Retire in Ecuador

"Life for retirees in Ecuador and its surroundings is often active and vibrant with plenty of resources available to them. Ecuador is a country boasting a rich cultural identity with numerous museums, festivals, and sites of historical significance. Natural attractions like the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Basin are also accessible to retirees. Nightlife and social activities are varied, with expat communities and bars offering good music and lively nightlife. There are also plenty of recreational opportunities, from swimming and golfing to hiking and nature walks. Cultural and gastronomic events, as well as cooking and dancing lessons, are all possibilities for anyone wanting to explore and experience the local culture firsthand," said a person in Ecuador.

"We live close to Cotacachi, which does have an ex-pat population but is also the most charming and prettiest of Ecuadorian cities I have seen, which is most of them. We live a few klicks outside of Cotacachi, in farm country. We have horses below, cows and corn above; and all around quiet, peace and friendly neighbors. What's not to like?," remarked one retiree in Cotacachi.

"I am in an area (Valle de los Chillos) outside of Quito and I don't know if there are expat activities because I have integrated so we go to regular activities with the locals. Not everyone is interested in being in a location with lots of expats. "Communities" are like families. You may find people you enjoy but are also likely to find people that you have nothing else in common with or that are irritating to you. Please have a good think about your social likes and dislikes and factor that into your decisions on where to live. Not sure for most people if the social aspect should be the major part of the decision but to each his own. The locals are typically at least curious if not downright welcoming. Please feel free to enter a community that does not have a lot of expat activities if that is your thing. Also there may be people like me there that are ready to be friends without all the scheduling and organizing. If you decide to do that, please rent for an extended period in the area you are considering to be sure you are ok without the support group," said a retiree who moved to Ecuador.

"Many expat activities in Cuenca and great affordable restaurants. Beautiful scenery and lots of great places to visit in the Andes and the beaches," said one retiree in Cuenca.

"I lived most of my life (almost 50 years) on two small islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland of Canada. and moved here directly without exploring many other options. other than the usual voyages to Europe and Central America. And yes, it has been a major, major change. Adventurous, challenging, and rife with opportunities to stretch. So, what do I think now? Not a love/hate relationship. Too strong. More like/dislike. The basics I do love: The climate in the Andes is really perfect. The ready availability of wonderful produce/fruit/meats at a very low price is a huge plus. The cost of living, which I estimate at about 10 – 15% of costs in Canada makes it possible for us to live well on my meager pension and maintain my investment portfolio for travel and splurges," commented one retiree living in Cotacachi, Ecuador.

"It is not for everyone, if you have not traveled outside your country you should check it out before moving. Many expats move here and after 6 months to a year many go back to the US! Many might miss family or just can't adjust to a non- English speaking country. My blog offers a good idea of live here: google: AAA Living in Cuenca or my book Why Ecuador for me is available on kindle through amazon.com," explained one retiree living in Cuenca.

"I agree, you cannot live like this is the USA, you will drive yourself crazy. It is like having children, one is often very different than another. Ecuador is different from the USA, some things are better and some are a lot more challenging. All in all, after 3 years here, I am glad I am here and enjoying my life. But I highly recommend that you have an extended visit before packing up and buying a property. You should rent and live here at least 3 months, a year would be better. You may decide the challenging parts are not your thing or you may decide that location and/or climate is not your thing. We were planning to live at the beach but found the vibe to be too crazy in tourist season or holidays and too boring the rest of the time. We also did not like the heat. We are now living in the mountains and love the year round spring weather and visit the beach when we feel like it," said one retiree in living in Ecuador.

"One challenge of retiring in Ecuador is that the cost of living is significantly lower there than in other countries, which can be difficult for people used to a higher standard of living. Additionally, the language barrier can be difficult for many retirees since Spanish is the primary language in Ecuador. Retirees may also find that many public services and amenities are not as developed in Ecuador as in other countries. Lastly, the lack of access to high-quality healthcare facilities and services can be a challenge for many retirees, given their needs for specialized care," said one retiree in living in Ecuador.

"No English and lots of illogical bureaucracy. Wish i had a dollar for everytime i heard Lamentablemente in a government office (unfortunately)....Daily life is more like USA in 1950s, small town shopping in small stores but it is more interesting. My latest hunt was for Epsom salts for my bath. Not in pharmacies nor larger stores, maybe could be found in a specialty pharmacy in Quito an hour away. Bathtubs are not common here so bath salts nobody knows. Found it on Mercadolibre which is like Ebay or Craigslist," explained a retiree in Ecuador.

"Really, it's been pretty easy. The biggest challenge has been preparing to move, shipping our goods and getting the visas," explained one retiree living in Manglaralto.

"Scenery is gorgeous, people are friendly and very patient. The outdoor life is great. We do not have a treadmill, it is too beautiful and too great a climate to walk each day," commented one retiree living in Ecuador.

