Digital Nomad Life in Ecuador

"Look up KIM Klocek in Facebook. She arranges monthly Gringo meett-ups at a local bistro, and is just a wonderful resource for Gringos with questions. Also is a tour Guide with long experience in GYE and Ecuador," explained one person living in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

"There are now two expat groups which meet in Cuenca each Friday night at 5 p.m. One is at Zoes and the other at the Ecualyptus. From here you can meet and greet other expats and then extend you network," said one expat in Cuenca.

"Expats living in Ecuador often join local clubs, attend cultural events, and join social media networks centered around activities they love. Expatriates may also join online communities specific to the country where they live, such as Ecuador Expats Online, which is a popular forum. Furthermore, connecting with other local English-speaking expats through local churches, booksellers, and language classrooms can provide an excellent way to meet people from all over the world. Finally, expats may join outdoor activities such as hiking, diving, and mountaineering, which not only provide an opportunity meet each other, but also Experience the beauty of Ecuador," remarked one member in Ecuador.

"Try to be in town for a Sunday morning. The market is active and lots of folks who keep to the countryside week days come to town to visit and buy produce that day. Lots of spots around the square for coffee and meals and meeting people who'll be able to share their experience. Who did I hang out with this past Sunday? They were Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Canadian. And we sat in front of a real French Bakery. So it's not just gringos (I restrict that term to citizens of the USA) its not a derogatory term. "America" is a hemisphere, not a country. But the Vilca scene isn't for everyone," explained one expat living in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.

"Here you meet others through shopping for food, necessities for the home, and dining out. There is a Rotary International group here but they only speak spanish. If you have a talent, such as painting, you can set up in one of the parks and meet people. There are a dozen expats here that speak english and most are very helpful for newcomers. Also there are about 30 to 80 boats from all over the world at the marina, depending on the month, and most "boaties" speak English and are helpul. The marina owner, an American, also runs a restaurant there and he and his Columbian wife speak english," said one person in Bahia de Caracruz.

"Living in Ecuador as an expat or digital nomad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. With its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, it's no wonder that more and more expats are choosing to make Ecuador their home. Many expats and digital nomads choose to settle in the larger cities such as Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca which offer all the amenities of a larger city with a more relaxed atmosphere. Ecuador's cost of living, coupled with its relaxed visa requirements make it an ideal choice for those who want to live abroad. Furthermore, the country is remarkably diverse with its own unique cultures, landscapes, and people, making it an excellent choice for those who want to explore and experience something different. With its temperate climate, stunning nature, and friendly people, Ecuador is a great choice for expats and digital nomads looking to live and work abroad," said one person in Ecuador.

"This is a tourist town that only has tourists occasionally. Most people do menial jobs," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Bahia de Caraquez.

"People here have one main priority- putting food on the table and caring for their family. They work 7 days a week when they have work. They sell items on the street, bake bread and torts for sale, clean, do general labor or what they can to exist. They are mostly industrious, though there are those few who will loaf, steal, and rob to stay alive. Those with solid jobs then concentrate on their children and homes. The wealthy associate with others like themselves. Most are middle class here- which would be considered dirt poor in the US. I have not met a single discourteous or unkind person toward foreigners. Everyone says Good morning or afternoon as you meet. They are respectful of older persons and help those whom are infirm and need assistence. In many ways it is like the US was back in the 1950's when life was slower, easier going and people had respect for each other," explained one person living in Bahia de Caracruz, Ecuador.

"Salinas is a really nice place. Is like being in Guayaquil, but with a beach nearby, You will find supermarkets, banks, schools, hospitals and many more things than other ecuadorian beach. And a big plus is that is near Guayaquil (the biggest city in Ecuador and main commercial city of the country)," said one expat in Salinas.

"Ibarra is the capitol of Imbabura and as such has many lawyers in the area but it is primarily agricultural with a lot of commerce going on. It is the largest of the cities in this province and offers a lot of night life, greater restaurant selection and a pretty progressive city leadership," remarked one member in Ibarra.

"We are in Puerto Cayo. It is small and I mean small. There are no shopping for groceries or luxury items. It is quiet and on any given day, I am the only person on miles and miles of beach," said one person in Puerto Cayo.

"We made an exploratory trip months before we decided to come and live in Cuenca, Ecuador. We did not really choose the neighborhood we just found the apartment absolutely fell in love with it and the price was just right and the view and everything. It seemed like a good neighborhood as well and we bought it within two weeks of being in this country. To date 18 months later we are still very very happy with our purchase. We have since found it is a great neighborhood close to all amenities but far enough from the centre of the city," said one expat who made the move to Cuenca.

