Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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President Daniel Noboa announced a nightly curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am across nine provinces — including Pichincha, Guayas, Manabí, and El Oro — and four cantones, running May 3-18, 2026. Interior Minister John Reimberg has ruled out exceptions for any sector.
Ecuador's Instituto Geofísico recorded three earthquakes in a 14-hour window across April 20-21, including a 5.2 magnitude quake centered near Cotacachi felt in nine provinces. No damage has been reported. A good moment to review preparedness.
A Primicias investigation published April 13 found 82 stretches of Ecuador's state highway network have been in 'permanent poor condition' for at least three years. Sucumbíos and Imbabura top the list by distance. Zamora leads by percentage — 95% of its state network is in poor shape.
President Noboa signed Decreto 353 on April 2, declaring a 60-day state of exception across nine provinces and four cantons. Warrantless searches are now legal in affected areas, though no curfew has been imposed. Expats in Pichincha, Guayas, Manabi, and other covered provinces should understand what rights have been suspended.
President Noboa signed Decree 353 on April 2, declaring a 60-day state of emergency across 9 provinces and 4 additional cantons. Unlike the previous emergency that ended March 30, this renewal does not include a curfew -- but it does authorize police raids and suspends home inviolability in affected areas.
The UAE and Ecuador signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi's visit, unlocking over $3 billion in investment across clean energy, digital infrastructure, mining, logistics, and agriculture. Ecuador becomes the fourth Latin American country with a UAE trade deal.
Ecuador's government announced intentional homicides dropped 28% in March 2026 year-over-year, following a two-week nightly curfew in four provinces. The curfew provinces -- Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro, and Santo Domingo -- are not major expat areas, but the security trend is nationally significant.
Ecuador's security situation varies dramatically by region. The highlands — including Quito, Cuenca, and Loja — remain relatively stable, while coastal provinces face serious security challenges. Here is a province-by-province overview for expats.
A nightly curfew from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM remains in effect in Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and El Oro through at least March 31. Around 75,000 soldiers and police are deployed. Cuenca and Azuay are not affected.
At a 54-nation Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, the US formally recognized Ecuador's rare earth elements, copper, and gold deposits as strategically important — unlocking up to $10 billion in EXIM Bank financing and DFC investment guarantees for mining development.
Ecuador's 60-day state of emergency declared January 1 has been extended for an additional 30 days across nine provinces and three municipalities. With a record 9,000 homicides in 2025, President Noboa is doubling down on military deployments as the country remains in a declared state of 'internal armed conflict.'
Pawkar Raymi, the ancient Kichwa festival celebrating the flowering of crops and the spring equinox, returns to the indigenous communities around Otavalo in mid-to-late March 2026. Centered in the village of Peguche, it is Ecuador's most authentic indigenous cultural celebration.
