Updated on 16 September 2026 ·
source checked daily
Ecuador — official level as of 16 September 2026: Level 2/4 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, CHF 1.5M, certificate on payment.
Four official readings
United StatesState Departmentsource ↗Our reference level — the one shown across this site
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
Level 2/4 — “Exercise Increased Caution”levels 1 and 2 are advice to be careful, not travel restrictions
FranceFrance Diplomatiesource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: red or orange AREAS
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ red areas
our reading: some areas are classified red (formally advised against)
United KingdomFCDOsource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: travel statuses
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ parts of the country
our reading: all but essential travel advised against to parts of the country
source reviewed 10 July 2026
SwitzerlandFDFAsource ↗Advisory cited by the Maximum policy
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ parts of the country
our reading: Switzerland’s FDFA advises against travel to certain regions
advice published 25.03.2026
The four readings on record agree: no restriction on the whole country — France still flags red areas; the United Kingdom still flags parts of the country; Switzerland still flags parts of the country.Our comparison reading: 15 September 2026
Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?
An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.
The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.
34 recorded incidents (UCDP)hover, click to open it in the briefing
Level 2/4 — Exercise Increased Caution
Checked on 16 September 2026 · U.S. State Department
Observed repatriation
37 000 € – 200 000 €
Country briefing
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The comparator
What is your current insurance?
The verdict
No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
Exact wording (official French text): « Des Voyages vers des pays où Votre gouvernement a conseillé de ne pas voyager » — general exclusion n° 11, applying to ALL travel covers.
Travelling only once? Below three trips a year, this contract is probably not for you.
Where, exactly?
What the national level does not tell you
The level is national. Risk areas are in the state advisories below.
U.S. State Department — the full advisory details the regions concerned and the reasons (crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest)
(read the advisory)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom) — the United Kingdom advises against all but essential travel to parts · reviewed 10 July 2026 Last announced change : « Updated information on land border crossings with Colombia and Peru ('Entry requirements' page). » (read the advisory)
France Diplomatie — France classifies SOME AREAS of the country as red (travel formally advised against) — the advisory is geographic, check it for your exact destination (read the Security advisory)
No major event in progress is located in this country at this morning's check.
What happened, and where
Over 1 January 2026 → 30 June 2026, UCDP (Uppsala University) recorded 34 geolocated violent incidents in this country, for 67 documented deaths.
Most affected areas Manabí province 22 · Guayas province 8 · El Oro province 3 · Los Ríos province 1
Most recent incidents
25 April 2026 · El Oro province · Puerto Bolivar town Policía capturó a dos integrantes de Los Lobos, presuntos vinculados a ataque que dejó 5 muertos en Machala Para hacer uso de este contenido cite la f · 5 deathsSource: Radio Pichincha · 26 April 2026 · Primicias · UCDP #628121 ↗
10 April 2026 · El Oro province · Cantón Guabo Masacre en El Guabo: familia es asesinada dentro de un centro de sanación ancestral · 3 deathsSource: Radio Pichincha · 11 April 2026 · Radio Pichincha · UCDP #628060 ↗
31 March 2026 · Guayas province · Cantón Santa Lucía Violencia en Guayas: Este martes se registró un triple asesinato en Santa Lucía · 1 deathSource: Radio Pichincha · 31 March 2026 · witnesses · UCDP #626797 ↗
29 March 2026 · Manabí province · Cantón Manta Terror en Manta: Cuatro asesinatos en menos de siete horas · 1 deathSource: Radio Pichincha · 29 March 2026 · Radio Pichincha · UCDP #626802 ↗
28 March 2026 · Manabí province · Cantón Manta Terror en Manta: Cuatro asesinatos en menos de siete horas · 1 deathSource: Radio Pichincha · 29 March 2026 · Radio Pichincha · UCDP #626804 ↗
28 March 2026 · Manabí province · Montecristi town Terror en Manta: Cuatro asesinatos en menos de siete horas · 1 deathSource: Radio Pichincha · 29 March 2026 · Radio Pichincha · UCDP #626805 ↗
Source: UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset (Uppsala Conflict Data Program), file GEDEvent_v26_01_26_06.csv, CC BY 4.0 licence. We keep only incidents UCDP codes as "Clear" and whose location is precise enough to be placed — about 58% of the dataset. An incident may be revised, moved or withdrawn by UCDP in a later release: these figures describe a closed period, not a live situation.
