Ecuador is more comfortable and more affordable than ever, and traveling to Ecuador from the USA is easier than ever. In this article, you’re going to learn about several of the options at your disposal for getting to Ecuador, and how to get around once you’re here.

Booking a Flight to Ecuador

Direct flights from the United States land in the nation’s two international airports: the capital city of Quito and Ecuador’s largest port city of Guayaquil. There are no direct international flights to Cuenca, Loja, Salinas, Manta or any of the other large cities in Ecuador.

Your estimated time in the air depends on your departure city in the United States, and your arrival city in Ecuador. It takes about 4 hours to reach Quito from Miami, and 4.5 hours to reach Guayaquil from Miami.

The price for a trip ranges between $150 to $650 when you book a couple of weeks in advance. Unfortunately, if you need to hop on a flight last minute, it could cost you more than a thousand dollars.

Direct flights to Quito from the United States

In Quito, the new Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is located outside the city and takes about 30 to 45 minutes to drive to El Centro from the airport. From the Quito airport, you can catch a connecting flight to the smaller domestic airports such as Cuenca, Manta and Loja.

Latam recently added a direct flight to Cuenca BUT you still have to go through customs in Quito. The total flight time is 6 hours 30 minutes and the flight is offered daily.

• Ft. Lauderdale (Florida) –  Spirit or JetBlue
• Miami – American Airlines or LATAM
• Atlanta – Delta Airlines
• Houston – United Airlines

Direct Flights to Guayaquil from the United States

In Guayaquil, the modern José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) is located inside the city and only a short cab ride to hotels, malls and tourist attractions. There are no connecting flights to Cuenca or most of the other cities in Ecuador.

• Miami – American Airlines or LATAM
• JFK (New York) – JetBlue or Avianca
• Ft. Lauderdale (Florida) – Spirit or JetBlue

Transportation Options from Quito Ecuador

Most of the international flights land very late at night so we recommend staying overnight in your arrival city so you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Ecuador during the day as you travel to your final destination.

You can rent a lounge chair by the hour in the business center at the airport if you only have a few hours to wait and don’t want to leave the airport. Head outside from the main terminal and cross the arrivals/departures area to reach the business center and food court.

There is also a Wyndham Hotel located at the airport, but you’ll need to take a taxi or the hotel shuttle. It’s not walkable from the terminal. There is also a new Holiday Inn near the airport. It takes about 15 minutes to get there from the airport due to a lack of turn-around spots, but only 5 minutes to get back to the airport. We’ve stayed at both hotels and they’re very nice.

Flying from Quito to Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta or Loja

The cost of flying from Quito to Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta or Loja is generally between $45 and $100 depending on factors such as the amount of time in advance that you reserved your seat, the airline, and whether you are buying round trip or one-way tickets.

Flying from Quito to Cuenca, Guayaquil and Manta usually takes about 40 to 50 minutes of flight time.

Flying from Quito to Loja takes about an hour of flight time. However, the Loja (province) airport is located in Catamayo, which is about a 45 minute drive from the city of Loja and about 90 minutes from Vilcabamba.

Ecuador Domestic Regional Airlines from Quito (Direct Flights)

• LATAM – Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and Coca
• Avianca – Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and Coca
• Aeroregional – Guayaquil, Loja and Coca

Riding the Bus

Transportation by bus from Quito to Guayaquil takes an average of 8 hours, with a cost of around $10 to $15. You can also hire a private driver or taxi with a cost ranging from $200 to $400.

Traveling from Quito to Vilcabamba

From Quito, you can fly to the Loja province airport in Catamayo (about 1 hour for around $50 to $90). It takes about 90 minutes by taxi or bus from Catamayo to Vilcabamba. A drive from Quito to Vilcabamba is long but beautiful, taking about 14 hours and costing more than $200 for a private driver.

Traveling from Quito to Salinas

To get to Salinas from Quito, you’ll need to take a 45 minute flight to Guayaquil before taking a bus or taxi to Salinas. These flights generally cost between $45 to $95.

