Galapagos flights expected to attract more tourists; Curfews end in 4 provinces; Alliance Française offers scholarships; Historic district house collapses

Bored?
(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) En muestra pictórica se resalta rostros y paisajes (Art exhibition highlights faces and landscapes) – The exhibit, “Rostros, Naturaleza, Rincones: Ecuador en acuarela” (Faces, Nature, Scenes: Ecuador in watercolor) by artist Rosalía Andrade Malo, is open to the public in the Museo Municipal Remigio Crespo Toral until el 31/5. The show is a visual tour of the diversity of Ecuador through the technique of watercolor. There are portraits, landscapes and daily scenes that capture the essence of the lands and its inhabitants. Free.

Cuenca tourism officials expect the new airline flights to the Galapagos to attract thousands of international tourists to Cuenca. The flights began Tuesday. (El Mercurio)

(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) Artesanos apuntan a vitrina internacional (Artisans aim for an international showcase) – The Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Azuay received visitors related to the Messe Frankfurt international fair in an agenda oriented towards projecting crafts of the Austro to global markets. The delegation toured studios in Cuenca, Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and Sígsig. They evaluated production processes, techniques, and the cultural value of the pieces to identify products with the potential to be shown in the international showcase planned for enero, 2027.

(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) Alianza Francesa ofrece beca por sus 60 años (The Alliance Française is offering a scholarship to celebrate its 60th anniversary) – The Alianza Francesa is commemorating its 60th anniversary with an initiative that seeks to increase access to learning languages. The Alianza opened a call to grant a scholarship to whoever wants to learn French. The proposal is directed to people interested in learning a new language, to learn about French speaking culture or get back on track with unfinished academic goals. You can review the requirements on the links set up on the Alianza’s social network pages or at https://drive.google. <I’m guessing that any gringo who wants to learn French would already know Spanish. Which language is more useful if you’re living in Cuenca unless you’re planning to move to France to some picturesque vineyard in Provence.>

Curious?
(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) Ruta Cuenca-Galápagos proyecta 29,700 turistas (Cuenca-Galápagos Route expects 29,700 tourists) – The direct air connection between Cuenca and the Galápagos started operating today (martes) with 2 weekly flights. Juan Pablo Vanegas, president of the Cámara de Turismo del Azuay, said that the route changes the logic for tourist movements. Cuenca stops being only a final destination or a stopover, and becomes integrated into the itinerary to the Galápagos. Travellers from the south of Ecuador and north of Perú will pass through Cuenca, increasing stays in the City. The strategy is to insert Cuenca into the packages for th Galápagos with stays of 1-3 days before or after the islands. This way, the Galápagos, associated with nature and adventure, can be complemented with a stay in Cuenca which offers history, gastronomy, health and education. The Municipality is expected to attract 10% of the travellers going to the Galápagos which would translate to 29,700 tourists per year and an economic impact of $6.7 million. The most support will come from international tourists who spend the most per visitor ($160) which by itself will generate $5.7 million. Positioning strategy will include promoting to external markets, especially the US and Canada.

In operating terms, the flights will leave Cuenca los martes about 7:30 am and return los sábados about 14:00. Saturday flights to the Galápagos will also leave about 7:30 and return on martes about 14:00. This scheduling will allow travel agents to design packages of 3 or 4 nights which are those most in demand by the national market. Katherine Guamán, regional southern manager of the “Summer Vacation” agency said that packages will include air transport, lodging, all meals, tours and local transportation on the islands. Packages start from $499 in the low season and reach $549 in the high season between mayo and agosto. Depending on the airline and the package, baggage allowances will generally allow a checked bag up to 23 kilos and a carry-on bag. Travellers’ profiles are diverse and include Cuencanos as well as emigrants who return to Ecuador for vacations and can take advantage of the direct connection. This route also opens niches such as for birdwatching, snorkeling or retirees.

(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) Parte de una vivienda colapsó (Part of a house collapsed) – The City of Cuenca has started an investigation to find out why an old house on Rafael María Arízaga and Hermano Miguel collapsed. The house. believed to be about 150 years old, was unoccupied and according to neighbors, there was serious damage in its walls, and fell due to the advanced deterioration. Residents in the sector had also complained that unhoused people used the property to sleep, so they blocked access into the house to prevent this. Staff from the Áreas Históricas y Patrimoniales and the Dirección de Gestión de Riesgos (DGR) of the Municipio, inspected the house to notify the owners. There are other patrimonial properties that are at risk of collapse since the owners have not maintained them. Lack of maintenance is sanctioned with 1-3 years in prison. <Kind of rough on an owner who doesn’t have the money to keep the house up and probably would have a hard time selling it. And I think it would be about impossible to burn down an old adobe house.>

(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) Termina el toque de queda con 58 objetivos destruidos (Curfew ends with 58 targets destroyed) – At 5 am el lunes the curfew of 15 days ended in Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The MInisterio de Defensa summarized what had been achieved during the curfew. 58 military objectives or locations tied to the illegal economy and organized armed groups were destroyed. This included clandestine runways used for drug trafficking. Criminal operations centers were broken up, illegal mining camps were neutralized, and hideouts used as shelters and weapons caches were raided.

(De El Mercurio del martes, 31/3) El aerocombustible se normaliza, dice DGAC (Jet fuel returns to normal, says DGAC) – After 10 days of reduced supply, the Dirección General de Aviación Civil (DGAC) announced that the supplying of Jet A-1 fuel is operating at 100% in all airports in the country. On el 20/3, the DGAC ordered that jets refueling in Ecuador would only receive 50% of their normal load. The measure applied between el 21 & 28/3, and is now ended.