Ecuador Political Unrest and Galapagos Cruise

[uspdmwg]

We were considering a December Galapagos Cruise on either Celebrity or SilverSeas. 

 

Its a bucket list trip for us and something we would like to do while we are able.

 

Prior to booking, we did some research on Ecuador, primarily since we would like to piggyback a birding photography trip. 

 

Our research showed multiple travel advisories with some rather alarming wording. We would fly in and out of Quito on our own using airline points and are very concerned about potential safety issues (even worse, Silverseas would leave us in Guayaquil, which has a special advisory). 

 

Can anyone share their recent experiences? We have scrapped the birding portion of the trip and very hesitant even attempting the cruise portion. 

 

Thanks for any guidance or assistance recent travelers can share. 

 

M

[LabMom57]

Well, yikes. This section is kind of buried on the boards. We are also considering the Galapagos expedition for 2024.  Given the level 4 risk in Guayaquil, that gives us major concerns. Looking forward to any replies you receive. Please share back any information you find from elsewhere!

[Rothko1]

Not sure if the situation has changed much since May.  But when we did this trip about two years ago, Silversea basically had us escorted from airports to hotel, back to airports, etc. in both Quito and Guayanquil.  So as long as you stayed in the hotel areas you were fine.  If you went out on your own into the cities, then of course, you were on your own.

 

We did try to go for a walk outside the hotel in Guayanquil and turned back rather quickly after having been accosted by some crazy guy.  So after that we just stayed in the hotel until it was time to leave.

 

I'd still consider going.

 

[ijkh]

In the news again Ecuador has become much less stable.   Yikes do we really want to go in September?

[Merci61]

We were scheduled to fly out today for 11 day Celebrity cruise package to the Galapagos. We were to stay two nights in Quito prior to cruise. Yesterday Celebrity gave us the option to cancel or fly in day before and stay at the Holiday Inn at the airport overnight before flying to Baltra on Sunday. We chose to cancel. Too risky to go and possibly get stranded down there. Glad we booked flights through Celebrity. 

[GottaKnowWhen]

On 1/9/2024 at 9:50 PM, ijkh said:

In the news again Ecuador has become much less stable.   Yikes do we really want to go in September?

We are scheduled for late September 2024. Following the news reports…

[PinonNoir]

We arrived in Quito on January 9th, the day the ***** hit the fan.  We ended up staying near the airport versus going into Colonial Quito that night.  After our Galapagos cruise, we did stay in Colonial Quito for one night, before we headed to Mashpi Lodge.  We didn't feel unsafe in any way, but it was a bit surreal to see the military presence in the city.  I live-blogged from the trip if you are the least bit curious.  Based on our experience, I think you are going to be fine in Quito.  We did not stay in Guayaquil, just flew in and out on the same plane, so I can't comment on that city.

 

Chris