2 guides, each rated 1 to 5 with the reason — and two lists per place, where you are comfortable and where to pay attention. Nowhere is called dangerous; the specific thing is what helps.
Crime is essentially absent and the islands are among the safest places in Latin America. The rules are about the wildlife rather than you: stay two metres from every animal, never touch anything, do not use flash, and stay on marked trails. A licensed guide is mandatory at most sites, and the restrictions are strictly enforced.
Comfortable: Puerto Ayora · Puerto Baquerizo Moreno · Puerto Villamil
Snorkelling in the channels, where the current is strong and the boats do not always watch
Touching or blocking any animal, which is a fined offence as well as bad manners
Sea lions on the harbour steps, which bite when cornered
Ecuador's security situation deteriorated sharply from 2023 and the coast, particularly Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, is a different country from the highlands. Quito itself is manageable with the usual rules: no phone in the street, apps rather than street taxis, and nothing in the old town or La Mariscal after dark on foot. Check the current advisory before booking.
Comfortable: La Floresta · González Suárez · Cumbayá · Quito Old Town
Quito Old Town — after dark, on foot
La Mariscal — at night, which has a poor record for drink spiking and robbery
Street taxis — use Uber or Cabify, and draw cash inside a bank rather than on the street
Ecuador’s security situation deteriorated from 2023 and the coast is a different proposition — check the current advisory
The ratings are this site's own, from the guides' authors and the corrections readers send in; they are not an index. Read the general advice in travel safety tips.
