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!!
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Michael-Testimonial.jpg10801920JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2026-08-04 00:05:272026-08-04 00:08:13Michael Retired Early & Moved to Cuenca
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kerry-in-Ecuador-FI.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2025-02-14 00:58:522025-02-14 01:00:53Kerry on Leaving the US & Moving to Ecuador
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Byron-FI.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2025-02-14 00:35:382025-02-14 00:35:38Byron On His Way to Ecuador
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.
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kim-and-Mike-Fiore-FI.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2025-02-14 00:04:032025-02-14 00:04:03Kim and Mike in Ecuador
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowens-Featured.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2025-02-02 21:03:532026-08-04 00:09:12The Bowen Family in Ecuador
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cindy-Featured.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2025-02-02 20:28:502026-08-04 00:09:50Cindy in Ecuador
The story about how we paid off $60K in debt by leaving the USA was featured in Newsweek!
A lot of people are in the same situation we were just a few years ago, swimming in debt, feeling hopeless and afraid. According to a recent article, nearly half of all Americans are sinking in further in the debt hole and they don’t know what to do.
Today, we’re writing a very different chapter of our lives, one that’s debt free and set on another continent, far from the United States.
Wondering how we got here? Here’s our story…
The American Dream, But at What Cost?
Like so many others, we lived what many would call the “typical American lifestyle.”
We had a nice house with a looming mortgage, two cars (one with monthly payments), and an ever-growing pile of credit card bills and a giant student loan.
But life, unpredictable as ever, threw us a curveball when health problems led to two major spine surgeries. I faced the daunting task of relearning how to walk (twice) and couldn’t drive for several months.
Being self-employed, this medical setback (and pain meds) meant I couldn’t generate any income during the recovery phase. Amelia, doing her best to keep us afloat, took on a local job, even though it meant a 40% reduction in pay.
Every month we were dreading the bills, watching our expenses rise while our income took a nosedive.
Rethinking Our Options
View from Our Uptown Denver Apartment
We started thinking about our options. What could we do to reduce our debt and our stress? How were we going to make it each month?
The first thing we explored was refinancing the house, but we quickly ruled that out. We decided it was too risky; what if I needed another surgery? What if Amelia lost her job? We also felt like refinancing would ultimately keep us in our current situation which we desperately wanted to change.
So, we made the tough decision to sell our home, using the money we made from the sale to pay off our high-interest credit card debts.
We sold almost all our belongings including one of our cars, and moved from our comfortable home into a tiny one bedroom apartment in Uptown Denver.
Those changes weren’t enough. We were still spending more than we earned each month. Plus, since I couldn’t get affordable health insurance, another major health issue could push us into medical bankruptcy.
We knew it was time to make a more radical change and consider leaving the United States.
Seeking a New Horizon
I started thinking, what if we moved to a country with a lower cost of living?
My research was shocking and surprising.
We realized that, if we moved abroad, our US-based income would not only cover our living expenses but also leave us with enough to pay off our debt.
And so we did! We moved with two suitcases each and our two adorable dogs to Cuenca, Ecuador.
We found a fully furnished, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath house with a beautiful courtyard for just $800/month.
Moving to Cuenca was the best decision we made, especially for our finances. We went from spending over $4k per month to only $1,500 per month!
And the best part? We didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything.
Cuenca welcomed us with open arms. We immersed ourselves the local culture, dined out, learned some Spanish, and made a lot of new friends from all over the world.
Living in Ecuador also meant we didn’t need a car. That saved us so much money! No more spending on gas, taxes, maintenance, insurance, etc.
Plus, we loved the fresh, locally-sourced food available for a fraction of the cost compared to the overpriced Frankenfood sold in the U.S.
Though certain goods like electronics, cars, and appliances are pricier in Ecuador, the reduced costs in healthcare, utilities, housing, and public transportation more than made up for it.
In just three years, we went from using our savings and credit cards to cover monthly expenses to being completely debt-free and actually saving money for retirement.
Embracing a New Lifestyle
Our time in Ecuador also debunked many misconceptions we had. The world isn’t as perilous as we once believed and Ecuador isn’t as bad now as the international news media makes it seem.
Back in the United States, we felt like hamsters on a relentless wheel, exhausted but never really moving forward. Moving to Ecuador gave us a chance to pause, breathe, and reclaim our lives.
That’s why we love Ecuador and have such a deep appreciation for it and its people. It gave us our lives back!
However, we realize Ecuador isn’t right for everyone and the rise in crime has scared many people away. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t another low cost of living country out there with your name on it!
While our story might seem unique, anyone can do it and millions of other people from the U.S. already have.
