Quito Turismo works in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen institutional capacity and provides a Tourist Security service staffed by members of the National Police.

The mission of the Tourism Security Service is to ensure and safeguard the physical and psychological safety of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the Metropolitan District of Quito, as well as to protect the material assets that form part of Ecuador’s tourism heritage.

Tourists can report assaults, lost items, or the theft of documents or luggage online at the following link: https://www.fiscalia.gob.ec/denuncias-on-line-para-turistas/

Services

• Receiving complaints and providing immediate assistance in the event of problems, while taking the appropriate legal steps.
• Protection, assistance, and guidance on legal procedures for domestic and foreign tourists in the event that their belongings are stolen.
• Coordinating with embassies and consulates in the event of the loss of international documents.
• Receiving complaints related to the service and quality of service provided by tourism providers.
• Their work focuses on providing preventive and safety services to tourists, as well as helping to resolve their problems.
• Conduct preventive patrols in areas with high tourist traffic.
• Interact with domestic and international tourists to provide safety tips and advice for their visit, ensuring their safety.
• It currently has 160 police officers and one officer, who are stationed in the busiest areas: the Historic Center, Mariscal, Mitad del Mundo, Mariscal Sucre Airport, and the Quitumbe and Carcelén bus terminals.

Location:

In the event of any setbacks, you should:

1. Ask a uniformed police officer for help.
2. File a report of the theft at the National Police’s Tourist Security Service offices, located at:

LA MARISCAL, MAIN OFFICE

Address: Roca and Reina Victoria, Foreign Affairs Building.
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone: (593 2) 2543 983
Email: [email protected]

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN OFFICE

Address: Plaza Grande, Casa de los Alcaldes Building (north side, Chile Street, between Venezuela and García Moreno)
Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Phone: (593 2) 2955785

THE PATROL

Address: Morales Street, House 999 (La Ronda neighborhood)
Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Phone: (593 2) 2956010

QUITUMBE INTERPROVINCIAL TERMINAL OFFICE

Address: Inside the Quitumbe Bus Terminal
Hours: Sunday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Phone: (593 2) 3824765

Councils:

For a safe stay, please keep the following in mind:

• Dear visitor, as in other cities around the world, tourists in Quito—the City of Peace—may encounter some setbacks. For this reason, and to ensure that your stay is pleasant and unforgettable, we recommend that you:
• Follow the safety precautions recommended by your country’s police force or the safety guidelines provided by your travel agency and hotel.
• Act confident and familiar with the area, even if it’s your first time in Quito. Criminals instantly target people who are careless or distracted. If you need to look at a map, do so indoors.
• Ask for a safe at the hotel where you can store your passport, airline ticket, and important documents. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you on your trips.
• Keep an eye on your belongings; don’t leave them unattended, especially in crowded places.
• When you go out, carry only essential documents (a copy of your passport) and avoid flaunting valuable items such as jewelry, money, or large cameras in public.
• Always keep your backpack or purse in plain sight; wear them backwards, across your chest. Be especially careful on public transportation.
• If you discover that your clothes or belongings have been sprayed or stained with some kind of substance, DO NOT let anyone help you clean it up—this is a tactic criminals use to approach you. Immediately look for a police officer and report what happened.
• When you withdraw money from an ATM, do so in the morning or afternoon; avoid doing so at night. Do not let anyone offer to help you at an ATM, and do not give any information to strangers.
• Avoid walking through deserted squares or streets. In the Historic Center, stick to the tourist areas marked on the map.
• Hire a taxi from your hotel to get around. Take taxis with their registration number displayed on the door, which are yellow, and insist that the meter be used.
• On the street, please do not engage in street vending or accept papers or other items offered to you.
• If you’re traveling from one city to another by bus, hand your luggage to the bus attendant and ask for a luggage receipt; keep your valuables (camera, cell phone, money, jewelry, etc.) with you, on your lap—don’t give them to anyone, put them under the seat, or place them above your head.
• When you’re out on the street, refuse to buy from street vendors or accept any papers or other items they offer you
• In bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues, do not accept drinks from strangers.