"In Ecuador, healthcare services exist throughout the country, with primary health care clinics, private clinics and hospitals, and public hospitals all providing healthcare to citizens. Access to healthcare is provided on a sliding scale, with fees being assessed based on income. Primary health care clinics emphasize preventive medicine, but also provide diagnosis, treatment, immunizations and referrals to specialists in the public health system. Private clinics and hospitals provide higher quality services, but often at a much higher cost. Public hospitals generally do not provide healthcare services for free, but may offer subsidized services depending on the situation. Access to specialized and hospital-based care is limited, but increasing as Ecuador invests in greater access and quality of care," said one retiree in Ecuador.

"Your choice of the free hospital or higher cost facilities. Also qualify for the Social Security hospital here 100% coverage for $72 a month," commented one retiree living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Here you meet others through shopping for food, necessities for the home, and dining out. There is a Rotary International group here but they only speak spanish. If you have a talent, such as painting, you can set up in one of the parks and meet people. There are a dozen expats here that speak english and most are very helpful for newcomers. Also there are about 30 to 80 boats from all over the world at the marina, depending on the month, and most "boaties" speak English and are helpul. The marina owner, an American, also runs a restaurant there and he and his Columbian wife speak english," said one retiree in living in Bahia de Caracruz, Ecuador.

"Cuenca has a lot going for it as far as the arts. There are always free concerts that you can attend in the city. Art festivals, Choirs, Orchestras you name it. This is a very family oriented society and life revolves around the family. My local business colleagues are always spending time with their families on the weekends and we should learn from them. They have a wonderful network of family around them. Religious events are a time for parades, church and other activities," commented one retiree living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"I just spent 5 weeks just a couple kilometers north of Crucita. Beaches and climate were some of the best I have experienced. Crucita is more crowded but if you get north of the new marina (under construction) its almost deserted as far as you can see. I jogged north about a mile and was the same as far as I went. Some condos on the beach in that area but they are mostly empty and even on weekends not a lot of activity. I liked it so much I am going back the end of the year," said one retiree in Crucita.

"I have a close friend who is going to move here. He loved his visit here a couple of months ago. I told him that the culture is very different form the US but that is true anywhere in the world. The only way to learn is through immersion into the life here. I took a job consulting for the municipio, another side task of teaching the local kids in our barrio English and I applied to teach at the local University. The more active I am, the faster I get what is going on here. Ibarra is no Quito; it is like most other towns in Ecuador, just a little larger at 150,000 people. My Spanish is constantly improving. Our farm is becoming more productive, our list of freinds is growing. But it all takes lots of time and personal investment of yourself," commented one retiree living in Ibarra, Ecuador.

"There is an expat community in Vilcabamba. Its membership varies in variety and number. People arrive people depart. Some are in the town, visible every day, some come in only on market Sunday, some might go months without setting foot in the town. Come for a visit. Stay more than a couple of days to get the feel of the town. Have a taxi give you the tour. You'll have a better idea of the place and options for living there. Look at San Pedro and Malacatos as well, two towns near Vilcabamba. These are worthwhile places to look at," explained one retiree living in Vilcabamba.

"Be prepared for pollution and robbery problems. Quito also has a large traffic issue and makes it hard to get around at busy hours of the day. The altitude is sometimes hard for people with asthma or the elderly. In general, it's still a small city and has a friendly welcoming attitude. It's easy to get away on weekends and go to the mountains for fresh air. The night life is fun and exciting in the mariscal area. I would research the city really well before renting or buying. Find the safer neighborhoods like Quito, Tenis or Gonzalez Suarez where there are many other expats," said one retiree in living in Quito, Ecuador.

"This city has a little of everything. The old and the new blend very well indeed. Lots of great restaurants, lots of music the weather is the best, the mountains are breathtaking, the prices for me are just right. I really have everything here I could ever wish for," explained a retiree in Cuenca.

"I can highly recommend Cabalgatas Canoa. Horseback riding on the beach. The stables are run by Zia Sherrell of the UK who has been here for close to a decade. The horses are very well cared for and she gets top reviews," explained one retiree living in Canoa.

"Local people shop at the local mom and pop stores. Expats travel to Bahia de Caraquez 45 minutes away or to Portoviejo 45 minutes away. There are big modern grocery stores there that have just about everything one would be used to back home. The prices are not bad either. There is also a large weekly vegetable market in Charapoto 10 minutes away every Sunday. In addition, there are trucks loaded with fruits and veggies that drive around town just about every day," explained one retiree living in San Clemente.

"It appears that most of the people like to shop on the special marketing days where people come from miles around to show their wares. As I mentioned, Tia has some good buys (specials) and SuperMaxi is great up in Loja," said one retiree in living in Catamayo and Loja, Ecuador.