Michael Retired Early & Moved to Cuenca

/in , , , /by

Michael graciously allowed us to share his story. This is why we do what we do…

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you thank you for all that you have done for me. I first saw you and Amelia on YouTube back in 2022-23 about your life experiences in Ecuador. I moved to Cuenca from Denver in early 2024 and am currently waiting on my permanent residency visa.

My family thought I was nuts, but now they understand what a special life I’m living here in Cuenca. I have always understood that nothing is guaranteed in life but following you made me move my retirement up a year earlier and have been living here in Cuenca for the past two years.

I have been around the country twice, Peru, the Galapagos, Guatemala, I’m going to Quito next week to meet some friends and my daughter is coming to Cuenca on the 18th for the second time.

I have been so fortunate to have found you on YouTube. You helped me change my life and will always be grateful. I will continue to follow you both.

Tell Amelia hello and thank her for me!!

Kerry on Leaving the US & Moving to Ecuador

/in , , /by

My main motivation for moving abroad was that I didn’t want to work until I died.

During COVID we lost a lot of friends and I was afraid I would die in my job, or have to become a Walmart greeter for the rest of my life and I could not see a way to make ends meet retiring in the US. So, money was a motivating factor.

I looked at many videos about cheap living in the US and they all said, “It’s cheap here, but there’s nothing to do and healthcare is awful.” Then I started thinking about overseas and eventually found Amelia And JP’s YouTube Channel and their videos were quite inspiring.

Initially, I was afraid to move because I worried that I wouldn’t be able to acclimate to the elevation in Cuenca, Ecuador. BUT! I figured if I didn’t, we would move to another country.

After watching Amelia and JP, I realized it was ok to travel places until you found a new home.

Our biggest obstacles were selling all of our possessions and learning Spanish. It’s really hard getting rid of things you love. We did use an incredible Estate agent; however, we still had items left. We couldn’t even give some of it away (even to the church!) and made daily trips to the dump with things like china or crystal.

We were unable to sell the house so we still have it, but with have amazing tenants.

I am taking Spanish, and probably will for the rest of my life.

I could never live this amazing life in the States. I am so busy with friends and going out, listening to music, dancing, cooking classes, restaurants, and art. It would be unaffordable to do in the States and is very inexpensive here.

The food is incredible, fresh and not processed, and affordable. 5 avocados for $1.00. 30 eggs for under $4.00.

I’ve made so many great friends in Ecuador. I do have some very good Ecuadorian friends. There is a built in comradery with people who have left their homes and moved abroad and meeting them and becoming friends can become unmanageable with the sheer number of people I meet who I really like.

People who up and move are inherently very interesting. You don’t really talk about your past here, you just are accepted for who you are now. If someone talks about how important they were in their jobs, I generally move onto someone else. I want to hear about the art show you attended, the symphony, a new restaurant – what you are doing now.

I’ve gone on a lot of day trips, to the hot springs, the coast, the Amazon, and also saw whales for the first time.

Healthcare is great. I had a swollen hand today and walked to a pharmacy. They diagnosed it (bugbite) and gave me medicine for under $10.00. Turns out my doctor is between offices, was working in their clinic, took a quick peek and recommended the exact same thing the pharmacist did.

I can get same day Dr visits for $40, and x-rays for under $100 without insurance. The healthcare is similar to what I got in the States, but I can afford it and don’t have to wait. If the doctor or dentist says 10:00 you may wait three minutes. Given the money I save on living here in terms of rent and healthcare, I am able to look forward to an adventuresome future.

Amelia and JP inspired me to make the move, and showed how easy it could be. It was easy. The Move Abroad eCourse showed how to navigate the details and costs. Because of that, I contacted a guy who helps with money management and asked him if I could afford it. I could and I do.

As a bonus, I was completely able to navigate Cuenca when I moved here because of them. I knew where Parque Calderon was and how to branch out from there. I knew which way to get on the Tranvia to get to where I needed to go.

