FBOs at Eloy Alfaro International Airport SEMT MEC

City threat summary

Ecuador operates under a sustained elevated threat environment, with the U.S. State Department maintaining a nationwide Level 2 advisory and designating multiple coastal and border sub-zones at Level 3 or Level 4, while the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all seven Coastal Region provinces and within 20km of the Colombian border.

Gang-related violence linked to narcotrafficking reached a monthly high in July 2026, and joint U.S.-Ecuador operations announced in March 2026 targeting designated foreign terrorist organizations reflect the ongoing severity of organized criminal activity.

A nationwide red alert declared in late August 2026 in response to El Niño threats adds a compounding layer of operational disruption risk alongside the existing security environment.

Country overview

Ecuador operates under a sustained elevated threat environment, with the U.S. State Department maintaining a nationwide Level 2 advisory and designating multiple coastal and border sub-zones at Level 3 or Level 4, while the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all seven Coastal Region provinces and within 20km of the Colombian border.

Gang-related violence linked to narcotrafficking reached a monthly high in July 2026, and joint U.S.-Ecuador operations announced in March 2026 targeting designated foreign terrorist organizations reflect the ongoing severity of organized criminal activity.

A nationwide red alert declared in late August 2026 in response to El Niño threats adds a compounding layer of operational disruption risk alongside the existing security environment.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Guayaquil SEGU HIGH
• Baltra Island SEGS ELEVATED
• Puerto Baquerizo Moreno SEST ELEVATED
• Quito SEQM ELEVATED