Province guides
Living in Ecuador by Province
Ecuador's 24 provinces offer everything from Andean spring climates to tropical beaches. These guides help you understand the character, cost, and practicalities of each region.
Azuay
Capital: Cuenca · ~800,000
Azuay is Ecuador's cultural heartland, anchored by Cuenca — the country's most popular expat city. The province combines...
Pichincha
Capital: Quito · ~3.2 million
Pichincha is Ecuador's power centre — home to Quito, the capital, and the affluent Cumbayá valley. It offers the best in...
Loja
Capital: Loja · ~500,000
Loja Province is Ecuador's southern frontier — a region of music conservatories, organic valleys, and the legendary Vilc...
Manabí
Capital: Portoviejo · ~1.5 million
Manabí is Ecuador's coastal treasure — a province of fishing villages, emerging beach cities, and a distinctive culture ...
Santa Elena
Capital: Santa Elena · ~300,000
Santa Elena is Ecuador's beach playground — the peninsula that juts into the Pacific and hosts Salinas, the country's or...
Imbabura
Capital: Ibarra · ~450,000
Imbabura is Ecuador's indigenous cultural heartland, anchored by the legendary Otavalo market and surrounded by volcanic...