Ecuador is one of the most beautiful nations in all of South America and the capital city of Quito is a must see destination if you’re visiting this country and a popular jumping off point for those looking to explore the rest of South America as well.
Not only will you have opportunity to explore a decent amount of the Amazon rain forest while visiting Ecuador, but you’ll also be within easy travel distance from the Andes as well as the Galapagos Islands – making Quito a popular hub for travelers looking to soak up as much of South America as possible.
At the same time, this isn’t to suggest that Quito is without issues or concerns.
The city has a reputation for being very friendly, very welcoming, and very open to foreign travelers, but there is also crime like pickpocketing and petty theft, as well as other concerns that have travelers a little bit nervous about whether or not it is really an ideal destination to squeeze into their Ecuadorian travel itinerary.
To help you better understand whether or not Quito is a city that you’ll want to visit (and a city that you’ll want to spend a considerable amount of time in, if your schedule allows) we’ve put together this quick safety guide.
Let’s dive right in!
Is It Safe to Visit Quito, Ecuador?
The number one question people have when thinking about visiting Ecuador is “is Quito safe”, and answering that is a bit of tricky at times – if only because the situation in Ecuador for foreign travelers can be so fluid.
Altitude
For starters, you’ll want to make sure that you are healthy enough for travel to Quito just because it sits at a sky-high altitude compared to what you may be used to. A lot of people are unaware of just how high the altitude in Quito is and find themselves unprepared for the situation.
The lower oxygen levels at higher altitude can cause some issues for sure, especially with Quito sitting 9350 feet above sea level. Those with weakened immune systems, weekend respiratory systems, and the elderly aren’t recommended to go from lower altitudes to altitudes above 9000 feet oversee level in a single day, instead acclimating to these changes over two or three days.
Crime
When most people wonder whether or not Quito is safe, though, they are usually wondering about the risks they’ll have to contend with as far as crime is concerned.
For starters, pickpocketing can be a problem in Quito. This is especially true around popular tourist destinations – including the major international airport – and you’ll want to be sure that you are always hypervigilant about anyone that feels too close to your personal space.
Secondly, it isn’t at all recommended that you walk around with expensive jewelry, watches, or technology in popular tourist destinations throughout Quito, either. Keep your bags, your wallet, and especially your passport close to your body and not in your back pockets, either. You should keep your passport in your hotel (hotel safe) and just carry a copy with you.
Public transportation can be a little bit dangerous as well. Sometimes there are robberies on public transportation, particularly on buses, and you want to be sure that you aren’t finding yourself in these sticky situations, either.
It’s never a good idea to travel on any interstate buses that are willing to stop and pick up passengers overnight, as these are the kinds of bus lines that regularly work with criminals to rob passengers that are unsuspecting or ignorant of these risks.
Unofficial taxis are not officially licensed by the local or federal government and should be avoided as well. Official taxis pose far fewer risks and you’ll be able to easily identify them by their bright orange license plates in the almost always present video camera systems they have inside the cabin.
What Does the US State Department Say about Visiting Quito?
San Francisco: Church and Convent of St. Francis in the Historic Center. It is safe to walk in the Historic Center at day and in the early hours of evening.
While we covered some of the biggest risk factors you may have to contend with regarding Quito above, the truth of the matter is the risks you face in this South American city really aren’t all that riskier than any other major city around the world.
In fact, you’ll likely face many of the same risks visiting cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Beijing, and more.
According to the US State Department and their last travel advisory (issued on November 7 of 2019) Quito – and Ecuador in general – is technically classified as a Level II risk for travel (“Exercise Increased Caution”).
This simply means that US citizens considering traveling to Quito are recommended to stay extra vigilant due to increased levels of crime and potential civil unrest. The US State Department does not recommend that travelers avoid Quito altogether the way that they might at a Level III or Level IV designation, so that should give you a lot of confidence and a lot of peace of mind as well.
The State Department does recommend that if you’re traveling to Quito you:
- Avoid public demonstrations and large crowds.
- Remain constantly aware of yourself, your traveling partners, and your surroundings.
- Keep as low a profile as possible.
- Do not resist any physical robbery attempt.
- Pay attention to local news and media updates about any situational flare-ups you may have to contend with.
- Protect your travel documents and identification at all times.
- Know exactly where US State Department offices and embassies are located should you find yourself in an emergency.
While those recommendations may seem over the top or strongly worded, truth be told these are the same recommendations that the US State Department makes for destinations all over the world and are anything but out of the norm.
Tips for Traveling Safely in Quito
Below we highlight four tips for safe traveling throughout Quito (and the rest of Ecuador, for that matter) that should help you feel a lot more confident traveling to this incredible South American city.
Protect Yourself from Petty Theft
For starters, you are going to want to remain hypervigilant about the amount of petty theft that can happen in Quito. Be on the lookout for obvious distractions that are looking to redirect your attention while a thief moves in – especially distractions that involve children. Be careful with people who are offering something -food, cigarettes, etc.- for free.
You’ll also want to be aware of your surroundings at all times, making to check that individuals aren’t following you specifically, aren’t working their way closer to you while trying to be unobserved, and aren’t closing the gap between you and them while you are busy soaking in the scenes and the atmosphere that Quito brings to the table.
Keep your valuables close to your body, keep a firm hand on your bags and your wallet, and avoid using ATM systems if at all possible.
Avoid Walking at Night
As a general rule you want to be especially cautious around Carolina Park and South Quito at night. You should avoid walking in the Old Town late at night. In the early hours of the evening the Old Town is safe.
If you’re going to be going out at night take official taxis to and from your accommodations and your destination, always double verify that they are 100% legitimate taxis with orange license plates. Legitimate taxis also have cameras installed on the inside of the vehicle and even include “panic buttons” that you can use in an emergency.
Companies like Uber, Easy Taxi and Cabify are also operating in Quito. Many big hotels have there own taxi companies. Other hotels can help you call taxis that are secure.
Have an Emergency Plan in Place
This is just good old-fashioned travel common sense, but it’s always a good idea to have an emergency plan in place should something go wrong while you are traveling in Quito.
You’ll want to have all of your emergency contact information on your person and not just only stored on your cell phone, you’ll want to know where US State Department offices and embassies are located, and you’ll want to know how to contact the Ecuadorian tourist police.
Other recomendations
- Having a travel plan or at least an idea where you want to go is always a good idea.
- For security do not walk up to the Panecillo. You should take a taxi.
- The bus system can be a little bit complicated. Before entering a blue city bus you should ask if it is the right bus and if it really goes to place where you would like to go.
- Take care with the traffic. Many drivers do not respect traffic signs or zebra crossing.
- The parks like the Itchimbia Park and the Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park are safe at day. There are security szstems installed in the parks. But you should not visit the parks at night.
At the end of the day, Quito isn’t more dangerous than any other major city around the world but you’ll still want to be vigilant so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones while visiting this South American jewel.
Related articles:
