# Updated Ecuador Travel Advisory: What Ottawa Travellers Need to Know (March 2026)
Planning a trip to Ecuador from Ottawa? The Government of Canada updated its travel advisory for Ecuador on March 13, 2026, and if you have travel plans to this biodiverse South American destination, you need to know what’s changed. Canada maintains a **Level 2 advisory — Exercise a High Degree of Caution** for Ecuador, with some regions requiring travelers to avoid all or non-essential travel.
## What’s New in This Advisory
The latest update focuses on natural disasters and climate concerns, specifically adding information about heavy rainfall affecting parts of the country. This comes on top of ongoing security concerns related to high crime levels, drug trafficking near border regions, and violent crime in specific urban areas.
## Understanding the Regional Risk Levels
Not all of Ecuador carries the same risk. The Galápagos Islands maintain normal security precautions, making them the safest destination for Canadian tourists. However, Ottawa travellers should avoid all travel within 20 kilometers of the Colombian border in Carchi, Esmeraldas, and Sucumbíos provinces due to drug-related criminal activity. Similarly, areas near the Peruvian border in Zamora-Chinchipe contain unmarked landmines.
Most concerning for tourists are the “avoid non-essential travel” warnings for Esmeraldas province and parts of Guayas (including specific Guayaquil neighborhoods), El Oro, and Los Ríos provinces, where violent crime poses significant risks.
## Health and Safety Risks to Consider
Beyond crime and security issues, Ecuador presents specific health challenges that Ottawa residents may not encounter at home. The country’s diverse geography—from coastal regions to high-altitude areas in the Andes—means travelers face varying disease risks including yellow fever, typhoid, and altitude sickness. The recent heavy rainfall mentioned in the advisory can increase mosquito-borne illness transmission and create sanitation challenges leading to traveler’s diarrhea.
## Preparing for Your Ecuador Trip
Before departing from Ottawa, schedule a travel health consultation at least six weeks before your trip. A certified travel health professional can assess your itinerary and recommend appropriate vaccinations—yellow fever vaccine is required for certain regions of Ecuador, and hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine vaccines should be up to date.
Your consultation should also cover altitude sickness prevention if you’re visiting Quito or the highlands, prescription medications for traveler’s diarrhea, and advice on safe food and water practices. Don’t forget comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation—essential given the security situation in some regions.
A well-stocked travel medical kit with antimalarial medication (if visiting endemic areas), rehydration salts, and basic first aid supplies complements your pre-travel health preparation and helps you respond to minor health issues safely.
Travelling to Ecuador? Before you go, speak with one of our ISTM-certified travel health physicians – virtually, 7 days a week. A pre-travel consultation covers vaccines, medications, and destination-specific health risks. Book your virtual consultation at Orleans Travel Clinic Pharmacy.