My advice? Move now. I think the younger you are, the more you can enjoy it. I wasn’t interested in doing an exploratory trip after Amelia & JP’s videos and Move Abroad eCourse, but my husband was more hesitant so we did an exploratory trip.

It would be great to have moved at age 50 like some of our friends. Even without much in the way of money.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Byron On His Way to Ecuador

/in , , /by

When I turned 60, I realized that my life had passed in a flash.

In my mind, I was still in my twenties with plenty of time ahead of me – plenty of time for me to eventually “do the things I really want to do.”

I was so busy working making my employer more profitable that I lost track of my youth. At this rate, I will be 70 years old without even noticing. At 70, I can’t say that, “I’m still young.”

I believed that I had a good comfortable life, but I didn’t consider that most of my life was being spent at work. At that point, I committed myself to retire at 62 to give myself eight years of life before I turn 70.

To retire at 62 in California is not an easy task. To just exist in California, it would cost me about $80K annually (income tax, property tax, state taxes, HOA, living expenses) without spending any money for entertainment.

My great parents on both sides lived over 100, so it’s likely that I’ll be around for another 40-years. Do I have enough money to have a quality life for the next 40 years?

This is when I stumbled onto Amelia & JP’s YouTube’s channel. They were in Manta, Ecuador at that time.

To leave the US for a third-country is a pretty daunting move, so I started watching all of Amelia and JP’s videos. I couldn’t ignore the fact that they were genuinely happy in Ecuador. They put Ecuador on the map for me.

I went to Ecuador on an exploratory trip and while I was there, I kept asking myself, why wouldn’t I move here, and the only thing I could come up with was, “because it’s not the United States.”

I overcame this quickly when I realized that my quality of life would be higher for a fraction of the costs I was paying in California.

The biggest obstacles were all of the steps that need to be done to move your life abroad. Luckily for me, I signed up for Amelia and JP’s Move Abroad eCourses. Their courses break everything into small tasks that are accomplishable. We’re working off a checklist getting something done every day. I see ourselves being fully moved in about two months.

I see myself finally living my life without spending all day at work. I will be able to focus on the things that I want to do – the things that bring joy into my life. I will be able to spend quality time with the people I love.

If you’re considering a move abroad, check out Amelia & JP’s eCourses. These courses should put things in perspective for you to make your decision.

I’m moving to Ecuador because of Amelia & JP. I’m excited to move to Ecuador. I can’t wait – especially after speaking with dozens of Expats in Ecuador who continuously tell me that they wished that they would have retired sooner.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Kim and Mike in Ecuador

/in , , /by

My husband Mike (age 73) and I (age 68) moved from Hudson, Ohio (in northeast Ohio) to Cuenca, Ecuador on May 15, 2024 and we have never regretted our decision.

Due to the nasty politics going on in the U.S., the rising cost of food and healthcare and the hot humid summers and icy cold winters in Ohio, we decided that our final years should be spent someplace more acceptable to us.

Around 2021, we began talking about which state to move to that would at least have better weather but the few states that we both liked weren’t really motivating us to undergo the stress of packing up and moving our lives.

Then I saw and article in a travel magazine talking about all the expats that had decided to leave the U.S. for foreign countries and after reading the article, it started sparking some interest with us.

However, after reading dozens of articles about these countries, someone posted an answer indicating that “Amelia & JP” had some videos on YouTube that might help. We found their videos online and watched everything we could.

We were absolutely fascinated by all the information they provided so I started writing everything down from their favorite restaurants or bakeries, to hotels they stayed in and local customs that they found interesting and different.

While deciding where to move, we also talked earnestly about any fears we had about such a lifestyle change. We had one big factor in our favor which was other than my husband’s sister, we really had no other immediate family.

