Tourists Try to Leave Ecuador amid the Outbreak of Violence

After the outbreak of violence and the declaration of a state of emergency in Ecuador, concerns have arisen about the safety of travelers and foreign citizens currently in the country. Despite reports of increasing unrest, most of the country is attempting to carry on as usual, with the military recruited to maintain law and order.

Infrastructure, such as airports, is operating normally, while the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) has not yet advised against travel to the country. But, is it safe to travel? What are your rights if you have a booked trip?

Following the state of emergency, the FCDO updated its guidance in accordance with that of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism. It is recommended that "tourists stay within their hotels/accommodations until further notice and only travel for essential trips," adding that the state of emergency "includes a daily curfew from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m."

"Exceptions to the curfew include passengers traveling to/from airports, who must show their passports or identification documents and their corresponding boarding pass or flight reservation."

The José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil confirmed that JetBlue canceled two flights from Fort Lauderdale and New York (USA) to Guayaquil, scheduled for January 9, 2024, as reported by Primicias.

The Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito asked passengers to confirm through the official channels of each airline if flights have changed or been suspended due to the internal armed conflict in Ecuador. Passengers with canceled flights will not be allowed to enter Quito Airport, the entity reported.

Avianca announced that it activated its protection plan to provide flexibility to customers traveling to or from Ecuador. Customers with reservations between January 9 and 11 can make changes to their itinerary at no additional cost up to 30 days after the initial flight date, subject to availability.