (including through the use of force; threat; fraud or enticement . Foam on the Sleeve someone puts foam or shaving cream on your sleeve, then points it out to you and offers to help you clean it up. However, there are kidnappings in taxis where the robbers keep you hostage until they take everything from you and make you withdraw all your money from the nearest ATM, so be very careful. The primary threat to tourists is non-violent theft, so using anti-pickpocketing techniques like a belt wallet or clip zippers will help you keep track of your belongings. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. This travelers dream vacation soon turned into a nightmare. Due to government efforts combating violence, Ecuador is seeing a rate trending similar to that of the safest cities in the United States. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. In this article, were going to shed some light on the real crime stats in Ecuador by comparing them to the United States, and were going to give you some common sense safety tips to help you avoid experiencing crime in Ecuador. Id like to note I was in the wrong place for a sola gringa to be in both of those situations and I had been warned of the risk before. That was not fun. I am an older woman, used to travel alone everywhere. In Ecuador, graffiti is viewed as an art form, which is why youll often see the artists real name embedded in the painting or below it. [1] By 2014, this had decreased to 8.23 per 100,000, with 1,309 murders recorded that year, [2] but since 2019 the number of homicides, often related to organized crime and narcotraffic operations, has risen to 14 per . They held her captive for 460 days, during which time they raped, assaulted and. Go to Italy instead. Thats not true, it doesnt matter if youre black, Im from Ecuador you piece of. We will provide information on each attraction. In 2018, kidnapping rate for Ecuador was 4.4 cases per 100,000 population. We didn't think anyone was looking for us. Just say, NO, gracias.. Ecuador Kidnapping: British Woman Rescued Two tourists who were abducted at a nature reserve in Ecuador are said to be safe and in "good condition". Avoid walking alone at night and avoid shortcuts through alleys, especially if youre unfamiliar with the area. It truly has everything. Please post something real that we can believe on. A number of foreign workers have been kidnapped, and one killed, it says. Why would anyone on heaven's sake take a cab to cross to the Waterfront or Malecon from the Ramada hotel, which is across the street??? Advice from me (the most paranoid traveler who prepares like crazy): Dont be vulnerable. They don't carry visas and they pack light. Is Ecuador a high risk Covid country? We ho, We woke up early on a Thursday morning, eager to e, We just dropped a NEW VIDEO over on buff.ly/3HyLOd, Colombia has been on our list of must-visit places, NEW VIDEO dropping TODAY at 5PM Eastern / Ecuador, Hola Unconventionals! One of the most common crimes against tourists in Ecuador is pickpocketing. The country is beautiful and the people are very generous and appreciative. Wear a crossbody bag such as a money wallet and take advantage of zipper pockets with clips. Ecuador is beautiful and worth visiting. However, U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel to the northern bank of the Napo River in Sucumbos, an area approximately four miles wide, and the portion of Esmeraldas province that is south of Esmeraldas city. You Dropped Something someone points to the ground behind you and says you dropped something, then steals your bag while you look away. How are you going to tell me that the police didnt fill him with lead on the spot? Take the Online Income eCourse! Despite knowing . The people are nice and helpful when they know you. The incident is likely to make the Foreign Office consider strengthening its travel advice for the region. I was polite with strangers who genuinely seemed nice but I was always vague about who I was, where I was staying, and for how long. Whatever travelbug is trying to do, I hope it works. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. I travel to Ecuador almost every year and since I have family living there in different cities I am aware that the crime had increased a lot, so you have to be more careful and vigilant, dont take unnecessary risks. Including the two who were kidnapped, the tourist group totaled seven people, according to the Interior Ministry. In big cities you must heed warnings from locals to stay away from certain areas. There are pickpockets on motorcycles passing by and snatching everything they can from your car, so keep your car windows up. Make your own way and experience. The local police tracked the kidnappers down, freed the rabbi and arrested the gang's Israeli leader. The new airport and all the hotels industry is not going to fall for a bad comment no waypeople know better!! Posted On: 1st Aug 2013. More people do not need to be going to the Galapagos. Taxis waiting in line outside the airport or bus terminal have been validated by the attendants and are generally safe for expats. 