Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvltxt/ECUADOR.TVL

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Ecuador - Consular Information Sheet
June 24, 1994

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,
looting and other random violence.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and a return/onward ticket are required for
a 90-day stay.  Travelers without a visa cannot extend this stay beyond 90
days.  For current information concerning entry and customs requirements for
Ecuador travelers can contact the Ecuadorian Embassy at 2535 15th Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20009, tel [phone] or the Consulates in Los Angeles,
San Diego, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Newark, New York or
Houston.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care is available but varies in quality.
Cholera is present in parts of Ecuador.  Visitors who follow proper
precautions about food and drink are not usually at risk.  Malaria and
dengue fever are on the increase in the coastal area and in the Oriente
region.  There have been cases of rabies in Guayaguil and cases of
diphtheria in Quito.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health
services.  U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United
States.  The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical
services outside the United States.  In some cases, medical insurance with
specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven useful.  For
additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease
Control's international travelers' hotline at [phone].

Crime Information:  The most frequent reports of crimes committed against
tourists are robberies and assaults.  Thieves are often armed with guns or
knives.  Tourists in the resort areas along the coast and in the cities of
Quito and Guayaquil should be especially vigilant around tourist sites.  In
Quito tourists should take special care in the historic center of the city
at the famous landmark known as El Panecillo and in the public parks.  In
Guayaquil points of particular concern are the Las Penas neighborhood and
the waterfront promenade known as El Malecon.  There is a high incidence of
traffic accidents in Ecuador frequently involving buses.  Bus travel
throughout Ecuador can be particularly dangerous, especially at night,
because of the frequency of crime perpetrated against bus travelers.

The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the
local police and to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.  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 have been victims
of legal harassment by business associates.  Under a provision of Ecuadoran
law a business dispute that normally would be handled by civil litigation in
the U.S. may be converted into a criminal proceeding.  this provision of law
has been used to impose travel prohibitions against resident Americans and
also has led to the arrest of U.S. businesspersons.

Embassy Location/Registration:  Americans can register and obtain updated
information on travel and security within Ecuador at either the U.S. Embassy
in Quito or the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil.  The Embassy in Quito
is at the corner of Avenida 12 De Octubre and Avenida Patria (across from
the Casa De Cultura), telephone [phone]-749.  The Consulate
General in Guayaquil is at 9 De Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel
Oro Verde), telephone [phone]-893.  The Consulate General in
Guayaquil has jurisdiction over the Galapagos Islands.

No. 94-105

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet of May 27, 1993 by providing
updated medical, crime, and legal information.