Other Risks
There are certain areas in Ecuador that, should you plan to visit, you'll need to check the latest information on safety with your embassy. Parts of Sucumbios province (capital Lago Agrio) close to the Colombian border have been made unsafe by suspected Colombian guerilla activity . A group of foreign oil workers was kidnapped here in September 1999 and held for three months. The remoter parts of Carchi province (capital Tulcan) have also seen guerilla problems in the border areas. The Cordillera del Condor, southeast of Zamora, long involved in a border dispute with Peru, still contains unmarked minefields and should be avoided altogether. In late 1999, there was much speculation that both Guagua Pichincha and Tungurahua volcanoes were soon to erupt. Both of them reached orange alert (the scale runs from white to yellow to orange then red), and whole towns were evacuated. These are not the only active volcanoes in the country; you can keep abreast of the level of volcanic activity either through local press or with your embassy. The mood of the public can also periodically erupt in Ecuador, especially in times of economic uncertainty. Demonstrations ( manifestaciones ) and strikes ( paros or huelgas ) form a common and normal part of political expression in the country. Violence is rare, and the climax is often little more than the odd burning tyre in the middle of the road, though it can be a frightening experience. Occasionally trouble can break out, when the police move in with tear gas and water cannon - reason enough to steer clear. When there's widespread discontent, roadblocks, particularly on the Panamericana, are common, so make allowances for delays in your itinerary.
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