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If you are in possession of illigle drugs or protected artifacts/antiques or have broken the law only then will the authority be able to hold you -your passport can only be held/taken by the immigration officers or a judge. We were with a travel angency group, and a large group of 70 people. I never indulged people in conversation who jumped out at me in the streets. The state prosecutor's office later tweeted that a second Canadian had died of their injuries. I lived and worked for almost two years in Ecuadorno, let me correct it, I have enjoyed of Ecuador for two years. Im not sure if thats really helping your argument that Ecuador, in Latin America, is no safer than other Latin American places in the US? Last Update: Reissued with updates to security situation in Guayaquil. Weve assembled a supportive community of current and future expats who are eager to share their experiences, answer your questions and offer encouragement. Reconsider travel to Ecuador due tocivil unrestandcrime. I went to Quit, Riobamba, Salinas, Guayaquil, Montaita, Manabi, Cuenca, Orellana, Tena, Baos, and Cotopaxi solo all by public transit and saw beautiful places, sweet people, ate INCREDIBLE food, and learned a lot. If you plan your trips ahead and take all heed of warnings you will most likely not run into a single problem. My host family explained scams and safety to me, although they recommended a few options to me that I myself do not recommend others trying such as riding the public bus at night (unless its an overnight bus ride from one region to another) the equovia/bus station itself in historic Quit and the equova at night. During the rainy season lasting from December to May, you can expect common flooding and tsunamis. Tourist sites such as the Christ statue (Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) on Cerro del Carmen, the Malecon 2000, and Las Peas, though well-patrolled by police, are still targeted by criminals hoping to prey on unsuspecting tourists. Read article No problems whatsoever and what we saw was WOW! We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 2023 Cable News Network. No one cares lol. If you do find yourself confronted by someone with a weapon, its always better to part with your belongings rather than risk your health and safety. You can also change some of your preferences. FactMan, Alek and who ever is reading thishistorically the black family for generations has been harassed and jailed for frivolous reason, while white folks have been committing heinous crimes for centuries against blacks, whites and other nationalities with impunity. https://liveabroadnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Quitoview.jpg, https://liveabroadnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LAN-Logo-v1-300x180.png, Is Ecuador Safe? We tell you exactly how to earn reliable income from anywhere in our Online Income eCourse. "One of the guys who rescued us got on a motorcycle and notified authorities and within 10 minutes there was 100 army people. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia. its a lot safer than any big city in America, and if your black you dont have to worry about getting shot by the police.its not like LA or NYC MIA or Houston is a safe havenyou are 100 % safer in Guayaquil than LA or Miami, Houston or Chicago, if your black should be corrected to if youre black. We are praying that she will be able to come home soon and nothing bad happens in the mean time. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, express kidnapping, and armed robbery, is common. In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and later killed. I mean I think if someone can make it work in the US if they are American, and thats their home, thats the best, but I get how people are being pushed out and thats sad. Be prepared, keep your valuables low-key, and you'll-more likely than not-have the same experience. Contributor. She and her safari guidewere kidnapped on April 2, and their captors demanded a $500,000 ransom. QUITO, Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency to confront drug trafficking and other crimes in Ecuador, saying the military and . Being black I blended in Esmeraldas I was scared to death but I made and yes I was robbed but it was my fault because I left my purse in a friends car but thats it really. Country Summary:Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Another note: Uber exists but cannot be counted on outside of Quit. If youve watched any of our YouTube videos from Cuenca or some of the other cities in Ecuador, you may have noticed a lot of graffiti. I want to believe ANONYMOUS as I traveled extensively in South and Central America and always found kind, friendly and most helpful people. Choose Ecuador as your holiday destination! U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, Carchi, Sucumbos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, including Esmeraldas city, due to, Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Robberies and assaults have taken place even on crowded beaches . And a woman's. While the overall crime rate has been in steady decline since 2011, following the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, there has been an uptick in theft related crimes, at least anecdotally. The U.S. State Department has released a list of. Deputy Police . All are amazing places to explore and take hundreds of pictures at. What Are Your Rights? Typically, a tourist boards a taxi where the driver is the accomplice, and the criminals hop into the cab right after the victim, robbing, assaulting and keeping the victim hostage. Take care everyone. Read thecountry information pagefor additional information on traveling to Ecuador. Among the main attractions here are the Old Cathedral of Cuenca (built in 1567), the Church of San Sebastian, Calderon Park or the huge New Cathedral of Cuenca. Portugal ranked first for kidnappings amongst European Union in 2006. Get answers to your questions about Guayaquil. We heard gunfire during our stay in Quito on the way to & back from galapagos. The kidnapping of adults is often for ransom or to force someone to withdraw money from an ATM, but may also be for sexual assault. Their crime family and organizations get glorified in the movies and on TV shows. When a local tells you to have caution in an area, not to mention -extreme caution- just listen to them! Behind you and says you Dropped something someone points to ecuador kidnapping tourist Interior Ministry i indulged. It doesnt matter if youre black, Im ecuador kidnapping tourist Ecuador you piece.. They don & # x27 ; s Israeli leader and did you go and did ecuador kidnapping tourist go and you. 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