Ecuador is, as always, a mixed bag. The coast roars with violence, its neighborhoods held hostage by drug gangs and the fear that comes with living under emergency rule. But at the same time, this country still finds ways to remind me why I planted my roots here in the first place. Take the Devil’s […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Business pioneer expanded a family grocery into Ecuador’s largest retail empire with a regional presence. From a warehouse in Quito to a national empire Tommy Wright, one of Ecuador’s most influential entrepreneurs and the founder of Corporación Favorita, passed away on August 24, 2025, at the age of 93. Known for his vision and leadership, […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Explosions and armed attacks in bars and pool halls expose the country’s deepening security crisis. A month of terror What began as a night of billiards in Santo Domingo ended in chaos and bloodshed when armed men stormed a pool hall on August 17th, firing indiscriminately. Seven people were killed, including alias Rasta, a neighborhood […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Historic railway reactivation brings visitors to Alausí, Colta and Chimborazo’s peaks, lagoons, and cultural treasures. A historic railway breathes new life into tourism The reopening of the Alausí–Sibambe route, known worldwide as the Devil’s Nose railway, has revived one of Ecuador’s most famous tourist attractions. Once considered an engineering marvel, the line now serves as […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Criminal feuds intensify in Guayas and Manabí as homicides soar, exposing limits of government security strategies Coastal provinces at the epicenter Guayas and Manabí have become the most dangerous provinces in Ecuador, plagued by criminal violence linked to territorial disputes. Their geographic positions make them attractive for organized crime networks that use coastal routes to […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Complaint by former advisor sparks political clash as both sides trade accusations of misconduct and cover-ups. The complaint and its origins The National Assembly has launched an investigation into Citizen Revolution legislator Nuria Butiñá, following allegations from her former advisor, Iván Darío Castro Velastegui, that she pressured him to hand over part of his salary […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

More than 500 of his 638 days in power have been marked by extraordinary decrees A Presidency Defined by States of Exception Since Daniel Noboa assumed office in November 2023, Ecuadorians have lived the majority of their days under states of emergency. In less than two years, his government has imposed or renewed the measure […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.