Ecuador Forum

MovinOn
Joined 2013
Posts: 2

10 years ago

Serious about Ecuador???

10 years ago

My husband and I did our due diligence tour in Sept 2012. At that time we believed we would be able to easily cross it off our list of places to retire. Not so! We love Ecuador. In brief, we would be kidding ourselves to think that moving from the fast pace convenience of the US would not be a “stretch” for us. Ecuador offers large cities that have many of the conveniences and entertainment benefits of home. .Adventurous? How about the Galapagos, the Amazon, the Andes Mountains. Love History? You will waltz through cities that are ornate and have existed for centuries. Love the Beach? There are miles and miles of beaches where properties can be bought for prices that are unheard of in the US. Just note that some of the best beaches are in small towns and villages with few amenities. The diversity of its indigenous peoples and their commitment to their heritage and customs in the “modern world” is awe inspiring. They have something to teach us. For those considering making the move I say “Do your homework.”
Do your homework before you visit! This will enrich your experience and appreciation of the country. We don’t do tours however we did decide to tour with a company called ecuadorexpatjourneys {http://www.ecuadorexpatjourneys.com/}. They made all the arrangements for us; we met in Quito, traveled the length of the coast, and went to Guayaquil, Cuenca and Cotocachi. The tour was beneficial as the guides were Ecuadorian and from the US (but now living in Ecuador). They introduced us to many expats along the way, arranged for us to meet some realtors, to see some properties (because that is what we were interested in.) But most important they shared information about the history of the country, cultural attitudes, the political environment, and showed us how Ecuadorians live throughout the country. Because they are familiar with how Americans “roll” they shared many stories that highlight the mind set and attitude needed to adapt to the environment, underscoring that some people are not cut out for it. Here are several other resources that are helpful for those researching Cuenca, { http://ecuador-retirement.gringotree.com/ } you can subscribe to their daily e- mail they area also adding a Quito Edition. On that page you will find links to news articles written for Gringo’s that cover National and local events {http://www.cuencahighlife.com/}. You will also find recommendations for services, drivers, etc. I did buy two E books from the site one on cooking which will help you understand what products are difficult to find etc. The other book “Life in Cuenca” is wonderful and is helpful if you are thinking about moving to Cuenca or elsewhere in Ecuador. It contains practical instructions for daily living, how much to pay the taxi driver, tipping, how to jump off a moving bus and land on both feet etc. It would be a good read before visiting Ecuador, period! We originally thought we would sell everything and buy new in Ecuador until we went shopping at the mall. We originally thought we would want a car there, forget it! We were sure we wanted to buy property, now we are considering renting as the flexibility provides mobility and more opportunities to experience what the country has to offer. There are many paradigm shifts here. Lots to consider! Most importantly a little Spanish goes a long way. There are so many great free resources online. Ecuador offers so much diversity, we use it as a measure to compare against any other Central or South American country we consider, so far, for us, the others just aren’t measuring up!
Wishing you well in your discoveries.

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Contribute
Help others in Ecuador by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.