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
How WE Got Pickpocketed on a SHORT Bus Ride in Ecuador! (2/29/2020) - We were taking a short 50 cent bus ride from Olón to Montañita Ecuador when our pocket got picked and we lost an iPhone worth several hundred dollars.
Olón Ecuador Condo Tour & Cost + Drama on the Beach w/ Mini (our new drone) (2/11/2020) - We give you a room-by-room tour of our condo in Olón Ecuador and share the cost of rent. We also share our first drone footage of Olón and the beautiful coast of Ecuador!
Moving Supplies in Cuenca Ecuador (1/28/2020) - We had a busy day of errands getting ready for our move from Cuenca to Olón Ecuador just north of Montañita on the south central coast. After my weekly massage, we started with lunch at Yúa Resto Bar and then went to Juan Marcet for moving supplies.
Shocking Experience w/ Eye Exam & Glasses in Cuenca Ecuador at SOi Opticas (2020) (1/14/2020) - Our first eye exam and glasses purchase in Cuenca Ecuador at SOi Opticas was efficient, affordable and enjoyable. Being able to see is NOT overrated!
Over the DESERT and through the JUNGLE from Cuenca to Machala Ecuador to apply for my VISA (2020) (1/11/2020) - We're working with Maite Duran from GringoVisas to get our Permanent Residency Visa for Ecuador. She prefers going to the government office in Machala to file the visa applications so we made the trek from Cuenca to Machala Ecuador on Thursday to file our paperwork.
Weather In Cuenca Ecuador + Best Time to Visit & What Clothes to Bring (2020) (1/7/2020) - We get LOTS of questions about the weather in Cuenca Ecuador, as well as the best time to visit Cuenca and what types of clothes to bring to Cuenca. Hopefully this video will help answer some of those questions.
Cuenca vs the Ecuador Coast Comparison: Cost of Living, Conveniences, Climate, Culture & Critters (12/18/2019) - In this video, we compare the cost of living, conveniences, climate, critters and culture between Cuenca, Salinas and the Montañita area.
Tour of Gran Colombia Suites Apartment Hotel in Cuenca Ecuador (2019) (11/26/2019) - We were so happy when Isabel from Gran Colombia Suites reached out to us. She likes watching our channel and wanted to know if we would enjoy a couple of nights at the apartment hotel she manages in El Centro. Since we had never stayed in El Centro before, we jumped at the opportunity!
Dental Tourism in Cuenca Ecuador + the Surprisingly Low Cost of a Crown (11/15/2019) - Dental tourism is a growing trend due to the outrageous cost of healthcare in the US and other developed nations. The quality and cost of my new crown from a highly qualified dentist in Cuenca Ecuador will shock you.
Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living 2019 (w/ REAL Prices) (11/12/2019) - This Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living 2019 video covers rental costs, living expenses, real prices for a variety of things, as well as some other common costs of living in Salinas. If you're thinking about moving to Ecuador, check out our Ecuador Expat Info page for more videos and detailed blog posts...
How to Avoid & Treat Altitude Sickness in Cuenca Ecuador (11/8/2019) - Here are a few suggestions for prevention and treatment of altitude sickness when visiting high altitude cities like Cuenca Ecuador.
Getting from Cuenca to Salinas Ecuador (by land) (10/26/2019) - We're visiting Salinas Ecuador for the very first time! After our trip to Quito was cancelled due to the paro (strike), we decided to come to visit Salinas. While Cuenca is known as the "Athens of Ecuador," Salinas is known as the "Miami of Ecuador." Over the next few days, we'll show you why that is so stay tuned!
Piedra de Agua – Cuenca Ecuador – Baños Azuay (10/24/2019) - After we finished the grueling process of filming and editing our last video, we decided to take a break and visit the Piedra de Agua spa/hot springs in Baños outside Cuenca Ecuador. 
Why We Chose CUENCA ECUADOR over EVERY OTHER Top Expat Destination (10/22/2019) - We researched a LOT of different expat destinations before we chose Cuenca Ecuador for our exploratory trip back in 2017.