Driving from Quito to Salinas will take you about 10 hours via bus, and costs between $15 to $30. In comparison, a taxi can cut that time to 8 hours for $300 and $500.

Traveling from Quito to Manta

From Quito, you can book a flight to Manta, which takes around 1 hour. Prices range from $55 to $200 depending on the airline, trip, and date you book the flight.

Although it is cheaper to travel from Quito to Manta by bus with an average cost of $10 to $30, it is time-consuming as it takes about 10 hours to get there. If you intend to hail a taxi or private driver, it will take 7 to 8 hours with a cost of $150 to $300.

Transportation Options from Guayaquil

There are currently no domestic flights between Guayaquil and Loja, Manta or any of the other small regional mainland airports except Cuenca. Latam currently offers a  daily flight between Guayaquil and Cuenca.

The majority of domestic flights from Guayaquil go to Quito and Galapagos so if you book a flight direct from, for example, Miami to Guayaquil to Cuenca, you will be flying back to Quito before continuing on to Cuenca.

Therefore, we recommend flying into Quito if your final flight destination is Cuenca, Loja, Manta or any of the other regional airports.

Traveling from Guayaquil to Cuenca

Many people drive to Cuenca from Guayaquil, especially if they have a lot of luggage and/or pets.  Plus the drive through s El Cajas National Park is beautiful.

The drive takes 3 to 4 hours. Under normal circumstances, a private driver will charge roughly $100 to $150. Interprovincial buses and busetas such as Operazuaytur cost $8 to $12 per ticket

Traveling from Guayaquil to Vilcabamba

There are no flights from Guayaquil to Vilcabamba so you’ll need to travel overland. A bus will take you there in about 7 hours for an average cost of $15 to $30. If you take a taxi or private driver, it may take less time than a bus, but it’ll cost $140 to $180.

Traveling from Guayaquil to Salinas

There are no flights between Guayaquil and Salinas. A bus will generally take you to Salinas in less than 3 hours at an average cost of $3 to $10. The express CLP Bus also goes to Salinas.

A taxi or private driver will take less than 2 hours but cost more, usually between $50 to $80.

Traveling from Guayaquil to Olón/Montañita

You can take an interprovincial bus from Terminal Terrestre in Guayaquil to the Olón/Montañita area, but you’ll need to transfer in Santa Elena near La Libertad.

You can also take the CLP Bus from Terminal Terrestre in Guayaquil to both Montañita and Olón. It stops in both towns and ends on the north side of Olón.

A private driver will charge around $100.

Traveling from Guayaquil to Manta

There are no direct flights from Guayaquil to Manta so you will need to travel overland. To take a bus, you will spend an average of $10 to $30 for the 4-hour ride to Manta from Guayaquil. If you prefer a taxi or private driver, it will take you about 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to Manta and cost around $100.

Traveling from Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands

Currently, the only flights to the Galapagos Islands depart from the Guayaquil Airport. Therefore, if you book a flight from Quito to Galapagos, you will be making a stop in Guayaquil on the way.

What to Do When You Land

You can’t grasp the depth and beauty of Ecuador until you experience it first-hand. Ecuador is a great holiday destination, especially if you live in the Midwest where the winter weather chills you to the bone. The sights, sounds, and smells of paradise hit you wherever you go, providing a fantastic contrast to the cold winters in the United States.

Whether it’s Cuenca, Guayaquil, or the capital city of Quito, you’ll find yourself amazed at the culture expressed in Ecuadorian society. Everything from churches and architecture to the various heritage cities scattered across the county that exude Ecuador’s unique culture.

On the flip side, nature is always present in its abundant and diverse wildlife. Explore the same Galápagos Islands where Darwin launched his theory of evolution or witness the annual return of humpback whales seeking the warm waters bordering Ecuador’s coast.

Exploring the County & Nature

You’ll find your visit to Ecuador enriched when you explore some of its hidden paradise cities. Taste and feel the liveliness in popular cities with their sights, restaurants, and nightlife. Just on the periphery lingers the richness and serenity of nature that blends perfectly with Ecuador’s thriving culture of hospitality.

