Articles

For the first time ever, U.S. Special Forces conducted ground operations alongside Ecuadorian commandos, seizing 6 tons of cocaine and sinking a 115-foot narco submarine near the Colombian border. Here's what this unprecedented military operation means for Ecuador — and for expats living here.

Ecuador gave Cuba's entire diplomatic staff 48 hours to leave the country. No official reason was given, but the timing — days after a new US-Ecuador military deal — tells its own story. Here's what happened and what it signals about Ecuador's direction.

A new curfew hits four coastal provinces from March 15-30, and the US military is joining Ecuador's war on drug cartels. Here's what it means for you — even if you live in the highlands.

GDP growing at 2%, inflation at just 1.5%, a new US trade deal boosting exports, and the basic salary up to $482/month. Here's what Ecuador's 2026 economy actually looks like — and why it matters if you live here.

The White House raised tariffs on Ecuador from 10% to 15%, hitting shrimp, bananas, tuna, and broccoli exports. Ecuador's production minister is in damage-control mode, and the ripple effects could reach Cuenca's grocery shelves.

Cuencanos consume about 200 liters of water per person per day — nearly twice what the WHO says you need. At $0.60 per thousand liters, there's no financial incentive to cut back. But the city's rivers aren't infinite.

Medicine shortages, payment failures, and overwhelmed hospitals plague Ecuador's public system. But for expats in Cuenca, private healthcare remains remarkably affordable — if you know how to navigate your options.

Cuenca remains one of the most affordable cities for expats in the Americas, but costs are rising faster than they used to. Here's an honest, line-by-line breakdown of what it actually costs to live here in 2026 — and how to stretch your dollars further.

Ecuador received a record $7.9 billion in remittances last year — more than bananas, shrimp, or cacao exports. Now a combination of ICE enforcement, deportation fears, and a new US tax on cash remittances is cutting those flows. In Cuenca, families report receiving half what they used to.