Ecuador Country Report

Ecuador, a small country relative to its South American neighbors, is also one of the most geographically diverse on the continent, boasting regions ranging from coastal to Andean to volcanic/archipelagic. The country is a major oil exporter and, as such, derives a large amount of its export revenue from the product as well as from various agricultural exports. Ecuador is one of the few Latin American countries to fully utilize the US dollar as its currency, which provides it with a measure of stability at the cost of forcing it to give up its own monetary policy. Its politics, most recently defined by strong leftist currents, have been unusually stable since the beginning of Latin America's "Pink Tide" wave of populist leftism.

By far the main risk to those in Ecuador is criminal activity, which can be quite high in parts of Guayaquil and Quito as well as along the Colombian border, followed by major unrest such as that seen in the anti-government protests in late 2019. Natural hazards, including multiple volcanoes, earthquakes and a coast vulnerable to tsunamis, also pose a more intermittent threat.

Ecuador sometimes goes through bouts of major civil unrest in which roads and highways are blocked throughout the country. Its street gangs and organized crime groups also post a significant threat, especially in Guayaquil and Quito. The threat of kidnapping is moderate in Ecuador, and the threat of terrorism is low, although Colombian guerrilla groups and drug-trafficking organizations occasionally carry out cross-border operations in northern Ecuador, especially in Esmeraldas Province, and organized crime groups sometimes uss explosive devices in attacks designed to intimidate their rivals and the general public.

International carriers are considered safe for travel to Ecuador.

Ecuador’s major highways are in generally good condition, although their reach is limited due to the country’s complicated geography. Secondary roads will vary in quality, and many roads in more mountainous areas are highly vulnerable to landslides.

Basic services such as water, electricity and fuel availability are usually reliable in Ecuador but are more variable in remote areas.

The country is not widely known to sponsor cyberattacks, but its government has reported being targeted by them on an intermittent basis.

Ecuador’s climate varies according to altitude, though there are no environments considered to be inhospitable save for extreme alpine locations. Ecuador has had major environmental disasters in the past at oil exploration sites. However, environmental standards have somewhat improved as tourism has increased. The majority of the country lies within a seismic zone. Although quakes are usually moderate, they have the potential to be severe and bring a risk of tsunami along the coast. Volcanoes are also a consistent threat in some areas. Storm systems are an annual issue for the country, with torrential rains sometimes occurring along the coast and in the Amazon.

The disease threat within the country differs considerably depending upon location. Private facilities in major Ecuadorian cities are adequate for most medical needs. More remote locations will require travel to said cities, and emergencies on the Galapagos may require airlift to the mainland. Most major medications can be obtained in some form in Ecuador. Tap water is not generally considered safe to drink unless specifically advised otherwise.

Corruption in Ecuador is understood to be extremely problematic in both business and government. Rule of law is undermined by corruption and inconsistent enforcement of existing laws and constitutional provisions. Regime stability has markedly improved in Ecuador in recent years, though challenges remain. Sanctions per se are not an issue for the country, although it has defaulted on its debt before and risks financial penalties in that sense. There are also some concerns over its cooperation or lack thereof with international money laundering regulations.