However, there were many other factors we were concerned about, such as learning Spanish, would we find someplace to live that was affordable and safe, could we bring our pets, but mostly, HOW do we do this type of a move?

I had no idea what a Visa was but learned we needed to have one to stay in the country longer than our passport allowed!

We read as many books, articles and watched as many YouTube videos as we could find, and finally decided we needed to take an exploratory trip to Cuenca to ensure that we could tolerate the altitude. The city we lived in was only about 300 feet above sea level and Cuenca is around 8,400 feet above sea level!

At this point, I saw a post about an Ecuador Relocation eCourse offered by Amelia and JP and I bought it. After reading thru it the first time, I was a little confused by all the items on the move abroad checklist that comes with the course…I had moved many times over the years and never did half of these tasks!

However, I soon came to realize how invaluable this checklist was, and that I really did need to do all of these things! Amelia and JP had done all these things and were now living in Ecuador, so I figured I would just do what they did!

We started out by scheduling a 3 week exploratory trip to Cuenca and within a day or two of landing in Cuenca, we knew we were home…and which lead to us absolutely hating to leave when the 3 weeks were up!

During this trip, we made the decision what day to move to Cuenca and it gave us exactly 5 months from the date we returned to Ohio, to sell our house, sell our car, sell 90% of our belongings, and decide how to do everything needed in Ohio and everything needed to do in Ecuador. Once we had a “move to Cuenca date” (May 15th), the move began in earnest and that checklist was never far away from me for 5 months.

Because I had been reading the local expat newspapers and online articles for the past year, I was able to see names of people and companies who were “recommended” by other expats for the services they provided. Along with my notes and the local news sources in Cuenca, we decided that due to everything we needed to do at home to prepare, that we were going to “farm out” a lot of the tasks that, given enough time, you can also do yourself. But for us, we decided it was best to hire companies who would handle these tasks.

We reached out to Gringo Visas, Relocation Services of Ecuador and even a company to handle the moving of our 2 dogs and 1 cat.

These tasks can ALL be done on your own, however, I do suggest you realize that all the forms you need to complete will be in Spanish. Everything was handled perfectly, pets arrived when expected, our belongings arrived and were cleared through customs, and our lives just fell back into place.

We stayed at Apartamentos Otorongo for 3 weeks on our exploratory trip and loved the place. Since they allowed pets, we booked them for a month when we moved here with our pets. While there, we met a wonderful Canadian couple who moved here 2 years earlier and are still renters at the hotel. I have made several new friends and seem to meet new people every week.

We have spent a lot less money living here than in the US, we eat better and my husband lost over 50 lbs in 6 months because of all the walking that we do. We take taxis most everywhere, but most of our rides cost $3.00 which also includes a tip.

My husband had to have a pacemaker inserted last month and while we had to pay for the procedure in full since his prior heart condition made it a Pre-Existing issue, it was amazingly inexpensive and he received incredibly great care at the hospital.

We started working twice a week with a Spanish teacher and we are improving each month. We found a beautiful to rent within 2 weeks of moving here and I started selling my homemade greeting cards at the local Feria (fair) once a month, and even though there is no postal system in this country, people seem to want cards!

We eat out when we want, we attend various meetings to learn about new things available to do in the city, attend plays and in a few weeks, we are starting acting lessons at the local theater, something we never thought we would be doing in our lives!

If you have concerns about moving overseas, other than family issues, be sure and get a copy of the Amelia and JPs Checklist, it is invaluable. And just know that there are wonderful companies available to help you, by Ecuadorians who speak English and have done their jobs successfully for years.

Remember to do your own research rather than just reading what people post on Facebook, but for Mike and I, our move to Ecuador is a dream. It took me about 2 months living here and thinking I was just on a vacation, before I realized, I did not have to go home…I was home.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

The Bowen Family in Ecuador

/in , , , /by

We’d always been very drawn to South America, and dreams about moving to Buenos Aires, Chilean Patagonia, or the hills of Uruguay colored our life—to the extent that when we sat our children down and told them we were moving to Ecuador, they just shrugged and said, “Okay.” It was about time.

