Health & Safety

Food-borne illnesses likely won't be serious problems in Ecuador if you take some precautions and let common sense prevail. Avoid tap water to reduce the risk of contracting intestinal parasites. Drink only bottled water, which is available con gas and sin gas (with and without carbonation, respectively). Ask for drinks sin hielo (without ice). Avoid uncooked or unpeeled vegetables and fruits that may have been washed in tap water. Brush your teeth with bottled water in remote areas or budget hotels. At other hotels, ask if the water is purified; it often is. Eat at street stands at your own risk.

Discuss malaria medications with your doctor if you're traveling to the rain forest or other isolated areas. In the Galápagos the most serious threat you'll face is sunburn—do not underestimate the intensity of the equatorial sun. If you're prone to seasickness and you're planning a cruise around the archipelago, make sure to bring medications. At high altitudes the sun is strong, and altitude sickness can strike. Discuss the advisability of travel to the highlands with your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure or are pregnant.

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, is a problem in Ecuador. Use the same precautions you would anywhere—avoid flashy jewelry and watches, hold purses and camera bags close to your body, and avoid handling money in public. Use extra caution in all crowded spaces, such as markets, plazas, and bus terminals. In Quito, be especially wary in the streets and plazas of the Old City, and out for the evening in the La Mariscal district. Take taxis after dark, even if you are going only a few blocks.

Emergency Contacts

Canada. Av. Amazonas 4153, , at Paul Rivet, Quito, Pichincha. 02/245–5499; ecuador.gc.ca.

United Kingdom. Av. Naciones Unidas, at República de El Salvador, 14th fl., La Carolina, Quito, Pichincha. 02/256297–0800; www.britishembassy.gov.uk/ecuador.

United Kingdom. Consulate:, Av. General Córdova 623, , at Padre Solano, Guayaquil, Guayas. 04/256–0400.

United States. Av. 12 de Octubre and Av. Patria, La Mariscal, Quito, Pichincha. 02/256–2890; ecuador.usembassy.gov.

United States. Consulate:, Av. Avenida 9 de Octubre and García Moreno, Guayaquil, Guayas. 04/232–3570; guayaquil.usconsulate.gov.