| TRAVELLERS
INFORMATION
 General
Conditions |
Ecuador (capital: Quito) is located on the Pacific
coast of South America, between Colombia and Peru.
The Galapagos Islands are also part of Ecuador.
Spanish is the official language. Tourist facilities
are extensive in Quito and Guayaquil, but vary
in quality and availability elsewhere.
Ecuador is once again experiencing job growth,
following the economic and political turmoil between
1999 and 2001. Nonetheless, disappointment with
various government measures can produce civil
disorder in urban and rural areas that can occur
without warning. Illegal and unannounced roadblocks
may be encountered. Although foreigners are not
specifically targeted by these protests, they
are advised to exercise caution, avoid large crowds
and demonstrations, and carry personal identification
with them at all times.
Street crime, including purse snatching, car
break-ins, thefts, pickpocketing, and violent
carjackings, has increased and is a daily occurrence
in major cities. Thieves often work in teams;
one thief distracts the victims, while another
steals their possessions. Keep passports and other
important documents in a money belt under your
clothes. Luggage thefts are common at airports,
bus terminals, and other transit points. Do not
leave belongings unattended.
Crime has increased in the Vilcabamba and Cotopaxi
areas, and in the province of Guayas, where, on
average, 100 murders are committed monthly. Armed
assaults have increased in public parks and in
and around transportation terminals, especially
in Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil. In Quito, exercise
caution near the areas of Panecillo, Carolina
Park, Old Quito, and South Quito, and particularly
in the popular tourist sector of Mariscal Sucre.
In Guayaquil, tourists should be vigilant when
visiting the downtown area, the waterfront (El
Malecón), the market area, and the Christ
Statue (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús)
on Cerro del Carmen. The Colonial Hill district
above Las Peñas should be avoided. Kidnapping
for ransom, often in connection with carjackings,
is increasing in Guayaquil. Armed gangs have followed
and attacked travellers en route to and from Guayaquil's
Simón Bolívar airport.
Assaults and armed robberies continue to be reported
on intercity and urban Guayaquil buses, especially
after dark. Bus drivers often make illegal stops
to pick up new passengers on express routes. The
route between Guayaquil and Cuenca has been affected
more than other interprovincial routes. Travel
at night, either by long-distance or international
coaches, should be avoided. Do not accept food
or drink from strangers, as it may be drugged.
Incidents can occur in various locations, including
buses, nightclubs, and bars. Exercise extreme
caution when swimming. Always seek advice from
local authorities about riptides, currents, undertows,
stingrays, and piranhas before swimming.
Tourists travelling to the Galapagos Islands
should obtain written confirmation from their
travel agent or tour operator that their tour
vessel is certified by the Ecuadorian navy to
meet the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention
standards. In June 1998, four U.S. citizens drowned
when their boat capsized. Boaters should be aware
of the risk of attacks and armed robberies against
ships in Ecuadorian waters.
There are landmines and unmarked minefields in
the Cordillera del Cóndor near the area
bordering Peru. Off-road travel south of Cuenca,
including in the provinces of Zamora-Chinchipe,
Morona-Santiago, and El Oro, should be avoided
until further notice.
Drive defensively, as road conditions are different
from those in Europe or the United States. Traffic
accidents are a common cause of death and injury.
Road travel is slow due to poor conditions, unmarked
speed bumps, and frequent military or police roadblocks.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required
for Canadians residing permanently or travelling
in Ecuador for longer than three months. The IDP
is a special licence that allows travellers with
a valid driver's licence to drive in over 160 countries
without a specific test.
The currency is the U.S. dollar. Credit cards are
accepted by many businesses, and U.S. traveller's
cheques are easily changed in tourist areas and
in major hotels. Canadian currency and traveller's
cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Banks
and ATMs do not accept cards with five-digit personal
identification numbers (PINs); they accept only
traditional four-digit PIN cards. Few ATMs permit
access to foreign accounts. You can check with your
bank for information on ATM services in other countries.
You can also check VISA or Mastercard for the addresses
of ATMs around the world. Your bank can advise if
you need a new personal identification number (PIN)
for overseas access to your account. Due to the
potential for fraud and other criminal activity,
credit cards and debit cards should be used with
caution. If you use an ATM, do so during business
hours at a location inside a bank, supermarket,
or large commercial building. Leave copies of your
card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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Heavy rains at various
times of the year produce frequent landslides in
many areas, particularly in the Sierra (mountainous
area), where road damage contributes to traffic
accidents. In June 2001, along the eastern slopes
of the Andes, flooding destroyed key bridges and
caused numerous mudslides, resulting in many fatalities
and stranded bus passengers. Reconstruction is sporadic,
and some bridges received only temporary repairs.
