Ecuador situation - May 2016
 

Hi, is anyone in / or recently ridden through Ecuador since the earthquakes in April?
I'd really appreciate some brief comments on the situation for overland travel at the moment...
- Any areas to completely avoid?
- Is fuel freely available?
- Infrastructure damage?
- Best to avoid all together?

Thanks, Jeff

I am interested also :thumbup1:

Also interested. I have contacts in Manta that are telling me the situation is improving. I will be in Ecuador in the next two weeks either way.

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Ecuador is open for tourism!
 

We entered Ecuador 4 days ago and are currently in Quito. We have only heard that the coastal area is to be avoided due to road damage and lack of basic services in the coastal towns. The Andes and Amazonia are open and things seem fine and normal.

Come to Ecuador - they need your tourism business! We were here two years ago and rode through the areas that were damaged by the earthquake. Breaks our hearts, but the people here are so friendly and warm.

There are programs whereby travelers can help out with needs of far-flung places. Check out "Pack For A Purpose" on Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental's FaceBook page. Court and Sylvan run Freedom Bike Rental and have done great things to help the cause.

Keith and Jalene
Southonabike.com

Thanks Keith and Jalene, Great to hear it first hand.

I agree that people should head to Ecuador if most areas are fine! Those places appreciate the tourism money and can needlessly suffer after a natural disaster when they are, in fact 'open for business'.

I saw that in Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2012, we went a few weeks later and most tourist areas were just fine, we had a great time. Unfortunately the locals were struggling because of so many tourist cancellations, because the media gave the impression that the whole country was devastated. Not the case at all.

Jeff and Sally