Is Otavalo safe? Ecuador travel risk
Is Otavalo safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Otavalo scores 69/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates Ecuador Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 18 Aug 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 2 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Otavalo scores 69/100 (Elevated). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and Ecuador (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Otavalo: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.
Driven by: security (68/100) and crime and scams (94/100).
A score of 69 is higher than the scores of 90% of the 241 countries we cover.
Consult the Ecuador travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.
Territorial & Position Context
Positioned at 0.2303° N, 78.2625° W in Imbabura, Otavalo features an altitude of 2532 m. The settlement is located 57.3 km SSW from Quito.
Imbabura
0.2303° N, 78.2625° W
2532 m
America/Guayaquil
41,718
Critical Services & Regional Transit
Adjacent Localities in Ecuador
Natural Hazard Calendar & History
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Otavalo happened in January, May and October (6 of 12 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
Significant Earthquakes (USGS M5.5+ within 150 km)
2 major seismic events recorded within 150 km over the past 5 years.
- Largest: M5.7 on 25 Jul 2022 (69 km away) — USGS details
- Most recent: M5.5 on 31 Jan 2025 (123 km away) — USGS details
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Ecuador travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Ecuador entry requirements.
Regional Centers with Threat Ratings
Questions travellers ask about Otavalo
Is Otavalo Ecuador safe?
Otavalo currently scores 69/100 on our composite travel risk index (elevated risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Ecuador (Level 2 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Otavalo · Methodology
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