Ecuador Expat Info
We share Ecuador Expat Info, tips, experiences and services for people who are considering a move to Ecuador and for those who already live here.
Ecuador Expat Info VLOG
WHY WE MISS THIS SMALL ECUADOR BEACH TOWN (Plus 3 things we don’t miss about Olón!) (1/16/2022) - We visited Olón for the first time since we moved away and took a walk down memory lane while we were there.
HOW ECUADOR’S WEALTHIEST LIVE! (Rancho San Francisco Cumbaya, Ecuador) (1/9/2022) - One of our goals for our videos is to bust the myth that everyone in Ecuador is poor. The country has a sizable middle class and roughly a million people who are considered upper class Ecuadorians.
THE TRUTH ABOUT MANTA ECUADOR! (Setting the record straight) (1/4/2022) - Manta is a great city and we love the beach life here, but no place is perfect so we're going to discuss a few of Manta's drawbacks in this video.
WHY EXPATS FEEL AT HOME IN THIS MODERN CITY IN ECUADOR (Cumbaya Pros & Cons) (12/21/2021) - Cumbaya is one of Ecuador's most popular expat cities, and for good reason! It has a lot of modern amenities, including excellent healthcare, shopping and restaurants!
WERE WE WRONG ABOUT MEXICO?! (A Response Video) (12/14/2021) - We made a mistake in our last Mexico video about visas and wanted to correct that in this video. Plus, we respond to several other comments that we received on that video.
WHY MOST EXPATS LOVE THIS PLACE (and why SOME don’t) // Cotacachi Ecuador PROS & CONS (final video) (11/23/2021) - In our final video from Cotacachi, we share several PROS & CONS about this popular expat mountain town in northern Ecuador.
Why THIS PLACE is BETTER THAN MEXICO for Retirees & Expats! (You can get a real residency visa!) (11/18/2021) - After hearing about the Mexico perpetual tourist visa changes from several people who live in Mexico, we wanted to share why we think Ecuador might be a better option.
Can I afford to live in ECUADOR on SOCIAL SECURITY? (Quality of Life & Cost of Living Under $1500) (11/11/2021) - We get this question a lot: Can I live in Ecuador on my social security income? So in this video we take a look at the most common expenses to estimate your cost of living in Ecuador. 
YOU WILL BE SHOCKED BY THESE HOMES FOR SALE IN COTACACHI ECUADOR (Real Estate Tour) (11/5/2021) - e're often asked by our viewers to show properties for sale in Ecuador so they can see what's available and more easily visualize themselves living here. And since we love looking at properties, we have a lot of fun doing it!
WE WISH WE KNEW THIS BEFORE MOVING TO ECUADOR!!! (Cotacachi Ecuador Expat Neighborhood Tour) (11/1/2021) - When we were considering a move to Ecuador, Cotacachi was near the top of the list along with Cuenca and Loja.
WE WERE TOTALLY UNPREPARED FOR THIS AT LAGUNA CUICOCHA (near Cotacachi Ecuador) (10/22/2021) - Even though we have two wedding dates, our first NON-date is the most memorable and meaningful because it was so much fun and it was the start of something truly special.
We Went to the WORLD FAMOUS Indigenous Market in OTAVALO and THIS Happened! (near Cotacachi Ecuador) (10/14/2021) - A trip to Cotacachi wouldn't be complete without a visit to Plaza de Ponchos, the world famous indigenous market in Otavalo, Ecuador!
EXPATS LOVE THIS WATERFALL HIKE NEAR COTACACHI!!! (Peguche Otavalo Ecuador) (10/7/2021) - Las Cascadas de Peguche, or the Peguche Waterfalls, are located on the northeast side of Otavalo, Ecuador.
NOW WE KNOW WHY EXPATS LOVE COTACACHI ECUADOR!!! (10/1/2021) - We FINALLY made it to Northern Ecuador and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Now we know why expats love this area!
YOU WON’T BELIEVE THESE PLACES FOR SALE in CRUCITA ECUADOR (Near Manta – 2021) (9/16/2021) - We're happy to introduce you to Amy and Holly! They can help you with both purchase and rental properties.
HOW WE ESCAPED THE TOXIC HAMSTER WHEEL!!! (and how you can too!) (9/9/2021) - Amelia and JP VLOG 265: A lot of you have asked how we escaped. How we took back control of our lives. How we paid off our debt and regained our freedom while improving our quality of life.
