Provincias En Ecuador Con Toque De Queda-latest List
The provinces in Ecuador that currently have an officially decreed night curfew are Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Sucumbíos, plus the cantons La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar), and La Troncal (Cañar), under a measure announced in late April 2026 and set to run from 3 to 18 May between 23:00 and 05:00 as part of the latest security response by President Daniel Noboa's government.
Current provinces in Ecuador with a curfew
The most recent nationwide security package includes a night-time curfew in nine coastal, highland, and Amazonian provinces that the government has identified as having the highest rates of violent crime and organized crime activity, with Guayas, Manabí and Esmeraldas provinces among the hardest hit by extortion, homicides, and prison-linked gangs.
The curfew runs every night from 23:00 to 05:00 between 3 and 18 May 2026, meaning that people in the affected jurisdictions face a legally enforceable ban on being in public spaces during those hours unless they belong to exempt sectors such as emergency services, health, and strategic infrastructure, and this night mobility restriction is layered on top of a broader state of exception declared in early April.
The government has emphasized that the measure is geographically targeted rather than nationwide, so residents in the remaining provinces of the Sierra and Amazonia, such as Azuay, Loja, Tungurahua, and Imbabura, currently face no curfew, although they may still experience heightened security operations under other state of exception provisions.
- Guayas province: Full provincial curfew, including Guayaquil, Durán, and Samborondón.
- Manabí province: Curfew in all cantons such as Manta and Portoviejo.
- Santa Elena province: Includes coastal tourist hubs like Salinas and Montañita.
- Los Ríos province: Applies to all cantons, including Quevedo and Babahoyo.
- El Oro province: Covers Machala and border areas such as Huaquillas.
- Pichincha province: Includes Quito and its metropolitan valleys.
- Esmeraldas province: Entire province under curfew due to persistent violence indicators.
- Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas: Focused on the urban corridor in Santo Domingo.
- Sucumbíos province: Applies to Amazonian oil and border cantons like Lago Agrio.
- Additional cantons: La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar), and La Troncal (Cañar) are included despite their provinces not being fully under curfew.
Official list: provinces and cantons under curfew
The official decrees and press releases published in late April 2026 present a clear breakdown of the territories subject to curfew, distinguishing between entire provinces where all cantons are included and provinces where only specific cantons fall under the restrictions.
| Province | Scope of curfew | Main cities or cantons affected | Curfew hours (3-18 May 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guayas | All cantons | Guayaquil, Durán, Samborondón | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Manabí | All cantons | Manta, Portoviejo, Bahía de Caráquez | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Santa Elena | All cantons | Salinas, La Libertad, Montañita | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Los Ríos | All cantons | Babahoyo, Quevedo | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| El Oro | All cantons | Machala, Huaquillas | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Pichincha | All cantons | Quito, Cumbayá, Tumbaco | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Esmeraldas | All cantons | Esmeraldas, Atacames | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas | All cantons | Santo Domingo | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Sucumbíos | All cantons | Lago Agrio, Shushufindi | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Cotopaxi | Single canton | La Maná only | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Bolívar | Two cantons | Las Naves, Echeandía | 23:00-05:00 daily |
| Cañar | Single canton | La Troncal only | 23:00-05:00 daily |
Based on official communication and press coverage, around 46 percent of Ecuador's population now lives in a jurisdiction with a night-time curfew, meaning that nearly one in two residents is directly impacted by the current curfew measures in terms of mobility, work schedules, and nightlife.
Security officials have stated that approximately 68 percent of reported homicides in the first quarter of 2026 occurred within these nine provinces and four additional cantons, which explains why authorities chose to concentrate the curfew enforcement zones in these specific coastal and border areas.
What changed compared to previous curfews
The April 2026 curfew marks a shift from earlier, more limited measures in March, when the government initially imposed a night-time restriction only in Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, as later validated with conditions by the Constitutional Court, so the new decree significantly broadens the territorial coverage of movement controls.
Unlike previous episodes where curfews were concentrated on the coast, the current decision adds Pichincha and Sucumbíos, bringing the capital Quito and parts of the Amazon into the scheme for the first time in this security cycle, a move that underscores how the national security crisis is no longer perceived as geographically contained.
Whereas an earlier October 2024 package had focused on 20 specific localities and six provinces with more fragmented schedules, the 2026 framework unifies the curfew window at 23:00 to 05:00 across all affected territories, simplifying enforcement for police and military units deployed under the overarching state of exception.
- The government first declared a focused curfew on four coastal provinces in March 2026, targeting areas with the highest crime indices.
