Is Riobamba safe? Ecuador travel risk
Is Riobamba safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Riobamba scores 68/100 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.
Riobamba scores 68/100 (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 Riobamba: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km.
Driven by: security (68/100) and crime and scams (94/100).
A score of 68 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.
Local Geographic Profile
Situated in Chimborazo at 1.6731° S, 78.6483° W (elevation 2777 m), Riobamba lies 162.3 km N of Quito. Time zone: America/Guayaquil.
Chimborazo
1.6731° S, 78.6483° W
2777 m
America/Guayaquil
177,213
Emergency & Transport Infrastructure
Surrounding 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 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Volcanoes | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Earthquakes (M5.5+) | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Riobamba happened in March and April (4 of 7 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 14 Jul 2022 (133 km away) — USGS details
- Most recent: M5.5 on 31 Jan 2025 (109 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.
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