7 EASY TIPS to SURVIVE the EXPAT ROLLER COASTER! (8/26/2021) - When you finally decide to move abroad, fantasizing about your expat life is very exciting! You'll dream of the possibilities and the adventure!
SUPER CHEAP RENTALS! (and a MUCH higher quality of life in Manta Ecuador) (8/13/2021) - The cost of rent and housing in the United States is crazy! But no one said you have to keep living in the United States! There are a LOT of other countries with cheaper housing and a higher quality of life!
SPEND LESS. ENJOY LIFE MORE. (Ecuador Cost of Living 2021) (7/29/2021) - It's COST OF LIVING time again! In this video, we share all our expenses from the month of June 2021 living in Manta, Ecuador. We also share a tour of our condo and how much we pay for rent.
A Normal Sunday..ANYWHERE (Annual IRONMAN 70.3 in Manta Ecuador 2021) (7/15/2021) - This Sunday in the life would seem normal to most people anywhere in the world. Days like this give you a glimpse into what life is like in other countries, and hopefully demonstrates that there are more similarities than differences.
Ecuador’s MOST Unusual Part #1: San Lorenzo de Manabí (2021) (7/6/2021) - Ecuador is a magical, wondrous place that's full of unusual plants, animals, culture and scenery.
Exploring one of Ecuador’s most famous places! (6/24/2021) - A short drive past the eastern side of Manta, Ecuador is a small town with a big mountain and a long history called Montecristi.
Why We Chose MANTA Ecuador (over Salinas, Playas and Guayaquil) (6/17/2021) - We told you why we left Olón in a previous video. Now we'll share why we chose Manta over Salinas, Playas and Guayaquil.
How To SURVIVE CULTURE SHOCK in a Foreign Country (like Ecuador 🇪🇨) (6/10/2021) - Over the past few weeks, we heard from some new arrivals to Ecuador who told us they were having a difficult time adjusting to life here.
KITESURFING CAPITAL of SOUTH AMERICA (and EXPATS LOVE IT! 😍) (6/4/2021) - We've heard a LOT about this popular expat destination since we moved to Ecuador. Several of our viewers have either moved there already, or are planning a move there, so we wanted to go check it out for ourselves.
The REAL Reasons Why We Left Olón (Plus, Manta Ecuador Dentist) (5/27/2021) - In this "day-in-the-life" video, we share the real reasons why we left Olón and moved to Manta, Ecuador.
A REAL Day in Manta Ecuador (May 2021) (5/13/2021) - Daisy hasn't been feeling well for a few weeks. The vet clinic in Olón said she needed an ultrasound, but they didn't have that equipment so we took her to the Manta Pets Veterinary Clinic after we moved here.
Back in Manta Ecuador (Setting the Record Straight!) (5/6/2021) - We're back in Manta Ecuador for this day-in-the-life video, sharing a walk around the Mercado Central area and a visit to Todo Criollo, a speciality spice and bulk-buy store.
Condos for RENT in Manta Ecuador on the Beach (2021) (4/8/2021) - In our last video from Manta, Ecuador, we showed you condos for sale on or near the beach. In this video, we'll show you a few condos for RENT on or near the beach.
Manta Ecuador Affordable Luxury Condos FOR SALE (2021) (3/25/2021) - Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Now we know!
A DELUXE Penthouse in the SKY (Manta Ecuador – March 2021) (3/18/2021) - Our week in Manta ended with a HUGE surprise and a deluxe penthouse in the sky!
How To Get the MOST Out of Your Exploratory Trip to Ecuador (3/11/2021) - If you're like Amelia, you will probably want to visit Ecuador BEFORE moving here. In this video, we give you 10 tips to get the most out of your exploratory trip to Ecuador to help you prepare for your trip and get the most out of your first expat experience.
Things that are STRANGE to Expats, but NORMAL to Ecuadorians! (2/25/2021) - Even after living in Ecuador for more than 3 years, some customs and traditions STILL make us feel a little culture shock!
Should YOU Leave the United States (or YOUR home country) in 2021? (2/18/2021) - Please join us on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2PM Eastern for our 50,000 Subscriber Live Stream Celebration right here on YouTube!
What SURPRISED us about Ayangue Ecuador + Is it a good place for expats? (2021) (2/2/2021) - Following our visit to Ayampe about 30 minutes north of Olón, several of our viewers asked us to show Ayangue, which is about 30 minutes south of Olón.
