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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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. 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.
Here’s an alarming statistic: nearly half of all Americans are getting sucked further and further into the whirlpool of debt.
Not too long ago, that was our story too. But 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.
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.
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 them are from other countries.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Future-of-Ecuador-.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2024-02-16 08:00:302024-02-16 11:17:26UPDATED: Our Thoughts About Ecuador Right Now
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.
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
Cumbayá 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!
It’s a suburb of Quito and functions as a bedroom community for many people who work in the city center. A good comparison in the U.S. would be the Denver suburb of Cherry Creek.
We lived in Cumbaya for almost 2 years and loved it, but there are some downsides. In this article, we’ll share the pros and the cons to help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
Nestled within the picturesque landscape of Ecuador lies Loja, a city that has increasingly captured the attention of both tourists and long-term residents.
Having lived in Ecuador for several years, we finally made it to the city for a deeper exploration to discover why so many people recommended we spend time there.
In this article, we provide an overview of this beautiful Andes mountain city and cover both its strengths and its areas for potential improvement.
Several of our most-viewed videos are about things we DON’T miss about living in the United States (and we catch a lot of flack for talking about that). So in this article, I want to share some of the things we DO miss about the U.S.
If you’re planning a move to Ecuador, this article will help you mentally prepare for the differences, and remind you to bring a few things with you.
Here are 10 things we miss about living in the United States.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10-Things-We-Miss-About-the-United-States-.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2023-08-09 08:00:052023-08-09 08:01:0910 Things We Miss About the United States (as Expats in Ecuador)
One of the main reasons expats leave home is to save money while also being able to afford a higher quality of life. The low cost of living in Ecuador and other popular expat destinations makes that possible.
In this article, we’ll share how much you can expect to pay for necessities in Ecuador, like rent, utilities, healthcare, transportation, food, appliances, and more.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Cost-of-Living-in-Ecuador.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngJP Stonestreet2023-06-12 08:00:392023-06-12 11:28:11REAL Cost of Living in Ecuador for 2023: A Guide for Expat Budgeting
We’re often asked if there are single women living in Ecuador, so we’re excited to share Kristen’s story because she is a single retired woman living in Cuenca.
We met Kristen through Amelia’s belly dancing studio when we lived in Cuenca. She is one of those people who lights up a room when she enters it. She never meets a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome.
If you’re a single woman considering a move to Ecuador, you’re certain to appreciate Kristen’s perspective. Here’s her story…
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kristen-Crawford-Mashpi-Lodge-Shaman-Ecuador.jpg7201280Kristen Crawfordhttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngKristen Crawford2023-05-09 08:00:212023-05-29 15:53:38Kristen Shares Her Story About Living In Ecuador as a Single Woman from the United States
The Bowen Family (La Familia Bowen) is from Washington State via Arizona in the United States, but now they live in southern Ecuador with their young children.
In this insightful story, they share what it’s like to raise a family in a foreign country and take grandchildren so far away from their grandparents.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Bowens-in-Ecuador-Podocarpus.jpg7201280Blake & Brittany Bowenhttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngBlake & Brittany Bowen2023-04-21 09:15:532023-06-11 14:58:43The Bowens Share Their Insightful Story About Raising Children in Ecuador
Kris And Mike left Canada and moved to a small rural beach town in Ecuador. Here is their inspiring story about Living the Life You Love!
We owned a beautiful home on a lake in northern Ontario Canada. It was our dream home.
I was retired and Kris owned and worked at her small-town decor store. We loved to travel but other than that we never even talked about moving anywhere else, even within Canada.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kris-and-Mike-Sunset-scaled.jpg14402560Kris and Mike Nelsonhttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Amelia-And-JP-Abroad-Logo.pngKris and Mike Nelson2023-04-13 09:49:092023-04-13 12:04:41Why Kris and Mike Moved to Ecuador from Canada
Tipping in Ecuador is a lot different than the United States where tipping is completely out of control. Businesses in most countries are required by law to pay their employees a living wage, and tips are not considered part of that equation.
This article explores the tipping etiquette in Ecuador, as well as the consequences of over-tipping and overpaying in Ecuador.
It also discusses why it’s important to blend in and adapt to the local customs and culture rather than trying to change them.
Michael Retired Early & Moved to Cuenca
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador, Home Featured/by JP StonestreetI 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.
Kerry on Leaving the US & Moving to Ecuador
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador/by JP StonestreetMy 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.
Byron On His Way to Ecuador
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador/by JP StonestreetWhen 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.
Kim and Mike in Ecuador
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador/by JP StonestreetMy 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.
