Managing mailboxes or PO boxes in Ecuador

Mom existent.

You don't have to worry about the mail service in Ecuador......there isn't any.

I use “Traveling Mailbox”.  If it’s something important I have it muled here to Cuenca. 

Ecuador had a state-run postal service, the so called "Correos del Ecuador" until 2020.

President Lenín Moreno ordered the dissolution and liquidation of "Correos del Ecuador"

by decree in May 2020 as part of a state restructuring.

(Correos del Ecuador was not profitable)

This process led to the creation of the new company "Servicios Postales del Ecuador"

at the end of 2020, which took over the responsibilities.

https://sipostal.serviciopostal.gob.ec/

But when I try to find out where they have agencies, they don't show me anything.

https://sipostal.serviciopostal.gob.ec/ … n/Agencias

I know there must be one in Quito, but where "Correos del Ecuador" was

for example in Ibarra, there's nothing left.

Bye the way: (Just to let You know how things work here)

The liquidation of "Correos del Ecuador" is still underway

and is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.

For shipments inside the country I use "Servientrega" or "Laarcourier".

Maybe they work for international shipments as well.

I know there are many more Companies.

There are also Bus-Companies who offer Shipping-Services as well.

If I need documents from Europe, then I use "DHL-Express".

(But it has to be "Express" not the normal Service)

If I buy something in the US, then I use "Laarbox".

Laarbox is a Special-Service from Laarcourier.

There is a so called 4x4 regime in Ecuador (Category B)

that allows the import of personal packages up to 4 kg and $400.

But there is an annual limit of $1600 per person per year.

(The annual limit isn't a problem for me, I have Ecuadorian friends who let me

use their names to continue buying in the US when I've reached my $1'600 limit)

Until June 2025 this packages were exempt from paying taxes,

but because the government needs money, President Noboa decided

to bother us with $20 taxes per 4x4 package.

They said it was to protect the Ecuadorian economy.

That's a good joke, I only buy in the US what I can't get here.

Laarbox offers the consolidation of packages but only under the 4x4 regime.

But the limit there is 3.75 kg, they wanna be sure not to get in troubles

with the 4kg limit.

You can also use Laarbox to import packages from the US that are heavier than 4 kg,

but there You pay the normal import-taxes.

I'm sure it will be possible to send parcels from the US with the big companies

like USPS, UPS, Fedex, DHL etc.

I know there are many more possibilities.

Greetings from Ibarra.

Joe