Cuenca Ecuador Periodontist – JP’s Gum Surgery (10/17/2019) - I went to one of Dr. Grace's trusted periodontists for a minor surgical procedure. Since the chip on my tooth extends below the gumline, Dr. Grace wanted to remove a little bit of the gum so the permanent crown will cover the entire chip.
Cuenca Ecuador Unconventionals + Post Protest Update (10/16/2019) - We hosted our monthly Unconventional Social Gathering this afternoon at Yaw Café in Cuenca Ecuador. It's always fun to see some familiar faces and to meet new people. It's the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 3PM so if you're in Cuenca, we hope you can join us.
Cuenca Ecuador: Back to Business as Usual? (Episode 148) (10/11/2019) - It seems that Cuenca Ecuador is winding down from its austerity protests and getting back to business as usual. We walked down to El Centro today to check things out and we also needed some produce from the mercado.
Welcome to Paradise in Cuenca Ecuador! (Episode 147) (10/8/2019) - Our good friends Chinnu and Abin opened their very own place here in Cuenca Ecuador: Paradise Indian Restaurant! We're so happy for them! They offer both southern and northern Indian food, and we can attest after our trip to India that their cooking is very authentic. 
Cuenca Ecuador Neighborhoods (Episode 146) (10/5/2019) - Xavier from Apartamentos Otorongo showed us the outskirts of Cuenca in this Cuenca Ecuador Neighborhood Tour. In addition to owning and operating Apartamentos Otorongo, Xavier offers city tours and a variety of other more adventurous activities in Ecuador.
BRA Shopping in Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 145) (10/1/2019) - As you may know, Amelia belly dances and is constantly bedazzling costumes for her performances. In this episode, we went bra shopping in Cuenca Ecuador to find a new bra for a costume she's wearing in her upcoming performance in Quito. They'll be dancing to the theme song from Pink Panther while wearing this costume....
What STILL SCARES US about living in CUENCA ECUADOR (Episode 144) (9/28/2019) - In this video, we'll share the fears we had BEFORE we moved to Cuenca Ecuador, and we'll talk about the things that STILL scare us after living here for over two years.
Laws in Ecuador that EVERY Expat Should Know (Episode 142) (9/21/2019) - In this episode, we interview Francisco Astudillo and Maite Durán from GringoVisas about laws in Ecuador that every expat should know and understand. 
Cuenca Ecuador Walking Spanish Lessons (Episode 140) (9/14/2019) - The best way to learn a foreign language is in the real world, and that's exactly how Walking Spanish Lessons teaches Spanish. Christina, our Spanish tutor, teaches us by walking around Cuenca, sharing stories about Cuenca's culture and history, and helping us interact with other Spanish speakers. 
Shipping Household Goods to Ecuador (Episode 139) (9/10/2019) - We interviewed Paul Wilches, founder of Relocation Services of Ecuador, to learn about shipping household goods to Ecuador. He discussed the logistics, process, import regulations, timeframes and costs with us....
How to Make Money Living Abroad (and Start BEFORE You Leave Home) (Episode 137) (9/3/2019) - Since we both work online from Cuenca Ecuador for companies back in the states, how to make money living abroad is a common topic of conversation with our subscribers and patrons.
While it is possible to earn income from a job in another country, there are other options that may allow you to earn more money working fewer hours, and start before you leave home. Plus, you can start before you leave home so you minimize your risk of moving abroad and ensure a smooth landing in your new expat destination...
VIP Home Healthcare of Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 136) (8/31/2019) - We get a lot of questions about Cuenca home healthcare and elder care options, so we interviewed the founders of VIP Home Healthcare of Cuenca to get some answers...
Cuenca Expats Magazine Interview w/ Ed Lindquist (Episode 134) (8/24/2019) - We had the great privilege of interviewing Ed Lindquist, Managing Partner of Cuenca Expats Magazine. He shared his knowledge and expertise of Cuenca's expat population, as well as his experience starting a business in Cuenca Ecuador...
How To Get To Cuenca Ecuador from the USA (Episode 133) (8/20/2019) - In this episode, we discuss how to get to Cuenca Ecuador from the USA, including airports, airlines, ground transportation and airport hotels...
