Posts:
One of the most satisfying parts of the "Ecuadorian math" for retirees is seeing the monthly utility folder. For many North Americans used to $300 heating bills or $150 internet packages, the Andean cost of basic services feels like a time machine to a much more...
By Liam Higgins An immigration researcher says Cuenca’s population of North American and European expats is growing again. “The numbers were steady for several years despite the bad news about crime on the coast, but they began to increase in late 2024 and this...
By Sanjay Mishra You know the feeling. You slurp that diet soda relishing the sweet taste without the guilt or calories associated with sugar. But a new study suggests that these artificial sweeteners may not be as harmless as once thought; they may even increase the...
Transitioning your financial life to Ecuador is one of the final "big steps" in the expat journey. While you can certainly live off a foreign debit card for a while, having a local bank account is essential for paying utilities, securing a residency visa, and...
Cuencanos celebrated the new year Wednesday night with concerts, fireworks, the burning of año viejo monigotes and plenty of holiday drink. The largest party was at Parque Calderon where celebrants were treated to musical performances on the big stage in front of the...
There was a restaurant I used to love in the historic center. It lived inside an elegant old hotel that seemed to have more character than customers. The dining room had tall ceilings, dark beams, polished wood floors, elegant skylights, and the confidence of a place...
By Barney Jopson Criminal drug gangs have become a grave threat to European security by flooding the streets with South American cocaine, seeking to corrupt officials and hiring a new wave of paid assassins, according to the EU’s drugs agency. Due to financial crises,...
For anyone looking to turn a visit to Cuenca into a permanent stay, the first hurdle is rarely the language or the altitude—it is the paperwork. Ecuador’s visa landscape is currently undergoing a period of transition as income requirements and legal frameworks are...
Cuenca municipal council voted Monday night to hike the public bus fare from 30 cents to 40 cents, with the city subsidizing the entire increase. It is unclear, however, if bus owners will accept the plan. The subsidy, which will increase the current bus subsidy from...
Ecuador will end 2025 with the highest murder rate in its history. The total will be above 9,000 and could approach 10,000, the Attorney General’s office says. As of November 30, 10,630 murders had been recorded in the country. The murders will easily exceed the 8,237...
The day before Cuenca’s famous Pase del Niño parade my wife Belinda and I ran errands in our suburban neighborhood. We live to the south of the Tomebamba River which divides the city’s historic district to the north from the south’s more modern construction. The hot...
By Gretchen Reynolds Maria Branyas Morera’s life was simple. She enjoyed yogurt, gardening, sleep, books, walks, friends, playing the piano and dogs. But her lifespan was remarkable — and also inscrutable. When she died last year, aged 117 and still in relatively good...
One of the most frequent questions for expats moving to Ecuador—aside from where to find the best cup of coffee—is how to navigate the healthcare system. Since health insurance is now a legal requirement for residency visas, the decision is no longer just about "if,"...
The water level at the Mazar reservoir in eastern Azuay Province continues to drop rapidly, Ecuador’s Electric Corporation (CELEC) reports. A month ago, on November 30, the level stood at 2,153 meters above sea level. On Monday, it was 2,140. CELEC also reports a...
By Cody C. Delistraty There’s a certain sinking feeling one gets when thinking of the perfect thing to say just a moment too late. Perhaps a witty parting word could have made all the difference. There is no English word to express this feeling, but the French have...
If you ever find yourself thinking the Terminal Terrestre is just a place to catch a bus, you have not been paying attention. The main bus station in Cuenca is a destination all by itself. It is also one of the few buildings in town where you can eat lunch, arrange a...
For many expats landing in the Andes, the initial "honeymoon phase" with Cuenca's cobblestone streets and $3 lunches inevitably leads to a major crossroads: Do I commit to a deed, or do I keep my bags packed and my options open? The choice between buying and renting...
Ecuador has closed all but two of its border crossings with Colombia and Peru for "national security reasons." The measure was announced Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on official social media accounts. The move has sparked criticism in several communities...
Walk through Cuenca today and you can already see the quiet signs of change. More QR codes on tables. More digital payment apps. More small shops testing online orders and automated marketing. What once felt like a distant future is now part of daily life. As 2025...
By Arturo Torres, Samantha Schmidt and Alex Horton The police arrived at the airport prepared to arrest a drug trafficker — a mariner whose crewmates the U.S. military had just killed. Andrés Fernando Tufiño Chila was one of only two people known to have survived a...
