Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Ecuador due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Tue, 18 Aug 2026
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Is La Libertad safe? 🇪🇨
Ecuador · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, La Libertad scores 56/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. La Libertad presents an elevated risk for travelers, requiring increased caution. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
La Libertad 🇪🇨
Ecuador · Assessed 25 October 2026
56
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime51/100CautionCrime index 61.7 / 100
Sentiment63/100FairMixed
Advisories75Good
Stability60Fair
Health68Fair
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Coastal Region FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of: Esmeraldas Manabí Santa Elena Guayas El Oro Los Ríos Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas This does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:45:07Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Ecuador: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-14T09:59:27.952282-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
55 / 100 (Mixed)
55
City SignalCity Web Research
Homicide rate
45.7 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7Ecuador45.7
6
Robbery / mugging
ModerateWhile specific data for La Libertad is limited, national crime rates and advisories suggest a moderate risk of robbery, particularly in coastal areas.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and phone snatching are noted risks in Ecuador, especially in busy tourist areas and on public transport.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mixed
63/100
Reported feel55Mixed
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Some sources suggest La Libertad offers affordability and community, while broader travel advice for Ecuador indicates a need for caution due to crime and unrest.
La Libertad presents an elevated risk for travelers, requiring increased caution.
While La Libertad itself has a moderate safety score, Ecuador as a whole faces challenges with organized crime and violence, particularly along the coast. Official advisories highlight risks of crime, unrest, and kidnapping.
Recent developments
- Feb 2026Ecuador: escalation of death threats against reporters exposes authorities’ willingness to restrict, not protect, the press.— RSF
- Aug 2023Concerns about press freedom grow in Ecuador after presidential candidate is assassinated.— International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - ICIJ
- Jul 2022Gang control of prisons enabled massacre; overcrowding, weak oversight fuel violence.— Human Rights Watch
Common scams
- Phone snatching
- Pickpocketing
Full briefing
La Libertad presents an elevated risk for travelers, requiring increased caution. Official government advisories from the US, UK, and Canada all recommend a high degree of caution due to risks of crime, unrest, and kidnapping, with the UK specifically advising against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces, including Guayas, where La Libertad is located.
While specific crime statistics for La Libertad are not detailed in the provided data, broader trends in Ecuador indicate a moderate risk for robbery and a notable risk for pickpocketing and phone snatching, particularly in busy areas. The dossier mentions that street crime in Ecuador can concentrate around bus terminals and markets. Travelers should avoid displaying expensive items and remain aware of their surroundings.
Recent reports highlight ongoing security concerns in Ecuador, including an escalation of threats against journalists and the assassination of a presidential candidate in 2023. These incidents underscore the volatile security situation in the country. Despite these challenges, many visitors travel to Ecuador without incident, with safety often depending on adherence to advisories and maintaining a cautious approach.
Was this La Libertad, Ecuador report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 5 La Libertad districts for visitors, 4 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the La Libertad safety map.
Industrial/Port AreasavoidGenerally not tourist-oriented and may have higher crime due to economic activity and less oversight.
Central La LibertadcautionHigher crime rates reported in general, exercise vigilance, especially after dark.
Coastal Areas (Malecon)cautionCan be busy with tourists, increasing risk of petty theft and pickpocketing.
Residential Neighborhoods (Outskirts)cautionCrime rates can be unpredictable; be aware of surroundings and avoid poorly lit areas at night.
Surrounding Rural AreascautionIncreased risk of opportunistic crime and potential for scams targeting tourists.
07 · After Dark
Is La Libertad safe at night?
While specific data for La Libertad is limited, national crime rates and advisories suggest a moderate risk of robbery, particularly in coastal areas.
After dark, be most careful around Industrial/Port Areas, Central La Libertad, Coastal Areas (Malecon), Residential Neighborhoods (Outskirts). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
La Libertad safety FAQ (2026)
Is La Libertad safe right now (2026)?
La Libertad presents an elevated risk for travelers, requiring increased caution. While La Libertad itself has a moderate safety score, Ecuador as a whole faces challenges with organized crime and violence, particularly along the coast. Official advisories highlight risks of crime, unrest, and kidnapping. (Assessed 25 October 2026.)
Is La Libertad safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this La Libertad report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of La Libertad should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Industrial/Port Areas as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in La Libertad (2026)?
- Phone snatching
- Pickpocketing
How does La Libertad compare with other places in Ecuador (2026)?
La Libertad ranks #6 of 9 Ecuador destinations we've assessed, scoring 56/100. See the Ecuador safety overview for the full list.
How is this la-libertad safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: la-libertad.json (CC BY 4.0).