Excellent heads up information about living off the grid here. When I initially was researching places to live I fantasized about how wonderful it would be to live on a small farm out in the middle of nowhere but fortunately common sense kicked in and I realized that I would be presenting myself as a target by doing so. Great to see you both again even if it is just on a video. 😊
THANKS for being so honest abt ur experience. I realize that the abundant living channel are a little rose colored because they're selling eeal estate.
Great information, given with a smile! I agree that 20 years from now, you will look back and laugh. We have been traveling for 30 now and have many things we can look back on and say ' were we always crazy!'. Hope Cotacachi is your place, we are headed to Cuenca in two weeks. Take care
Nice to see you pop up again. So I've been living in Cuenca for almost three years and know that if I wasn't living here I'd leave Ecuador all together. Ecuador is a beautiful country but Cuenca is the only place viable here for me to live in. Good luck in Cotacachi.
Would love to hear abt 1) ur process how u chose Malacatos over Vilcabamba and what the differences might be between the two places. 2) Also, how dangerous are the fires down south? I think I'd prefer volcanos to wildfires. Wildfires can be so dangerous
I think it would take an especially open and selfless local not to get upset with the situation you describe in the country. I think you offer some great insight in this video. Cotacachi has a number of great coffee shops :-).
Everyone I have spoken with there or in Colombia havve never understood why we want to come there. They really can't grasp that us retirees from the US often can't afford to live here except in a very minimal state.
What about the difference in the climate between Malacatos and Cotacachi? I guess, Malacatos is a bit warmer than Cotacachi. But where is more sun? And more rain?
Hi Freddy! Yes, Malacatos is much warmer being approx 3,000 feet lower. An odd thing living in the Sierras is that during the midday sun on a clear day the sun feels hotter...It is sunnier here in Cotacachi than Cuenca and even more sun in Malacatos. Personally a little cloudy is more comfortable with a breeze in a hammock 😉 Rain is hard to quantify, but it stays greener in Cotacachi than Malacatos. The South is very brown in the dry season ✌️
Thank you for your answer. When I like a dry and sunny climate, with moderates temperatures from 15° C. in the morning to about 25 ° at midday, which destination to you recommand? Loja/Vilcabamba, Cuenca or Cotacachi/Ibarra?
I have been waiting for this one too. Do you find the security, and noise level, similar, so far in Cotacachi? Would you feel safe living outside a gated community in Cotacachi? We visited the the south, Cuenca and Quito this year, but didn't make it up to Cotacachi. Next trip😊
I would say the biggest difference in the noise level comes from a difference in music. In Cotacachi the music is indigenous. It's still loud on the weekends, sometimes they go until past sunrise, but it doesn't feel quite as invasive as the music we heard down south. Noise from gardeners is ubiquitous. They do have actual lawn mowers here though so at least it's not 8 hours of weed wacking as it was in the south. Our neighborhood itself is very quiet here, as it was on non-party weekends in Malacatos. We feel safe in Cotacachi. Our neighborhood here is gated but not guarded, it was gated and a 24 hour guard in Malacatos. I wouldn't live in a stand alone home outside of a gated community. A connected home with its own gate/wall would probably be ok. I think everyone probably feels safe until given reason not to. The difference between what we observed in the South vs here seems to be in the level of violence/confrontation. Friends of ours here were walking to the bus stop on an empty street early in the morning a couple of weeks ago. 2 large men came up from behind her and tried to steal her backpack. It was clasped in front of her chest so it didn't come off. She turned around and screamed at them and they ran off. We've only heard of 2 home invasions that people talk about here in the last 15 years. Break ins and petty thefts do happen, but they want to be in and out, they are not looking for any kind of confrontation at all, from what we've been told. Another thing to consider regarding the south is that not all home invasions are reported, either to the police or shared in expat groups. Some people are embarrassed or just want to move on without the attention. Or they know that the police will do very little. One thing that we didn't mention in the video is that we heard of several instances in the south where police were called, but they don't answer. It's one of those places where you feel like you are meant to be, or you don't. The people that love it, love it. It just wasn't the place for us. Hope this helps!
My daughter is a college student who used to run an amazing drive through coffee shop. We will be visiting Vilcabamba this winter to evaluate as potential new home for our family. I will tell her about the need. She is an amazing batista and people love her!
Your message about personal safety really resonated with me. I wondered if you lived in a gated community in Cuenca? Do you think someone could live in Cuenca and not live in a gated community and still be relatively safe?
Hi Jeanie! We did not live in a gated community in Cuenca, but it was a very nice neighborhood and the people watched out for each other. Being isolated or your own island in between other small farms is way more difficult to secure. Cuenca has many safe neighborhoods 🙏✌️
Glad to see y'all again. I was full-on moving to Ecuador about a year ago, but now I'm reassessing - not for any negativities about the country, but more because of trying to find a place that I can have more access to my children and extended family. Ecuador is still on the list, and I'm glad for your videos and info!
I normally love your videos but I hear lots of generalizing and condescending comments in this video about Ecuador. You are guests in another country and perhaps connecting to locals and building community would make a difference and widen your perspective. I feel safer anywhere in Ecuador than in the US where mass shootings are a regular occurrence!
