A travel warning has been issued by the UK Government. British tourists have advised not to visit Ecuador following political unrest in the country.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement on its website advising against all travel to within the 20km exclusion zone along the border with Colombia, except for the official border crossing town of Tulcan in Carchi province.
It added: "There has been a higher concentration of protests in and around Quito district". Rioting and mass protests broke out in the country and a state of emergency was issued for some provinces, however, this has since been lifted. The situation continues to develop and remains uncertain.
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The South American nation sees thousands of tourists from Britain travel every week. Rickshaw Travel says Ecuador has been identified as a "megadiverse destination - on the the most biodiverse-rich countries of the world". Adding that visitors are usually tempted to the location to "enjoy endless beaches, lush rainforest, and indigenous communities framed by the spectacular snowy peaks and grassy foothills of the Andes. It’s also the gateway to the Galápagos Islands."
The advice does not apply to transits through Quito or Guayaquil airports, or onward travel to the Galapagos Islands. The FCDO said: “If you have a flight arranged from Quito, you should ensure you get to the airport well in advance due to intermittent roadblocks. Consider staying in a hotel near the airport or check your hotel booking for onward travel as some hotels are running low on food supplies or are reporting no availability.
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