Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
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Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health says 25% of all medical visits to the public health system in January 2026 were caused by traffic accidents. In 2025, Ecuador recorded 20,346 traffic accidents, 17,932 people injured, and 2,354 killed. It's not a small problem.
At 4:31 AM on Sunday, April 12, a bus and a light vehicle collided roughly one kilometer from the Olmedo toll plaza on the Via a la Costa in Santa Elena province. The crash killed four people and injured nine. Cause is under investigation.
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.
Holy Week runs Palm Sunday (March 29) through Easter Sunday (April 5). Good Friday April 3 is the national holiday. Holy Thursday April 2 is NOT a holiday unless the government issues a special decree. Banks, government offices, and most businesses close April 3.
Holy Week runs March 29 through April 5 this year. Good Friday (April 3) is a non-recoverable national holiday. Holy Thursday is NOT a public holiday. Here is what expats need to know about closures, events, and travel.
Semana Santa runs from March 29 to April 5 this year, with Good Friday on April 3 as the national holiday. Expect bank closures, alcohol restrictions, packed beaches, and one of Ecuador's most significant cultural celebrations.
Semana Santa runs March 29 through April 5 this year, with Good Friday (April 3) as the national holiday. Banks close, alcohol sales may be restricted, and beach towns fill up fast. Here is everything expats need to know.
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.'
A motorcycle factory blaze on February 9, the Multicomercio building inferno on February 11 that burned for 50 hours and collapsed two towers, and a third alarm-3 fire on February 15 — all in Guayaquil within six days. The Interior Minister says the fires aren't coincidental. Here's the full timeline.
The Metropolitan Traffic Agency will blanket Quito with 711 officers, 36 control points on major highways, and monitoring at 63 high-traffic locations from February 13-17. Drunk driving operations, terminal coverage, and restrictions on ‘chivas’ party buses are all in effect.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport expanded terminal space by 17,600+ square meters, boosting annual capacity from 5 million to over 7 million passengers. Meanwhile, Aeroméxico resumes Quito-Mexico City nonstops on March 23 with four weekly flights.
