Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of Ecuador’s Chone Killers as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist. Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for the backing.
Ecuador’s 2026 vehicle-registration calendar moves to plates ending in 6 during July. Owners should check local transit-agency portals, pay pending values and complete technical review before the month ends.
Workers in Ecuador’s Sierra and Amazon regions who chose accumulated payment should receive the decimo cuarto salary by August 15, 2026. The benefit equals the 2026 unified basic salary of $482 for workers who qualify for the full period.
Ecuador's Registro Civil says citizens can continue going to agencies without a prior appointment for cedulas and passports through December 31, 2026. The agency says it issued 1.2 million identity cards and 217,201 passports between January and June.
Quito's technical vehicle review and registration calendar moves to plates ending in 6 during July. Drivers must clear pending obligations before booking an appointment, and late review can trigger fines.
President Daniel Noboa extended the liquidation period for Correos del Ecuador by another 45 days starting July 1. The state postal company's closure process has dragged on since 2020.
An incident at the Paute Molino substation caused outages and programmed disconnections in several parts of Ecuador early Tuesday, including Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Loja.
Ecuador’s police say violent deaths have fallen 11 percent so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, with the reported homicide rate moving from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Seismic specialists are warning that Guayaquil’s soft soils, older structures and informal construction could make parts of the city especially vulnerable in a major earthquake.
Quito reactivated pico y placa on June 29 for cars and motorcycles inside the city’s urban restriction area. Drivers should check the last digit of their plate before heading into the capital.
Ecuador’s Fiscalía issued an Alerta Emilia for three minors last seen in Conocoto on June 27. The case is a reminder to use official channels when sharing missing-person alerts.
Salinas has opened its humpback whale watching season, with accredited boats offering two-hour trips and a reported fare of $21 per passenger.
