I visited Ecuador last year. The poverty was astonishing. The people I talked to were struggling, but had hope. They liked that they country US currency was the dollar, as inflation was no longer a problem. We went to the Presidential Palace to see the changing of the guard, but had to go through multiple police check points.
In one of the cities, our cruise ship shore excursion has a police escort with both a male and female police officer to follow groups as we walked. The female officer would follow women to restrooms to make sure nothing happened. That was a clue that things were “safe” but not really safe.
I really enjoyed the country, but it was clear that things were on the edge.
Boy, have they got a big surprise coming in the next few years.