Maybe we would have only dreamed forever, but we grew increasingly dismayed by the pressures put on kids in modern American society and the consequential effects on both mental and physical health. The idea of raising our family in a laid back “tranquilo” culture where family and community are valued more than busyness and material success was very appealing. Ultimately, we moved in search of a new, better life for our children, just like millions of immigrants have done over the centuries.

Our biggest fears? We worried that any or all of our kids wouldn’t thrive, that they wouldn’t make friends, or settle into fulfilling lives. They didn’t ask for this significant life shakeup, and it would have been awful if we’d brought them into a situation that changed their trajectory for the worse, instead of the better.

The obstacles we faced were pretty typical: Selling our home and vehicles, getting our hands on visa paperwork, and—most challenging by far—explaining the move to family and friends, and saying those hard goodbyes.

Blake has a lot of specific tools he needs for his blacksmith shop, so we knew we’d be shipping a container. That meant we didn’t have to downsize dramatically, but we did have to pack hundreds of inventoried boxes in the very specific manner demanded by Ecuadorian customs, which was quite an endeavor.

Our life in Ecuador is more than we ever imagined or hoped for. We have an amazing community of friends—many whom we now consider family. Almost all of our friends are locals; we never visited Ecuador before moving here, and we were delighted to discover that we fit right in. Truthfully, moving to a different region of the US would have been more culture-shocking than moving to a village in southern Ecuador turned out to be. Ecuadorians are the loveliest people, kind and dignified, with this amazing sly and self deprecating sense of humor. After three and a half years, not one of us can imagine leaving. The kids are flourishing at the local school; they’re on the soccer team, take music lessons, and run around town with their friends. The best part of our life isn’t how interesting or exciting it is (though it is!); it’s how utterly normal it is—just in this beautiful, unexpected context.

Our best advice if you’re considering a move abroad? Even if you plan on your stay being temporary, treat it as if it’s forever. Plant roots. Build friendships. Learn the language. Don’t hold back. There’s no perfect place, but don’t fall into the trap of focusing on the negative; if you can’t embrace the differences, at least be able to laugh at them. Finally, treat everyone with an abundance of courtesy and respect. A lot of expats don’t intend to be rude, but come across that way because they don’t understand or practice basic cultural norms. Watch how locals interact and do your best to imitate—it doesn’t take much language to say: “Hello, good morning, how are you?” And smiling takes no language at all!

We devoured Amelia and JP’s Ecuador videos while preparing for our move! Even more than the practical tips for preparing to relocate and for adjusting to life abroad, their joy of discovery and respectful treatment of Ecuadorian culture—but through a helpful expat lens—grew our confidence that we could make a place for ourselves here.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Steven on Slow Traveling

/in , /by

My name is Steven, 60 years old, retired teacher since a year and a half ago, and now have been a Slow Traveler for the last 61 days to date… traveling the World with my Traveling Partner, Louise.

Flashback to a few years ago: I had hurt my back at work and no longer could bend down to help my 1st Graders (who are short!) 🤣 I had decided a long time ago that once my Teacher Pension reached a certain money level… I could survive off of that until I could supplement it with my Social Security once I hit age 62! The dilemma: Stay in Tucson, Arizona in my house I was still paying a mortgage on… and stay at home just watching tv (because I wouldn’t be able to afford to do anything else… much less travel) or have a Plan B… and Plan C… etc.

I love to travel! As a teacher, every Spring and Fall Break plus Summers… I would travel… paid for After-School tutoring and Summer School jobs! One day, I found this couple on YouTube, Amelia and JP (you might know them? 😆) who were living abroad in Cuenca, Ecuador.

