Coming Back from the U.S.? You Can Only Bring 3 Liters of Liquor Now

If your suitcase strategy for returning from the States included five liters of bourbon, you're going to need a smaller haul.

Starting today — May 4, 2026 — Ecuador's customs authority SENAE has reduced the duty-free liquor allowance from five liters to three liters per person. The change is immediate.

Why the Cut?

SENAE says the five-liter limit, which was an increase from the original three-liter cap, was being misused to supply informal businesses rather than personal consumption. The numbers back them up: in 2024 alone, roughly 694,000 liters of liquor entered Ecuador through the duty-free allowance.

The agency says the original increase to five liters lacked a proper economic impact assessment and has referred the matter to Ecuador's Comptroller General's Office. They're framing the rollback as protecting local producers, formal importers, and the jobs that depend on them.

What This Means for You

• Three liters per person, total. That's roughly four standard 750ml bottles
• Only alcoholic beverages are affected. No changes to other duty-free limits
• The limit is per person, so if you're traveling as a couple, you still have six liters between you

Practical Tip

If you're picking up that bourbon or gin at the duty-free shop in Miami or Houston, just count your bottles. Four standard bottles gets you to three liters. Stay under that and you're fine.

The days of loading up a checked bag with five liters of tax-free liquor are over. But honestly? Three liters is still pretty generous. Most countries cap it at one.

Source: El Mercurio