Moving abroad doesn’t mean you can never go back to your home country. You can easily move, get your finances in order, and if you ever feel the call, return home.
A good life is about choices, and sometimes, all you need is a change in scenery to turn things around.
Watch Our Video About How We Paid Off $60K in Debt
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.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Debt-Free-after-3-Years.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2024-08-28 08:00:222024-10-26 21:10:05How We Paid Off $60K of Debt in 3 Years by Moving Abroad
There are several different types of Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas: Professional, Investor, Pensioners, Rentista/Digital Nomad, Dependent, etc. The qualifications and requirements vary for each type of visa so you’ll need to select the best option for your specific circumstances.
You can apply for an Ecuador permanent residency visa after 21 months of your temporary residency providing you haven’t left the country for more than 90 days during that period. The permanent visa requirements are identical to the temporary visa requirements. The only difference is that the temporary visa is valid for 2 years while the permanent visa never expires.
If you would like to discuss your visa options with Maite and her team at GringoVisas you can contact her at GringoVisas.com.
Several substantial changes were made to the Ecuador visa laws in March 2022. The new visa laws ONLY apply to NEW temporary visa applicants. If you are currently living in Ecuador with a temporary residency visa that was issued prior to March 2022, you can apply for a permanent residency visa at your 21-month mark under the old visa laws and income requirements as long as you haven’t been outside Ecuador for more than 90 days during your temporary visa period.
General Requirements for Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas
There are a few general requirements for all Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas. You can read the detailed list on the government website here; however, here are the main things you’ll want to consider:
Passport Expiration
If your passport will expire during the 2-year visa period, we recommend renewing your passport before applying for the visa.
Ecuador no longer attaches physical visas to your passport. Instead, they issue electronic visas that are attached to your passport number.
When you renew your passport, you’ll get a different number which means your visa will need to be electronically transferred to the new passport. This requires a $100 fee and an additional trip the visa office to sign paperwork.
There’s no harm in renewing your passport early and doing so will save you a lot of inconvenience.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for the pensioner visa and to get a cédula for all types of visas (not the 90 day tourist visa). You will need health insurance from a private Ecuadorian health insurance company.
If you have foreign health insurance that will cover you in Ecuador, the contract needs to state specifically that you will be covered in Ecuador. You may need to request a special contract from your insurance company that specifically states “Ecuador” in the coverage area.
Income Requirements
Each type of visa has different income requirements detailed below.
For the pensioner visa, you must prove monthly income based on statements from Social Security, a pension or other retirement accounts.
For all other visa types, you must prove income based on bank statements from the previous 3 to 12 months, depending on the type of visa and the ministry official.
Self-deposits are allowed because they don’t verify the source of funds. That means you can deposit money into your own account from another account, or someone else like your spouse can deposit money into your account to meet the minimum income requirements.
It’s best to use an account that is only in the primary visa holder’s name rather than a joint account. If you have a joint account that you’re planning to use for the visa application, the Ecuadorian ministry will only consider 50% of the deposits as income for the primary visa applicant. Therefore, you would need to deposit twice the minimum income to meet the visa requirements.
You cannot combine income sources from your spouse or any other source. All the income must be in the primary visa holders income statements and/or bank statements.
Fingerprints & Background Checks
You’ll need to provide a State Police Report for your home state and a Federal FBI background check with your application.
Ideally, your background checks will be squeaky clean, but if you have a minor offense with a reasonable explanation, or if it happened a long time ago, it may not affect your application process. The ministry official has the final say, but a visa agent can help you navigate the process and advocate for your approval.
These reports must be less than 6 months old when you file your visa application. If they are more than 6 months old, you will need to request them again and pay for the new reports, so plan carefully.
Marriage License & Birth Certificates
For dependent visas, you’ll need a marriage license for a spouse or birth certificates for children. The documents need to be less than 6 months old when you send them for apostille; therefore, you will likely need to order new certified copies.
You can register your marriage license in Ecuador at a Registro Civil office so it will always be on file and you won’t need to go through this process again when you apply for permanent residency. Ask your visa agent for help with this.
Apostilles, Translations and Notarizations
ALL documents must have an apostille if you’re moving from a country that is part of the Hague Convention. If you’re from Canada, ALL documents must be legalized at the Ecuadorian consulate or embassy.
Additionally, ALL documents must be less than 6 months old to qualify for an apostille and to be accepted by the Ecuadorian Immigration Ministry when you submit your visa application. That means you need to plan the timing of your documentation very carefully.
Once all documents have an apostille, they need to be sent to Ecuador to be translated by a certified Ecuadorian translator and then notarized by an Ecuadorian notary.
