My stepson is going to Ecuador to kayak next week. I have limited knowledge when it comes to the country. Google shows that it is generally safe, but I was hoping there might be someone on here with personal experience. He said he will be in Quito, Baeza, Tena, Puyo, Banos, and Cielo Verde. Any intel on these areas would be appreciated.
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Safety in Ecuador
- Thread starter nso123
- Start date
Most of my knowledge about the base level living conditions in Latin America is from sites like the TheYNC, TheWorldWatch, Goregrish forums, etc. They are "relatively safe", and that means the tourist spots, commercial and internationally-catered districts of large cities and the real out of the way villages and hamlets that TV crews love to visit, whom try to put on the best appearance and hospitality for visitors.
Things to watch out for:
Even in the "relatively safe" areas, they are far more volatile than even the more dangerous urban places in the USA, with the exception of some of the urban hoods like Chicago's O-Block, whose activities sometimes exceed the violence of the favelas. There is A LOT of sicario and drug gang retaliation activity, and I mean A LOT. Sicario hit crews are highly nomadic and their preferred form of transport are motorbikes. A targeted hit can happen anywhere, but bars, nightclubs, local small blue collar eateries, barbershops, and auto machanic shops seem to be the places where sicarios target, because their targets often hang out in these locations. Gang members love to sit in these places and talk business and drink.
Most of the time, sicario hitmen try to run up close to their targets, mag dump them at almost pointblank range, and then ride off again. Not always the norm though. Some crews will just sit outside and spray the entire targeted location with fully automatic fire and shotgun blasts. In those cases, very slim chance of survival for innocents caught in the area. Outside of tourist central, try to avoid the nightclubs and alcohol/gambling environments. Trouble often comes and they come FAST.
Another thing to remember, the cops are CORRUPT to the core. It is virtually the same throughout Latin America. It is not uncommon for police officers to also be members of vicious home invasion crews or organized robbery rings, and of course, the cartels. If you are a victim of assault, going to the police will not yield any results. In the worst cases, if a responding officer happens to be a member or working for the gang that robbed or assaulted you, now you will be in real trouble, because you now may very well be the next target of a cold blooded street hit.
The main rule of safe living for the people there is basically BE ARMED, and BE QUICKER TO DRAW. While the Hollywood Wild West often exaggerates the amount of violence that actually happened in the real Old West, in Latin America, it is actually the truest representation of the Hollywood shoot em' up western. Unlike in the USA, most incidents of even non-gang affiliated home invasions and store robberies of innocent victims are also extremely violent. Groups of gunmen, often wearing armor, are involved and any resistance means the entire household or store receives a fusillade aimed to kill. No fucks are given by them either. Videos of the aftermath of these incidents often show corpses of young children lying among their dead parents, riddled with bullet holes. Gun laws for law abiding people vary from country to country and the most pragmatic people are always armed to the teeth. In gun friendlier areas like Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, etc, those who are smart will make it a first priority to arm themselves and become very proficient with their weapon of choice. An equally high amount of sicarios and armed robbers are also gunned down every day by their would-be victims. The simple and cost effective pump shotgun is the primary choice of weaponry for the smart store owner or homeowner in high crime areas, and they ARE very quick to shoot at the first sign of trouble. There is nothing more devastating within 20 yards than a 12 gauge buckshot shell and there is a constant stream of new uploads to illustrate it.
Sit down with your stepson and research Ecuador's gun laws and other weapons laws first. Ecuador is one of the more gun friendly countries but for a tourist, they may be different so it is best to find out first. If they allow limited ownership/carry for tourists, he and his crew will NOT go wrong with one or a couple of shotguns with them. It is better to have them and hope to God, not need them, than finding yourself facing multiple drug hitmen one day who are targeting someone else but decided to eliminate all the witnesses at the scene. That shit DOES happen.
