Quito Travel Risk — Elevated Risk (53/100)
Is Quito safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Quito scores 53/100 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.
Environmental quality (score 20)
Crime (score 48)
September 27, 2026
Quito, Ecuador has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 53 out of 100 (elevated risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is crime at 48/100; the lowest-rated category is environmental quality at 20/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Ecuador travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Quito to visit in 2026?
Quito currently sits at 53/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the elevated-risk tier. Travelers should plan more carefully than the global average — read the Actions section below before booking. The highest-rated risk category for Quito is crime (48/100), and the lowest is environmental quality (20/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (68/100) and natural hazards (64/100).
A score of 53 is higher than the scores of 72% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Quito, Ecuador carries an elevated baseline risk with a US State Dept advisory level of 2 and an active green flood alert. Travelers should also note a Level 1 global Dengue health notice from the CDC. Additionally, Quito Airport is scheduled for a maintenance closure on October 17 from 02:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Crime (score 48/100): Use registered taxis or ride-share apps. Keep electronics out of sight in public transit. Read recent reviews for your specific neighborhood.
- Transport safety (score 45/100): Use the safest available transit. For high-risk routes, prefer reputable carriers and avoid late-night driving.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Quito
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime conditions are generally secure along major corridors and commercial districts. Keep bags zipped and avoid displaying high-value items openly.
Risk levels elevate noticeably after dark outside main central zones. Avoid walking alone through unlit parks, alleys, or quiet transit stations; favor pre-booked door-to-door transport.
Safety by Traveler Type in Quito
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Quito for solo travelers (Crime 48/100 · Transport 45/100), women traveling solo (Crime 48/100), families with children (Health 30/100 · Natural disaster 40/100), older travelers (Health 30/100 · Transport 45/100), business travelers (Digital 15/100 · Money 40/100 · Transport 45/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 45/100 · Political 25/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Quito
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
☁ Overcast
Quito, Ecuador
| Today's high / low | 20.6°C / 9.8°C | Wind now / max | 3.1 km/h / 11 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 88% | Precipitation today | 0.9 mm · 42% chance |
| UV (max today) | 9.5 | Sunrise / Sunset | 05:56 / 18:03 |
- Very high UV
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:49 UTC · cached
Air quality
Air Quality
Good
| PM2.5 / PM10 | 10.3 / 10.3 µg/m³ | O₃ / NO₂ | 10 / 25.8 µg/m³ |
|---|
Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:50 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Ecuador - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Green flood alert in Ecuador GREEN · ~183 km away · 2026-09-17
On 15/09/2026, a flood started in Ecuador, lasting until 14/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 6 deaths and 7 displaced .
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:37:34 UTC
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 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
| Volcanoes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Quito happened in January, February and May (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 (125 km away) — USGS details
- Most recent: M5.5 on 31 Jan 2025 (85 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.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Quito Ecuador
-
Quito Airport in Quito, Ecuador, will be closed for maintenance on October 17, from 02:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
SafeAbroad · 2d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:51 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Quito
The most weather-stable two-month window for Quito is July–August, when typical daily temperatures run from about 9°C to 18°C and monthly rain averages 35 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in October–May. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 7, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Quito
Quito has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Centro de Salud "El Panecillo"
- Hospital: Centro de Salud EL PLACER
- Hospital: Centro de Salud La Ermita
- Hospital: Centro de Salud La Libertad B
- Hospital: Centro de Salud San Juan
- Hospital: Clínica Colonial
- Hospital: Cruz del San Lázaro
- Hospital: Hospital Eugenio Espejo
- Hospital: Hospital Prueba
- Hospital: Psiquiatrico San Lazaro
- Police: Ipiales
- Police: Policia Comunitaria Santo Domingo
- Police: Policia de Turismo
- Police: Regimiento Quito Nº 2
- Police: Sub-Circuito 24 de Mayo
- Police: Unidad Policial Comunitaria "San Marcos"
- Police: UPC
- Police: UPC EL PLACER BAJO
- Police: UPC EL TEJAR
- Police: UPC San Juan
- Embassy: Unnamed embassy
- Embassy: Egyptian Embassy
- Embassy: Embajada de Argentina
- Embassy: Embajada de Francia
- Embassy: Embassy of Russia
- Pharmacy: Centro Naturista Ecuafarma Natural
- Pharmacy: Cruz Azul
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Denver
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Reino Unido
- Pharmacy: Farmacia SanaSana
- Pharmacy: FARMACIAS ECINOMICAS
- Pharmacy: Farmacias FarmaRED's
- Pharmacy: Farmacias Medicity
- Pharmacy: Farmacias SanaSana
- Pharmacy: Sana Sana
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Cuerpo de Bomberos - Comandancia General
- Fire station: Estación No. 1 de Bomberos
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Ecuador)
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General | 911 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | low |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | low |
| Emergency response | low |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | medium |
No specific information on hospitals, emergency services, English‑speaking care or pharmacy availability was found in the sources; travelers should verify local medical facilities and emergency numbers before arrival.
Common scam patterns
- taxi kidnapping. Criminals pose as taxi drivers or hijack legitimate taxis to force passengers into a vehicle and demand a ransom or extortion. This occurs mainly in the historic center and surrounding streets. Tip: Use only app‑based ride services or reputable hotel‑arranged transport and verify the vehicle’s license plate before boarding.
- fake police inspection. Individuals dressed as police officers approach tourists, claim to be conducting a security check, and demand to inspect bags or hand over valuables. The ruse is common in crowded tourist zones. Tip: Ask to see official identification and contact the nearest police station if approached; genuine officers will not force you to hand over items on the spot.
- overpriced unlicensed tours. Unlicensed operators sell cheap tickets for tours to the Galápagos Islands or other attractions, then charge inflated prices or provide substandard services. These scams are reported around popular tourist gathering points. Tip: Book tours only through accredited agencies or your accommodation and verify the operator’s license before paying.
Area notes
- Historic Center. The UNESCO‑listed historic center has a strong police presence but remains a hotspot for pickpocketing and the scams listed above.
- Central Quito (main commercial corridors). Crowded streets and public transport routes in central Quito see frequent petty theft, so stay alert and keep belongings secure.
- Outskirts of the city. Neighborhoods farther from the historic core have higher reports of armed robberies and should be visited only with local guidance.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Ecuador for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Run a personalized assessment for Quito
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 62 → 53 | elevated | Data update scoring v2 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 38 → 62 | moderate → elevated | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 38 | moderate | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (round 2: Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + GPI + EPI references) |
Every editorial change to Quito's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Quito
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Quito, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.