Information Sheet Last Updated: 2005

Safety

The greater disease risk in Ecuador is caused by the greater volume of disease carriers in the form of mosquitoes and sand flies. The main viral disease is Dengue fever. A mosquito that bites during the day transmits dengue fever. The disease is like a bad flu with two or three days of illness followed by a short period of recovery then another attack of illness. Westerners rarely get the worst haemorrhagic form of the disease. Bacterial diseases include tuberculosis and some causes of the more common traveler’s diarrhea. The parasitic diseases are many, but the two key ones are malaria and South American trypanosomiasis known as Chagas Disease.

Some recommended vaccinations are polio and tetanus if you have not had one in the last 10 years, typhoid if you have not had one in the last 3 years, yellow fever, rabies if you are traveling to the jungle or more remote areas, and hepatitis A which can be easily caught from food or water.

Be ware of the common trick of spraying mustard, ketchup, or something else on your shirt then getting a “friend” to clean the mustard as well as your wallet off of you. If you are sprayed, keep on walking and ignore strangers remarks like “what’s on your shirt” or “have you seen the dirt on your shoe?” Do not bend over to pick up money or other items in the street. These are all ploys to distract you and make you and easy target.

Take local advice about being out at night. Daytime is not always safer than nighttime. If you are walking after dark in a dangerous part of a big city, walk in the road, not on the pavement.

Be wary of the plainclothes policeman and insist on seeing identification and going to the police station by main roads before you show any of your personal items. Never take them directly back to your temporary place of residence. Be even more suspicious if he asks for confirmation of his status from a pedestrian walking by.

If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you should see a doctor (you home doctor if you wish) as soon as possible. You will need tests to determine whether you have contracted any sexually transmitted diseases. You should also contact your embassy where consular staff are willing the help in the case of assault.

Don’t get robbed:

1. General Advice:

• Be prudent, not paranoid. Paranoia will keep you home or, paradoxically, make you more of a target. Reasonable precautions will help reduce feelings of insecurity.
• Don’t fight back if you are assaulted. Despite the hero stories and the anger you are likely to feel if robbed, resistance is extremely risky. Better to just hand over your stuff.
• Be extra careful after dark. Might seem obvious, but most robberies occur around or after nightfall. One of the more popular days to get robbed is Sunday at dusk. There are few people and police in the streets and most business are closed. . a very dangerous time here in Quito.

In most Latin American cities, it’s best to take a taxi at night. Tele-taxi companies usually offer the safest, most reliable service. Here are a couple of numbers you can call 24 hours to get a taxi at your doorstep: Taxi Jotajota 2639-639 or Taxi Amigo 222-2222. If walking is absolutely necessary, stick to lighted areas or walk down the middle of the street (traffic permitting).

Theft by stealth

Common Techniques: Pick-pocketing, opening bags, slitting bags or pockets with a razor blade

Watch for: Closed-in spaces including crowded public transport (buses and trolle), crowds, nexpected or sudden crowding or pushing.

Don’t: Wear a wallet in a hip pocket, keep cash in outer pockets or loose-fitting pants.

Do: Keep your cash where you can feel it. Front pockets of tighter pants (e.g. jeans) work best for spending cash. Use hidden pouches/pockets for larger amounts or vital documents. Best of all, leave stuff at home, the SAE clubhouse, or in the safe-deposit box of your hotel.

Snatching

This has not been the most common form of theft in South America, but it’s still something to beware of.

Common Techniques: The most common things to be snatched are bags and jewelry. There may be little finesse involved: a snatcher will come from behind, on foot, bicycle or motorcycle, grab your stuff, and make a speedy getaway, leaving you with little to do except shout.

Watch for: People following slowly behind you either on foot or on a bicycle. That is, if it feels strange to you that they are not passing you stop and let them pass you by.

Don’t: Carry valuable stuff in your bag or wear an expensive watch or flashy jewelry. People have had rings pulled of, necklaces yanked, and even earrings pulled right out of their ears. What’s discreet for you might look valuable to thieves – best to leave all jewelry at home.

If you do get robbed this way try to get a description of the thief and file a police report and a SAE crime report. We can help you with both.

Theft by distraction

Common Techniques: Anything to divert your attention, including:

• Smearing ketchup, mustard or other substance on you or your bags. (Be wary of offers to help clean it off – walk away instead.)
• Children fighting or begging (unfortunately, street children are often involved in these crimes)

Watch for: Any unusual or surprising activity near you or involving you. Beware of two or more persons appearing suddenly (thieves almost always work in groups).

Precautions: Don’t be distracted. Egotistical as it may sound, think of yourself first and be skeptical of people’s motives until you are sure of what is happening. If unsure, walk away. In restaurants or cafés, especially outdoor ones or ones with easy street access, be careful with your bags. It’s often best to put your leg through a strap or loop one under a table leg. Also be wary on buses (see below), as it only takes a second for someone to grab something from the overhead rack.

Druggings

Unfortunately, this crime is on the increase in cities like Quito and Cuzco, so beware.