Other things, do NOT run afoul of the law and try not to seek assistance from them whenever possible. Latin American prisons are a new level of hell, and due to the corruption and affiliation with organized crime by the police themselves, spending any amount of time among them, whether to file a report or a witness statement or anything, puts you in jeopardy of being a target for somebody. And that leads to another important thing: YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING. Remember that. You may be on the street and saw somebody getting robbed and the police are going around getting statements. YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. It is instinctive for most of us to do good deeds and help out, but that is NOT one of the places to do so. You don't know who was behind that crime and you may have placed yourself in the sights of a cartel hit squad once you decide to play good samaritan and open your mouth. Everybody got phones, everybody is recording, and everybody LOVES to post stuff on social media, so if you are caught on video getting involved where you are not supposed to be, you will be a dead man.
Last but not least, AVOID trouble hotspots. Nightclubs and bars are sites of routine gang violence and movie style shootouts. Barbershops as well, in addition to being targets of robberies. Be smart and good luck on the trip.
Things to watch out for:
Even in the "relatively safe" areas, they are far more volatile than even the more dangerous urban places in the USA, with the exception of some of the urban hoods like Chicago's O-Block, whose activities sometimes exceed the violence of the favelas. There is A LOT of sicario and drug gang retaliation activity, and I mean A LOT. Sicario hit crews are highly nomadic and their preferred form of transport are motorbikes. A targeted hit can happen anywhere, but bars, nightclubs, local small blue collar eateries, barbershops, and auto machanic shops seem to be the places where sicarios target, because their targets often hang out in these locations. Gang members love to sit in these places and talk business and drink.
Most of the time, sicario hitmen try to run up close to their targets, mag dump them at almost pointblank range, and then ride off again. Not always the norm though. Some crews will just sit outside and spray the entire targeted location with fully automatic fire and shotgun blasts. In those cases, very slim chance of survival for innocents caught in the area. Outside of tourist central, try to avoid the nightclubs and alcohol/gambling environments. Trouble often comes and they come FAST.
Another thing to remember, the cops are CORRUPT to the core. It is virtually the same throughout Latin America. It is not uncommon for police officers to also be members of vicious home invasion crews or organized robbery rings, and of course, the cartels. If you are a victim of assault, going to the police will not yield any results. In the worst cases, if a responding officer happens to be a member or working for the gang that robbed or assaulted you, now you will be in real trouble, because you now may very well be the next target of a cold blooded street hit.
The main rule of safe living for the people there is basically BE ARMED, and BE QUICKER TO DRAW. While the Hollywood Wild West often exaggerates the amount of violence that actually happened in the real Old West, in Latin America, it is actually the truest representation of the Hollywood shoot em' up western. Unlike in the USA, most incidents of even non-gang affiliated home invasions and store robberies of innocent victims are also extremely violent. Groups of gunmen, often wearing armor, are involved and any resistance means the entire household or store receives a fusillade aimed to kill. No fucks are given by them either. Videos of the aftermath of these incidents often show corpses of young children lying among their dead parents, riddled with bullet holes. Gun laws for law abiding people vary from country to country and the most pragmatic people are always armed to the teeth. In gun friendlier areas like Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, etc, those who are smart will make it a first priority to arm themselves and become very proficient with their weapon of choice. An equally high amount of sicarios and armed robbers are also gunned down every day by their would-be victims. The simple and cost effective pump shotgun is the primary choice of weaponry for the smart store owner or homeowner in high crime areas, and they ARE very quick to shoot at the first sign of trouble. There is nothing more devastating within 20 yards than a 12 gauge buckshot shell and there is a constant stream of new uploads to illustrate it.
Sit down with your stepson and research Ecuador's gun laws and other weapons laws first. Ecuador is one of the more gun friendly countries but for a tourist, they may be different so it is best to find out first. If they allow limited ownership/carry for tourists, he and his crew will NOT go wrong with one or a couple of shotguns with them. It is better to have them and hope to God, not need them, than finding yourself facing multiple drug hitmen one day who are targeting someone else but decided to eliminate all the witnesses at the scene. That shit DOES happen.
