STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Ecuador
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ECUADOR - WARNING
 September 24, 1991

Summary: The Department of State recommends that Americans exercise
caution when traveling in Ecuador.  In addition, American citizens
should check with the U.S. Embassy before traveling to remote areas
east of Quito and to avoid travel to the province of Sucumbios, on
the Colombian border.  Some Galapagos Islands tour vessels are
substandard in terms of maritime safety.  Some cases of cholera have
been reported in southwestern Ecuador.  Business travelers should
resolve any legal/financial disputes with Ecuadorian partners before
traveling.

Street crime:  Visitors to the large port city of Guayaquil should
use extreme caution on all city streets due to the high level of
street crime incidents.  Visitors to the capital city of Quito
should exercise caution in the area surrounding the famous Quito
landmark known as the virgin of Panecillo, a high crime area.
Pickpockets and muggings are common, and thieves are often armed
with guns or knives.

Organized tours:  Travelers participating in organized tours to
standard tourist destinations such as the cities of Quito, Cuenca,
Otavalo, Ibara, resorts in the eastern jungle, i.e., Flotel
Orellana, La Selva and hotels in the area of Mishaulli, and the
beach resorts of Esmeraldas, Atacames, and Manta, have not
experience any problems beyond those normally encountered with
overseas travel.

Cholera:  Cholera is not of epidemic proportions in Ecuador but a
substantial number of cases continue to be reported and travelers
should take preventative measures.  Travelers should substitute
bottled beverages for potentially contaminated water.  Shell fish
and vegetables should be well-cooked; all cooked food should be
eaten while still hot; and fruit should be peeled by the traveler.
For further information, contact the Centers for Disease Control's
International Travelers Hotline on (404) 332-4559.

Galapagos:  A tour boat disaster in October 1990 in the Galapagos
Islands pointed out the lack of maritime safety standards
(especially in the area of fire safety and rescue equipment) on some
tour vessels.  Travelers considering a tour to the Galapagos Islands
should check with their travel agent regarding the safety
specifications of the cruise boat they have chosen.

Business travel:  Business disputes with Ecuadorian partners should
be worked out from the U.S., not in Ecuador.  American business
travelers continue to go to Ecuador to resolve business disputes and
find themselves in jail, their cases only being resolved upon the
payment of large sums of money.

Hiking:  Hikers and mountain climbers should be careful to make
such excursions with a qualified guide and/or in large groups.
There have been incidents of robberies and sexual assaults, some
involving victims in groups as large as three persons in the more
popular hiking and climbing areas surrounding Quito.

Areas to avoid:  U.S. citizens should check with the U.S. Embassy
before traveling to any remote areas east of Quito because of
periodic indigenous demonstrations.  Due to the kidnapping of an
American in 1990, travelers should also avoid Ecuador's northeastern
border with Colombia - the province of Sucumbios, especially the
region north of the capital city of Nueva Loja, formerly known as
Largo Agrio.

Information:  Americans are encouraged to register and seek the
latest information from the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Avenida 12 de
Octubre Y Avenida Partia (across from the Parque El Ejido), Tel:
562-890 or 561-749; or the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, 9 de
Octubre Y Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde), Tel: 323-570 or
327-893.

 No. 91-180

This replaces the previous travel advisory, dated March 23, 1991,
by upgrading advisory from a caution to a warning and adding
additional information on crime, business travel and cholera.