Common Techniques: It involves the use of Scopolomine, better known in the U.S. as the “date-rape” drug. This drug comes from a plant that grows naturally in the jungles regions of the Andean countries. It is colorless and odorless and can be prepared for consumption (e.g. in drinks), inhalation (e.g. in cigarettes) or as a powder that rubs off on the skin and is absorbed. Upon ingestion, the victim loses the ability to think clearly and may pass out, making him/her vulnerable to theft or worse. Most frequently, it is slipped into drinks. However, there have been cases of thieves putting it on pamphlets or fliers they hand out on the streets or inviting people to smell perfumes or flowers laced with it.

Watch for: People trying to give you anything you don’t ask for.

Don’t: Accept from strangers any street fliers (it also wastes paper!), already-open drinks or an offer to buy you a drink from the bar, or cigarettes, or agree to smell anything. Don’t leave a drink unattended, especially in a bar or nightclub – have your friend watch it or take it with you to the bathroom!

Do: Try to watch your drink being prepared or poured, even in a bar or restaurant. If it’s beer, cola or mineral water, you can ask for it in the bottle.

Violent Robbery (Muggings)

Common Techniques: Use or threat of force. Thieves may be armed or not, but they almost always work in groups, suddenly coming upon their victims. Most armed muggings have been at knife-point or with an ice-pick, but the use of guns is on the rise. Obviously, this crime occurs more frequently after dark and in deserted areas and people who are obviously drunk are targets. Don’t let the presence of people lull you into false security even if they are there in the moment of a mugging, they are often not inclined to intervene or even say anything.

Watch for:Poorly-lit or isolated areas, particularly ones from which there is no easy escape. Suspicious groups of persons, especially young men. Red-light districts (Avenida Colon between 10 de agosto y Reina Victoria) criminal elements frequent hang out around prostitutes and may work in conjunction with them.

Don’t: The obvious: walk around much at dusk or after dark (even in groups), carry much cash or valuables on you, …. Do not walk around drunk especially after 10pm.

Special topics:

Money belts/pouches: Most thieves are onto the common money belt worn down the front of your pants (and, what’s more, are not shy about searching for it!). A better option may be a leg belt, which is inconvenient but less likely to be found. Neck or chest pouches may show and are vulnerable to having their straps cut (some travelers run the straps through with wire). You can purchase a leg pouch at SAE.

ATMs: Bank machines hold scary potential for theft, but most banks have them inside, in semi-secure areas. Try to make your withdrawals by day, when the bank is open, in case anything goes wrong. Don’t let anyone look over your shoulder as you enter your code number. Don’t enter that number more than once – cancel the transaction and start again. (There have been cases of particularly creative thieves injecting glue into the card slot and posting an official-looking sign reading “If your card is retained, re-enter your secret number twice.” Meanwhile, they watch your fingers as you enter your code and, with the card stuck inside, can withdraw cash even if you cancel the transaction.) Stow your cash, card, and receipt before walking out onto the street. Don’t hang around outside the bank – leave efficiently but inconspicuously.

Bags: Using padlocks or tying zipper tassels together will deter casual thieves. Some travelers use specially-designed metal nets or meshes over their bags. That makes your bag invulnerable to slitting but may make it stand out more – they’re of little use if the whole bag is gone. On the other hand, it may say to thieves: “This guy takes precautions, i.e. not an easy target!”

On the bus or trolle: Always keep your valuables and documents hidden on your person – it’s easy to get lazy, but fatal. Bags on overhead racks are easy to grab; keep them at your feet or on your lap. Checked bags are always a concern, though they don’t go missing too frequently. Many reputable long-distance bus companies will provide claim checks, so at least you have something to show if bags are “lost.” Even so, compensation is very limited and it can be a challenge getting it. The exception are Ecuadorian companies, who give you nothing at all – you just have to trust them. Checked bags are stored either in locked compartments on the lower sides or back of the bus, or on a roof rack. Watch the attendant stow your bag and try to get him to lock the compartment. Once on the bus, try to watch what comes out of it, at least at the major stops. In the case of a roof rack, it’s comforting to sit with a view of the ladder, so you can see what goes up and down. Some travelers like to put their bags inside burlap sacks so they won’t stand out. Just make sure to mark the sack clearly, so you won’t panic every time someone’s potatoes are unloaded. If you’re really uncomfortable with the baggage arrangement, it’s usually possible, with some insistence, to take even large bags on the bus with you.

Cameras: Consider leaving the truly expensive photographic equipment at home and using an older or simpler model. If carrying a camera, keep it out of sight and take it out when you want to shoot. It’s probably best not to use a camera case (unless it’s small and can be hidden under your clothing), but rather to carry it in a less descriptive bag. (Still, thieves may take your bag anyway, assuming there’s a camera inside.) Leave exposed film in a safe place so as not to lose your photos.

Hotels: Stay in recommended hotels – SAE can help you with a list and even some trip reports. Be wary of any hotels with a history of theft. Don’t leave valuables in the room – use the SAE storage services if at all possible or a safe deposit box provided by the hotel. It’s a good idea to carry around a medium-sized padlock for those really cheap hotels that just have a latch to secure the rooms. The hotel will usually provide a padlock, but you can replace it with your own for added security. This is a very good idea. . .do it!!`