Planning a Trip is Easier Than Ever

If you’re looking for a fun vacation destination or choosing to relocate to Ecuador, it’s more convenient than ever. You’ll save a lot of money on airfare if you book your flight several weeks or months in advance.

November to January is the highest season in terms of air traffic, meaning you’ll pay for more a flight. The cheapest time to fly, according to Kayak, is October.

However, if your goal is to be in Ecuador during the warmest and sunniest time of year, you’ll want to visit between December and May. It’s very cloudy and much cooler from June through November.

Check out our detailed article Weather In Ecuador & Best Time to Visit Ecuador for more information.

When you’re booking your flight to Ecuador, keep in mind that the two international airports are in Guayaquil and Quito. Your trip will have to touch down at one of those two airports, after which you can catch a connecting flight to a domestic airport or drive to another city.

There are far too many wonderful places to visit in Ecuador with far too many transportation options to cover them all here. Ecuador has a vast, affordable and easy to navigate public transportation system so you won’t have much difficulty getting around. If you stay overnight in your arrival city, your hotel will be able to help you find land transportation to your final destination.

Wherever you end up, you’ll quickly be immersed in Ecuador’s natural beauty, and you’ll feel welcomed by Ecuador’s warm and inviting people.

Watch Our Video About How to Travel to Ecuador

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As humans, we have a tendency to focus on the fears and the risks of making a change from “the way we’ve always done it.” It’s our innate protection mechanism to keep us safe from harm. We’re here to help you focus on the incredible and unexpected benefits of living abroad in Ecuador.

#1 Living Abroad Will Make The World Seem a LOT Smaller

As a child growing up in the country outside my small Kansas farmtown, the world seemed enormous to me. Watching Nova and Nature and National Geographic with my dad on our tiny Zenith color television exposed me to images I never thought I’d see in real life. They were simply too far away, and too exotic.

And South America was one of the most exotic places of all! In my young and limited mind, it was the jungle continent populated with native tribes who would shoot you with blow darts and hang your shrunken head around their necks as a trophy!

Never in a million years would I have thought someday in the future, I would be living there (er, here).

Ecuador is a tiny country in South America that most Americans have never heard of (except for maybe the kerfuffle with Julian Assange).

I have to admit that I knew virtually nothing about Ecuador until it kept popping up as a top expat destination during my research into living abroad.

After living abroad in Ecuador for over 5 years, and traveling to Europe and India in that time, the world seems a LOT smaller than it did before. Everyone is just a plane ride away.

#2 Living Abroad Shatters Preconceptions

My little high school in Gardner, Kansas had 124 students in my graduating class, but we somehow managed to get a foreign exchange student from La Paz, Bolivia.

Her name was Carla and she was very exotic! She barely spoke English, she had dark hair and dark skin and dark eyes, and I was completely fascinated by her.

How did she end up in our tiny farmtown? Did she fly on a plane? Did they HAVE planes in Bolivia? Did they have cars or did they still ride horses there? Did she live in a house? Did it have dirt floors? Did they have electricity and running water? Did they have grocery stores in Bolivia? What about restaurants and movie theaters?!

I’m not sure where these preconceptions came from, but a lot of people from the United States, Canada and Europe have them.

We’ve been raised to believe, either intentionally or unintentionally, that people in less developed parts of the world are stuck in the dark ages without any of the modern conveniences that we “civilized people” take for granted.

I’m sure Carla was shocked and appalled by my questions about life in her home country of Bolivia, but I was a dumb kid and that was 40 years ago.

However, when we told people we were moving to Ecuador, we fielded many of the same questions about dirt floors and running water and grocery stores. Four decades later and the preconceptions are still alive and well for people who have never lived abroad or traveled outside their home country.

After living abroad in Ecuador, our preconceptions have been shattered.

#3 Living Abroad Makes You Realize We’re All Basically the Same

Turn on the international news and you might be led to believe we’re all very different.

