Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
President Daniel Noboa extended the liquidation period for Correos del Ecuador by another 45 days starting July 1. The state postal company's closure process has dragged on since 2020.
An incident at the Paute Molino substation caused outages and programmed disconnections in several parts of Ecuador early Tuesday, including Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Loja.
Ecuador’s police say violent deaths have fallen 11 percent so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, with the reported homicide rate moving from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Seismic specialists are warning that Guayaquil’s soft soils, older structures and informal construction could make parts of the city especially vulnerable in a major earthquake.
Quito reactivated pico y placa on June 29 for cars and motorcycles inside the city’s urban restriction area. Drivers should check the last digit of their plate before heading into the capital.
Ecuador’s Fiscalía issued an Alerta Emilia for three minors last seen in Conocoto on June 27. The case is a reminder to use official channels when sharing missing-person alerts.
Salinas has opened its humpback whale watching season, with accredited boats offering two-hour trips and a reported fare of $21 per passenger.
Ecuador’s banking system added more first-time credit card users in 2025, with 4.63 million cards recording consumption. The trend matters for residents building local financial history.
Families of missing persons say Ecuador needs more operational capacity and personnel for search cases. Official figures cited by Expreso show training and victim-service activations rising, but relatives say the response still falls short.
INAMHI’s June 28 forecast calls for variable rain, especially in the Amazon, with scattered afternoon and nighttime rain expected in Cuenca. The Coast should be mostly clear, except possible drizzle in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Esmeraldas.
Older adults and people with disabilities can use Ecuador’s automatic IVA refund system when registered with SRI and using an active confirmation code. For older adults, the 2026 monthly refund cap remains up to $144.60.
Ecuador’s customs agency is reminding travelers returning during the World Cup to review the personal-effects rules before flying home. The warning is practical: know what is tax-free before you reach airport controls.
