Wayzata World Factbook 1994/World Factbook - 1994 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso/pc/text/txtfiles/ecuador.tvl

Text File | 1994-04-11 | 4KB | 80 lines

#CARD:Ecuador:Travel\Consular Information
Ecuador - Consular Information Sheet
May 27, 1993

Country Description:  Ecuador has a developing economy.  Facilities for
tourism are adequate but vary in quality.  Widespread civil disorder is
rare, but demonstrations are common and often degenerate into rock throwing,
car torching, looting and other random violence.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and a return/onward ticket are required for
a three-month stay.  For current information concerning entry and customs
requirements for Ecuador, travelers can contact the Ecuadorian Embassy at
2535 15th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, tel. [phone] or the
nearest consulate in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, New
York, or Houston.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care is available, but varies in quality.
Cholera is present in many parts of Ecuador.  However, visitors who follow
proper precautions about food and drink are not usually at risk.  Malaria is
on the increase in the coastal area.  Doctors and hospitals often expect
immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance is not
always valid outside the United States.  In some cases, medical insurance
with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful.  For additional
health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control's
international travelers hotline at [phone].

Crime Information:  Pickpockets and muggings are common, with thieves often
armed with guns or knives.  There have been numerous incidents of robberies
and sexual assaults on tourists, especially in the cities of Quito and
Guayaquil, at tourist sites such as the famous Quito landmark known as El
Panecillo in Old Quito, the Guayaquil waterfront promenade known as El
Malecon, and in popular hiking and climbing areas surrounding Quito.  Bus
travel throughout Ecuador can be very dangerous because of the high
incidence of crime perpetrated against bus travelers.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately
to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Useful
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while
traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet "A Safe
Trip Abroad."  It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.  Also available from the
same address is the Department of State publication "Tips for Travelers to
Central and South America."

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Penalties in Ecuador for possession, use and
trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and offenders can expect prolonged
pretrial detention without bail, lengthy jail sentences and fines.

Other Information:  Maritime safety standards on some tour vessels to the
Galapagos Islands are deficient.  Travelers have found it useful to verify
the credentials of tour vessels in advance.

U.S. citizens regularly bring allegations of legal harassment stemming from
business disputes to the attention of U.S. officials in Ecuador.  Of
particular concern have been several instances of U.S. business people
traveling to Ecuador to resolve business disputes who have been jailed on
criminal complaints in situations that would normally be handled by civil
litigation in the U.S.  These U.S. citizens have secured their release from
jail only upon the payment of large sums.

Embassy Location/Registration:  Americans who register with the Consular
Section of the U.S. Embassy in Quito at Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida
Patria (across from the Casa de Cultura), telephone: [phone]-749
or at the:

U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil at 9 de Octubre y Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel
Oro Verde), telephone [phone]-893, with jurisdiction over the
Galapagos Islands, may obtain updated information on travel and security
within Ecuador.

No. 93-136

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 27, 1992 to add
information on reporting the loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport.

#ENDCARD