People in Iran are NOTHING like us! People in China are NOTHING like us! People in Africa are NOTHING like us! People in South America are NOTHING like us!

After living abroad in Ecuador and traveling to other countries, I’ve come to realize that the vast majority of people in every country around the world are EXACTLY like us.

They just aren’t featured on the news because they’re busy raising their children, working their jobs and living their lives…exactly like us.

#4 Living Abroad in Ecuador Will Drastically Reduce Your Cost of Living

The cost of living in Ecuador is MUCH lower than the cost of living in the US, Canada and most countries in Europe.

Things like food, housing and public transportation cost roughly 1/3 of what we paid back in Denver. Healthcare and medications cost about 1/10th of what we paid in Denver.

We’re using the massive savings to pay off the debt from Amelia’s student loan, my health related expenses and our general over-extended American way of life.

It has been over 5 years since we arrived in Ecuador and we’ve finally paid off our loans! This has led to a greater sense of freedom as we slowly pried off the shackles of our debt. And now we’re free from them!

#5 The Quality of Food Is Better in Ecuador

One of the things that became painfully obvious on our exploratory trip to Ecuador in early 2017 was that the quality of fruits and vegetables back in the US is abysmal.

It may look beautiful and have a great shelf life, but it doesn’t have any flavor or nutritional value.

Living in Ecuador has reminded us of what fruits and vegetables are supposed to taste like. They taste like they did when we were kids.

They taste like the fresh produce picked from my grandpa’s garden sprouted from, what used to be rich, black Kansas soil. Good luck finding any of that black soil under the crops grown in the US today. It has vanished with the increased prevalence of monocrops and chemicals.

GMO crops are banned in Ecuador’s constitution so you won’t see Roundup being sprayed on them. Monocrops aren’t a big thing here either, unless you count bananas, coffee and chocolate. I’m not sure how you would rotate crops that takes years to produce fruit, though.

The soil that we wash off our veggies (yes, there is SOIL on our veggies) is dark black! The tomatoes are red and juicy (most of the time). The peppers are sweet. The potatoes are buttery without butter.

And best of all, they’re cheap! We often get 3 mangos or papayas or avocados for $1. You read that right. ONE DOLLAR!

High quality, flavorful food may be the benefit of living abroad in Ecuador that we appreciate the most.

#6 Living Abroad in Ecuador Will Reduce Your Stress Level

Well, at least for most things and for most people. If you’re an uber Type A person who likes things done on-time, in a specific way, your stress level might go up.

But if you learn to be more “tranquilo” and embrace the slower pace of life in Ecuador, you’ll be thankful you left the hamster wheel behind.

In the US, and most developed nations around the world, we live in a perpetual hamster wheel, running in circles but never getting anywhere. Most people call it “the rat race,” but a race implies there’s a start and a finish, and that you have a chance of winning.

In the past, that may have been true, but modern reality is much different. Most people live to work, spending most of their days in cars and cubes so they can afford to pay for the car they use to get to the cube, and a house they barely sleep in.

Ecuador is a lot different. People here work to live, choosing to spend more time with family and friends. They start work later, take long lunches and leave work earlier. It’s a much more “tranquilo” way of life and a lot less stressful.

We also feel a HUGE stress relief from not having all the expense that go with owning a car (payments, tags, taxes, insurance, parking, fuel, maintenance) or paying for healthcare or commuting to work or divisive politics. We left all that luggage behind and it has helped to make us much happier!

#7 Living Abroad Helps You Become More Flexible and Adaptable

“Mañana” literally means “tomorrow” in Spanish. But you’ll quickly realize it actually means “someday and maybe never” in reality. That’s one of the cultural differences that takes some getting used to, especially for Americans.

At first, it can be challenging to adapt to the different attitudes and different ways of doing things in a new country.

Some things may be better and some may be worse, but it’s the difference that creates the challenge.

For some people, the culture shock is simply too much to bear so they leave and go back home to the comfortable and familiar.