PORTUGAL vs. ECUADOR: A Peek Into EXPAT LIFE in Porto Portugal (2021) (1/23/2021) - We teamed up with Josh and Kalie from @Expats Everywhere in Porto, Portugal to create TWO must see videos!
THIS is why we LOVE being EXPATS from the United States (and IMMIGRANTS in ECUADOR) (12/26/2020) - You've been asking to see a video featuring our new eBikes so we took them for a spin along La Ruta Ciclística heading northeast out of Olón. We also talk about the top 10 reasons WHY we love being expats from the United States (and immigrants in Ecuador).
We LOVE Ecuador! But no place is perfect. Here are a few bad things about living in Ecuador (12/17/2020) - Ecuador is a beautiful country and the people are AMAZING! But no place is perfect and if you're considering a move to Ecuador, you deserve to have all the information. So in this episode, we reluctantly discuss the DARK SIDE of Ecuador.
Manta Ecuador: NOT what we EXPECTED (from this POPULAR EXPAT CITY) (12/10/2020) - We were REALLY impressed with Manta and we're already planning our next trip back to film more of the city. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Ecuador, and it's very popular with expats. If you want to live by the beach, but you prefer a modern city with all the amenities, this might be the perfect spot for you.
9 things that AMAZED us about AYAMPE ECUADOR (12/1/2020) - This video has been several weeks in the making. We went to Ayampe Ecuador just 30 minutes north of Olón a few weeks ago to film a walk-and-talk, but it was too windy to talk so we decided to capture the natural beauty of Ayampe and narrate it later.
Can you get ELECTRIC BIKES in ECUADOR? YES! And the COST might SHOCK you! (ElectroBike Guayaquil) (11/24/2020) - During the pandemic, when the taxis and buses weren't running, we were forced to walk 2 miles to Montañita to get cash from the ATM and groceries from Tía. That prompted a frequently asked question, "Can you buy e-Bikes in Ecuador and how much do they cost?"
Is Cuenca STILL The Best Place in Ecuador to Start Your Expat Life Abroad? (11/16/2020) - Since we left Cuenca and moved to the small rural beach town of Olón Ecuador back in February 2020, lots of people have asked us if we still recommend Cuenca as the best place to start as an expat in Ecuador. In this video, we take a walk down memory lane while we attempt to answer the question, Is Cuenca Still The Best Place in Ecuador to Start Your Expat Life Abroad?
Ecuador Cost of Living for Two American Expats (2020) (10/25/2020) - This is our annual cost of living update for Olón Ecuador. We kept track of every expense we incurred in September 2020 and compiled them into this video and a REALLY long blog post.
Our Hike Up Santa Ana Hill in Guayaquil Ecuador + US Passport Renewal Process in Ecuador (Oct 2020) (10/15/2020) - Cerro Santa Ana or Santa Ana Hill in Guayaquil is the original site of Ecuador's largest city and a popular tourist attraction. We hiked up the 444 steps to the church and lighthouse, and share the incredible views of Guayaquil in this video.
Guayaquil’s Beautiful Malecón 2000 + Seminario Iguana Park & 200 Year Independence Exhibit (2020) (10/8/2020) - We went back to Guayaquil to pick-up my repaired laptop and to renew Amelia's passport, so we took a few extra days to enjoy the city and see some tourist attractions.
Things We Got WRONG About Ecuador & EXcetera (According to Our Viewers) (10/1/2020) - Is it WINTER? Or is it SUMMER? Do we dress like tourists? Is Amelia's tattoo a TRAMP STAMP? We discuss all this and MORE in today's video!
Expats in Ecuador from Queens NYC: A Truly Unconventional, Heartwarming & Inspiring Story! (9/24/2020) - We have the great honor of sharing the inspirational and unconventional expat story of Luis and Kimberly from Soluna Sanctuary & Tea House.
Ecuador: 10 Things That SHOCKED US the MOST (as Expats from the United States) (9/17/2020) - In this episode, we take a long walk in the countryside east of Olón while we share the top 10 things that shocked us most about Ecuador as expats from the United States.
Samborondón Guayaquil Ecuador + COVID Quarantine Update (9/3/2020) - We went back to Guayaquil last weekend to get my laptop, but it wasn't ready yet. I had to login to my computer so they could verify it with Apple for the battery recall/warranty replacement.
Remote Working: The Good, The Bad & The UGLY!!! Plus a few tips to improve your work from home life. (8/31/2020) - I have worked from home for 15 out of the past 25 years and Amelia has been a remote worker for the last 10 years.