Articles

Cuenca's iconic Escalinata -- the staircase connecting Centro Historico to El Ejido -- reopens April 9 after months of renovation. New andesite stone, LED-lit handrails, accessibility features, and renovated restrooms. Here's what's changed.

Cuenca property values are climbing 8-12% annually. Furnished 2BR rents hit $800-1,200 in expat neighborhoods. New condos run $100K-$150K. Investor visa threshold now $48,200. Neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide and rent vs. buy analysis.

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.

Workers have begun replacing the floor of Cuenca's iconic central plaza in a quadrant-by-quadrant renovation that also includes new lighting and drainage upgrades. The park stays open, but expect fenced-off work zones through mid-year.