Articles

A massive protest hit Quito yesterday as the National Assembly prepares to vote on a law that would force municipalities to slash spending on social programs, education, and culture. Cuenca's mayor is publicly fighting it — and here's why it matters to you.

In a rare move that's raising eyebrows in the expat community, Cuenca's alcalde has taken legal action against foreigners who accused him of leaking sensitive information. Details are still emerging, but here's what we know so far.

Two separate complaints have been filed against a veterinary clinic in Cuenca's Otorongo sector — one alleging fraudulent cremation services, the other involving a dog that vanished during a grooming appointment. Here's what pet owners need to know.

Cuenca's real estate market is defying Ecuador's broader economic headwinds. Property values are up 8-12% annually, rents are surging in expat-popular neighborhoods, and the investor visa threshold just went up. Here's a practical breakdown of what's happening and how to navigate it.

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.

The City Council approved a one-time exception letting inherited rural properties subdivide below the legal minimum lot size. New floor: 120 square meters. Pilot starts in Llacao, then expands to all 20 rural parishes.

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.

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.