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Is Quito safe? 🇪🇨

Ecuador · Safety report last updated 13 October 2026

As of October 2026, Quito scores 40/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. Quito requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime and ongoing security concerns. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (high risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Quito 🇪🇨

Ecuador · Assessed 13 October 2026

/ 100

Caution advised

Safer than ~27% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime35/100ElevatedCrime index 63.1 / 100 · city-level

Sentiment36/100ElevatedVery Negative

Advisories75Good

Stability60Fair

Health63Fair

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

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 →

Government of Canada

Level 2

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 2026-10-09T15:23:03.7120128-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Elevated

Mugging & robbery risk

High risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

High risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

26 / 100 (Very Negative)

City SignalCity Web Research

Feeling safe walking alone at night

20 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Feeling safe walking alone in daylight

55 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Urban scale factor

2.8M residents

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

63.1 / 100 · city-level

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

45.7 / 100k

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Physical assault (past year)

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Robbery / mugging

High

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, with locals expressing significant worry; avoid displaying wealth.

Pickpocketing

High

High risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially in crowded public transport, markets, and tourist sites.

▸ 3 more indicators

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.24 / 100k

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2025

Bribery during public-official contact

28.0%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2016

Crime seen as a major business constraint

2.7%

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2017

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Fair

Air quality

US AQI 56 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

13 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~20°C · heavy rain / flooding

Open-Meteo

Road safety

23.4 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts · 10 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

54/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0 recorded

100

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

42/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

33/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

52/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

43/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

56/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Elevated

Traveller sentiment score

Very Negative

36/100

Reported feel26Very Negative

Robbery risk34High risk

Pickpocket risk58High risk

Locals and visitors express low confidence in safety, with a strong feeling of worry about being mugged or robbed, and a low score for feeling safe walking alone at night.

Quito requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime and ongoing security concerns.

While Quito is not under active disaster alerts, it faces a high homicide rate and widespread concerns about violent and property crime. Travelers should be aware of the government's 'state of emergency' measures and exercise vigilance, particularly at night.

Recent developments

Aug 2026President deployed 4,000 troops and police to Quito amid rising crime.— Anadolu Ajansı
Sep 2026Ecuador imposed a state of emergency in Quito and Guayaquil.— وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)
Mar 2026A state of emergency and curfews were in effect for Ecuador.— Travel Off Path
Aug 2026Argentina designated three Ecuador gangs as 'terrorist groups'.— Buenos Aires Times

Common scams

Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially from the airport.
Distraction theft, where accomplices create a diversion while one person steals belongings.

Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Quito is currently experiencing a high level of crime, with authorities implementing a state of emergency and deploying additional troops in August 2026 due to rising crime rates, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı. Travelers should exercise a high degree of caution.

Recent news indicates ongoing security challenges, with the Ecuadorian president vowing to continue crackdowns on criminal activity and gangs being designated as terrorist groups by Argentina in August 2026. The government has declared states of emergency, affecting cities including Quito, with curfews also being implemented at times, as noted by Travel Off Path in March 2026.

Given the high homicide rate and significant public concern about violent crime, visitors should be particularly vigilant. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are prevalent in crowded areas, and there is a notable risk of mugging and armed robbery, especially after dark. It is advisable to avoid walking alone at night and to use reputable transportation services. Be aware of common scams such as taxi overcharging and distraction theft. The CDC also lists global health notices for Polio, Dengue, and Measles, so ensure your vaccinations are up to date.

Was this Quito, Ecuador report helpful?

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Quito districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution. See them plotted on the Quito safety map.

La MariscalcautionKnown for nightlife, can attract petty crime and pickpocketing, especially after dark.

Centro Histórico (Old Town)cautionHigh tourist traffic makes it prone to pickpocketing; exercise vigilance, especially in crowded areas.

El EjidocautionA large urban park area that can be safe during the day but may attract petty crime in less populated sections.

La CarolinasaferGenerally considered a safe and modern district with parks and commercial activity.

GuápulosaferA quieter, more residential area known for its scenic views and artistic community.

Santa ClarasaferA residential and commercial area generally perceived as safe.

3 safer3 caution0 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Quito safe at night?

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, with locals expressing significant worry; avoid displaying wealth.

After dark, be most careful around La Mariscal, Centro Histórico (Old Town), El Ejido. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Quito safety FAQ (2026)

Is Quito safe right now (2026)?

Quito requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime and ongoing security concerns. While Quito is not under active disaster alerts, it faces a high homicide rate and widespread concerns about violent and property crime. Travelers should be aware of the government's 'state of emergency' measures and exercise vigilance, particularly at night. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Quito safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Quito 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 Quito should tourists avoid?

Areas with high concentrations of street crime or known gang activity should be avoided, especially at night.. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Quito (2026)?

Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially from the airport.
Distraction theft, where accomplices create a diversion while one person steals belongings.

How does Quito compare with other places in Ecuador (2026)?

Quito ranks #9 of 9 Ecuador destinations we've assessed, scoring 40/100. See the Ecuador safety overview for the full list.

How is this quito safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 14+ 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.