We arrived in Loja, Ecuador just as darkness was falling. It was cloudy and a light rain fell, forming puddles on the street. We were worried that our first day in Loja would be more of the same, but we were pleasantly surprised when the sun woke us up the next morning.

The city was vibrant and full of color, with murals painted on nearly every wall and colonial architecture around every corner.

The beautiful clock tower that stood tall above the city was only two blocks from our AirBnB. It was a true masterpiece, with intricate details and a golden finish that was a stark contrast against the deep blue sky and white billowy clouds.

One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Loja City Gate, a historic castle-like structure that marks the entrance to the old town. It’s an iconic landmark with the Loja sign and offered a perfect photo op.

Every day, we spent hours exploring the city on foot. We walked through charming neighborhoods and visited local markets, tasting all sorts of delicious foods. We even spent an afternoon hiking up the mountain in Parque Pucará, taking in the stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Despite the miles we walked, we never tired of discovering all that Loja had to offer. From the beautiful murals to the charming colonial architecture, there was always something new and exciting to see. It was a week we will never forget, and we left Loja feeling grateful and inspired by all the beauty and culture we experienced.

Watch Our Video from Loja Ecuador

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Vilcabamba Ecuador has been popular with expats for a long time. It’s a quaint mountain town that sits in a valley surrounded by beautiful panoramic views.

It was originally considered for inclusion in the list of Blue Zones, which are areas around the world where people live exceptionally long.

However, it didn’t make the final cut because the birth records for the oldest people couldn’t be verified. Learn more about the Blue Zones here.

Its omission from the final list didn’t stop the belief that Vilca is a valley of longevity, which is one reason expats have flocked there over the past 15 years.

We’ve travelled to the most popular expat areas all over Ecuador, but Vilcabamba has by far the largest concentration of expats that we’ve seen.

If you want to live in a beautiful small mountain town with nice weather and lots of expats, Vilca might be the place for you. If you prefer fewer expats, but want a similar living experience, you might prefer Malacatos, Landangui, Yangana or one of the other small towns near Vilca.

Are you planning a move to Ecuador? We created the Ecuador Expat Fast Track eCourse to make your move abroad as easy and painless as possible. It has 63 videos with tons of written content that will walk you through every step from A-to-Z. We even have a downloadable move abroad checklist and a city comparison matrix that will help you choose the perfect location based on what’s important to you. Read what our past students had to say and sign-up here.

FREE Weekly Newsletter

Sign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:

• The 5 Countries Report (53-page analysis)
• The Ecuador Cost of Moving & Living Calculator
• Discount Codes for our eCourses
• And Immediate Access to ALL Our Past Newsletters

This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.