Other things, do NOT run afoul of the law and try not to seek assistance from them whenever possible. Latin American prisons are a new level of hell, and due to the corruption and affiliation with organized crime by the police themselves, spending any amount of time among them, whether to file a report or a witness statement or anything, puts you in jeopardy of being a target for somebody. And that leads to another important thing: YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING. Remember that. You may be on the street and saw somebody getting robbed and the police are going around getting statements. YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. It is instinctive for most of us to do good deeds and help out, but that is NOT one of the places to do so. You don't know who was behind that crime and you may have placed yourself in the sights of a cartel hit squad once you decide to play good samaritan and open your mouth. Everybody got phones, everybody is recording, and everybody LOVES to post stuff on social media, so if you are caught on video getting involved where you are not supposed to be, you will be a dead man.
Last but not least, AVOID trouble hotspots. Nightclubs and bars are sites of routine gang violence and movie style shootouts. Barbershops as well, in addition to being targets of robberies. Be smart and good luck on the trip.
My wife and daughter went to Equador about 6 years ago. Research then, showed it as one of the safest countries in the world. They were with a group that went the Galápagos Islands. They were just in Quito, then the islands. Nowhere else in the country. They felt safe while they were there. I couldn’t tell you much more.
Don’t drink the water though, seriously.
Don’t drink the water though, seriously.
They have lots of banjo players in them there hills!My stepson is going to Ecuador to kayak next week. I have limited knowledge when it comes to the country. Google shows that it is generally safe, but I was hoping there might be someone on here with personal experience. He said he will be in Quito, Baeza, Tena, Puyo, Banos, and Cielo Verde. Any intel on these areas would be appreciated.
Between my brother and me, we've spent a cumulative 18+ months in Ecuador across 10+ trips. It's one of the safest countries in LATAM. I'm not personally familiar with all those locations, but the only place i ever felt even SLIGHTLY on edge was Guayaquil.
Ignore the advice above about cartel hits and trying to carry shotguns. That is hilariously stupid. Your stepson will wind up in an Ecuadorean prison and that actually is the only real dangerous scenario for him.
Ignore the advice above about cartel hits and trying to carry shotguns. That is hilariously stupid. Your stepson will wind up in an Ecuadorean prison and that actually is the only real dangerous scenario for him.
My apologies if my original post above was a bit too doom n' gloom and all that. I mean, that was accumulated from friggin' shock and gore sites, so there will obviously be a concentration of the bad things. That said though, just use it for reference as to WHAT their criminal landscape looks like. And follow their laws, especially when it comes to weapons carrying.
Once again, tell your stepson to enjoy his trip, be smart, and always be alert. There are people here on this board who had lived there, worked there, and know far more about the land than someone scrolling thru Goregrish while waiting for the shop crew to finish loading the flatbed truck and tie down the cargo LOL...
ETA: They do have a sort of vendetta going on right now against Venezuelan illegal migrants. Peru as well. Since the troubles in Venezuela in the past few years, tens of thousands of military aged Venezuelan men, many who are criminals, have FLOODED Ecuador and Peru, and committed rapes, robberies, etc against the locals. There was a point where Ecuadorian sicarios were filming themselves interrogating any migrant laborers they found on the routes of their rides, asking them if they were Venezuelans, and if they were, or the gangsters detected a Venezuelan accent or saw documents from there, they shot the laborers in cold blood right there.
Once again, tell your stepson to enjoy his trip, be smart, and always be alert. There are people here on this board who had lived there, worked there, and know far more about the land than someone scrolling thru Goregrish while waiting for the shop crew to finish loading the flatbed truck and tie down the cargo LOL...