After researching Cuenca, and some other places, I realized I didn’t have to convalesce in Tucson the rest of my life due to limited financial funds (I became a teacher for the Fame and the Money… I was wrong 😑… and oh, shape the minds of our young!) 😝

I had my Plan B… move abroad to a country that I could afford housing, food, and insurance… and still save money and do more traveling! So, in Jan. 2023, my last semester of my teaching career… I decided I was moving to Cuenca, Ecuador where I was sure Amelia, JP, and I would become fast friends! (Spoiler alert… they moved to Cumbaya before I arrived!)

I put my house on the market in May… and accepted a bid very quickly… made a good profit! Three weekends of doing an Estate Sale in late May/ early June to sell everything I owned… donating a lot of the leftover stuff… plus doing Grades for the last time… ever! My last day of work was May 26th… I turned 59 years old the next day! So May, to say the least, was VERY stressful and hectic!

My father, who also lives in Tucson, was going on several vacations in the next few months… and he has a cat 🐈! So, with 12 bins of stuff I threw into storage because I had a hard time parting with ALL my stuff… I agreed to House and Cat Sit until he was done traveling in September! Though moving into my dad’s house at age 59 seemed depressing to me! 😂 Over the summer… I did manage to whittle down to 6 bins that has since moved to his garage… he has space… don’t judge! 😂

So, come late September of 2023… I made the move to Cuenca with two large suitcases and a backpack. Stayed at a couple of Airbnbs to get a “lay” of the city and two weeks into my stay found a fabulous 2-bd, 3ba top floor apartment for only $650/mo… plus able to score just a 6-month lease! I moved to another apartment in a quieter neighborhood for another 6 months!

Enter Louise… who hailed from Seattle and Las Vegas! She made the move to Cuenca for many of the same reasons… affordability, less insurance costs, the weather (spring-like all year long!)… we met during a Cuenca Facebook Expat meetup… and clicked immediately and became fast friends. Fast Forward nine months later… and almost at the same time said, “I think I am done with Cuenca… I want to travel more!” We had gotten our two year cédula temporary visas… but it limits us on the amount of time we can be outside of Ecuador. So at the end of both of our leases at the end of November, 2024… we became “Homeless”, “Slow Travelers”, “Global Citizens”… we’ve used numerous terms to describe ourselves when people we meet ask: “Where are you from?” (We are planning to travel by train throughout Spain and Portugal in late Feb., this year thru mid May… before we have to leave the Schengen Zone… so warming up to “Hobos” as my next description of us… maybe? 🤔 🤣

Since Dec. 1st, 2024, Louise and I have been to:

  • Valparaiso & Santiago, Chile
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 17 day cruise of the Antártica (hence my picture) – only $1800 each
  • Montevideo, Uruguay (we absolutely loved it there)
  • Asunción, Paraguay
  • Back to Cuenca for last doctor visit, labs, and meds
  • Aruba
  • Medellín, Colombia

We are currently in Cartagena, Colombia. Leaving for Bogotá in two days… then off to Miami for five days, before we’re on another cruise ship (only $764 each) for 12 days to Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain where we begin our train adventure in Spain and Portugal. Other than that… not too busy! 😂

Main motivation for leaving the U.S.? Financially, I could survive in another country better than if I stayed in the U.S. Better access to healthcare. And the weather… if I don’t have to spend another summer in 100+ degree heat in Tucson! Why I fell in love with Cuenca so quickly!

Learning to speak a foreign language was one of my biggest fears! But I took Spanish Lessons twice weekly… still not fluent after a year plus, but I can get by! I have friends who live in Cuenca that will live there forever now… they are “all-in” and take multiple Spanish lessons and are active in the Community Language exchanges… they are pretty fluent now… so it can be done! Big thanks to Duolingo! 😂 But now I have to learn Portuguese for my visit to Portugal next month… uughh!

My biggest obstacle? The stress of selling and giving away most of my possessions… and in a limited timeframe… was overwhelming at times… so much to do in a short time. And getting all my documents apostilled and ready for my facilitator to get my short-term visa was NOT fun!

