Touring Safely in Quito

We’ve lived in Quito for almost a year now. And I think it’s time to share a piece I started to write immediately after arriving last summer but was afraid to publish because I didn’t want to scare friends who might want to come and visit. It’s about touring safely in Quito. Anyone traveling overseas should always check with the US State Department and see if there are any travel advisories. The list for Ecuador is long and is worth reading. Quito has specific guidance:

Staying Alert in Quito

Stay particularly alert for crime on the crowded streets of south Quito, at the Panecillo, the Historic District, and in the areas of El Tejar, Parroquia San Sebastian, Avenida Cristobal Colon, and Gonzalez Suarez. Quito’s Mariscal Sucre district, a popular tourist area with restaurants, bars, hotels, hostels, and shopping, is increasingly a site of crimes; reported incidents in recent years range from petty theft and sexual assault to shootings. In Mariscal Sucre, travel in groups when possible, avoid hailing taxis off the street or using unofficial taxis, and exercise caution in the early morning hours. Outside the city, stay alert if hiking to the summit of Pichincha, as violent crime has been known to occur there.

Fear of Becoming a Target

For my first few weeks, I prevented myself from exploring on my own for fear of becoming a target. The warnings that scared me the most were these:

• Robberies are increasingly violent and include weapons like guns and knifes.
• Some neighborhoods are safe; others are not but there are no clear lines that delineate where one begins and the other ends.
• Taxis can be safe but express kidnappings, where people are forced to remove money from ATM’s is on the rise.
• The use of the knock-out drugs to assist in criminal activity is on the rise.
• Buses aren’t safe, period, but are especially rampant with theft during rush hour.

Common Sense Precautions

If you live in a city where it isn’t recommended to walk, it isn’t recommended to take the bus, and taxis are only recommended when you know the driver, it pretty much leaves you stuck. After our car arrived, life got a lot easier but what about those folks that are just coming to visit and don’t have access to their own vehicle? I would like to recommend something called common sense. It’s not fail safe but using it can save you a lot of trouble.

• Use the taxis that your hotel offers or have your hostel recommend a valued taxi driver. Trust me, they will have a list of folks you can depend on.
• If you must flag down a taxi, do so only during day light hours. At night, you can ask restaurants and bars to call reputable companies for you. UPDATE: consider loading the Cabify app on your phone.
• If you use a taxi, check to see that the taxi is legally registered – it should have an orange license plate and paperwork visibly posted inside the vehicle.
• Recent law requires all taxis to have cameras filming at all times. If your cab doesn’t have a camera, it may not be a legal taxi.
• If you take the bus or the trolley, take as few belongings as possible and travel with a group if possible.
• Use a purse with a strap that can be worn across your body making it more difficult for a snatch and grab.
• Use backpacks and/or purses made of sturdy materials that are difficult to slash with a knife (cutting the bottom of a backpack and having the belongings drop into another bag is a common trick of thieves during rush hour)
• If you’re traveling with a camera, find a way to camouflage it. A bag that isn’t a camera bag can be helpful. Even a scarf that can be draped over the main body can detract attention from the camera itself. If weather allows, you can wear your camera strap over one shoulder and wear a jacket making it very difficult for someone to grab your camera and run. Make sure your camera strap is sturdy and not easy to cut. And if at all possible, don’t ride the bus with a camera.
• Don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket.
• Don’t flash cash.
• Don’t carry an ATM or credit card unless you know you are going to use one.
• If you are going to use an ATM, make sure it is in a protected location like inside a large hotel or bank and look to see if anyone is watching you get cash. If they follow you out or are talking on a phone, change your direction and/or tell the nearby a guard or policeman of your concern.
• Keep small change easily accessible so you don’t have to pull out the wallet with the bills for every purchase.
• Keep your cash in multiple locations so that you have an emergency fund.
• If you plan on going somewhere that is known for robbery on the streets, take a throw-away-wallet. That’s one with some old cards that are of no value and are not connected to current accounts and enough money inside to fool a thief into thinking it’s the real thing. This is especially true for those planning to go out on the town at night.
• Don’t wear expensive or faux expensive jewelry, watches, or sunglasses.
• Don’t use an iPhone or expensive Android on the streets. If you use them in restaurants or bars, keep them out of view as much as possible.

Situational Awareness

Now that I’ve scared you half to death, let me tell you that we’ve not encountered any issues after almost a year in country. I now walk downtown with my camera in hand and take pictures at will. I do make sure I’m with other people so that they have my back and are looking around as much as I am. That’s a little tough for an independent woman who doesn’t like to rely on others but it’s common sense in a big city. I’ve learned to better use my situational awareness skills that I honed on the streets of Buenos Aires but it still helps to have an extra set of eyes. I’ve been followed once and my oldest noticed that we were getting undue attention. Just knowing that gave us a level of control in the situation. It gives you choices.

People following a little close? Then stop for a moment and let them pass you by. People walking towards you look a little dodgy? Cross the street. Hair on the back of your neck starting to prickle? You are trying to tell yourself that something isn’t right. Listen and pay attention.

And last but not least, try to blend (okay, we’re not blending. A near 6 foot tall blond white kid will never look Ecuadorian. Nor will his curly haired mother, even though she is much shorter). We do our best not to wear trendy clothes that can only be bought in the US. But if you have something that looks like a Hollister knock-off, you’re golden! Blue jeans and fleece are common, even downtown. Sandals are not. And we try to keep our voices down when we speak. English has a way of traveling through a crowd. No need to let everyone know that you’re from the United States.

I know from experience that the worst stories we’re hearing are not happening to everyone and by taking simple precautions you can make sure they don’t happen to you. So come to Quito and enjoy! It really is worth the trip.

If you have added suggestions for traveling safely in and around Quito, please feel free to share in the comments below or on our Facebook page.