The Bowen Family in Ecuador
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador, Home Featured/by JP StonestreetWe’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.
Cindy in Ecuador
/in Blog, Case Studies, Ecuador, Home Featured/by JP StonestreetOriginally, my main reason for moving abroad was political. 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.
How We Paid Off $60K of Debt in 3 Years by Moving Abroad
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetHere’s an alarming statistic: nearly half of all Americans are getting sucked further and further into the whirlpool of debt.
Not too long ago, that was our story too. But 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…
Ecuador Temporary Resident Visas
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetThere 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.
UPDATED: Our Thoughts About Ecuador Right Now
/in Blog, Ecuador/by JP StonestreetIt 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 them are from other countries.
What Still Shocks Us in Ecuador After 6 Years
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Amelia BasistaLiving 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.
Cumbaya Ecuador Pros & Cons
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Amelia BasistaCumbayá 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!
It’s a suburb of Quito and functions as a bedroom community for many people who work in the city center. A good comparison in the U.S. would be the Denver suburb of Cherry Creek.
We lived in Cumbaya for almost 2 years and loved it, but there are some downsides. In this article, we’ll share the pros and the cons to help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
Loja Ecuador Pros & Cons for Expats & Tourists
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetNestled within the picturesque landscape of Ecuador lies Loja, a city that has increasingly captured the attention of both tourists and long-term residents.
Having lived in Ecuador for several years, we finally made it to the city for a deeper exploration to discover why so many people recommended we spend time there.
In this article, we provide an overview of this beautiful Andes mountain city and cover both its strengths and its areas for potential improvement.
10 Things We Miss About the United States (as Expats in Ecuador)
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetSeveral of our most-viewed videos are about things we DON’T miss about living in the United States (and we catch a lot of flack for talking about that). So in this article, I want to share some of the things we DO miss about the U.S.
If you’re planning a move to Ecuador, this article will help you mentally prepare for the differences, and remind you to bring a few things with you.
Here are 10 things we miss about living in the United States.
REAL Cost of Living in Ecuador for 2023: A Guide for Expat Budgeting
/in Blog, Cost of Living, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetOne of the main reasons expats leave home is to save money while also being able to afford a higher quality of life. The low cost of living in Ecuador and other popular expat destinations makes that possible.
In this article, we’ll share how much you can expect to pay for necessities in Ecuador, like rent, utilities, healthcare, transportation, food, appliances, and more.
Kristen Shares Her Story About Living In Ecuador as a Single Woman from the United States
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Kristen CrawfordWe’re often asked if there are single women living in Ecuador, so we’re excited to share Kristen’s story because she is a single retired woman living in Cuenca.
We met Kristen through Amelia’s belly dancing studio when we lived in Cuenca. She is one of those people who lights up a room when she enters it. She never meets a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome.
If you’re a single woman considering a move to Ecuador, you’re certain to appreciate Kristen’s perspective. Here’s her story…
The Bowens Share Their Insightful Story About Raising Children in Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Blake & Brittany BowenThe Bowen Family (La Familia Bowen) is from Washington State via Arizona in the United States, but now they live in southern Ecuador with their young children.
In this insightful story, they share what it’s like to raise a family in a foreign country and take grandchildren so far away from their grandparents.
Cuenca Ecuador Neighborhoods
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetCuenca Ecuador has several neighborhoods that are popular with expats.
We lived in El Vergel, which was more popular with Ecuadorians at the time, but now has become more popular with expats, as well.
In this article, you’ll learn about the inner and outer neighborhoods of Cuenca Ecuador that are most popular with expats.
Why Kris and Mike Moved to Ecuador from Canada
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Kris and Mike NelsonKris And Mike left Canada and moved to a small rural beach town in Ecuador. Here is their inspiring story about Living the Life You Love!
We owned a beautiful home on a lake in northern Ontario Canada. It was our dream home.
I was retired and Kris owned and worked at her small-town decor store. We loved to travel but other than that we never even talked about moving anywhere else, even within Canada.
Why would we? We had everything and were happy.
Ecuador Gun Laws
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetGuns in Ecuador are tightly regulated and the right to bear arms is not guaranteed by the constitution as it is in the United States.
There are several gun ownership restrictions and laws that make it difficult, but not impossible to have a gun in Ecuador.
Tipping Etiquette in Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetTipping in Ecuador is a lot different than the United States where tipping is completely out of control. Businesses in most countries are required by law to pay their employees a living wage, and tips are not considered part of that equation.
This article explores the tipping etiquette in Ecuador, as well as the consequences of over-tipping and overpaying in Ecuador.
It also discusses why it’s important to blend in and adapt to the local customs and culture rather than trying to change them.