For those of us who stay, it teaches us how to be more open-minded, flexible and adaptable.

#8 Learning Spanish is Good for Your Brain (and Your Social Life)

Even if you never become fully bilingual in Spanish, learning a foreign language is great for brain health, especially as you age.

According to Swedish researchers, learning a foreign language actually increases the size of your brain while some Italian researchers have linked speaking more than one language with a delayed onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Learning Spanish is also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Many expats enjoy attending language exchanges where they meet other expats from around the world, as well as Ecuadorians who are learning English. It may even lead to romance! Ooh la la!

Learning Spanish is certainly not easy, but we feel like it has added a new dimension to our appreciation of our life abroad in Ecuador.

Talking about learning, if you’re also considering a move to Ecuador, there will be a lot of things you’ll need to learn and adapt to. Don’t make the same mistakes we did in 2017!

Our Ecuador eCourse will make your move to Ecuador easier, faster and cheaper than ours was!

#9 Even If You Still Work, Your Life Will FEEL Like a Permanent Vacation

Working online allows us to live abroad in Ecuador while earning enough income to pay off a lifetime of debt in just 3 years.

Amelia and I still work and yet we feel like we’re on permanent vacation because we don’t commute and have complete control of our schedules.

We aren’t limited to 2 weeks of vacation per year which severely limits how much of the world we can see.

Instead, we live in a part of the world that allows us to explore a little each day when we take a break from working. And since we work online, we can easily travel to other interesting places with just a short bus or plane ride without taking a day off.

#10 You’ll Meet Other Like-Minded People

Having enough courage to leave the comforts of your home sets you apart from most people who only dream of a better life abroad.

By moving to Ecuador or someplace else abroad, you’ll be joining an elite group of like-minded people with a “joie de vivre” that’s energizing and contagious.

When we lived in Denver, nearly all of our friends were work-related. When we hung out with them, all we talked about was work.

We often left social gatherings feeling more stressed out about work than when we arrived!

Here in Ecuador, none of our friends are work related. We met them at social events, Spanish class, restaurants, parks, through our YouTube channel, etc.

We enjoy spending time with them and hearing the stories of their exotic travels and entertaining life abroad.

We’ve also found it very easy to make new friends here. Making new non-work friends back in Denver was pretty difficult as a couple in our 40’s.

We lacked the time or energy to attend social events, as did most other people. With the lower stress, slower pace of life here in Ecuador, people have the time and mental capacity to devote themselves to forging new friendships with other like-minded people.

#11 Living Abroad Will Help You See Your Home Country in a New Light

For better or worse, you won’t look at your home country the same way after living abroad.

You’ll really miss some things and grow to appreciate aspects of your old life that you used to take for granted.

Amazon delivery is one of those things for us, as are many of the discretionary conveniences that make everyday life easier back home. Ecuador has everything we need, but not everything we want.

You may also see some things in a new light that makes you question what you’ve always believed about your home country. Seeing immigration from the other side of the wall has certainly changed our perception of immigrants.

Sometimes, the mind-expanding revelations we’ve experienced living abroad in Ecuador have been downright uncomfortable, but we wouldn’t change a thing.

If you decide to leave your comfort zone, be prepared to be uncomfortable and with being uncomfortable comes growth!

If you like the idea of working online, we’ll show you how to earn reliable online income from anywhere in the world with any skill set so you can take your freedom BACK! Learn more and sign up.

Conclusion

Living abroad in Ecuador can be an incredible and eye-opening experience.

It can make the world seem smaller, shatter preconceptions, and help you realize that we’re all basically the same. It can also provide significant cost savings, particularly in terms of healthcare and living expenses.

Moreover, the quality of food in Ecuador is better, with a greater focus on fresh, local, and organic produce. So if you’re considering a move abroad, Ecuador is definitely worth considering.

It may challenge your assumptions and push you outside of your comfort zone, but it could also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

Watch Our Video About Why We Love Being Expats

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If you’ve chosen Ecuador as your new home abroad, your next decision you need to make is whether to live in the mountains or on the coast.

