Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Ecuadorian dealerships sold 14,139 hybrid cars in the first half of 2026, up 76.5% from the same period in 2025, as Extra and Ecopaís gasoline rose from $2.67 to $3.31 per gallon.
ANT will run a new license-issuance process from July 20 through September 30, 2026. Users will still generate a payment order online, but after payment they can go to the selected agency on a day tied to the last digit of their cedula.
July has no national Ecuador holiday, but Guayaquil will have a local day off on Friday, July 24, creating a three-day weekend for people who work or study in the canton and its rural parishes.
Government Minister Nataly Morillo said President Daniel Noboa ordered the reopening of the southern border in Loja after more than six months of closure for security reasons.
The winning design for Ecuador’s new National Museum in Quito calls for a 36,000-square-meter building near La Carolina to house about 1.4 million cultural and heritage items.
Spain’s housing prices rose about 14% in the first quarter of 2026, and Ecuadorian migrants are concentrated in several of the pressured markets. Madrid alone has around 130,000 Ecuadorian residents.
Quito’s school-vacation season now includes municipal and private courses for children, teens, and adults. Options range from free workshops and city activities to Cumbaya programs priced by week or full camp.
Guayaquil’s ATM is offering staged discounts for July vehicle technical review appointments tied to plates ending in 6. The discount falls from 20% to 10% as the July 15 cutoff approaches.
Quito has begun a 12-kilometer road rehabilitation package around five Metro Centro Norte stations. The contract covers 86 road segments, nine months of work, and a $6.5 million investment.
Interprovincial buses were operating normally Friday morning after Fenacotip called off its planned July 3 stoppage. Travelers should still watch the fare talks now moving to technical tables with ANT.
Guayaquil riders will keep paying 30 cents for the first 180 days after the ordinance is published. After that transition, fares depend on whether each bus unit completes the required modernization process.
Quito is adding a new Quito Wawas center in Atucucho for 100 children ages 1 to 3. The free service is aimed at vulnerable families and includes meals, early stimulation, pedagogy, and health follow-up.
