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If you’re considering starting a business in Cuenca, or anywhere else in Ecuador, and need an overview of the business climate, there’s a new website that can help. InfoEmpreses, www.supercias.gov.ec, a service of the office of Ecuador’s Superintendency of Companies provides information about corporate sales and assets and much more. The information is consolidated and does...

If the political demonstrations in downtown Cuenca have disturbed your walking or driving routes in recent weeks, you  have President Rafeal Correa to thank. The administration has angered some of the countries largest labor unions, whose members are taking to the streets to protest. Although the demonstrations are peaceful, they have forced the police to...

Through the first four months of 2009, real estate construction and sales continue to be a strong point of Cuenca’s economy. During that period, more than 250 building projects were permitted in the city’s central area and thousands of sales were recorded.  Xavier Sanchez, president of the Azuay Real Estate Brokers Association believes construction will...

U.S. citizens living in Ecuador are invited to an informal meeting with the U.S. Consul General, Friday, May 29, 11 a.m., at the Abraham Lincoln Culture Center, 5 – 18 Calle Borrero. Consul General Douglas Griffiths will present information about U.S. Embassy and Consulate services to U.S. citizens and to answer questions from the audience....

Cuenca’s taxi cooperatives and the city government continue to squabble over new inspection rules and the over-charging of customers. Although the Taxi Transport Cooperative Union has agreed to comply with the city’s new vehicle inspection rules, the United Front of Taxi Drivers says it has reservations and is refusing to talk to city officials. Both coops...

The University of Cuenca has asked the cantonal council for permission to build a bar or coffee shop next to the Casa de los Arcos on the Tomebamba River. The university owns the renovated Arcos and says the new addition will bring more people to the Barranco area across from the university. A spokesperson for the university also said...

LAN Ecuador has announced that it will begin Cuenca – Guayaquil air service Monday, May 18. The first flight will leave Guayaquil at 12:05 p.m. and arrive in Cuenca at 12:40 p.m. In addition to general travelers, the inaugural flight will transport Lan officials, politicians and journalists. The return Cuenca to Guayaquil flight leaves at 1:25...

For the second time in four years, Cuenca has been recognized for having the best drinking water in Latin America. The only difference in the survey conducted in 2008 and the previous survey is that Cuenca stands alone in number one position. The Hamburg, Germany-based International Drinking Water Council (IDWC) rated Cuenca first and Arequipa, Peru,...

Something that almost all Cuenca expats agree on is that the city’s bus system is in serious need of improvement. With the new mayor Paul Granda talking about making changes, particularly in the historic district, this seems to be a good time to look at the problems and possible solutions. First –and most noticeable– the...

Provincial health department officials plan to step up enforcement of a new law aimed at reducing the number of domestic animals roaming the streets. According the head of Azuay’s health and sanitation department, Gilma Serrano, the department will begin picking up stray dogs in coming weeks. Serrano said that the new animal control program was...

Plaques and portraits of Ecuador's 105 presidents line the yellow walls of the antechamber to the restrooms in El Pobre Diablo (The Poor Devil), a bohemian hangout in Quito, the capital. Spoofing the presidential palace's silk screen Yellow Salon, each is marked with the number of days they lasted in office. A digital clock ticks...

Both winner and the loser in Cuenca’s mayoral election agree that it was the strength of President Rafael Correa’s reelection victory that forced a change at city all. Thirty-six-year-old Paul Granda, a political newcomer and member of Correa’s National Alliance party unseated incumbent Marcelo Cabrera by a wide margin in Sunday’s election. According to Granda, "Cabrera was...