A visa agent can help you navigate this complicated and time-sensitive process.
Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa Ministry Fees
Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas have two primary fees. The temporary resident visa application fee is $50 per person and is non-refundable. If your visa application is approved, the temporary resident visa fee is $270 per person and $135 per person for those 65 and older.
Permanent Residency Consideration
The temporary visas no longer have travel restrictions, which means you can be outside Ecuador as much as you want during your 2-year Ecuador temporary residency.
HOWEVER, if you plan to apply for permanent residency after 21 months, YOU CANNOT BE OUTSIDE ECUADOR FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS DURING THE 21-MONTH PERIOD!
In other words, you can be outside Ecuador for a total of 90 non-consecutive days during the 21 months leading up to the application date of your permanent residency visa. If you are outside Ecuador for more than 90 days during that period, you will need to apply for another temporary residency visa rather than a permanent visa.
Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa Types
All temporary residency visas in Ecuador are good for 2 years from the date of issue. You are allowed to apply for permanent residency after living in Ecuador for 21 months as long as you haven’t been outside Ecuador for more than 90 days during that period.
There is currently no income requirement for the professional visa
An undergraduate or graduate degree from a university approved by Senescyt, which is the entity in charge of recognizing foreign higher-level degrees
A notarized diploma with an apostille
A notarized transcript with an apostille
A notarized letter with an apostille signed by a university official stating the diploma and transcript are valid, and that at least 80% of the classes were taken in-person (not online)
A notarized letter with an apostille signed by a university official stating the field of study and level of education according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) of Unesco
My temporary (and now permanent) visa is a Professional Visa, which means I still work, have regular income from outside Ecuador, and a degree from an approved university. Senescyt no longer publishes an “approved university” list. Most universities are now accepted, but they still go through the same approval process that they always have.
Amelia has a degree from The University of Phoenix, but that university is not accepted by Ecuador because the majority of classes are taken online. To qualify as an approved university, more than 80% of classes must be taken in a classroom setting and not online.
I went to the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk) for both my bachelors and masters degrees. When I graduated in the 90’s, online courses weren’t a thing yet, so I took all my classes in-person. This means Amelia is here on a dependent visa that’s attached to my professional visa.
We had to get an official diploma and transcript from KU for my most advanced degree (Masters). We also had to get a notarized letter from a university official stating my degree was valid and that the classes were taken in-person. Then we sent all the documents to the GringoVisas office in Connecticut so they could get the apostille before mailing them to Ecuador.
Investor Visa
For the Ecuador Investor Visa, you must show $460/month in income and you must invest $46,000 in either a CD or property. You’ll need to show an additional $460/month for the first dependent and $250/month for each additional dependent.
Certificate of Deposit (CD): You can invest $46,000 in an Ecuadorian COOP CD for at least 2 years, the duration of your Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa.
The interest rates on the CD’s will shock you if you’re coming from the US where banks no longer pay meaningful interest. As of this writing, the interest rate on a 2 year CD in Ecuador is roughly 8.0% annually! That’s around $283/month in interest on your $45,000 CD!!!
You can leave the interest in the account so it compounds, but you are allowed by law to withdraw the interest income from your CD without invalidating your visa. However, you need to be careful when signing the paperwork with a COOP like JEP because they will default the application to prevent withdrawal of the earned interest until the CD end date. Be specific with them and tell them that you want to withdraw the interest every month, 3 months, or each year, whichever you prefer.
Bank deposits are only insured up to $32,000 so that means at least $10,500 of your investment will not be insured. You are not allowed to split the investment into different accounts or different banks to make up the difference, either. The entire investment must be in one CD.
Property: You can purchase property to qualify for an Investor Visa in Ecuador. The only requirement is that the property be assessed by the municipality for more than $46,000.
The ministry will issue a visa lien against your property and if you wish to sell it you will have to forfeit your visa and request a lien release. (You can apply for a different type of visa or convert to a permanent visa before selling the property.)
The assessment value may be substantially lower than the purchase price. You can request a new assessment if the registered value is less than $45,000.
You are not allowed to transfer the investment without reapplying for the visa. So, for instance, you cannot use your CD to buy property. The investment must remain the same for the entire duration of the Temporary Resident Visa and cannot be changed or transferred.
Pensioners Visa
In order to get a Pensioners Visa, you need to show income for the remainder of your life of at least $1,380/month + $250/month/dependent.
Your income can be from Social Security, a pension, retirement accounts, annuities, etc. If you’re using Social Security for your income requirement, you’ll need an annual statement from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that’s signed by an SSA official and has an apostille at the federal (not state) level.
