An Expat Talks about Moving to Puerto Cayo, Ecuador

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Puerto Cayo

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Wish I would have brought: Gallons of Patina for our stained glass hobby; Desk Chair because I work from home; more towels and dishrags

Things I could have left: all things leather (we live on the beach and everything molds); metal lamps (rusted); outdated computer (should have bought a new one before shipping down here)

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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Be open minded, flexible and leave over exaggerated expectations in your mother country. You are moving into a foreign country for a reason - don't bring your bad with you!

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

Block structures - it's a very poor fishing area.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We are in Puerto Cayo. It is small and I mean small. There are no shopping for groceries or luxury items. It is quiet and on any given day, I am the only person on miles and miles of beach!

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Much lower. We paid cash for our land and to build our house. Electric is about 100 per month. We get 2 trucks of water a month roughly and it equates to about $50/month in water. There are no other bills.