A classic South American backpacking route is facing a moment of reckoning as Ecuador's security situation continues to deteriorate, forcing long-term travelers to make difficult decisions about whether to transit through the country or skip it entirely.
The dilemma facing a backpacker currently in Colombia illustrates the challenge. Planning to travel from Mexico to Peru over several months, the traveler originally intended to spend 2-3 weeks exploring Ecuador's highlights while heading south from the Colombian border at Ipiales/Tulcan to the Peruvian crossing at La Balza.
But UK Foreign Office travel advisories now paint a stark picture: large swaths of the country are designated as high-risk, with only narrow corridors through the Andes considered relatively safe for travel. The coastal regions - once popular with backpackers - are now effectively off-limits.
"Reading about the safety getting progressively worse, I am rethinking my plans," the traveler wrote on r/backpacking. "UK travel advisory shows safe areas, which I would fully stay within, but a very narrow route in via Ipiales/Tulcan."
The security concerns reflect broader instability across Ecuador, driven by drug trafficking organizations and gang violence that has spilled into tourist areas. What was once considered one of South America's safer and more accessible destinations has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years.
For backpackers, the question isn't just about safety - it's about route viability. The traveler's proposed path through Tulcan, Otavalo, Quito, Ambato, Loja, and Zumba follows the traditional Andean corridor, avoiding the coastal danger zones. But even this route presents challenges.