Rentista (or Digital Nomad) Visa
The Rentista Visa has been updated to function more as a Digital Nomad Visa as of March 2022. There are now two ways to qualify for this visa.
Digital Nomad Visa: If you are a digital nomad or work remotely for a company abroad or as a freelancer, you need to show an income of $1,380/month + $250/month/dependent, or a yearly income of $16,560 + $3,000/year/dependent (based on bank statements) for the previous 3 to 12 months.
Additionally, you need to prove you work for a real corporation or LLC by providing the legal business documents. If you are a freelancer, you need to have your own legal LLC.
You may also need proof of your work contract or employment that states you will continue to earn an income after you move to Ecuador for at least 2 years.
Rentista Visa: If you own a rental property outright in your home country, you may be able to use that as the support for your visa.
You are required to have a tenant with a 2-year lease agreement for at least $1,380/month in rent + $250/month/dependent. You will need to provide the deed of ownership for the property and the 2-year rental agreement.
Work Visa
For the work visa you must be sponsored by an Ecuadorian company. The company has to pay into the IESS and you need a 2-year work contract. This visa can now be converted into a permanent resident visa provided you don’t leave the country for more than 90 days during the first 21 months.
Dependent Visa
A Dependent Visa must be attached to a valid Temporary Resident Visa and can be used for your spouse, children, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, or any blood relative. The primary Temporary Visa must be issued before the Dependent Visa application can be filed.
With the Pensioner visa the primary visa holder must show an additional income of $250/month/dependent and the additional income can come from any source. For the Rentista/Digital Nomad visa, you have the option of showing at least $3,000/year/dependent in lieu of the $250/month/dependent.
There are no other special requirements for the dependent visa. The dependent visa holder has all the same benefits and requirements as the primary visa holder.
Amelia is here on a dependent visa attached to my professional visa. Since our visas were issued prior to the visa law updates back in February 2021 (not 2022), we are stuck under the old rules. That means as long as we stay married, she can maintain her dependent visa, but if I die or we get divorced, she will need to get her own visa and start the entire process over from the beginning. That’s the major downside to the Dependent Visa in Ecuador prior to February 2021.
However, for visas issued AFTER February 2021, dependent visa holders no longer lose their visa if the primary visa holder dies. If you get divorced, you may or may not lose your visa, depending on the circumstances.
If you leave your spouse, you will likely lose your visa. If your spouse leaves you, he/she must file for divorce in Ecuador and you must contest it. If you sign the divorce agreement, you have voluntarily agreed to the divorce and will lose your visa. If the primary visa holder leaves you for a justifiable and provable reason (e.g. abuse, infidelity, etc.), you may still lose your visa even if you contest the divorce. The laws are complicated so speak to a qualified attorney before signing anything!
Other Temporary Residency Visas
The other types of Ecuador temporary resident visas are the volunteer visa, student visa and industrial investor visa.
These are only temporary visa options and cannot be converted to permanent resident visas at the end of the 2-year term. If your goal is to become a permanent resident of Ecuador, it’s best to get one of the other visa types.
These types of visas aren’t popular with expats because they don’t lead to permanent residency, so we’re not going to cover them in this article.
90-Day Tourist Visa
The 90-day Ecuador tourist visa is easy to get. Just come to Ecuador and it gets issued at passport control. It’s only valid for 3 months, but you can apply for a 3 month extension once every 12 months.
The extension application has a fee that has increased from $100 when we moved here to $141.67. You’ll need to apply at the end of your 90-day tourist visa.
Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa Process
There are lots of steps involved with getting your Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa, and it usually takes 3 to 6 months.
It can take 2 to 3 months just to get the background checks done in the US, sent for the apostille and mailed to Ecuador for translation and notarization so keep that in mind when you’re planning your travel.
Step 1: Fingerprints
The first step in the process of getting your Ecuador Temporary Resident Visa is getting your fingerprints taken. We had ours taken in Cuenca Ecuador on our exploratory trip in 2017, but you can also have them taken back in the US at a local police station.
You need to request a notarized diploma, transcript and the official university letter stating your documents are real and classes were taken in-person (not online).
Dependent Visa
If you’re applying for a dependent visa, you’ll need to get a certified copy of your marriage license, and birth certificates for your children and other relatives. Again, all these documents must be less than 6 months old to get an apostille so you may need to order new certified copies.
Investor Visa
For the investor visa, you’ll need to invest in a CD at an Ecuadorian COOP for at least 2 years, or purchase property that you intend to keep for the duration of the temporary resident visa. You can wire funds directly to an Ecuadorian bank from a US bank.
