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News from Ecuador, for the world

Quito Plans 42 km of Dedicated Bus Lanes to Cut Peak Commutes by 30 Minutes
economyquito

Quito Plans 42 km of Dedicated Bus Lanes to Cut Peak Commutes by 30 Minutes

Three major north-south corridors will get exclusive bus lanes by Q4 2026, complementing the Metro de Quito. The $28 million project aims to serve 180,000 daily passengers.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 8, 2026
Metro de Quito Hits 172,000 Daily Passengers as Private Car Use Drops 12%
economyquito

Metro de Quito Hits 172,000 Daily Passengers as Private Car Use Drops 12%

Three months after launch, Latin America's highest-altitude metro is beating ridership projections by 22%. Traffic on parallel routes is measurably declining. Here's what the numbers show.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 8, 2026
Ecuador Car Sales Surge 37% in January to Historic Highs -- and One in Five Is Now Electric or Hybrid
economy

Ecuador Car Sales Surge 37% in January to Historic Highs -- and One in Five Is Now Electric or Hybrid

Ecuadorians bought 11,342 vehicles in January 2026, the best January on record. Electric and hybrid vehicles now account for 22% of all sales. Azuay was the third-biggest market in the country.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 8, 2026
Ecuador Signs Critical Minerals Deal with the U.S. -- Here's Why It Matters in Cuenca
economy

Ecuador Signs Critical Minerals Deal with the U.S. -- Here's Why It Matters in Cuenca

Ecuador signed a bilateral mining framework with the United States at the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4. The agreement positions Ecuador's copper and gold reserves as strategically important to Washington -- and adds fuel to the mining debate in Azuay.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 7, 2026
Ecuador-Colombia Trade War: Quito Talks End Without Deal, 30% Tariffs Stay
economy

Ecuador-Colombia Trade War: Quito Talks End Without Deal, 30% Tariffs Stay

High-level negotiations in Quito on February 6 ended without resolving the mutual 30% tariffs between Ecuador and Colombia. Both countries are blaming each other. Here's what it means for prices, energy, and daily life.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 7, 2026
Ambato's Famous Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores Kicks Off Today for Its 75th Anniversary
lifestylesierra

Ambato's Famous Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores Kicks Off Today for Its 75th Anniversary

The Pregon parade rolls down Avenida Cevallos this morning and the Queen of Ambato election is tonight. Ecuador's most civilized Carnival celebration runs February 13-17 with 148 events and a $1.2 million budget. Here's the full guide.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 7, 2026
Ecuador's Carnival Holiday Is Feb 14-17: What Expats Need to Know
lifestyle

Ecuador's Carnival Holiday Is Feb 14-17: What Expats Need to Know

Ecuador's four-day Carnival holiday runs Saturday February 14 through Tuesday February 17. Galapagos gets five days. Here's the practical guide for expats -- where to go, what's closed, and how to survive the water.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 6, 2026
Ecuador Halts All Mining in Amazon Province of Napo After Rivers Show Dangerous Contamination
environmentamazon

Ecuador Halts All Mining in Amazon Province of Napo After Rivers Show Dangerous Contamination

The government has indefinitely suspended all mining in Napo province and restricted processing plants in El Oro and Loja after detecting arsenic, cyanide, and heavy metals at dangerous levels in Amazonian rivers.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 6, 2026
Noboa Pitches Ecuador as 'Year of Construction' at Dubai World Government Summit
economy

Noboa Pitches Ecuador as 'Year of Construction' at Dubai World Government Summit

President Noboa used the World Government Summit in Dubai to court international investment, pledging $600 million for infrastructure and signing an anti-corruption agreement with the UAE.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 6, 2026
Ecuador and Colombia Hold Critical Meeting in Quito Today to End 30% Tariff Trade War
breaking

Ecuador and Colombia Hold Critical Meeting in Quito Today to End 30% Tariff Trade War

A high-level Colombian delegation arrives in Quito today for emergency talks aimed at resolving the reciprocal 30% tariff war that has brought bilateral trade to a near standstill and suspended Colombian electricity exports.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 6, 2026
Heavy Rains and Storms Expected Across Ecuador Through the Weekend
safety

Heavy Rains and Storms Expected Across Ecuador Through the Weekend

Ecuador's meteorological agency is forecasting persistent heavy rains with intense storm events affecting the coast, Amazon, and parts of the Sierra through at least February 8. Flooding and landslide risks remain elevated.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 6, 2026
Digital-First Visa Firm EcuaPass Challenges Cuenca's Old Guard of Expat Consultants
visa immigrationcuenca

Digital-First Visa Firm EcuaPass Challenges Cuenca's Old Guard of Expat Consultants

EcuaPass.com, founded by American expat Chip Moreno, is upending Cuenca's visa consulting industry with free consultations, daily client updates, and a level of transparency that traditional firms have never offered.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·February 5, 2026