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
PERFECT AREAS for EXPATS from the UNITED STATES & CANADA (they’re not what you think) (11/17/2022) - Learning a foreign language as an adult can be painful and frustrating. It may be the LAST thing you want to do in your Golden Years of retirement, especially with all the other stressors from moving abroad.
UNEXPECTED REASONS *SOME* ECUADORIANS ARE LEAVING (Oct 2022 Member’s Choice) (11/1/2022) - We're often asked, if Ecuador is as great as we say, why do Ecuadorians leave? The short answer is, people are the same everywhere and they leave home for the same reasons.
WHY EXPATS LEAVE ECUADOR (and never come back!) (10/6/2022) - We know at least a thousand expats who live in Ecuador, but only a handful who have left. However, the reasons expats leave Ecuador are relevant to anyone considering a move here.
10 Cheap Countries to Live or Retire (and be happier) (9/29/2022) - Unless something drastic happens politically or economically, Ecuador is our permanent home. We plan to spend at least 6 months per year in Ecuador for the rest of our lives. It's our Plan A and we hope to get our citizenship next year.
REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK in the USA (after living in Ecuador for 5 years) (9/23/2022) - In August 2022, we took an emergency trip to the United States to help Amelia's family. After spending a month in Texas and several days in Kansas, we now understand what reverse culture shock means.
THE DARK SIDE OF CUENCA ECUADOR (9/8/2022) - We LOVE Cuenca and still think it's the best place to start your expat life abroad in Ecuador. However, no place is perfect and our last visit there reminded us why we left.
WE DON’T MISS THIS GIANT EXPENSE, AT ALL! (8/25/2022) - We SLASHED more than $1200 from our monthly budget by moving abroad and ditching our cars.
IS THIS CITY RIGHT FOR YOU? (Pros & Cons Video) (8/11/2022) - We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Loja Ecuador. We stayed in an AirBnB and lived like a local so we could get a really good feel for the city.
HOW WE PAID OFF ALL OUR DEBT in 3 YEARS! (8/4/2022) - We had two incomes, a nice house in a great neighborhood, and two nice cars. We were living the dream, but then everything changed when JP started losing the ability to walk.
TIRED OF THE HEAT?! (7/21/2022) - They say records are meant to be broken, but I don't think "they" were talking about temperatures.
ESCAPE THE USA HEALTHCARE SCAM! (like we did) (7/14/2022) - Despite having the MOST EXPENSIVE healthcare system in the world, the quality of healthcare in the United States is just AVERAGE compared to most other countries.
ECUADOR PROTESTS HAVE ENDED (Ecuador News In English) (6/30/2022) - After several hours of deliberation, and a return to the negotiation table after everyone thought it was over, the government of Ecuador and the leaders of the indigenous protests have reached an agreement to end the paro (strike).
UPDATE #2: Ecuador National Protests (Paro 2022) (6/28/2022) - If you have a trip planned for the next week, we recommend canceling it. With road closures throughout the country, and widespread food, fuel, propane and medical supply shortages, it's not a good time to visit Ecuador.
UPDATE: Ecuador National Protests (Paro 2022) (6/23/2022) - This is day 11 of the indigenous-led national protests in Ecuador. We aren't going to discuss the politics because we aren't a political channel and try to avoid politics completely.
THE GREAT RENTAL REAMING! (Time to LEAVE the USA?) (6/16/2022) - Rental costs in the United States are completely out of control! Most Americans can no longer afford the cost of housing, healthcare and food without making significant sacrifices in other areas of their lives! What a horrible way to live!
TAKE THIS INFLATION AND SHOVE IT! (5/28/2022) - If you’re on a tight budget and feeling the pressure of inflation compounding an already high cost of living, you have an escape hatch at your disposal if you’re willing to do something a little unconventional.
WHY do people LOVE Cuenca Ecuador? (Top 11 Reasons) (5/19/2022) - Cuenca Ecuador is the most popular expat city in Ecuador. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a beautiful, old world city with modern day amenities and an affordable cost of living.
FOOD FOR A DAY in CUENCA ECUADOR (cost of food) (5/12/2022) - This video shows a typical travel day for us. We usually eat breakfast and dinner at our Airbnb, and we eat lunch out at a restaurant. 
SOME LOVE IT. SOME LEAVE. HERE’S WHY. (2/1/2022) - Most people love living in Salinas Ecuador, but there are a few drawbacks. In this video, we walk you through Salinas, and the pros & cons of living there.
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!