Articles

ETAPA just graduated 350 community forest brigaders trained to defend the páramos and watersheds that supply every drop of Cuenca's tap water. After last year's fires scorched thousands of hectares, this volunteer army could be the difference between clean water and crisis.

If your lease is up soon, brace yourself. One-bedroom apartments in Cuenca now run $550–750/month, two-bedrooms hit $750–1,100, and the days of the mythical $400 rental are mostly over. Here's what's driving it and where to look.

After the devastating 2024 blackouts that hit Cuenca with up to 14 hours without power daily, the government unveiled its 2025–2030 energy expansion plan. The headline number: 1,471 megawatts of new capacity from solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. The real question: will it get built?

For years, the 35 rangers protecting Parque Nacional Cajas and Cuenca's critical watersheds fought wildfires with inadequate gear. ETAPA just changed that with a $215,000 equipment delivery — helmets, fire suits, chainsaws, and portable pumps. After 11,000 hectares burned in 2024, it was overdue.

If you bought a new vehicle in the last two weeks and couldn't register it, the wait is over. The ANT just restored new vehicle registration in Cuenca after a corruption scandal shut the system down nationwide. Here's the backstory and what you need to do.

The government just updated its rainy season alert map. Azuay is at orange (moderate risk), three provinces are at red, and if you're driving anywhere this holiday weekend, you need to pay attention.

If you've lived in Cuenca for any amount of time, you've heard of mote pata. If you haven't tried it yet, Carnival week is your moment. Here's what it is, what's in it, and where to get the best bowl in the city — from $3.50 market stalls to top-rated restaurants.

From this morning's Mote Pata workshop to Saturday night's Nicky Jam concert, here's everything happening in Cuenca for Carnival 2026 — plus Tranvía schedule changes, road patrol info, and what to know before you head out.

While the headlines scream about Ecuador's coastal violence, a quieter story is being missed: dozens of cantons across the Sierra recorded no homicides at all last year. Cuenca's among the safest cities in the country, and the data backs it up.