ETA: They do have a sort of vendetta going on right now against Venezuelan illegal migrants. Peru as well. Since the troubles in Venezuela in the past few years, tens of thousands of military aged Venezuelan men, many who are criminals, have FLOODED Ecuador and Peru, and committed rapes, robberies, etc against the locals. There was a point where Ecuadorian sicarios were filming themselves interrogating any migrant laborers they found on the routes of their rides, asking them if they were Venezuelans, and if they were, or the gangsters detected a Venezuelan accent or saw documents from there, they shot the laborers in cold blood right there.
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I lived there in the late 80's early 90's. Gringos that get caught with a gun will get royally fucked. It will be very expensive to pay everyone off.
Guayaquil is generally a shithole and has always been dangerous. Quito is OK but since the invasion of the Venezuelan shitstains it has gotten dangerous. I would not stay out late and I would avoid old town. Esmeraldas used to be a dangerous place so I assume It is still that way.
My daughter was there about a year ago and said things were way more dangerous compared to the last time she had gone in 2012. She traveled by herself but she is Latin and speaks fluent sierra accent Ecuadorian Spanish. I have some family there in Quito. They live in a gated community with security. They pretty much don't go out after dark anymore.
The Army and Police have gotten tired of the cartels. They are starting neutralize them in unconventional type operations.
Ecuadorians are generally really good folks. It is a beautiful country.
Guayaquil is generally a shithole and has always been dangerous. Quito is OK but since the invasion of the Venezuelan shitstains it has gotten dangerous. I would not stay out late and I would avoid old town. Esmeraldas used to be a dangerous place so I assume It is still that way.
My daughter was there about a year ago and said things were way more dangerous compared to the last time she had gone in 2012. She traveled by herself but she is Latin and speaks fluent sierra accent Ecuadorian Spanish. I have some family there in Quito. They live in a gated community with security. They pretty much don't go out after dark anymore.
The Army and Police have gotten tired of the cartels. They are starting neutralize them in unconventional type operations.
Ecuadorians are generally really good folks. It is a beautiful country.
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I got chlamydia on my tonsilI thought that’s where u get clamidia
I don't understand why anyone would voluntarily venture outside the USA in these troubled times. I have travelled internationally for decades, but I'll be here in the USA unless something demands it, and it ain't likely to be playtime. Last I checked, with 250 thousand rivers, totaling about 3.5 million miles in the USA, I'm not sure why anyone would need to exit safe USA spaces to paddle a kayak on a river.
Call me what you want, but I was never comfortable outside the USA. Even in El Salvador, one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever been. Everyone there had a gun except me, and the folks who couldn't afford a gun. They carried at least one machete, sometimes two. Me, the Gringo, had neither gun nor machete.
No es bueno.
Call me what you want, but I was never comfortable outside the USA. Even in El Salvador, one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever been. Everyone there had a gun except me, and the folks who couldn't afford a gun. They carried at least one machete, sometimes two. Me, the Gringo, had neither gun nor machete.
No es bueno.
He’s going to Ecuador in 2025, it’s not 1980s Colombia
I hear what you're saying.
I also get why one would want to travel outside of the USA, if for no other reason than it's outside of the USA and to experience different history/architecture/culture/etc.
I've been to several countries in the ME at length (it was an 'experience' but have zero interest in ever returning or picking up a timeshare in that region) but I did have the unique opportunity to live in Japan for awhile.
To each their own- but dang, I really enjoyed my time in Japan (except for the rats) and honestly that time did make me a different person (I'd like to think for the better).
But to your point- the US is pretty dang big and encompasses all kinds of geographic/environmental... ecosystems(?)/regions.
Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
-LD
That’s a hard sell.
We’re only there for fun, and don’t truly immerse in what’s going on to say we’ve even touched fhe “culture.”
To make an analogy - when we visit such places, we know as much about China as we do from General Tso’s Chicken.
