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What’s the real story behind Ecuador’s electric power shortage? Will the rolling blackouts get worse before they get better? When will they end? Probably most important: Is this something we will have to live with for years to come? The answers paint a...
Combining Christian and pagan ritual, the sacred and the profane, and the bizarre and traditional, today’s Pase del Nino parade --the Passing of the Child-- is one Cuenca’s most colorful annual traditions. Although the parade is held in many Latin American cities,...
The director of Cuenacaire, Rolando Arpi, says that Cuenca’s air quality has held steady in 2009 and has shown slight improvements in some areas despite an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Cuencaire, created in 2007 to measure air pollution,...
By Penny Ripple Looking for a little elegance with a fabulous meal? Cuatro Rios, which opened in the fall in a beautifully restored colonial at 10-44 Padre Aguirre, half a block from Gran Colombia, is defintely worth checking out. You’ll enter through the main door...
The World March for Peace and Nonviolence passes through Cuenca on Friday, Dec. 18, on its way to a conclusion in northern Argentina, Jan. 2, and local organizers are asking the community to join in. The march began in New Zealand Oct. 2, and has passed through...
The government says it may not be able to deliver on its promise to end the rolling electric blackouts after today. In a short statement on Monday, Ecuador’s Electricity Minister Esteban Albornoz said that continuing drought conditions near the country’s...
A shaman blows a bull's horn on festival day and pivots to clouds of burning incense in a purification ceremony, all shot on video. The snapshot of native American life in Latacunga, opens "Nukanchik Yuyay," a twice-daily newscast in Quechua, the...
Cuenca recorded its highest temperature in 30 years Thursday, when the thermometer hit 27.5 Celsius or 81 Fahrenheit. The city’s all-time high temperature, 29.5 celsius or 85 Fahrenheit, was recorded in November 1979. Marcelo Narvaez of the meteorology...
Torrential rain has washed away the blood where the family fell under a hail of wooden spears. But memories of what happened this summer are still fresh in the minds of those who live and work here. At first the security guard inside the perimeter fence of the...
Cuenca is revising rules to protect historic buildings and will have a new comprehensive plan in place by summer 2010, according to officials. Mayor Paul Granda says that because of weak and poorly enforced ordinances, a number of buildings that should have been...
Tucked away in downtown Paute, Corvel (Simon Bolivar 8-37 y Lumtur) is a charming little restaurant that lives up to its motto, “The art of good service.” Not only does it offer comfortable seating, both indoors and on the terrace and patio areas, but it contains a...
The government of Peru announced Friday that it will transfer as much as 1,200 megawatts per hour of electricity to Ecuador beginning next week. The transfer is intended to provide relief to Ecuador’s drought-stricken hydro-electric production system....
Ecuador's worst drought in 45 years is forcing restrictions on electric power use as federal officials announce a series of blackouts aimed at reducing consumption by 5% to 10%. Most of the country's energy is hydro-electric and water levels at the largest generating...
The popular travel guide Lonely Planet has named Cuenca one of the 10 top cities for travelers in its Best in Travel 2010 guide. The annual snapshot book focuses on the world's hottest travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead,...
How do Cuenca and Quito compare? It's a question in the minds of many foreigners considering relocating to Ecuador. The short –and probably the best-- response is, ‘come down and see for yourself.’ There are, however, similarities...
Latin America has long enticed budget-oriented travelers with its low prices, and as the global economic crisis lingers, the bargains are increasingly tempting — especially when it comes to a luxury vacation. Meals are often half the cost of their European...
Although it is true that one of the major perks for living in Ecuador is high quality, low cost health care, finding it requires some due diligence. Where you choose to live can also have a lot to do with the quality of care you receive. With the right choices, you...
Although new statistics show a modest annual increase in crime throughout Ecuador, they also show rapid growth rates in several cities and in northern areas of the country. On Oct.1, the government announced that it was taking emergency measures to stem the crime tide...
The Azuay Province Chamber of Tourism of Azuay has embarked on a five month campaign of special events to promote local tourism. Events will include music and dance presentations, special greetings for travelers arriving at Cuenca’s airport and walking tours of...
Azuay Province governor Leonardo Berrezueta is putting a bulls eye on illegal lenders he says are gouging consumers. Known as chulqueros, the black market lenders charge between 3% and 10% interest a month. “These lenders feed on the distress of the people are...
