Trips to Ecuador under threat after Foreign Office advises against travel
Travellers visiting Ecuador have been warned to remain vigilant as the country reels from a fortnight of violent protests that have left seven dead.
The Foreign Office (FCO) is advising against all but essential travel to the South American country, with the exception of Galapagos. However, it is hoped these restrictions will soon be lifted after the Ecuadorian president Lenin Moreno said the government would cancel the austerity measures at the heart of the unrest.
In the meantime, the FCO guidance, which invalidates regular travel insurance policies, still stands.
“Tensions remain high and the situation is volatile,” said the FCO. “You should avoid all demonstrations, as some have turned violent and resulted in injuries and several fatalities.”
It added that travellers “should consider carefully the practicalities and security implications of their travel plans”.
The guidance does not apply to the country’s Galapagos archipelago, which attracts many of the 30,000 British nationals that visit Ecuador each year. Though access to Quito airport was blocked by protesters at the weekend, transit to the archipelago made famous by Charles Darwin has not been affected.
Colin Stewart, the chairman of the Latin American Tourism Association (LATA), said anyone with a holiday booked to Ecuador should seek advice from their travel agent or tour operator.
“We are sorry to hear about the current disruption in Ecuador,” he said. “We are monitoring the situation closely and we understand that measures are currently being taken to restore the peace.”
On Monday the Ecuador government said it had agreed a deal to end the mass demonstrations and restore fuel subsidies. The talks were brokered by the UN and the Roman Catholic Church.
A joint statement between the leaders of the protests and the authorities said: “With this agreement, the mobilisations... across Ecuador are terminated and we commit ourselves to restoring peace in the country.”
The protests brought chaos to the country, especially the capital. As violence escalated in Quito, Moreno temporarily moved his government to the port city of Guayaquil.
In addition to the travel advice issued in response to the protests, the FCO warns against all travel to within 20km of the border with Colombia. The area is an exclusion zone and under military control.
Of the coastal and border province of Esmeraldas, the FCO says the security situation can change very quickly, and visitors should be particularly cautious and vigilant.
Ecuador, though smaller than many of its neighbours, attracts an increasing number of British visitors every year. Quito has long been a favourite with backpackers for its Andean feel, while the Galapagos is at the centre of a burgeoning cruise market.
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