Under a provision of Ecuadorian law, a business dispute that normally would be handled by civil litigation in the U. S. may be converted into a criminal proceeding. This provision of law has been used to impose travel prohibitions against resident Americans and also has led to the arrest of U. S. business people. Americans are encouraged to register and obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador at either the U. S. Embassy in Quito or the U. S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. The Consulate General in Guayaquil has jurisdiction over the Galapagos Islands. Highways are almost all two-lane and can be hazardous.
Traffic accidents involving buses are frequent.
Bus travel throughout Ecuador can be particularly dangerous, especially at nights, because of the frequency of crimes perpetrated against bus travelers. The loss of theft of a U. S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the U. S. Embassy or Consulate General. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet. Spanish is the official language and the norm for both spoken and written business communications. However, English is often spoken by the business elite.