Let me just start by saying, everyone has to make their own decisions based on their levels of risk. I will explain my side as a person who has been living here for over 6 years.
Ecuador has not made the news for any good reasons in the past two year. And what really put the nail in the coffin, was the January 9th news where they showed people taking over a news channel in Guayaquil. Unfortunately, that news segment spread like wildfire internationally and people quickly started canceling their trips here.
When, for lack of a better word, shit hit the fan on January 9th, everyone panicked. There was a lot of false information out there and it caused widespread fear. I do not say this to say that Ecuador is the safest country in the world, but it is not as bad as the news paints it.
As a person who has to continue living her life here in Quito, I do not think anything has changed. My life looks pretty normal and I feel safe to go out to grab coffee, dinner, etc, with friends. I still walk on the streets and ocassionally take my laptop out to work in cafes (certain cafes I feel better in than others). Quito is not the safest city in the world and people still need to be aware of their surroundings, but I do not think that what happened on January 9th effected Quito from one day to another.
A few things to remember when visiting Quito. Always be aware of your surroundings. As it is starting to get dark, I would recommend taking a taxi or an Uber. Try to walk down streets that have more people and do not put your phone in your back pocket. I think a lot of these things go for big cities in general.
Conclusion:
If you were planning to visit Ecuador before the news on January 9th, then I do not think that life is that different. Seeing that you were already going to travel here, you knew the risks that are associated with traveling in Latin America. As a person who lives in Quito, I would say it is still safe to travel in Quito-but remember you have to make your own decision according to your own risk tolerance.
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