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Italian singer Laura Pausini will perform in Quito on April 24, 2026 at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui as part of her international tour. Tickets are available through standard Ecuadorian ticketing channels.
Colombian singer-songwriter Andrés Cepeda brings his 'Nuestra Vida en Canciones' tour to Ecuador this week with back-to-back shows: Guayaquil on Wednesday April 9 at the Coliseo Voltaire Paladines Polo, and Quito on Thursday April 10 at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 55 km east of Santa Elena early Saturday morning, April 4. The tremor was felt across six provinces including Guayas, but caused no structural damage, injuries, or tsunami alert. Here's what happened and what expats on the coast should know.
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.
Ecuador's Interior Ministry reports a 28% decline in homicides for March 2026, alongside 4,300 arrests and 2,200 warrants executed. The numbers represent real progress, but the baseline is staggering: 2025 saw 9,216 homicides, making Ecuador one of the deadliest countries in Latin America.
Ecuador's Semana Santa holiday generated an estimated 800,000 domestic trips and $70 million in economic activity. Manta led all destinations with 158,000 visitors and 80% hotel occupancy, while Amazon lodges hit 90%. A temporary VAT cut to 8% for tourism services sweetened the deal.
Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport will close its runway for 12 hours on Saturday, April 11 for preventive maintenance. All flights between 2:00 AM and 2:00 PM will be affected. Airlines are rebooking, but travelers should confirm their itineraries now.
Ecuador's National Assembly passed a new mining and energy law 77-70 on February 26, replacing environmental licenses with simplified authorizations and allowing rock extraction in the Galapagos Islands. CONAIE and environmental groups are protesting the changes as a rollback of decades of conservation policy.
A Trans Esmeraldas interprovincial bus overturned on the E20 highway during Semana Santa travel, injuring more than 20 passengers. A separate crash in Colta killed 2. The incidents underscore the persistent dangers of Ecuador's highway system during peak holiday travel periods.
Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Easter message from the Vatican, calling on the world to reject indifference to violence and suffering. For Ecuador's deeply Catholic population, the new Pope's words carry particular weight during a Semana Santa marked by ongoing security challenges.
Barcelona SC opens its Copa Libertadores Group D campaign against Brazilian side Cruzeiro at the Estadio Monumental on Tuesday. BSC enters on a high after a 2-0 win over Liga de Quito, while Cruzeiro is struggling. The match carries significant economic implications for Guayaquil.
Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health has launched dengue prevention interventions across 1,500 critical sectors in seven provinces, with 945 confirmed cases reported in early 2026. Sucumbios, Guayas, Esmeraldas, and Pichincha are the hardest hit as the rainy season continues.