The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its advisory for travellers visiting Ecuador, following the declaration of a new 60-day state of emergency (SOE) in seven provinces.
The SOE, which began on 22 May in response to armed violence in the country, is due to end on 21 July. It applies to the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Santa Elena, Manabí, Sucumbíos, Orellana, and Los Ríos. The district of Camilo Ponce Enríquez, in the province of Azuay, is also covered by the emergency measure.
The FCDO stated that while there is “no curfew in place, the SOE allows the military and police to seize assets, conduct inspections, and enter private properties without permission”.
This second SOE follows the declaration of a previous nationwide one on 19 April in response to Ecuador’s energy crisis. The FCDO explained that that SOE – currently due to end on 18 June – “may see an increased military and police presence around public buildings, including key energy infrastructure, to avoid threats or sabotage”.
Fellow South American country Brazil has improved its perceived safety among tourists, according to a recent study by Mabrian and Embratur.