Articles

President Noboa signed a decree cutting IVA from 15% to 8% at registered hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses from February 14-17. Check your receipts — and complain to SRI if they're still charging 15%.

A proposed emergency economic law would force municipalities to spend 70% of their budgets on infrastructure, slashing funding for social services. Azuay's prefecture is among those pushing back hard.

The Municipal Council unanimously approved an ordinance creating seed capital funds for local entrepreneurs — with a two-year grace period and zero interest. Here’s what it means if you’re thinking about launching something in Cuenca.

The Prefectura del Azuay has launched Carnaval Bakansote 2026 with over 160 events, 12,000 hotel rooms, and 600+ restaurants ready across the province. Gualaceo, Paute, Chordeleg, and Yunguilla await.

The Consejo de Seguridad Ciudadana has deployed 90 new surveillance cameras and announced 400 additional community alarms for Cuenca neighborhoods, while multi-agency coordination ramps up ahead of Carnival.

Cuenca's biggest party of the year runs February 12-17 with a packed schedule: the Four Rivers parade, a Color Fest, concerts at Serrano Aguilar stadium, a chiva market tour, and an attempt to certify the world's largest mote pata with Guinness officials on hand.

No more Quito layovers: LATAM Airlines announces twice-weekly direct service from Cuenca to Baltra Island starting March 31, 2026. Round-trip fares from $310.

The first Mercado de las Industrias Escénicas del Ecuador brings 38 international festival programmers to Cuenca this week. Theater, dance, circus, puppetry, and music showcases open to the public.

Numbeo's mid-year safety index ranks Cuenca as the safest major city in South America, with a safety score of 54.05—great news for expats considering the move.