Ecuador

[Travelismything]

Thinking about a semi guided trip to Ecuador specifically Quito , Guayaquil and the Galapagos. However reading the FCO advice re Guayaquil is concerning. I’m not generally a nervous traveller I’ve been to Lebanon for example but I prefer to be able to walk around than need a guide at all points

Don’t take your pet Guinea Pig.

@LadyWhineglass that made me laugh! Was presented with a cooked Guinea pig in Quito, didn’t want to offend the host but couldn’t touch it. Ecuador a great country to visit though.

I went about 7 years ago, back then Guayaquil wasn't thought of as dangerous but was described as rough and a bit of a dump basically. We went to Cuenca instead and I would recommend that as an alternative as it seems things have got worse. We also loved Papallacta.

I've been to Quito and The Galapagos Islands. The best adventure of my entire life. Do it!

I’ve eaten Guinea pig in Peru so that’s sorted! It seems I need to some more research/ book guides in Guayaquil

@Travelismything We flew back from the Galápagos Islands to Guayaquil and then just flew home. There are so many better places to visit in Ecuador!!! I would do a bit more research.

We spent c.36 hours in Guayaquil on the way home from the Galapagos, not enough time to give a detailed account. However, we didn't find anything alarming or threatening. It's a big city, so take the usual precautions you would in London etc

Thanks all - I have found another tour that only has a day in Guayaquil which seems plenty. It also includes Guamote Cuenca and Banos. It’s inevitably much more expensive but I’m looking for next Autumn so should be fine.

@Travelismything good username 😉. I went to Guayaquil about 25 years ago and I was told not to walk around on my own there. But if you have just one day and combine it with Banos etc then you should be fine. It’s an amazing country to visit.

Oh my.. I'm so so jealous! I spent a year in Ecuador in the late 80s..a nanny for a diplomatic family..one of the best years of my life...
We travelled extensively but had a chauffeur..oooo get me..!
I never got to the Galapagos Islands as I chose to travel the length of the country taking in coastal regions and the Andes with an Ecuadorian bf..from Colombia to Peru (only just over the border of each country) .
It was a peaceful country when I was there and I know they've had some political problems (I've kept in touch with a few friends I made).
I hope you have an amazing time and it's a trip I would love to repeat...

I’ve booked so excited!

I was going to recommend Banos 😍 Have a fab time!

Ecuador is absolutely wonderful. You will have an amazing time.

Guayaquil isn't somewhere I would be particularly wary of. Like all South American cities there are areas you want to avoid completely and areas you wouldn't want to walk at night but the same could be said for most cities. It is a bit of a dump though so worth avoiding for that reason.

You don't have to go there to visit Galapagos. We have been twice and both times we flew direct to/from Quito. If you can I would avoid Guayaquil entirely and spend some time in and around Quito. It is situated right in the Andes and surrounded by national parks.

If you do go to Galapagos, my one piece of advice would be to try to go on a tour that stays on the land rather than just a cruise. Staying on a boat you will miss out on so much. It is perfectly feasible to plan your own visit. There are plenty of places to stay on the three main islands San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabella which you can find on AirBnB. You can also book day trips, guides or speedboat taxis in advance or even after you get there. Galapagos is an utterly magical place and just being able to walk around and have birds fly up to you and to swim with wild sealions and turtles is an incredible experience.

@Aaron95 Why do you think going to a variety of islands by boat means you miss out?Have you actually been on a boat there? You really do get to see a great variety of places and see a much wider variety of birds and animals as they are not the same on every island. You get to do walks with your guide and it’s an amazing experience.

Speedboat taxis should not be allowed at all as they damage the environment.

Well my timing was awful 😞. Hopefully things improve from the current situation. Fortunately I have annual travel insurance.

Keep checking with the foreign office, if it's civil war you really need to know

@Travelismything Have you booked?

The FO has clear advice. Don’t go unless it’s essential!

I honestly wouldn’t go especially with the latest news. An old university friend of mine was randomly shot and killed there a few years ago, and the Ecuadorean authorities didn’t seem to have much interest in finding the killer.

Yes I booked on Friday. The FCO advice only advises against travel to parts of Ecuador mainly on the Colombian border - that hasn’t changed. I’m not (potentially) going until October so will have to wait and see.

There’s a 60 day state of emergency with curfews.

Ask for a refund OP.

October is a long way off. When I visited many years ago a state of emergency was declared just after I arrived, people were burning tyres on the street. Thankfully that didn't last too long and all was fine. I absolutely adore the country.
Sadly many countries in south and Central America go through things like this. Just keep an eye on the FCO website, follow their advice and yes cancel if you need to closer to the time. Your main priority is your safety, but I do have faith that in 9 months time it will be fine to visit.

Yes wait and see. I was checking the FCO advice this morning and it’s mainly border areas covered by the no go (or was!). I’d sit tight, Oct is a long way off.

@Aaron95 why do you recommend a land stay? I’d be interested to know. Thanks