You will need to open the CD in a COOP such as JEP because banks like Banco Guayaquil require an Ecuador government ID (cédula) to open an account. You can open an account at a COOP with just your passport and your investor visa application.
Pensioner Visa
You need to request a letter from the SSA stating your monthly income and you’ll need to provide monthly income statements.
Step 4: Request an Appointment with the Ministry
You can go to any of the ministry offices in Ecuador to submit your application, but some have longer waits than others. Your visa agent will know which office is best at the time.
Step 5: Fill Out and Notarize the Visa Application Form
The visa application form is in Spanish and must be filled out in Spanish. Once it’s filled out, you’ll need to go to a notary to have it notarized. You need to sign the application in front of the notary after showing him or her your identification.
Step 6: Submit Your Application
Once you have your completed visa application form and all the other required documentation with apostilles as needed, go to the ministry office on the date of your appointment to submit your application. You’ll need your passport as identification.
This process is different if your visa will be issued in your home country. Your visa agent will help with that process.
Step 7: Wait
We submitted my Ecuador temporary resident visa application at the end of October when we first arrived in Ecuador, but didn’t receive it until the end of January. It took 3 months to get approved and printed.
Due to the constantly changing laws and delays when we applied for our temporary resident visas, we were here in Ecuador for several months beyond our 3-month tourist visa without our temporary resident visa. Since the application was in-process, we technically weren’t illegal aliens, but it sure felt like we were! Thankfully we didn’t need to leave the country during that small window or it might have been difficult to get back in.
Step 8: Get Your Visa from the Ministry
Once your visa is approved, the government issues an electronic visa that is digitally attached to your passport number. They no longer attach a physical visa sticker to your passport. Again, if your passport is about to expire, we recommend renewing it first before applying for your Ecuador temporary resident visas.
Step 9: Get a Cédula
After we received our temporary resident visas, we took them to the government office in Cuenca to get our cédula, which is our official government issued identification card. It looks like a driver’s license, only it doesn’t allow us to drive.
It took about an hour to get the cédula and the cost was $5. You are not required to get a cédula; however, your expat life in Ecuador will be much easier and you’ll have more banking options available to you if you have one. You will need a cédula to apply for the public IESS health insurance.
Hopefully, you found this lengthy article about the Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas helpful. If you see others asking about this complex process on social media, please share it with them. And if you spot any inaccuracies or outdated rules, please let us know so we can keep this up-to-date.
HUGE thanks to Maité from Gringo Visas for not only helping us with both our Temporary and Permanent Resident Visas, but for taking the time to answer a bunch of questions for this article about the new visa requirements in Ecuador.
Watch Our Video About Ecuador Temporary Residency Visas Updates
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.
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It has been a little over a month since President Noboa declared a state of emergency and signed the decree he called the Phoenix Plan.
In that time, the military and police have carried out 99,000 security operations nationwide. More than 8,000 people have already been arrested, many of whom are from other countries.
The agents have seized:
2,405 firearms
12,433 explosives
167,024 bullets
1,236 bullet magazines
3,422 knives
979 vehicles
931 motorcycles
28 boats from crime, including a semi-submersible to transport drugs
$195,398
47,360 gallons of fuel
Noboa has an 80% approval rating, which is simply unheard of in Ecuador (or most countries) and the international financial markets are responding positively with Ecuador’s bond values jumping on the positive news.
Crime in the worst areas of Guayaquil has plummeted by 50-90% since the first 10 days in January. The murder rate in Guayaquil, Duran, and Samborondon was 28 per day to start the year. It’s now under 6 per day. That’s a 78% decline in just one month.
The notoriously overprotective US State Department still has Ecuador rated a Level 2 Travel Warning (Exercise Increased Caution). This hasn’t changed for the country as a whole in several years and matches other popular tourist destinations like Mexico, The UK, Spain, and France. However, Guayaquil and a few other coastal areas are rated a level 3 or 4 and we still recommend avoiding those areas.
Cuenca, Loja, Cotacachi, Baños, Mindo, and most of the other mountain areas are still safe to visit.
Quito is a big city and our friends tell us there is a lot of military presence on the streets, which can be disconcerting, but they’re doing a job that needs to be done and it’s working.
Original Post
We received dozens of messages on Wednesday about our safety in Ecuador, even though we haven’t been in Ecuador since October 2023. If you haven’t watched our videos lately, you might not know that we’re in Europe right now (January 2024).
If you want to keep tabs on us, we post more frequently on our YouTube Community Tab, Facebook Page, and Instagram. We also write about current events in our newsletter so if you’re wondering if we’re safe or what we think about a current event, these are the best places to check for timely information.
