Noboa Orders Curfew in Nine Provinces and Four Cantones — May 3 Through May 18, 11pm to 5am

The Order

President Daniel Noboa announced on April 20, 2026 that a toque de queda (curfew) will be in effect from May 3 through May 18, 2026, nightly from 23:00 to 05:00, across nine provinces and four cantones. The decision follows the expiration of the previous estado de excepción — per Primicias, "tras los resultados obtenidos por las fuerzas del orden durante el anterior estado de excepción" (source).

Provinces Under Curfew

1. Pichincha (includes Quito)
2. Guayas (includes Guayaquil)
3. Manabí
4. Santa Elena
5. Los Ríos
6. El Oro
7. Esmeraldas
8. Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
9. Sucumbíos

Cantones Under Curfew

1. La Maná (Cotopaxi)
2. Las Naves (Bolívar)
3. Echeandía (Bolívar)
4. La Troncal (Cañar)

What This Means for Expats

• If you live in any of the above provinces or cantones, no non-essential movement is permitted between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am from May 3 to May 18. Plan flights, medical transfers, and late arrivals accordingly.
• Cuenca (Azuay), Loja, Imbabura, Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Galápagos are not listed — daily life continues as normal in those areas.
• Airports: Late-night arrivals in Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) will require a plan for getting to your destination without moving after 11:00 pm. Pre-book a hotel near the airport if you land late, or arrange ground transport that exits the curfew zone before 23:00.
• Business sectors have been denied exceptions. Minister John Reimberg has said the government will not grant sector-specific exemptions (see separate article). Banana, agricultural, and manufacturing operations will need to restructure overnight shifts for the 15-day window.
• The stated objective is continuity of security gains. The prior estado de excepción produced measurable results per government statements, and this curfew is framed as a maintenance measure.

What's Still Unknown

At publication, the executive decree with detailed enforcement rules, penalties for violations, and any narrow exceptions (medical emergency, essential personnel definitions) had not been published. Expect clarifying decrees in the week before May 3.

Source: Primicias, corroborated by El Telégrafo, Teleamazonas, El Universo