Why Expats Leave Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 131) (8/13/2019) - Cuenca is a transitional community for expats. In this episode, we discuss the 12 most common reasons why expats leave Cuenca Ecuador.
Ecuador Health Insurance Overview 2019 (Episode 128) (8/3/2019) - Mario Miranda is a health insurance agent located in Cuenca Ecuador. He stopped by to answer some of our questions about Ecuador Health Insurance.
There are two types of health insurance in Ecuador: Public and Private....
Cuenca Ecuador Crime (2019) + Safety Tips (Episode 126) (7/27/2019) - The Cuenca Ecuador Crime rate has been a trending topic lately. CuencaHighLife reported on a statement made by a citizens group claiming that crime has increased over the past year or so here in Cuenca. Several people have also messaged us to ask if Cuenca is safe.
In this video, we'll talk about some of the crime rate stats for Cuenca, what the provincial government has to say about it, and our experience living here for 2 years. We'll also share a few stories from our friends who have had things stolen from them, and offer some safety tips that will help you in any city....
Cuenca Animal Clinic: Daisy’s Day at the Dentist (Episode 124) (7/20/2019) - After a long talk and some biscuit bribery, Daisy agreed to let us film her day at the dentist at the Cuenca Animal Clinic. She got her annual exam, teeth cleaning and a toenail trim....
Vilcabamba to Cuenca Transportation Options + More Vilca Observations (Episode 123) (7/16/2019) - In this video, we share several Vilcabamba to Cuenca transportation options, as well as a few more Vilca Observations from our week there. You'll also get to meet a chocolate farmer who uses something other than plastic for his packaging.
Vilcabamba Ecuador: 5 Things We Loved + 1 Interesting Observation (Episode 122) (7/13/2019) - On our last day in Vilcabamba Ecuador, we decided to share the 5 things we loved plus one interesting observation. It's a truly magical place and should be on your list of places to visit....
Vilcabamba Ecuador Tour 2019 + Mico’s Oasis Verde (Episode 121) (7/9/2019) - This video starts with a Vilcabamba Ecuador Tour showing our walk around town. Then we talked with Mico from Mico's Oasis Verde before enjoying a delicious plant-based dinner.
Vilcabamba Ecuador: Madre Tierra Resort Tour + Rumi Wilco Hike + Bachata Dancing (Episode 120) (7/6/2019) - On our trip to Vilcabamba Ecuador, we stayed at the beautiful and relaxing Madre Tierra Resort and Spa. We also enjoyed a leisurely hike on the Rumi Wilco trail along Río Vilcabamba. And we ended our video with a night of bachata dancing with Johnny and Olesya.
Cuenca Ecuador Cost of Living 2019: Updated with Real Prices (Episode 118) (6/29/2019) - This Cuenca Ecuador Cost of Living 2019 video covers our monthly living expenses, as well as some other common costs. If you're thinking about moving here, check out our Ecuador Expat Info page for more videos and detailed blog posts....
New Expat First Impressions of Cuenca Ecuador + We Got Fingerprinted!!! (Episode 116) (6/22/2019) - A couple of our subscribers and new arrivals share their New Expat First Impressions of Cuenca Ecuador. Plus, Amelia and I got fingerprinted! Relax... It's for the background checks we need to file our Ecuador Permanent Residency Visa application.
How To Overcome Your Fears: 9 Tips + Useful Actions (Episode 115) (6/18/2019) - We've done a lot of scary things in our lives, like selling everything we own and moving to South America. Some people call us risk takers, but in reality, we were scared to death! We just pushed through the fear and did it anyway! Here are the 9 tips we learned along the way to overcome your fears while doing things that scare you to death!
Cuenca Ecuador Expat Living Day In The Life (Episode 113) (6/11/2019) - We share another typical day in our life in this Cuenca Ecuador Expat Living video. After my morning massage, we had a late lunch with friends, visited an organic shop in El Centro, walked around this beautiful city taking pictures and ended our afternoon at Zatua Miski for a peanut butter chocolate ice cream bar.