It takes about two weeks for us to research, film, edit, and publish our videos now that we’ve improved the quality of them. We don’t sit down in front of the camera and record rambling, low-quality videos anymore. And we haven’t recorded news updates in almost 2 years.
Our format has changed and, based on the growth of our channel subscribers and views, our audience seems to appreciate the improvement. That’s great news because the more people we reach, the more people we can help live an unconventional life!
It wasn’t “good timing” for us to leave Ecuador. This has been our plan since we launched our YouTube channel in 2018. We wanted to see the world and share it with all of you.
Our original plan was to take several exploratory trips each year throughout Latin America until both our dogs were gone. However, the pandemic put our travel plans on hold and then Daisy’s health was deteriorating rapidly so we didn’t want to leave her for very long (she passed on August 30th).
Ecuador is still our home base, but we’re going to spend a lot of our time each year traveling to all the popular expat destinations around the world so we can share our firsthand experiences and observations with you.
Plus, Ecuador has been in the news for all the wrong reasons way too much lately, and that has caused a lot of you to start thinking about Plan B. We get it.
Our Boots on the Ground Intel
Yes. Taken as a whole from afar, Ecuador is a mess right now and we would have serious second thoughts about visiting or moving there if we didn’t already know it so well.
But like we say every time it makes international news, the whole country isn’t on fire.
All of them told us they hadn’t seen anything unusual in terms of crime. A few told us that a lot of misinformation was being spread online and people were panicking because of it and the news stories.
Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora held an emergency news conference to calm the people. The mayor said, “Nothing is happening in Cuenca. All the rumors are false. There are no criminal attacks here.”
Apparently, what people thought was a gunshot in Parque Calderon that caused a panicked stampede was actually the eves of a building falling to the ground.
According to Kristen, our close friend in Cuenca: “We’re calling it the ‘one day upheaval.’ Pretty much that’s what it was. Things have settled back into a normal routine. I’m not noticing anything when I walk into El Centro, albeit being a little quieter than usual but as the week went on it bounced back to normal.”
(Now we know what it feels like when we see news media reports and we’re not there to witness it for ourselves.)
As a result of the hysteria, schools, stores, and restaurants closed early last Tuesday (January 9, 2024). The CLP Bus to Olón canceled its routes for the day. Some delivery services were also closed for the day. American Airlines canceled flights to the Galapagos Islands (even though NOTHING is happening there).
Here’s a quote from Rolando Montesdeoca, a chocolate producer in the rural town of Calceta northeast of Manta: “Foreign and domestic tourists come here, and in reality our zone is tranquil, but what happens is that everything is lumped together when viewed from the outside, so any abnormal situation of a crime, a murder, a hit, ends up affecting everyone.”
The Next Steps for Ecuador
When we moved to Ecuador in 2017 and started our YouTube Channel in 2018, Ecuador was the 3rd safest country in all of Latin America. Now, it’s the most violent in terms of homicide rate at 45 per 100,000 (almost entirely gang/drug-related).
The issues Ecuador is facing started over a decade ago, but have been escalating for the past 3 years and 2 presidents. Very little has been done until now and the issues won’t resolve themselves without serious intervention.
President Noboa took office in late November and seems determined to restore Ecuador to its pre-pandemic level of safety. That’s the major reason he won the election.
On January 4th, Noboa authorized the construction of two new maximum-security mega-prisons using the same company that built the prisons for President Bukele in El Salvador.
According to Noboa, “It is [an] Israeli cooperation in the design of maximum and supermax prisons and the segmentation for minor crimes and misdemeanors. It is a system that was not invented by Bukele…before then it was already in use in Thailand and Singapore. Then came Mexico, El Salvador, and now Ecuador will have it.”
On January 9th, Noboa signed Decree 111 (aka The Phoenix Plan), which declared an official “internal armed conflict,” classified 22 organized crime groups as terrorists, and ordered the Armed Forces to neutralize them by any means necessary (including the use of lethal force and profiling based on gang tattoos, another tactic used by Bukele).
El Salvador went from the most dangerous country in the world just a few years ago, to the safest country in Latin America today. Bukele’s approach is not without its downsides (and critics), but the results in overall public safety cannot be ignored and 9 out of 10 Salvadorans approve of the measures taken by their president.
Some would argue that desperate times call for desperate measures and Ecuador now finds itself in the same position as El Salvador before Bukele took the same steps Noboa is just starting.
The next few weeks and months will be very telling for Ecuador. There’s no way to know how this will play out, but Noboa seems to have enough political, military, and social support to do what is needed to return Ecuador to the peaceful nation it once was.
