Ecuador's 60-Day State of Emergency Covers 9 Provinces Through March — What Expats Need to Know

President Daniel Noboa declared a fresh 60-day state of emergency on January 2, 2026, covering nine provinces and three additional municipalities. The decree — Ecuador's latest in a string of emergency declarations dating to January 2024 — grants the military expanded powers to conduct operations against organized crime groups.

Which Areas Are Covered

The state of emergency applies to:

Coastal provinces:

• Guayas (includes Guayaquil)
• Manabí (includes Manta, Portoviejo)
• Santa Elena
• Los Ríos
• El Oro
• Esmeraldas

Sierra and other provinces:

• Pichincha (includes Quito)
• Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

Amazon:

• Sucumbíos

Additional municipalities:

• La Maná (Cotopaxi province)
• Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar province)

Notably absent from the decree: Azuay (Cuenca), Loja (Vilcabamba), Imbabura (Cotacachi/Otavalo), and the Galápagos — the provinces where most expats live.

What Triggered It

The immediate catalyst was a mass shooting in Manta on New Year's Eve. Gunmen stormed a gathering in the Nueva Esperanza neighbourhood around 11 PM, killing six people — including a child — and wounding a dozen more.

The Manta district alone recorded 500 homicides in 2025. Nationwide, Ecuador tallied an estimated 9,000 homicides for the year, translating to a rate of roughly 45-52 per 100,000 people — among the highest in Latin America and surpassing Venezuela, Honduras, and approaching Mexico's levels.

The military operations specifically target three criminal organizations: Los Lobos, Los Choneros, and Los Tiguerones, all linked to international drug trafficking networks using Ecuador's ports as cocaine transit points.

What the Decree Allows

The emergency decree suspends two constitutional rights in covered provinces:

1. Inviolability of domicile — security forces can conduct home searches without prior judicial authorization
2. Privacy of correspondence — authorities can intercept communications without a warrant

The decree authorizes a "complete operational cycle to dismantle criminal structures," meaning military and police joint operations, roadblocks, and neighbourhood sweeps.

What It Doesn't Do

The decree does not impose:

• A blanket curfew (though localised curfews may be declared at the provincial level)
• Travel restrictions between provinces
• Airport closures — all airports operate normally, and travellers can move to and from airports with passports and flight documents

What This Means for Expats

If you live in Cuenca, Vilcabamba, Cotacachi, or the Galápagos: Your province is not under the state of emergency. Daily life is unaffected by the decree.

If you travel through covered provinces (Quito, Guayaquil, coastal areas):

• Carry your cédula or passport at all times — military checkpoints can request identification
• Expect vehicle checkpoints on major highways, particularly the Guayaquil-Manta corridor and routes into Quito
• Do not photograph military operations — this has led to phone confiscations and detentions in previous states of emergency
• Airport travel is normal but allow extra time for enhanced security screening

For those considering travel during Carnival (Feb 16-17): The state of emergency does not affect holiday travel, but security will be heightened in coastal tourist destinations like Montañita, Salinas, and Manta. Exercise standard precautions.

The 60-day decree runs through approximately early March 2026. Given the pattern of continuous renewals since January 2024, most analysts expect it to be extended again.

Sources: MercoPress, SafeAbroad, ColombiaOne