What we do locate on the map are events in progress — earthquakes and disasters reported by USGS and GDACS (UN / European Commission), which do have real coordinates. Hover a dot for details, click to open it in this briefing.
What is happening in Ecuador right now
Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.
No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.
What public sources give around Quito: hospitals and clinics, nearest evacuation airport. In an emergency, one reflex: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
The closest to the city centre is Centro de Salud La Libertad B, 0.2 km away. A medical evacuation would depart from Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre (UIO), 22.0 km from Quito.
🏥 Medical network — Quito
Centro de Salud La Libertad Bemergency department0.2 km from the centre of Quito
Centro de Salud "El Panecillo"emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Quito
Centro de Salud La Ermitaemergency department0.9 km from the centre of Quito
Clínica San Mateoemergency department1.0 km from the centre of Quito
Cruz del San Lázaroemergency department1.1 km from the centre of Quito
Psiquiatrico San Lazaroemergency department1.1 km from the centre of Quito
Centro de Salud la Magdalenaemergency department1.1 km from the centre of Quito
Clínica Colonialemergency department1.7 km from the centre of Quito
✈️ Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Antonio José de SucreUIO22.0 kmNearest evacuation airport from Quito — unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation included.
💱 Currency: USD $ · 🗣 Language: Spanish In an emergency from Quito, your reflex remains +41 22 ••• •• •• — Full number in your client area.
None of these facilities is a Maximum Insurance “partner”, and none is presented as waiving upfront payment: this list is a reading of public map data, nothing more. A direct payment guarantee is arranged CASE BY CASE by our assistance desk, facility by facility and when the need arises — one number, +41 22 ••• •• ••.
Level 2/4 ("Exercise Increased Caution") according to the U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 16 September 2026. Maximum Insurance checks this official source every day.
What does Maximum Insurance do in Ecuador?
The Pack VIP ($990 for twelve months, unlimited trips) covers CHF 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation, the direct payment guarantee in hospital, and a nominative certificate in the format visa applications require, Schengen included. The Pack VIP Extreme adds crisis management & security and Kidnap & Ransom (subject to eligibility).
How much does a medical repatriation from Ecuador cost?
Observed costs range from 37 000 € to 200 000 € depending on severity and distance (export.gov (officiel US), 2019). The Pack VIP covers evacuation and medical repatriation without cap, settled directly by the insurer.
Do I need an insurance certificate for a Ecuador visa?
Many consulates require proof of international medical cover before issuing a visa — Schengen included for non-European travellers. Maximum Insurance issues the official named certificate on payment, accepted for these procedures.
What should I do if hospitalised in Ecuador?
One reflex: call +41 22 ••• •• •• (24/7). Within our worldwide medical network — 45,000 medical providers — the insurer sends its direct payment guarantee: the hospital is settled directly, no deposit advanced by the traveller.
Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in Ecuador?
These are travel-insurance options, with a public notice. At level 4/4 (Do Not Travel), several notices rule the trip out (Amex, exclusion no. 11; Mastercard Fortuneo, art. 5.5). Below that, the area exclusion generally does not apply — 90 days max, reimbursement afterwards, no visa certificate remain. The VIP Pack runs 12 months, pays the hospital, and issues the certificate on payment.
Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in Ecuador?
A health plan treats you at home: the hospital here asks for a guarantee before admission. A travel policy has its own terms — often a territorial clause at level 4/4, and 90 days. Without the document (IPID number or PDF), we cannot say. Ask a Maximum Insurance expert to call you back.
The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.
The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.