The next morning, we woke to a beautiful day during the rainy season here in Cuenca Ecuador, so we decided to take Daisy for a walk along the river. Little did we know that a pothole had my name on it....
Ecuador Permanent Resident Visa 2019 w/ Maite from GringoVisas Cuenca (Episode 112) (6/8/2019) - An Ecuador Permanent Resident Visa is something we need if we want to stay in Ecuador beyond our 2-year temporary resident visa expiration date.
Our temporary resident visa expires in 8 months and we wanted to get a headstart on the process because it can take awhile to get all the necessary paperwork. It also takes awhile for the Ecuadorian government to approve and issue our permanent resident visas.
Here's an overview of what you can expect if you're ready to apply for your Ecuador Permanent Resident Visa....
Sojo Spa Hair Salon Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 110) (6/1/2019) - Amelia and I went to Sojo Spa Hair Salon Cuenca Ecuador to get her dried out mop cut off. She said it reached the point of no return. Plus, I've been encouraging her to get it cut for quite a while.
It's a long-standing joke on our channel to refer to Amelia's uber curly frizzy hair as a mop. She thinks it's just as funny as everyone else!
Ecuador Resident Visa Types & Process 2019 – Interview w/ Maité Durán at Gringo Visas (Episode 93) (4/16/2019) - We get a lot of questions about the types of Ecuador resident visas and the process for getting a visa in Ecuador so we arranged an interview with Maité Durán at GringoVisas. She and her team helped Amelia and me get our temporary resident visas when we decided to move to Ecuador.
Bringing Pets to Ecuador: Daisy and Alicia’s Excellent Adventure (Episode 85) (3/28/2019) - We've had LOTS of questions about how to bring pets to Ecuador and about how pet-friendly Cuenca is, so we thought we'd record a quick video talking about our experience bring Daisy and Alicia here. It was quite the adventure!
For our fellow vegans, we're using the term "pets" in this post and in the video for SEO value. More people search for pet travel and pet services than they search for companion animals or fur babies so we don't want to miss out on that search traffic...
Emergency Trip to US Consulate in Guayaquil + Our Big Surprise (Episode 82) (3/21/2019) - We had to make an emergency trip to the US Consulate in Guayaquil to get my passport renewed for a reason many people don't know about. But I'm getting ahead of myself...
WE'RE GOING TO INDIA!!!
Amelia is finally letting me tell you because we can't keep it a secret any longer. Our friends Chinnu and Abin from Namaste India are getting married! Their story is a full blown India Rom Com (Romantic Comedy) that we'll share on a later date.
Apartamentos Otorongo Tour – Flashback Day In The Life in Cuenca Ecuador (Episode 81) (3/19/2019) - This is a flashback day in our life. When we first moved here and stayed at Apartamentos Otorongo, we had a daily routine that included fresh fruits & veggies, and fresh baked bread...
Cuenca Ecuador Expat Pros and Cons – Part 2 (Episode 80) (3/16/2019) - Here is our Cuenca Expats Pros & Cons list, our second top 10 list of things we love about Cuenca and a few things we don't love so much....
Cuenca Ecuador Pros and Cons – Part 1 (Episode 71) (2/23/2019) - We've had several requests for a video covering the things we love about Cuenca Ecuador, as well as some of the things we don't love. That was the inspiration for this video sharing our Cuenca Ecuador Pros and Cons....
Cuenca Ecuador Rental House + Monthly Living Expenses 2019 (Episode 63) (2/4/2019) - Here's our Cuenca Ecuador Rental House Tour. Plus, we share our cost of living and monthly living expenses in spring of 2019 as two American expats.
Cuenca Ecuador Pharmacy Tour and Paying Bills + Beet Burgers Cooking Video (Episode 54) (1/15/2019) - If you've never been to Cuenca or a South American country, you may be curious about basic things like paying bills and shopping at pharmacies. In this video, we'll show you the unusual (by American standards) way of paying bills and perhaps reassure you about the quality of pharmacies with a Cuenca Ecuador Pharmacy Tour....