Cuenca Turns 206: A Guide to the November Fiestas, the River Craft Fair and the Republic That Lasted 47 Days

On 3 November 1820, a few patriots disarmed a royalist guard and Cuenca declared itself free. Two centuries later, the city still throws its biggest party of the year. Here's how to join in.

Halloween in Ecuador 2026: Costumes, Cemeteries and a Curfew on the Four-Day Puente

Noche de Brujas on Saturday, Difuntos on Monday, Cuenca's birthday on Tuesday, and a midnight curfew in five coastal provinces. Here's how to do Ecuador's biggest long weekend without getting stuck.

The Last Room in Mindo

Reader Confessions: a landslide, a cloud-forest lodge with one room left, a stranger with a camera and a rule: no names, until morning.

The Yes/No/Maybe List: The Sexiest Homework You’ll Ever Do

One sheet of paper, two pens and a glass of wine. Why the couples who talk about sex have better sex, and exactly how to start the conversation.

Is Weed Legal in Ecuador? The 2026 Reality Check for Travelers and Expats

The Still Life: Building a Home Corner That Slows You Down

Above It All: The Art of the Rooftop Sundown

The Last Room in Mindo

The Yes/No/Maybe List: The Sexiest Homework You’ll Ever Do

The Night the Power Went Out in Ayampe

Halloween in Ecuador 2026: Costumes, Cemeteries and a Curfew on the Four-Day Puente

Ayampe, Olón or Montañita? How to Pick Your Slow-Life Town on Ecuador’s Coast

What It Really Costs to Live in Ecuador in 2026

Three Days, Three Villages, One Turquoise Crater: Hiking the Quilotoa Loop on Your Own

Galápagos on a Budget: Island-Hopping Without a Cruise

Wind, Whales and Warm Water: Kitesurfing Santa Marianita

Cuenca Turns 206: A Guide to the November Fiestas, the River Craft Fair and the Republic That Lasted 47 Days

Purple, Spiced and a Little Haunted: The Story Behind Colada Morada and Guaguas de Pan

Quito’s Coffee Moment: The Cafés and Farms Putting Ecuador on the Map