What travelers should know about safety and travel advisories.
Bathers on an Ecuadorian beach made a brutal discovery last week. On Sunday, beachgoers found five severed human heads tied to wooden poles on a beach in Ecuador. The gruesome scene unfolded in Puerto López, a village on the country’s Pacific coast popular for whale-watching.
A wooden board was placed next to the heads, warning gangs against extorting local fishermen. The sign threatened the same fate for anyone who attempted to shake them down for money. It read, “The town belongs to us. Keep robbing fishermen and demanding vaccine cards, we already have you identified.” “Vaccine cards” refers to protection money that gangs demand from villagers.
According to local police, the killings were linked to a conflict between gangs. The victims, ages 20 to 34, were identified and had been reported missing days earlier. The same village saw six people killed two weeks ago—including a 2-year-old—when gunmen opened fire. That December attack was also attributed to gang violence, as rival factions fought for control of the area.
Such incidents are being reported more frequently in Ecuador as the country has become a hub for narcotics smuggling.
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Ecuador sits between Peru and Colombia, two major cocaine producers. While it does not produce the drug itself, about 70% of the world’s cocaine is smuggled out of Ecuador’s ports, bound for the U.S. and Europe.
Due to the growing presence of transnational drug cartels from Mexico and Colombia, Ecuador has experienced escalating gang violence since 2021. In fact, 2025 was the most violent year on record, with 52 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime. Port cities and towns have been particularly affected, as gangs fight for dominance.
Related: The U.S. Hasn’t Updated Its Travel Warning for Ecuador. But Should You Worry About Visiting?
Is It Safe to Travel to Ecuador?
The country on the equator is a gateway to the Galápagos Islands and a major tourist draw for its dramatic mountains and scenic coastlines. Despite recent reports of gang-related violence, Ecuador remains safe to visit overall, though the U.S. State Department advises travelers to exercise caution. Visitors are urged to avoid certain areas, including the borders with Peru and Colombia, as well as port towns where drug cartels are active. The Galápagos Islands are considered safe for travelers.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for Ecuador. Updated in October 2025, the advisory includes terrorism as a risk. It explicitly advises travelers not to travel to Guayaquil (south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue), Huaquillas, Arenillas, Quevedo, Pueblo Viejo, and Quinsaloma due to terrorism and crime. “Terrorist and other criminal organizations often commit violent acts in these areas, including sudden attacks in public places, often without warning.”
The Australian government also warns travelers of an internal armed conflict and a state of emergency related to crime. It advises against travel within 20 kilometers of the Colombian border due to the risk of drug organization-related violent crime.
Related: The Struggle With Altitude Sickness in the Ecuadorian Andes Is Real
