Ecuador Update
In this blog you will find the record of updates regarding security, safety and political situations during 2024 in Ecuador
25/04/2024
As we navigate through a period of both challenge and change, we want to keep you informed with the latest developments in Ecuador and how these are impacting our operations and your travel plans.
Political and Security Landscape
Recent months have seen Ecuador grappling with significant challenges, including a crisis in the jail system and related security concerns due to local and international criminal activities. These issues have culminated in a political crisis, with various factions leveraging the situation to their advantage. However, the conclusion of the recent referendum and the government's partial victory suggest a potential stabilization of the political landscape, which we hope will allow the government to focus more effectively on regional safety and infrastructure issues.
Energy Crisis and Operational Adaptations
Amidst these challenges, Ecuador has faced recurring blackouts, influenced by a severe El Niño season affecting our hydroelectric capacity. In response, we have been proactive in ensuring continuity of our high-end, immersive travel experiences. We are in the process of implementing hybrid renewable energy solutions and backup generators at our offices. This upgrade is expected to be operational this week, meanwhile we have secured coworking spaces and our team is rotating the uses of our office accoridng to the blackouts scheduele, no impact should be experienced at any level.
Commitment to Service and Future Outlook
Despite these hurdles, we have maintained our commitment to providing authentic and sustainable experiences across Ecuador. Our operations continue to thrive, with the support of our dedicated team and the trust you place in us. We are also excited to continue celebrating our 30th anniversary and the successful launch of our Tropic Collection, initiatives that reinforce our dedication to Ecuador's rich cultural and natural heritage.
A Request for Your Understanding
Please bear with us—we are doing everything possible to minimize disruptions. Our suppliers share our commitment to excellence and are working tirelessly to ensure that your experience remains unaffected, but you know how large our value chain is and we cannot control it entirely.
Looking Forward
Ecuador remains a vibrant and enriching destination, rich in natural wonders and cultural treasures. Despite the economic and political challenges, we are optimistic about the future and the role our company plays in promoting and protecting this incredible destination.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding during these times.
08/04/2024
We are happy to announce that the government declared the end of the curfew in cities such as Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, with the end of the state of emergency in the entire territory of Ecuador.
There are no restrictions to mobility, all attractions and tourism infrastructure is open and working as usual.
22/03/2024
Yesterday, the goverment applied some changes on the restrictions in continental Ecuador curfew hours have been reduced in Quito and Guayaquil staring from 1;00 am to 5:00 am in the morning.
Passengers going to the airport or in transfers are excempt of this rule showing their passport and flight tickets. The overall safety situation is improving and our operation is running normally in the tourism circuits.
13/03/2024
No violent incidents have been reported. The Emergency Curfew continues as in February for Cuenca, Quito, Guayaquil and some coastal provinces.
Operations are running normally.
28/02/2024
We are pleased to share our Ministry of Tourism , Niels Olsen, statement here We share this parragraph that resumes his statement: "Given the present calm state, we invite International Tour Operators and Travel Agents to communicate directly with their partners in Ecuador, who will transparently share the current situation. Likewise, we appeal to our allied countries and international partners: "It is crucial to reevaluate the travel advisories to our country." Ecuador is active and vibrant, and daily life continues"
19/02/2024
We are happy to announce that the Emergency curfew has been reduced in most parts of Ecuador thanks to the efficient action of the Ecuadorian government in regaining control of the cities.
Most of our main destinations are now free from curfew:
Galapagos Islands
Cotopaxi Province (where many of the Volcanoe Avenue stops take place)
Otavalo
The Amazon
Some others, like Cuenca, are under a shorter curfew going from 2:00 to 5:00
And our major cities, Quito and Guayaquil (as well as some coastal towns) are still undergoing the 00:00 to 05:00 am curfew,
As per our operations, everything is running normally.
21/01/2024
During the last week no security incidents have been reported. We are running normal operations in Ecuadoro Mainland and the Galapagos, th e only exception being the city of Guayaquil which we are not operating.
15/01/2024
During the weekend, no security incidents have been recorded in continental Ecuador. The government has regained control of the prisons through the armed forces.
As a quick update, the curfew remains in effect until further notice. However, we are delighted to inform you that hotels, attractions, national parks, airports, roads, and hotel infrastructure are all operating normally.
12/01/2024
Despite the challenging news shared earlier this week, specific to a particular place and moment, unfortunately generalized as a countrywide situation, we want to showcase our resilience and positivity.
Today, we took a delightful journey on the new Metro of Quito, experiencing its modern facilities and beauty. The surprising 18-minute ride from our office station to the Old Town San Francisco Plaza left us impressed. We hope many clients will now visit our office, and perhaps even enjoy a "May I introduce you to" experience there :).
Following this novel experience, we embraced the tranquility en route to the Old Town, explored shops, markets, and churches, participated "a la Tropic" in exotic juice-making experiences, attended a New Year cleansing ceremony, wishing us and all of you a terrific 2024, indulged in chocolate tastings, and savored a lovely lunch at Casa Gangotena. All of these moments were captured with photos and interviews with local partners and friends. Watch full video here.
