The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said “all land borders will be closed” in a new alert. The UK Government’s foreign affairs department is responsible for issuing the latest travel guidance for some 226 countries and nations, among many other tasks.

The FCDO aims to keep those travelling internationally updated and safe, and provides regular guidance. In a new post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, the FCDO issued an update for Ecuador.

In full, the post reads: “Read our latest travel advice for #Ecuador for information that all land borders in Ecuador will be closed from 8 – 10 February due to general elections”. Further information found in an accompanying link adds that the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Ecuador, and goes on to say that your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Coastal Region provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, El Oro, Los Ríos, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. It adds that this does not apply to airside transit within Guayaquil Airport in Guayas province.

It also advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border, except for El Ángel Ecological Reserve, Rumichaca border crossing, the town of Tulcán and the Pan-American Highway.

Elaborating on the closed land borders, FCDO guidance reads: “Due to Presidential elections on 9 February, all land border crossings in Ecuador will be closed from 8 – 10 February inclusive. Expect heightened police and military presence nationwide, and potential travel disruptions due to extra security checks.”