In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of each option to help you make an informed decision.

The Mountains of Ecuador: Pros & Cons

Let’s start with the mountains of Ecuador, usually called “La Sierra” by Ecuadorians.

Pros of Ecuador Mountain Living

Living in the mountains can provide you with a more developed and culturally rich environment.

The mountain cities like Cuenca, Quito, Loja and Cotacachi have the old, Spanish colonial architecture, but they also have suburbs with all the modern amenities like high rise condos, malls and newer hospitals.

You’ll have access to more activities and things to do in La Sierra, especially outdoor activities like hiking and birdwatching.

The healthcare system is also better and more affordable than the coast, and you won’t need air conditioning since the weather is cooler and spring like year round.

Finally, since the temperatures are cooler and the elevation is higher, you won’t have many bugs to contend with.

Cons of Ecuador Mountain Living

However, there are some downsides to living in the mountains.

The high elevation can cause altitude sickness, and there are risks of sunburn and dangerous UV rays. We’ve had issues with both while living in the mountains.

In fact, I struggled with the elevation for more than two years! Losing weight, doing more cardio exercise, and curtailing the wine and beer consumption helped me finally overcome it.

The weather can also be volatile in the mountains, with sunny mornings followed by rainy and chilly afternoons. The best time to visit is during December to May, as the summer months can be cloudy and cool.

Finally, the smaller mountain towns like Vilcabamba and Cotacachi can be isolated, with road closures due to landslides and paros (national strikes) making transportation difficult.

The Coast of Ecuador: Pros & Cons

Now let’s talk about living on the coast of Ecuador.

Pros of Ecuador Coastal Living

Living on the coast gives you access to beautiful beaches and ocean activities, if that’s your thing.

When we lived in Olón, we loved taking long walks on the beach, sometimes twice each day. Amelia even learned how to surf!

If you enjoy surfing and a small town vibe, Olón, Montañita, Ayampe, Canoa and a few other small coastal towns will be perfect for you. Santa Marianita, about 20 minutes south of Manta, is ideal for kitesurfing.

If you prefer a more developed city with modern amenities like shopping and hospitals, Salinas and Manta are better options.

We lived on the 15th floor of Ibiza, a high rise resort-style condo on Murciélago Beach. The views were amazing, the condo was modern and beautiful, and I enjoyed swimming laps in the pool most days.

Finally, the weather is warmer on the coast compared to the mountains so if you prefer temperatures in the 80s F / 27-ish C then you will probably like the coast better.

Cons of Ecuador Coastal Living

However, there are also downsides to consider if you want to live on the coast of Ecuador.

The crime rate is higher in the coastal region, with drug trafficking and robberies being more common.

The weather can be hot and humid, and there are bugs galore! Lots of bugs! Especially in the Olón/Montañita area where it’s more jungle-like. Bugs aren’t as bad in Manta since it’s much dryer.

The off-season can also be dreary and drizzly, with long stretches of cloudy weather from June through November.

One of the main reasons we left Olón was due to the 7 months of clouds with virtually no sun. We did not have the same experience in Manta during the year we lived there.

Tourists on the weekends and holidays can make things crowded and noisy, especially in the touristy towns like Salinas, Montañita and Olón.

Then after they leave and go back home, the place is dead! Lots of shops and restaurants close on weekdays, especially during the off season.

Additionally, there are smaller expat communities, fewer cultural activities to enjoy, and the cost of living can be higher, especially if you want to live in a high rise condo on the beach.

Conclusion

The mountains and coast of Ecuador each have their pros and cons for expat living. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and priorities.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, cultural events, and a cooler climate, the mountains may be the better choice for you.

However, if you love the beach, warm weather, and a more laid-back lifestyle, the coast may be the way to go.

It’s important to do your research and visit the areas before making a final decision to ensure it’s the right fit for you.

Watch Our Video About the Mountains vs Coast of Ecuador

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This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.