"Fortunately, my company hired a relocation firm. Sanborondon is the upper class, safe, and happening nearby suburb of Guayaquil. It was almost a given that I would live there as an expat with Company-provided housing. The Company also hired a realtor for us who helped with our search options (furnished, gated community, 3 bdrms, spacious, pool). Newspaper ads weren't very helpful at all. Word of mouth or realtors are the way to go," explained one foreigner living in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

"The best way to find a place to live in Ecuador is to visit the country in person. This will allow you to explore different neighborhoods and areas and get a better understanding of the local culture and environment. You can also look into renting an apartment or house from a reliable source. There are numerous real estate agencies and websites that list rental properties in Ecuador, so you should have no trouble finding a place that suits your needs. Additionally, many expats join local Facebook groups and other social media sites to network and search for housing opportunities. Lastly, you could consider connecting with an established property management company that specializes in providing international real estate services," said one in Ecuador.

"Not easy... I was offered a teaching job at PUCE , then denied it when my papers came through very late but I knew the barrio where I wanted to live -- however, it has gone up in price and there were few options available. I walked around in the neighborhood I wanted to finally settle in and found what I need. This is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED way to discover a good apt in Quito," explained one expat in Quito.

"This city has a little of everything. The old and the new blend very well indeed. Lots of great restaurants, lots of music the weather is the best, the mountains are breathtaking, the prices for me are just right. I really have everything here I could ever wish for," explained one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"I have a close friend who is going to move here. He loved his visit here a couple of months ago. I told him that the culture is very different form the US but that is true anywhere in the world. The only way to learn is through immersion into the life here. I took a job consulting for the municipio, another side task of teaching the local kids in our barrio English and I applied to teach at the local University. The more active I am, the faster I get what is going on here. Ibarra is no Quito; it is like most other towns in Ecuador, just a little larger at 150,000 people. My Spanish is constantly improving. Our farm is becoming more productive, our list of freinds is growing. But it all takes lots of time and personal investment of yourself," said one person in Ibarra.

"Still working on that one as I do not care for this town I am living in and is much more primitive than cities," said one person in Bahia de Caraquez.

"Ecuador is a better place to learn Spanish. In Spain they want to practice their English. In Ecuador they mostly don't speak English. Read up on the Inca empire and its encounter with the Spanish in the 16th century. Some of the roads you'll travel in Ecuador were Inca trails 700 years ago," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Vilcabamba.

"On the whole I have experienced the Ecuadorians to be honest. As a people they are culturally extremely polite. In my estimation they rivel the French with their protocols of politeness. "Buenos días, "Buenas tardes," "buenas noches, " "Saludos." If you don't greet someone, they feel slighted. And they address you by title, "don Ernesto". "doña Maria". o "mi señora linda". which is something we would never dare say in the north "my pretty lady."," explained one person living in Cotacachi, Ecuador.

"Expatriates in Ecuador appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Ecuadorian people and their willingness to share conversation and demonstrate their culture. They also enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities and the various cultural events, like music festivals, parades and national holidays that take place across the country. The rich array of local cuisine is also a favorite among expats in Ecuador and they are also appreciative of the unique architecture, from colonial and neo-classical styles, to the mid-century modern and Indigenous varieties. Finally, being surrounded by such gorgeous landscapes and the abundance of flora and fauna found throughout Ecuador is something many expats can't help but appreciate," said one expat in Ecuador.

"More relaxed generally, people are very friendly and helpful. More tranquil way of life. Fresher food," remarked one member in Salinas.

"Although scrupulously polite, I have not found the Ecuadorian people to be particularly friendly or outgoing. And they are extremely protective of their privacy. Which is why they often live behind eight-foot-high walls with wire or broken bottles on top. Whether the fear is justified or not I can't say, but it seems to infect most everyone. It is very unusual to invite someone into your home, or to be invited. Mostly, in my experience (only one opinion mind you) socializing is done within the family, not by getting together with friends to tell stories and share meals. That is one difference I find really hard to take. And they love noise. They honk, they put a big speaker outside each store and blast music assuming that everyone wants to hear. To me it is a form of polution, pure and simple. Give me quiet any day," said one person in Cotacachi.

"Not knowing the language and the fact that especially in this part of Ecuador, they talk extremely FAST!," said one expat who made the move to Bahia de Caraquez.

"Parties start early and go on all day long. People feel free to just drop by to say hello - nice idea, but very different from what I'm used to, so it still throws me a bit. Anything to do with government or banking is mired in red tape and moves slowly. Banks are particularly frustrating because they act as if they really don't care if they have your business or not," explained one foreigner living in Salinas, Ecuador.