Favorite part of moving abroad is a two-parter for me: Cuenca Me and Slow Traveler Me right now!

Cuenca Me – Loved the weather and the architecture… made some forever friends there! Dr. Depreeuw was my Doc… she was incredible… got me in to see her within a day or two! Morning labs… got results by mid- afternoon the same day! Always felt safe walking around town… and I did a lot of walking. Taxis were only $1.50-$4 at max! Did get to explore some of S. America from there… though had to keep track of my days… but visits to Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, Río de Janeiro, Brazil, Galapagos Island, and Easter Island!

Slow Traveler Me – it’s rapid pace right now, but once we get to the other side of the Atlantic later this month… will slow down a little bit! 😆 But I want to see Everything in the short (hopefully long) time I have left on this earth!!! The Bad: no insurance at the moment… going to pay as I go! And thanks to Amelia and JP… a stop in Malaysia probably later this year to deal with a bum knee and some other stuff since you guys did the same thing!

My advice if you’re considering a move abroad: Be patient… Getting started can and probably will be stressful and overwhelming… but just take it One Day at a Time, One Problem at a Time! In my short two months of Slow Traveling I have “lost my passport” twice… I got my name announced over an airport loudspeaker once saying they had my passport at Gate 21… I was in the process of backtracking my steps when I heard my name… I was near Gate 21… a cleaning crew with a fellow passenger holding up my passport looking at me cuz I was looking up at the airport speaker… a funny moment! Dropped a wad of Chilean cash at a Bus Station… the lady behind me picked it up and tapped me on the shoulder to give it back. I have had luggage wheels fall off… one luggage came down the Baggage Claim ramp with just three wheels! 😂 You just have to laugh sometimes and figure the problem out! And that’s just a few of things that have gone wrong already… I could write a book! 🤣

My move abroad… first to Cuenca… and now beyond was ALL your fault Amelia and JP… and I thank you!!! Been following you two for many years now… now trying Slow Traveling like you guys!

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Cindy in Ecuador

/in , , , /by

Originally, my main reason for moving abroad was political. Depending upon which way the 2016 election went, I didn’t want to live under a President that I thought would be bad for America. But then, my mom (who was living with me at the time) and I traveled to Ecuador to check it out, and we both fell in love with the country, the people, the food and the climate. At that point, we wanted to move to Ecuador for the right reasons.

In general, we were very comfortable moving abroad, as I grew up as an Air Force dependent, and my mom was an Air Force wife, so we were used to adapting to other cultures. Based upon our trip there, I really didn’t have any fears about moving to Ecuador specifically, but my mom was 85 years old at the time, with health issues. She was concerned about getting the care she needed.

My mom passed away before we could move to Ecuador, so it was just me. I speak just a little Spanish, so language was a bit of an obstacle, but with Google translate, I got by. I took your advice and the advice of others, and visited many times, to different areas to see where I would be most comfortable. Because I used you, and others, as a resource, I really didn’t face any obstacles. I didn’t bring much with me, other than personal items, as I read that almost everything I would need could be purchased there. I didn’t buy any property right off the bat, until I landed on the area I knew I wanted to settle in (Cuenca). By this time, I had made Ecuadorian friends, and they helped me through the buying process. So, for me, it was an easy transition, but I can see the struggles others go through that didn’t have the same resources I did. There are many ‘ads’ for facilitators, so if you don’t know someone personally, ask a lot of questions of expats who are living there now. They will tell you who the good ones are. I learned a lot of do’s and don’ts from them, which helped me avoid obstacles. Facebook is a great resource, as you can find groups living in the cities/towns you’re considering, and they are happy to answer your questions, and to share their experiences.

