City brief · Quito
Tourist Scams & Safety in Quito: What to Watch For and Where
Quito is a stunning high-Andean capital and a gateway to the Galápagos — and it asks a careful posture. The serious risks route through taxis and quiet areas; book your rides, keep valuables hidden, respect the altitude, and the colonial Old Town is yours.
2026-08-23
Problem zones at a glance
- Hailed street taxis Elevated Unlicensed cars carry robbery and express-robbery risk — use apps (Uber, Cabify) or a hotel-called registered taxi only.
- Old Town (Centro Histórico) Elevated Beautiful by day, worth seeing, but pickpocketing and robbery rise after dark and on quiet streets — daytime, valuables hidden, ride at night.
- La Mariscal / 'Gringolandia' nightlife Elevated Nightlife area with robbery and drink-spike caution after dark — go in groups, watch your drink, app your ride.
- TelefériQo & El Panecillo Moderate Robbery has occurred on quiet approaches — visit El Panecillo by taxi/tour, not on foot, and the TelefériQo by day.
- Altitude (2,850m) Moderate Not a scam, but real: Quito is very high — acclimatize slowly on arrival.
The short version
Quito — a UNESCO-listed colonial Old Town cradled in the high Andes, and a common gateway to the Galápagos — is stunning and welcoming, and it deserves an honest, careful posture (Ecuador’s security has been more of a concern in recent years). The serious risks route through familiar channels: transport (unlicensed-taxi robbery and express robbery) and quiet areas after dark (Old Town, La Mariscal, the approach to El Panecillo). Book every ride, keep valuables hidden, don’t walk quiet streets or up to viewpoints on foot, and respect the altitude (2,850m). Do that and the Old Town, the equator, and the Andes reward the visit.
The risks you’ll actually meet
- Unlicensed-taxi robbery. Hail nothing — use Uber/Cabify or a hotel-called registered taxi (orange plates, company, meter). The taxi rules →
- Express robbery. A short, ATM-driven robbery via an unlicensed car. Booked rides and a low ATM limit prevent and bound it. Calmly explained →
- Old Town & quiet-area robbery. Beautiful by day, riskier after dark. Daytime, valuables hidden, ride at night; don’t walk to El Panecillo.
- Nightlife caution (La Mariscal). Robbery and drink-spike risk — go in groups, watch your drink, app your ride.
- ATM & pickpocketing. Bank-lobby machines, low limits, covered PIN; bag in front on the crowded bus lines. The machine rules →
Getting around
Book your rides: Uber and Cabify, or a registered taxi your hotel calls, are the safe, recorded default — never a street-hailed cab. Registered taxis have orange plates, a company name, and a meter. The Ecovía and Trole bus lines are cheap but crowded pickpocket spots; the apps are the traveler’s tool, especially after dark and to viewpoints (don’t walk up to El Panecillo — take a taxi or tour). The Old Town is a daytime, valuables-hidden visit. Take the altitude gently on arrival.
What it looks like
Quito’s serious risks are the unlicensed taxi and the quiet street or viewpoint approach after dark; its everyday ones are pickpocketing in crowds and at ATMs. Booking your rides, staying in the safer areas, keeping valuables hidden, and not walking quiet stretches cover the large majority of both.
Do this instead
Book every ride (app or hotel-called registered taxi) and never hail a street cab; see the Old Town by day with valuables hidden and ride at night; don’t walk to El Panecillo — take a taxi or tour; keep a low ATM limit and use bank-lobby machines; watch your drink in La Mariscal; and take the altitude slowly. If robbed, comply. Those habits let you enjoy Quito’s beauty with confidence.
Warning signs, in general
- A street-hailed taxi carries robbery risk — book or use a registered orange-plate cab.
- A quiet Old Town street after dark, or the walk up to El Panecillo, is where robbery happens — ride.
- A new acquaintance eager to buy you a drink in La Mariscal is the nightlife risk.
If something happens
- Emergency: dial 911. Ecuador has tourist-police support in the Old Town and main areas.
- Robbery / express robbery: comply fully, then get to a safe, public place, freeze cards, and file the report for insurance. A low ATM limit bounds the loss. The full first-hour checklist →
- Card cloned: freeze, dispute charges, report.
- Altitude sickness: rest, hydrate, coca tea; seek medical help if severe.
Quick answers
Is Quito safe for tourists?
Quito is safe enough for the many visitors who base in the safer areas and take sensible precautions, but Ecuador's capital rewards a genuinely careful posture, and safety has been more of a concern in recent years. The main risks are unlicensed-taxi robbery, express robbery, and pickpocketing/robbery in the Old Town and quiet areas after dark. Book your rides, keep valuables hidden, don't walk quiet streets or to El Panecillo on foot, and respect the altitude, and the city and its surroundings reward the visit.
How do I get around Quito safely?
Use ride apps (Uber, Cabify) or a registered taxi your hotel calls — never a street-hailed taxi, which carries the robbery and express-robbery risk. Registered taxis have orange plates, a company name, and a meter; the apps are simpler and safer. Keep valuables out of sight, and ride rather than walk after dark and to viewpoints like El Panecillo (don't walk up). The Ecovía/Trole bus lines are cheap but crowded pickpocket spots — the apps are the traveler's tool.
What is express robbery ('secuestro exprés') in Quito?
As in some other Andean cities, it's a short, money-driven robbery — often via an unlicensed taxi — where victims are taken to withdraw their ATM daily maximum, then released. It's uncommon and highly preventable: use app or hotel-called registered taxis only, keep a low daily ATM limit so a forced withdrawal is capped, and don't advertise wealth. If it happens, comply fully — it's a financial transaction, and cooperation keeps it short.
How do I handle the altitude in Quito?
Take it slow. Quito sits at about 2,850 meters, so on arrival move gently, hydrate, avoid alcohol and heavy meals at first, and consider coca tea. Give yourself a day to acclimatize before exertion. Altitude sickness is common and usually mild and manageable, but don't push it in the first hours — especially relevant if you're continuing to even higher Andean destinations.