We invite you to follow our Instagram account for more highlights of today's activities and much more. Additionally, we're reviving our campaign from several years ago: #IamInEcuadorNOW. We're also actively supporting the current campaign #estoesecuador and invite you to join.
About Our Terms and Conditions:We understand that some clients may be concerned about advice from their country embassies, the State Department, and media reports. We are working diligently with clients concerned about upcoming trips, addressing questions about cancellation policies and rebookings.
While we aim to be flexible, we will not implement general flexible conditions, as we did in more complex scenarios such as social unrest in 2019 or the pandemic. We have been transparent about the situation and consistent in our review of the unfortunate but focal situation in Guayaquil. We will continue working with each of you, answering questions and reviewing files for those wishing to cancel or postpone within a reasonable timeframe. We will also discuss with suppliers their policies to find suitable solutions, always considering your and your clients' interests while being reasonable with our local partners' policies. Please remember that larger companies tend to have stricter policies compared to smaller entrepreneurs, families, or communities who may need tourism more than ever now.
Ecuador is open, Quito is operating normally, and so is the rest of the countryside, including the Galapagos Islands. We have no records of advisories against traveling to Ecuador, and the advice we have received is consistent with our own recommendations. Please, as always, contact our sales agents for specific files or reach out to our managers or myself; we are here to help and represent you.
From an Operational Standpoint, Here Are Some Key Updates:
Our "On Tour" team is contacting all our passengers on the ground, giving them reassurance, and ensuring their safety; I personally met and chatted with a few today. As always, our sales team is available in case you want to review upcoming trips and make changes, which, at this point, we don't find necessary.
While we are not unconcerned, we currently don't believe there is a security problem that could prevent travelers from coming to other areas of Mainland Ecuador or the Galapagos, which hasn't seen any violence whatsoever.
We understand the importance of minimizing disruptions to your clients' experiences and are committed to navigating these challenges with the utmost care and diligence.
We will continue to update this blog if the situation changes.
Thank you for your continued support.
11/01/2024
After the tumultuous events earlier this week in continental Ecuador, especially in the city of Guayaquil, we are pleased to report that calm has returned to the streets today, allowing us to once again explore the beautiful natural and historical corners of our country.
To provide context, we currently have 39 groups on tour. Among them, 17 groups experienced minor itinerary changes in Quito and Guayaquil, with successful transitions from planned old town city tours to engaging experiences at the Middle of the World and Cotopaxi.
Here are a couple of testimonials from our clients:
"Hi Olivia, today worked out terrifically! Everything we did was fabulous and fun. Daniel and Gabriel were great! I appreciate all the efforts put into changing the itinerary, and we are enjoying the hacienda. Thanks again."
"An hour after I sent this email, a bottle of wine arrived at our room. Thank you so much for the gesture. Also, Eduardo, our guide, called after I emailed you to let us know we are going to Cotopaxi tomorrow, so that sounds just wonderful to us. Amazing experience so far! P.S. They have heightened security posted in the lobby of the hotel. I guess they are really on high alert after that guy went missing!! Fortunately, we aren't fussed by these types of incidents!"
What happened earlier this week:
Incidents of violence and riots at prisons, mostly in coastal areas of Ecuador (Guayaquil, Esmeraldas). This situation has escalated to the streets, and Ecuador's mainland, particularly Guayaquil, is currently facing a challenging safety situation. Guayaquil has experienced several attacks by illegal armed groups. The government, in response, has swiftly deployed the army as part of the state of exception declared on the 9th of January. While the situation may appear concerning, we are confident that the measures taken will soon have a positive impact.
As a quick update, the curfew remains in effect until further notice. However, we are delighted to inform you that hotels, attractions, national parks, airports, roads, and hotel infrastructure are all operating normally.
In line with our commitment to prioritizing safety, we are meticulously reviewing each client file on the ground, with a particular focus on immediate operations for this week. Daily reviews are in progress to minimize any disruptions to our clients' experiences.
Currently, we have implemented the following precautionary measures:
Avoiding Excursions in Guayaquil: Given the recent incidents, all excursions in Guayaquil are temporarily suspended.
Transferring Clients to Airport Hotels in Guayaquil: To ensure the safety and comfort of our clients, we are moving them to airport hotels in Guayaquil.
Operating Normally in Quito: Churches, plazas, shops, and experiences in Quito are operating normally.
Our "On Tour" team is contacting all our passengers on the ground, giving them reassurance and ensuring their safety. As always, our sales team is available in case you want to review upcoming trips and make changes, which, at this point, we don't find necessary.
While we are not unconcerned, at this point, we don’t think there is a security problem that could prevent travelers from coming to other areas of Mainland Ecuador, nor Galapagos, which hasn’t seen any violence whatsoever.
We understand the importance of minimizing disruptions to your clients' experiences, and we are committed to navigating these challenges with the utmost care and diligence.