Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Guayaquil's expanded urban security initiative appears to be paying off, with municipal data showing a 30% reduction in street crime across the city's commercial and tourist districts.
Ecuador has jumped to third place in the WHO's Latin America Healthcare Index, trailing only Costa Rica and Chile -- a strong validation for expats who cite affordable medical care as a top reason for relocating.
Once overlooked by foreign buyers, the Pacific coast city of Manta is now one of Ecuador's hottest real estate markets, with beachfront property values climbing 25% in the past year alone.
A bill working its way through Ecuador's legislature would establish a dedicated digital nomad visa with a $1,500 monthly income requirement and a two-year term -- potentially making the country far more accessible for remote workers.
Visiting the Galapagos just got pricier: the national park entry fee for foreign tourists has doubled to $200, though expats with a cedula pay a much lower resident rate of $50.
Riding the success of its first metro line, Quito has greenlit an ambitious $800 million expansion that will add three new routes -- including a direct airport-to-downtown connector that could transform the expat commute.
