Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Ecuador's public healthcare system is struggling with corruption investigations, specialist wait times stretching months, and chronic medication shortages. Many expats are supplementing with private insurance or paying out-of-pocket. Here's the current state of play.
Ecuador's housing market is pulling in different directions — rents are rising faster than sale prices, the construction sector is growing 4.1%, and affordability is becoming a concern in popular expat areas. Here's where things stand.
Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Ecuador's Trade Minister signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on March 13, locking in zero tariffs on $2.8 billion in Ecuadorian exports and opening the door to cheaper American imports. If you buy wine, medicine, or electronics in Ecuador, pay attention.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador of dropping bombs inside Colombia, claiming 27 charred bodies were found near the border. Ecuador's Noboa flatly denied it. The neighbors are now in their worst diplomatic crisis in years — and it's affecting everything from electricity to trade.
Angel Esteban Aguilar, known as 'Lobo Menor' and alleged mastermind behind the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, was arrested at Mexico City's airport using a fake Colombian passport. He's been extradited to Colombia.
Ecuador hiked tariffs on Colombian imports from 30% to 50% on March 1. Colombia retaliated on 280 Ecuadorian products at the same rate. If you buy medicine, processed food, or pesticides in Ecuador, you're already paying more.
Holy Week runs March 29 to April 5. Good Friday (April 3) is a national holiday. Banks close, highways jam, ATMs run dry. Here's everything you need to know — from Quito's processions to beach town crowds to sierra road conditions.
The United States and Ecuador have concluded negotiations on a historic Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) that eliminates the 15% surcharge on roughly half of Ecuador's non-petroleum exports — worth $3.2 billion annually. The deal shields Ecuadorian flowers, bananas, cacao, and seafood from the new 10% global US tariff.
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.'
Ecuador's Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor) projects 6-7% export growth for 2026, a significant slowdown from the 18% surge in 2025. Headwinds include US tariff uncertainty, the Colombia trade dispute, and falling cacao prices — but the new US trade deal and flower sector expansion offer upside.
A total lunar eclipse will be visible across all of Ecuador on March 3, 2026. The moon will turn a deep red during approximately 58 minutes of totality, with the entire event lasting over five hours. Here is everything you need to know to watch it.