The police and military are in the process of taking back control of the prisons where the gangs have ruled almost unobstructed for the past several years.
On Sunday, inmates were stripped to their underwear and lined up in the prison courtyards where they sang the Ecuadorian National Anthem. Meanwhile, the gang murals were painted over in the common areas.
According to the government, 1,327 people have been detained in the 6 days since the Phoenix Plan was initiated.
Final Thoughts…
We will be back in Ecuador sometime this year, but we have several more destinations to check off our travel list first.
We still love our adoptive homeland and we’re not giving up on it! For the first time in over two years, we’re full of optimism for it!
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Living in Ecuador for over six years has been an incredible journey, but at times we still experience culture shock.
In this article, we share some of the cultural nuances that continue to baffle and surprise us, including several things that are shocking in a good way, to help you better prepare for your visit or move to this amazing country.
Watch Our Video About Culture Shock in Ecuador
What Still Baffles Us About Ecuador
Even after 6 years, a few things still trigger culture shock in Ecuador. Here are a few…
Protective Plastic
Ecuadorians keep the plastic on everything, from large appliances such as refrigerators and televisions to steering wheels, and we even saw someone who kept the plastic cover on his watch!
We find this baffling because the plastic can heat up and actually damage the appliance.
This happened to the battery in one of our e-bikes. It wasn’t holding a charge so we removed the battery and were shocked to find it was wrapped in plastic! The battery was ruined.
It never occurred to us to check it because it was delivered and set up by the bike shop so we assumed everything was in proper working order. It has an external charge port so there was no need to take it out of the bike.
No Change for Cash Payments
While many businesses accept credit cards, a lot of places are still cash only. Expect to pay in cash at the Mercado, small businesses and some restaurants.
We are still shocked that they rarely have change! We always try to have small bills and coins on hand but sometimes that isn’t possible. The ATMs rarely dispense anything smaller than 20 dollar bills.
If we buy something and the business doesn’t have change they will go get it and bring it back. Be prepared to wait because they will often have to go from business to business before finding someone who has change available.
Pedestrian Blindness
We are extremely cautious when crossing streets in Ecuador. Drivers do not look for pedestrians. If they do see pedestrians waiting they rarely stop.
We’ve started referring to this cultural phenomenon as pedestrian blindness because, after six years, we realize they just don’t see us.
When crossing the street, do NOT assume they will stop. We try to make eye contact to ensure they’ve seen us before we step off the curb.
Noise Overload
Everywhere we’ve lived in Ecuador there’s been noise. In Cuenca, some of the churches blow off loud fireworks at 6am, presumably to remind people to get out of bed and attend services.
Bars and restaurants blast music to attract patrons. The result is a cacophony of noise! Sometimes the competing music is so annoying you can’t think.
Construction noise is not uncommon and parties can get a little rowdy. You may hear some bad karaoke!
Expect to hear dogs barking, roosters crowing, motorcycles racing down the streets, loud music, and fireworks, day and night.
We got used to the noise but it still gets frustrating at times, especially when we’re trying to record a video.
Information is NOT Volunteered
The cultural norm of not offering information unless explicitly asked can be difficult when you aren’t sure what questions to ask.
Bring your patience and expect things to take longer because they may only focus on one step of the process at a time.
When the first step is finished, they then provide additional information, but just about the second step. (You may be working on something, such as getting your visa, which has many steps.)
As you get accustomed to the process, it becomes easier to plan and know which questions to ask.
Long Answers to Short Questions
On the flip side of not volunteering information, you’ll often get long answers to yes or no questions! This one still baffles us.
Sometimes we ask what we consider to be a simple, straightforward question, like has our packaged arrived yet, but we get a very detailed and complicated answer.
The Ecuadorians are kind people and perhaps answering with a simple “sí o no” may be considered rude.
Walking Into Each Other
Growing up in the U.S. we were taught to walk on the right and watch out for other people, to walk single file or in pairs and share the sidewalk.
This is NOT the case in Ecuador. They often walk slowly, arm in arm with others, taking up the entire sidewalk, and walking into other people. They don’t move over to avoid other pedestrians.
We also see people walking while looking at their phone and consequently running into other people. No one gets angry, it is just the way it is. They bounce off and keep going as if it never happened.
No Personal Bubble
Those of us from the U.S. are used to a certain amount of space between people, and when someone gets too close it feels weird.
In many countries, including Ecuador, the U.S. personal bubble standard doesn’t exist! We still aren’t used to people standing shoulder to shoulder in line or just too close in other situations.
Poor Service in Restaurants
Unfortunately the service in restaurants isn’t great. It is common to get your main course first, appetizer second or at the same time, and your drinks last after you’ve finished eating.
