Curfew Expands to 17 'Zero Homicide' Cantons — Why Even Peaceful Areas Got Swept In

The Update

Ecuador's May 3-18 curfew (23:00 to 05:00 nightly) now covers 105 cantons across 9 provinces and 4 additional jurisdictions, per Primicias (source). The policy was announced April 20-22, 2026.

The twist: 17 of those cantons have recorded zero homicides in all of 2026 through Q1 — and they're still being swept into the curfew zone.

The government's argument: "94,6% de los crímenes de todo el país" occur within the covered geography as a whole, and broad perimeters disrupt criminal mobility across cantons.

The 17 Zero-Homicide Cantons Under Curfew

El Oro: Atahualpa, Balsas, Las Lajas, Piñas, Marcabelí

Manabí: Flavio Alfaro, Olmedo, Pichincha (canton, not province)

Pichincha: Pedro Vicente Maldonado, San Miguel de los Bancos

Sucumbíos: Cascales, Cuyabeno, Gonzalo Pizarro, Putumayo, Sucumbíos (canton)

Cotopaxi: La Maná

Bolívar: Echeandía

Violence Context

The government cited specific year-over-year jumps in lethal violence (2025 vs 2026 Q1):

| Area | 2025 deaths | 2026 Q1 deaths | |---|---|---| | El Oro province | 166 | 274 | | Pichincha province | 61 | 80 | | Santo Domingo | 18 | 19 | | La Troncal canton | 15 | 25 |

Through Q1 2026, 1,974 violent deaths were recorded in the territories now under curfew.

What This Means for Expats

• If you live in a coastal or rural canton that feels 'safe' to you personally, check the list anyway. Towns like Piñas and Pedro Vicente Maldonado have attracted expat residents precisely because of their quiet profile, and they are still subject to the curfew.
• Plan all late arrivals before May 3. Any flight landing in Quito or Guayaquil after 22:00 between May 3-18 means you need a pre-booked hotel near the airport or an arrival plan that gets you home before 23:00.
• Minister John Reimberg has publicly ruled out exceptions. As reported last week, business sectors — including the banana export cluster — were told no sector-specific exemptions will be granted.
• Medical emergencies are typically exempted in past Ecuadorian curfews. The executive decree with detailed enforcement rules had not been published at publication time.
• Areas not affected: Cuenca (Azuay), Loja, Imbabura, Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Galápagos — these continue normal operations. If your day-to-day is in one of these, the curfew doesn't apply to you.

What to Watch

The final executive decree and its enforcement rules have not been released. Expect clarifying documents in the week before May 3 — particularly around:

• Essential personnel definitions
• Airport transit exemptions
• Penalties for violations
• Cross-canton transit rules

Source: Primicias