New Curfew Starts May 3 in Nine Provinces — Here's What Cuenca Expats Need to Know

Good news first: Cuenca is not under curfew. But if you're planning to travel for the May Day long weekend, several of your likely destinations are.

The Details

President Daniel Noboa announced a new curfew running from Sunday, May 3 through Monday, May 18. The restriction applies 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM nightly.

Which Provinces Are Affected

• Guayas (Guayaquil, the coast)
• Pichincha (Quito)
• El Oro (Machala, southern coast)
• Manabí (beach towns)
• Santa Elena (Salinas, Montañita)
• Los Ríos
• Esmeraldas
• Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
• Sucumbíos

Four additional cantons are also included: La Maná, Las Naves, Echeandía, and La Troncal.

Azuay is NOT included. Life in Cuenca continues normally.

The One Exemption

If you have a scheduled flight, you're covered. The government confirmed that passengers with confirmed flights won't be stopped at curfew hours.

What This Means for You

If you're driving to the coast for the long weekend:

• Plan to be at your destination before 11 PM — no exceptions unless you have a flight
• Guayaquil, Salinas, Montañita, and all of Santa Elena are under restriction
• The curfew runs for over two weeks, so this isn't just a holiday thing — it lasts through May 18
• Quito is included, so if you're flying through Quito with a late arrival, keep your booking confirmation handy

The government says the decision is based on results from the previous state of exception.

Cuenca residents staying put? Business as usual.

Source: El Universo