Severe flooding has also occurred in many areas
of the western provinces of Manabí and Guayas,
particularly in Chone, Portoviejo and parts of Guayaquil.
Travellers should monitor local news reports and
plan accordingly.
Ecuador is located in an active seismic area. Two
volcanoes remain active: Tungurahua, located 120
km south of Quito and overlooking the tourist town
of Baños, and Guagua Pichincha, situated
12 km west of Quito. There are four alert stages:
white, yellow, orange, and red. The alert level
for Tungurahua remains at orange, indicating that
an eruption is possible within hours or days. Residents
have departed the region. However, eruptions could
occur without warning. Road travel near Baños
is periodically affected by explosions and lahar
(mud and ash flows). Ash falls can be hazardous
for those who suffer from respiratory ailments.
Canadians travelling to central Ecuador should consult
a physician or travel medicine specialist well in
advance to determine health risks. Travellers should
also closely monitor activity levels for Tungurahua
and follow the advice of local authorities in the
event of explosions or an eruption. Further information
on volcanic activity is available on the Internet,
including the following Web site:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/wovo
Sount_america/ecuador.html
| Health
information |
The World Health Organization reports that the following
diseases - among others - can occur in Ecuador:
cholera, dengue fever, diphtheria, hepatitis A,
malaria (regional), tuberculosis, typhoid fever,
and yellow fever (regional).
Dengue fever (DF) is known to occur in Ecuador,
as well as the Galapagos Islands, where it is
being reported for the first time. DF is an acute
viral illness of varying severity and is spread
by the bite of an infected day-biting mosquito.
It commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical
areas of the world.
Travellers are advised to consult a physician
or travel medicine specialist well in advance
of travelling to determine health risks and necessary
vaccinations. Important factors to be considered
include the individual's state of health, current
immunization status, and travel destination, as
well as the local disease situation. Vaccinations
and other special precautions may be required.
Travellers should ensure that their routine (childhood)
immunizations (eg. tetanus, diphtheria, polio,
measles) are up-to-date. Yellow fever vaccination
may be required to enter some countries. Based
on the risk of exposure, vaccines for hepatitis
A, typhoid fever, or other diseases may also be
recommended. Several diseases occur globally.
Sexually transmitted diseases(STDs), including
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B, occur throughout the
world, and the traveller may be exposed to both
viral and bacterial infection, particularly if
engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Tuberculosis
represents a significant risk at certain destinations.
Influenza is also a concern, and immunization
may be recommended depending on the destination
and time of year. Rabies is found throughout the
world and is uncontrolled in some areas; risk
of exposure may be higher in remote areas. Traveller's
diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and
parasites in contaminated food and water. Travellers
are advised to ensure that food and drinking water
are safe.
Outbreaks of diarrheal diseases have been reported,
particularly during the rainy season. Waterborne
diseases (i.e. cholera and typhoid), mosquito-borne
diseases (i.e. malaria), dengue fever, and skin
rashes are reappearing in coastal areas.
| Entry
Requirements |
Permission to enter another country is the
sole prerogative of that country. All countries
have special requirements for persons intending
to reside for extended periods (usually more than
90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in
non-tourist activities. Contact the nearest diplomatic
or consular office of the country or countries to
be visited and obtain the specific requirements
for entry. Conditions are subject to change.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person
to use your passport is a criminal offence. It
could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment
if convicted. It could also lead to the denial
of future passport services.
A valid passport is required for any travellers
intending to visit Ecuador. The passport should
be valid for at least six months beyond the date
of your expected departure from Ecuador.
Following the implementation of new Ecuadorian
immigration measures, foreigners are now required
to register at the border with the Immigration
Office when entering Ecuador by land from Colombia.
Travellers are required to provide their passport
and to indicate where they are going and how long
they intend to remain in the country. For further
information, please contact the Dirección
Nacional de Migración (country and area
codes: 593-2/ tel.: 245-4122, Av. Amazonas 2639,
Quito, Ecuador).
The Puente Internacional de Rumichaca border
crossing, located between Ipiales, Colombia, and
Tulcán, Ecuador, is closed from 10 p.m.
to 6 a.m. Travellers should allow enough time
for border-crossing formalities.
Tourist Visa: Not Required (if less than 90 days)
Business Visa: Not Required (if less than 90 days
in a year)
Student Visa: Not Required (if less than 90 days
in a year)
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