We’ve learned to order drinks first, then the appetizer if we’re having one. After we get the appetizer we’ll order the main course.
We also don’t order more than 2 things at once because inevitably one of the items gets forgotten, even if the server writes it down.
WhatsApp Dominance
WhatsApp is used for everything. It is much more popular than email. Some businesses use WhatsApp in place of a website.
It is also common for people to use the voice memo for WhatsApp instead of text (which can make things tricky if you’re struggling with Spanish).
We recommend sending a text so you can hopefully get a text back and you can translate the message if needed.
What We Love About the Ecuadorian Culture
Now that we’ve covered the things that frustrate us about Ecuador, we want to share several things that we really like. The U.S. could learn a few things from Ecuador on these points.
La Tercer Edad
The elderly are revered and treated with respect. They have special lines, they can skip ahead in line, and they get a lot of discounts.
People help them cross the street and people will stop for them when they want to cross the street. We’ve seen many little old ladies walk out with arms extended to stop traffic and it works. Drivers stop for the elderly when they see them with their arms out.
Strong Community
Loneliness is a choice in a culture that values multi-generational households, large families, and robust social circles.
Ecuadorians are warm and welcoming. Get to know your neighbors and they will invite you into their home for a meal.
Take language exchange classes to meet locals and other foreign residents. Attend events and get involved in other activities and you’ll meet locals who will make you feel right at home.
Authentic Friendships
When we lived in the U.S. the majority of our friends were work friends. In Ecuador, our friends don’t ask us about work; work isn’t typically a subject of conversation.
Our friends are more interested in our personal lives, experiences, and just enjoying each other’s company.
Politeness and Courtesy
Most of the Ecuadorians we’ve interacted with over the past several years have been very polite and courteous. Everyone always greets each other individually and says good-bye to each other individually as well.
When we do business with vendors in Ecuador, they smile, are helpful, and always say thank you.
Tranquilo (Relaxed) Mindset
The slower paced lifestyle in Ecuador can take some getting used to but we love it, now.
Ecuadorians walk slower and they take longer breaks during the work day than we did in the U.S. Many business close between 1:00 and 3:00 so they can enjoy lunch instead of speed eating to get back to work as quickly as possible.
We appreciate that they slow down, take time for themselves, family and friends, and don’t make work their number one priority.
Nicely Dressed
It is easy to spot the tourists in Ecuador because they are often wearing hiking clothes while walking around Cuenca and other popular areas.
Ecuadorians, however, dress nicely, and not just for work or special occasions. They pay more attention to their wardrobe and often follow the trends.
We both pay more attention to our appearance to blend in and be more respectful.
Fitness Culture
Exercise equipment is available in most of the parks throughout Ecuador and they are free for everyone to use.
You can join a Zumba class in the park and use one of the many walking or biking trails.
You can play fútbol, padel ball, take a yoga class, or try salsa. Not only will you improve your fitness, but you’ll meet new people and have fun.
Accessible Healthcare
Ecuador’s private healthcare system is modern, affordable, and accessible.
We are still amazed at how quickly we can get an appointment with a doctor. Doctor appointments are usually available within 1-3 days.
The same is true for tests and procedures. We’ve gotten tests and procedures done the day after meeting with the doctor.
We meet directly with our doctors, not with the physician’s assistants. We also communicate directly with our doctors using WhatsApp or email. They are very responsive and caring.
Final Thoughts…
Ecuador has its quirks and there are still times when some of them drive us a bit crazy but the good far outweighs the bad.
We appreciate the uniqueness of the culture and, now that we are traveling outside the country, we’re feeling a little homesick. Despite the occasional culture shock, we love living in Ecuador.
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https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ecuador-Culture-Shock-FI.jpg7201280Amelia Basistahttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngAmelia Basista2024-01-06 08:00:162024-01-03 10:28:05What Still Shocks Us in Ecuador After 6 Years
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 main motivation for moving abroad was that I didn’t want to work until I died.
When I turned 60, I realized that my life had passed in a flash.
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.
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.
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.
While many businesses accept credit cards, a lot of places are still cash only. Expect to pay in cash at the Mercado, small businesses and some restaurants.
Everywhere we’ve lived in Ecuador there’s been noise. In Cuenca, some of the churches blow off loud fireworks at 6am, presumably to remind people to get out of bed and attend services.
Growing up in the U.S. we were taught to walk on the right and watch out for other people, to walk single file or in pairs and share the sidewalk.
Exercise equipment is available in most of the parks throughout Ecuador and they are free for everyone to use.
