{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/ecuador/santa-elena","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T20:06:42.976Z","place":{"city":"Santa Elena","country":"Ecuador","countryCode":"EC","lat":-2.22652,"lon":-80.85807},"safety":{"score":56,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":50,"confidence":0.86,"caps":[],"databaseScore":56,"travellerSentiment":{"score":58,"label":"Cautious","summary":"Official advisories from multiple governments indicate a need for increased caution, with specific warnings against travel to coastal regions, suggesting traveler sentiment is likely cautious.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":40,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":51,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":58,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":75,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":60,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":69,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Tue, 18 Aug 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.ecu.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-10-07T10:45:07Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-10-14T09:59:27.952282-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":45.7228145164847,"display":"45.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":6,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":2.7,"display":"2.7%","year":"2017","score":92,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":19.8,"display":"19.8 / 100k","year":"2023","score":42,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":54.3635732,"display":"54/100","year":"2025","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":41.6008755,"display":"42/100","year":"2025","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":33.1892421,"display":"33/100","year":"2025","score":33,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":51.7061578,"display":"52/100","year":"2025","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":43.2076327,"display":"43/100","year":"2025","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":56.249015,"display":"56/100","year":"2025","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":42214,"display":"42k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":61.7,"display":"61.7 / 100","year":null,"score":40,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.24,"display":"0.24 / 100k","year":"2025","score":89,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":28,"display":"28.0%","year":"2016","score":44,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":44,"display":"US AQI 44 · Good","year":null,"score":91,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":13.150664513,"display":"13 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"October: highs ~30°C · heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":75,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":40,"display":"40 / 100 (Cautious)","year":null,"score":40,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Santa Elena presents a moderate safety risk for travelers, with specific concerns in coastal areas.","summary":"Official advisories highlight increased caution for Ecuador, with specific warnings against non-essential travel to coastal provinces including Santa Elena due to rising violent crime and gang activity. While tourist routes in other regions may be safer, Santa Elena itself is flagged with an elevated risk score.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While most violent crime is gang-related, tourists can be affected; kidnapping rates have risen in coastal areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Petty thieves are active in tourist areas, public transport, and crowded streets."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":["La Libertad (specific neighborhoods like Las Palmeras, Las Minas, Cumbres de La Libertad)","Coastal provinces of Ecuador (including Santa Elena) as per UK FCDO advice"],"scams":["Pickpockets and petty thieves target tourist areas, public transport, and crowded streets.","Scams targeting tourists are documented across Ecuador, with specific warnings for cities.","Potential for bribery during contact with public officials."],"zones":[{"name":"La Libertad","level":"avoid","note":"Recent violent crime, including homicides, has been reported in neighborhoods like Las Palmeras, Las Minas, and Cumbres de La Libertad."},{"name":"Santa Elena (city center)","level":"caution","note":"While the city center may see less overt crime than specific neighborhoods, moderate risk of mugging, robbery, and pickpocketing persists."},{"name":"Salinas","level":"caution","note":"Popular tourist area, but moderate risk of pickpocketing and theft exists, especially in crowded places. Be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"Montañita","level":"caution","note":"Known for tourism, but petty crime and scams can occur. Exercise vigilance, especially at night and in crowded areas."},{"name":"Coastal areas outside main towns","level":"avoid","note":"The UK advises against all but essential travel to the entire Santa Elena province due to increased crime rates."}]}}