Americans Warned of Kidnapping, Extortion as Violent Crime Grips Parts of Tourist Spot
The State Department is warning Americans to steer clear of parts of a South American country as violent crime, terrorism and kidnapping raise safety concerns among tourists.
The State Department this week issued a Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory for the nation of Ecuador.
In the advisory, officials warned of widespread crime across Ecuador, including murders, assaults, kidnappings and armed robberies linked to drug trafficking.
“Areas with transnational criminal organizations have much higher rates of violent crime,” officials said. “U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping and extortion.”
The country sits between Colombia to the north and Peru to the south, along South America’s Pacific coast.Ecuador is sought by many tourists for its dramatic Andean landscapes, historic cities and the Galápagos Islands.
Americans make up Ecuador’s largest group of foreign visitors, accounting for roughly a third of international arrivals in 2025, according to Ecuador’s National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). (Read more from “Americans Warned of Kidnapping, Extortion as Violent Crime Grips Parts of Tourist Spot” HERE)