I'm catching what you're throwing-
But as a respectful counterpoint- we only get one "shot" on this rock swirling around the sun- if one can reasonably afford the travel costs (I'm still working on that discretionary income element myself) I'd humbly argue that there isn't necessarily a "right" way to travel aside from (1) not pissing off the natives and being the stereotypical tourist (2) not robbing your future self from having a nest egg set aside to retire with dignity (that's a word you don't here much these days).
Culture... well on that note I'd offer the idea that to appreciate culture is intertwined with appreciating history. That said though- one can visit the Colosseum and not appreciate one iota of it's cultural/historical significance but still be a life altering trip to shift their understanding of this world we live in without ever having a deep understanding of the Roman Empire.
Just my 2 cents at least.
-LD
That's the God's honest truth- all we can do (I suppose) is try to make the best of what we have. That's my approach/mentality at least.
-LD
Everywhere is dangerous in someway. Over 6000 people die every hour on this rock! Live life, because when your number is up, nothing you can do! I think all young adults should travel the world and see all they can. It was never for me.......but soon enough young adults become slaves to work, kids and debt.
Young man wants to go Kayaking in Ecuador, fucking go and have fun!
Young man wants to go Kayaking in Ecuador, fucking go and have fun!
Tell him to enroll in STEP, review all travel advisories, and have FUN!
travel.state.gov
Keep a walking-around-wallet and a card with the embassy info on it. Keep the main ATM card and the Passport safe at all times.
It's good to bring along the prior-cellphone too as a backup, or as primary with your main as the backup. Walk around with whatever has the better camera. Have maps, translation, exchange rate info, and party music available offline.
Make sure he knows how to speak Spanish (he should) and has some street smarts about him. The same people who get victimized abroad are the same people who get victimized here.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to enroll with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Keep a walking-around-wallet and a card with the embassy info on it. Keep the main ATM card and the Passport safe at all times.
It's good to bring along the prior-cellphone too as a backup, or as primary with your main as the backup. Walk around with whatever has the better camera. Have maps, translation, exchange rate info, and party music available offline.
Make sure he knows how to speak Spanish (he should) and has some street smarts about him. The same people who get victimized abroad are the same people who get victimized here.
right. that was my experience in the carib. was just there to dive/fish. even in the 70s wandering around,esp after dark,needed to be thought out for a good reason. US tourists in the carib don't seem to realize that it is the 3rd world.
Really obviously you don't getting out much, educate yourself.
Data Insights from 10,000 Garmin inReach SOS Incidents | Blog
Learn about the who, what, where, and why people trigger an SOS on their inReach satellite communicator.
www.garmin.com
Common sense is free.
Garmin Inreach costs $350 for the device, $15/mo for the service, $$$ more for some fake insurance that gets denied, and... ~$60K for a ground rescue, >$100K for an air rescue or at altitude?
Again... common sense is free.
What about if they need medical? As a diver I have insurance from Dan. If I get bent I'm covered for hyperbaric treatment and transportation to said chamber. If one of their group gets fucked up are they covered? How remote are their kayaking location's. Heavy jungle for long distances? That emergency sat locator sounds like a good idea. Hell I got lost in the middle of the jungle in Hawaii.
As Steve Atwater once told a Raiders player he earholed away from the play. Don't get mad at me, keep your head on a swivel.
I had an iReach and Dan in Antartica, I could text and keep track of business for the 3 weeks of travel and diving. Dan protected my pink body. My oldest used iReach for text when solo backpacking in Patagonia, I used it to text ,sailing between California and Hawaii, take it on solo hunting trips, Northern Idaho and Montana. I was SAR volunteer in my younger years, we risked our pink bodies more than was needed because selfish jerks that had no comms, got swept out to sea on kayaks or lost in the front country in shorts and tees, no lights , no water, food and a dying cellphone at night, big one was not enough water, followed by a broken leg or ankle. I have no cell service for 80 miles between my home and the city, I want to be able to text for a tow truck. I guess armchair warriors have no need.