- After several high-profile violent incidents and a measured increase in extortion complaints, it expanded the curfew to nine provinces and four cantons in late April.
- The Constitutional Court reviewed earlier decrees, confirming their constitutionality but imposing human-rights monitoring requirements.
- Authorities adjusted exemptions and logistics to maintain the operation of essential services and key economic sectors despite the extended night restrictions.
According to press reports, internal government data suggest that in districts with curfew plus a state of exception, robberies dropped by an estimated 18 percent and reported contract killings by 9 percent in the five weeks after the first decree, which officials cite as evidence that the curfew strategy helps disrupt criminal mobility, even if it does not fully resolve underlying structural issues.
At the same time, business associations and civil society organizations in cities like Guayaquil and Manta warn that extended movement limits are weighing on evening commerce, hospitality, and tourism, estimating average revenue losses of 22 to 27 percent for night-time businesses since March and calling for complementary economic support measures.
Legal basis and institutional controls
The curfew in Ecuador is implemented under a presidential state of exception, which allows temporary suspension of certain rights-primarily freedom of movement-when there is a serious internal disturbance or security crisis, and in this case the executive branch decrees explicitly tie the measure to spiraling violence and organized crime.
On 19 March 2026, the Constitutional Court ruled that the suspension of free transit from 23:00 to 05:00 in Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas was constitutional but conditioned its approval on strict monitoring of human rights, continuity of public services, and judicial oversight, establishing a benchmark for any subsequent curfew-related rulings.
In practical terms, the Court's decision means that security forces enforcing the curfew must adhere to proportionality and necessity standards, keep detailed records of detentions, and ensure that the justice system remains operational, while the Public Defender's Office and civil society observers are encouraged to document potential abuses arising from curfew enforcement.
"The nightly curfew is a temporary and targeted tool to recover control of territories captured by criminal groups, but it does not replace the need for deep police, judicial, and social reforms," a security analyst told local media when assessing the curfew decree announced by President Daniel Noboa.
Practical guidance for people in affected provinces
For residents and travelers in the affected areas, the key rule is that from 23:00 to 05:00 there is a blanket prohibition on being in public streets, parks, and non-essential businesses, with exceptions for medical emergencies, transit to and from airports with proof of travel, and accredited workers in essential sectors like health, security, and critical infrastructure services.
Authorities and foreign embassies advise individuals who are in Ecuador between 3 and 18 May 2026 to carry identification at all times, monitor local news for updates, and comply with checkpoints and instructions from police and military patrols, since failure to respect the curfew requirements can result in fines, temporary detention, or legal proceedings under emergency regulations.
Residents in provinces without curfew should still expect an increased security presence, particularly on strategic highways and around ports, oil infrastructure, and border crossings, because the government is trying to prevent criminal displacement from curfew zones into the remaining non-restricted provinces.
Key concerns and solutions for Provincias En Ecuador Con Toque De Queda Latest List
Which provinces in Ecuador currently have a curfew?
The provinces currently under a night curfew are Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Sucumbíos, along with the cantons La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar), and La Troncal (Cañar), all subject to movement restrictions from 23:00 to 05:00 between 3 and 18 May 2026 under the latest state-of-exception decrees.
What are the curfew hours and dates in Ecuador?
The current measure establishes a uniform night curfew from 23:00 to 05:00 every day between Sunday 3 May and Monday 18 May 2026, meaning that for two full weeks people in affected areas must remain off the streets during those hours unless they belong to exempt essential sectors or face a justified emergency, as defined by the curfew regulations.
Why did Ecuador expand the curfew to more provinces?
The government expanded the curfew from four to nine provinces plus four cantons in response to persistently high homicide and extortion rates, particularly in coastal and border zones, arguing that broader restrictions on night-time mobility would help security forces regain control in areas where organized crime networks had established a strong presence, and this rationale underpins the new security-focused curfew announced in April 2026.
Are all provinces in Ecuador under curfew?
No, not all provinces are under curfew, because the current decree applies only to nine provinces and four specific cantons, leaving out Andean and Amazonian provinces such as Azuay, Loja, Imbabura, and Tungurahua, where people can circulate at night without restrictions even though they may still experience increased patrols as part of broader security operations.
How does the Constitutional Court oversee Ecuador's curfew measures?
The Constitutional Court reviews each state-of-exception decree to determine whether suspending rights like freedom of movement is justified and proportionate, and in its March 2026 ruling it approved the coastal curfew while imposing obligations for human-rights monitoring, continuity of public services, and oversight by the Public Defender's Office, thereby setting legal conditions that the executive and security forces must respect when applying curfew-related policies.