"Expatriates in Ecuador often find the local customs, habits, and language to be difficult to adjust to. For many, the unfamiliarity of the country can be an intimidating factor and the cultural norms can be confusing. Additionally, communicating with locals in Spanish can be difficult for expats who have limited Spanish language proficiency. Moreover, the formality and emphasis on religion found throughout Ecuadorian culture can be a source of culture shock for expats accustomed to cultures that emphasize individual autonomy and secular values," said one in Ecuador.

"Think it was an long term tourist visa for more than 6 month (90 days upon entry and 3 month extension is easy) I needed bank account with about $7000 in it to prove I had resources to stay. Problem was chicken and egg. Had to have cedula to get account opened and had to have account to get visa to get cedula. Did an informal workaround but ended up getting different visa. Trying to prove usa resources for a visa is difficult as the government here wants all kinds of certificates with apostilles for your Financials. Only works with Social Security. As you may or may not know, apostilles are verifications of government issued documents and banks in the USA are privately owned (not owned by government) so any usa bank document cannot be apostilled. Their laws apparently allow them to apostille their bank documents for use outside of Ecuador but usa rules do not allow the same. Also the certificates they want do not exist in usa banking practice," said one expat who made the move to Ecuador.

"It is important to respect Ecuadorian customs when visiting the country. Trying to save face is valued highly, so it is best to remain calm and avoid any confrontational behavior. In conversations it is important to be aware of the local language and customs, being sure to avoid making jokes or being overly familiar. Ecuador is a conservative country, so it is best to dress modestly, particularly when visiting religious sites. Greeting people with a kiss on the cheek is popular and should be done according to the country's gender-based norms. Food is important to Ecuadorian culture, so it is polite to finish what is on your plate and wait for the host to indicate dessert, rather than helping yourself," remarked one member in Ecuador.

"I discovered the word "embarazado" does not translate to "embarrassed." Go ahead, look it up -- and save yourself," explained one expat living in Anconcito, Ecuador.

"One important point to make that might make a difference: My Spanish is fluent so all of my conversations with doctors are in their native language, not mine. I never even ask if they speak English, and I don't know how many there are that do and to what degree. Another interesting point is more of a cultural difference. My wife accompanies me to all my doctor's visits and I to hers. We both address the issues with the doctors and are privy to their explanations. I find that very comforting. And there are times when I can't understand the doctor because of regional dialects and the ever-present masks and my wife, who speaks no English, doesn't translate, but rather paraphrases into language I can understand. Between the three of us clear communication usually results," remarked one member in Cotacachi.

"If you need medical care and have good knowledge of Spanish, the state system IESS may be your choice, however if you are retired they raised the rates to about 17.5% of retirement income. I have cheap (low quality) insurance which reportedly doesn't pay, which is fine for me because I would rather pay 45 per month for insurance that I can't use than 75/mo for insurance I won't use," explained one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"This is the best medical care in terms of caring for you and really identifying the best way to correct the medical issues of people. Doctors really care for their patients, and spend time talking and testing for the real problem and thus coming up with a real solution to your specific issue. And all done at a bargain price," said one digital nomad in Cuenca.

"Do sign up for IESS national healthcare. Note that as of July 2017 the rate will be based on Verified Income. The rate will be 17.6% and an additional 2.4% per dependent. An expat on $1200 Social Security with one dependent would therefore pay $240 a month for Health coverage," commented a person living in Montanita, Ecuador.

"Choose carefully where you plan to live. In many Ecuador cities emergency care is often very limited or even non-existent. As we age good quality emergency care can mean to live or die. The same goes with good quality health care in general. Many small cities lack more than one doctor and medicines and supplies can be difficult to obtain in an emergency. This also happens with dentists as well. I suffered an injury to a tooth and had to travel for over an hour to find a dentist that could provide the needed treatment. And as we age we may find that the uneven pavement (or lack of pavement) in most Ecuadorian cities and towns will become a hazard to getting around. Again, choose carefully where you live," explained one digital nomad living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Expats and digital nomads often appreciate the affordability of living in Ecuador. The cost of living is much lower than in many other countries, making it an attractive option for those looking to stretch their budget. Additionally, the country is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes mountains, making it a great place to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Expats and digital nomads also enjoy the friendly and welcoming culture of Ecuador, which makes it easy to settle in and make friends. On the downside, the infrastructure in Ecuador can be lacking in some areas, making it difficult to access certain services. Additionally, the language barrier can be a challenge for those who don't speak Spanish," explained one digital nomad living in Ecuador.