What I love most about living abroad are the new adventures I experience almost daily. Ecuador offers a vibrant blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and a relaxed pace of life. With the different ecosystems to explore, the variety of flora and fauna, and the multitude of activities available, there’s never a dull moment. The diverse traditions keep things interesting, while the fresh foods keep me healthy. The affordable cost of living and mild climate make it easy for me to enjoy a comfortable, adventurous lifestyle. The locals are a bit shy, but be patient… once they get to know and trust you, they are warm, friendly and helpful. I have been horseback riding, hiking, participated in a shaman healing ceremony, explored Inca ruins, attended concerts and art exhibits, etc., and look forward to new adventures all the time.

I got shingles last year (first time ever), so I walked into a clinic without an appointment, and without local insurance. Within 15 minutes, I saw the doctor… she was very efficient, gave me a shot for the pain, and prescriptions for antiviral cream, and pain meds. I paid less than $50 for everything. Overall, it was a very good experience in the healthcare system. As a resident (not a tourist), you’ll be required to have insurance. There is public insurance and also private insurance companies. You’ll need to decide which is better for you, based upon the experiences of others.

It’s incredible how cheap the food is, and everything is so fresh! If you order juice, they pull out the blender, put in the fruit of your choice, and make it right then. There is a set lunch menu called almuerzo (also the word for lunch), which ranges from $2.50-$4.00 and is enough food for two meals. They make the best ceviche on the coast, although you can also get it elsewhere. Things are made differently in the different regions, so don’t be surprised if the encebollado soup on the coast looks and tastes different when in the Sierra region.

People lose weight when they move to Ecuador, or spend any extended period of time there, because they eat less processed foods, walk more and engage in less stress-eating.

The best advice I could give to someone considering a move to Ecuador is before you move… a) Do your research! Make a few trips, or go on an extended trip (a tourist can spend up to 90 days on a tourist visa + a 90 day extension) to explore the type of environment you want to live in (hot, cooler, wet, high/low altitude, rural, city, etc.) before you settle down… Once you decide on an area, research the weather, the demographics, the amenities and services available, etc. b) Learn some basic Spanish and have a translator app or use Google translate. You’re in their country; you should try to speak their language. c) BE PATIENT … Ecuadorians aren’t as clock conscious as we are, so if they invite you to dinner at 7, you may not be eating until 9. If you must meet someone at a specific time (for example, a taxi to the airport), tell them “en punto,” otherwise you may run late. Don’t be upset about this… it’s their culture, and you’re in their country. They also don’t do things the same way we do, so be prepared to be adaptable to their customs and procedures. This is especially true if registering a car, buying a house, etc. d) Be polite… Americans tend to jump right into what they want to ask, but a little polite conversation goes a long way. You greet them, then say you hope they’re having a good day, or something nice about what they’re wearing, or whatever… after a half minute or so, you get to the point of asking what you want… even in texting and phone calls, not just in person. e) Be courteous and respectful… the same as you would expect to be treated. Do not expect the locals to do things your way… you’re in their country!

There are a lot of things to learn once you get there… phone service, Internet, medical, mail service, signing up for utilities, etc. If you rent, much of that is taken care of. One thing to note, it’s common for there not to be even a stove or refrigerator in a rental. People bring their own, and take then when they leave the property. So if you’re looking to rent, you might want to make sure appliances are included. Expats who live there are your best resource. Find the cafes where the expats hang out, and start asking questions. Make friends with locals… they’ll help you avoid being “gringo’d” (being charged more because you’re a foreigner).

Before I decided to make the move, I took JP and Amelia’s eCourses, and found them to be very helpful. Their videos are what got me excited about moving to Ecuador and exploring the places they talked about. They’re really what got me serious about moving to Ecuador. I also watched videos online, joined Facebook groups of expats living in the various regions, went online to the EC government website to find out rules and regs for expats, and while in-country, talked to as many people as I could to pick their brains about their experiences.

But I owe it to JP and Amelia for getting my ball rolling.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.