Common Tourist Scams in Guayaquil (and How to Avoid Them)
Post-2022 crime context
- The shift: Ecuador's transition from a peaceful country to a major cocaine-transit hub since around 2020-2022 has produced a documented surge in violent crime.
- 2024 state of emergency: President Noboa declared a state of emergency on cartel violence in early 2024 — a sustained military presence in city streets.
- Tourist impact: most violence is gang-vs-gang. Tourists in tourist areas during daytime are not typical targets. But "wrong place at the wrong time" risk has increased.
- Don't go to outer Guayaquil neighbourhoods casually.
- Stay in upmarket hotels (Hilton Colón, Wyndham, Sheraton); these have security infrastructure.
- Don't display: phones, jewellery, expensive watches on the street.
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