Thanks 🙏🏼 y’all
Love your channel and views ! You both have great vids and never fail to make me laugh!
Muchas gracias John 🙏✌️
I have been waiting for this one. Pretty much reaffirmed what I suspected about southern Ecuador. Thanks Paul
It's still worth a visit, just fly into and out of the Catamayo (Loja) airport and stay at Izhcayluma eco resort ✌️
As always, thanks for your perspectives.
Thanks millions fir a good, honest and informative video - including thevwords you don't say 🌹🌹🌹!!
I truly appreciate your honesty 🙏
Hello my dear Flynns, missed ya. Thanks for bringing the "nitty" to the gritty. Hugs 🫂
Thanks Brinkly 🙏✌️
Excellent heads up information about living off the grid here. When I initially was researching places to live I fantasized about how wonderful it would be to live on a small farm out in the middle of nowhere but fortunately common sense kicked in and I realized that I would be presenting myself as a target by doing so. Great to see you both again even if it is just on a video. 😊
You are very wise G3 😉 Hope you are doing well and we look forward to seeing you again ✌️
Great vid!
THANKS for being so honest abt ur experience. I realize that the abundant living channel are a little rose colored because they're selling eeal estate.
Great information, given with a smile! I agree that 20 years from now, you will look back and laugh. We have been traveling for 30 now and have many things we can look back on and say ' were we always crazy!'. Hope Cotacachi is your place, we are headed to Cuenca in two weeks. Take care
Safe and fun travels 😁✌️
Nice to see you pop up again. So I've been living in Cuenca for almost three years and know that if I wasn't living here I'd leave Ecuador all together. Ecuador is a beautiful country but Cuenca is the only place viable here for me to live in. Good luck in Cotacachi.
Would love to hear abt 1) ur process how u chose Malacatos over Vilcabamba and what the differences might be between the two places. 2) Also, how dangerous are the fires down south? I think I'd prefer volcanos to wildfires. Wildfires can be so dangerous
first expats that spoke about the issues down there besides that grumpy gringo fella. good work.
Hello..to both of u..u absolutely right about security & safety. 🇪🇨
Saludos a Lucas ..
Reality Report ! glad to see you again.
I think it would take an especially open and selfless local not to get upset with the situation you describe in the country. I think you offer some great insight in this video. Cotacachi has a number of great coffee shops :-).
Hola JT! It can be tricky on YT if you call it they way you see it and aren't beholden to anyone ✌️
Everyone I have spoken with there or in Colombia havve never understood why we want to come there. They really can't grasp that us retirees from the US often can't afford to live here except in a very minimal state.
What about the difference in the climate between Malacatos and Cotacachi? I guess, Malacatos is a bit warmer than Cotacachi.
But where is more sun? And more rain?
Hi Freddy! Yes, Malacatos is much warmer being approx 3,000 feet lower. An odd thing living in the Sierras is that during the midday sun on a clear day the sun feels hotter...It is sunnier here in Cotacachi than Cuenca and even more sun in Malacatos. Personally a little cloudy is more comfortable with a breeze in a hammock 😉
Rain is hard to quantify, but it stays greener in Cotacachi than Malacatos. The South is very brown in the dry season ✌️
Thank you for your answer.
When I like a dry and sunny climate, with moderates temperatures from 15° C. in the morning to about 25 ° at midday, which destination to you recommand?
Loja/Vilcabamba, Cuenca or Cotacachi/Ibarra?
Did I understand you right: there is more sun in Malacatos than in Cotacachi?
This is why condo living is attractive.
I have been waiting for this one too. Do you find the security, and noise level, similar, so far in Cotacachi? Would you feel safe living outside a gated community in Cotacachi?
We visited the the south, Cuenca and Quito this year, but didn't make it up to Cotacachi. Next trip😊
I would say the biggest difference in the noise level comes from a difference in music. In Cotacachi the music is indigenous. It's still loud on the weekends, sometimes they go until past sunrise, but it doesn't feel quite as invasive as the music we heard down south. Noise from gardeners is ubiquitous. They do have actual lawn mowers here though so at least it's not 8 hours of weed wacking as it was in the south. Our neighborhood itself is very quiet here, as it was on non-party weekends in Malacatos. We feel safe in Cotacachi. Our neighborhood here is gated but not guarded, it was gated and a 24 hour guard in Malacatos. I wouldn't live in a stand alone home outside of a gated community. A connected home with its own gate/wall would probably be ok. I think everyone probably feels safe until given reason not to. The difference between what we observed in the South vs here seems to be in the level of violence/confrontation. Friends of ours here were walking to the bus stop on an empty street early in the morning a couple of weeks ago. 2 large men came up from behind her and tried to steal her backpack. It was clasped in front of her chest so it didn't come off. She turned around and screamed at them and they ran off. We've only heard of 2 home invasions that people talk about here in the last 15 years. Break ins and petty thefts do happen, but they want to be in and out, they are not looking for any kind of confrontation at all, from what we've been told. Another thing to consider regarding the south is that not all home invasions are reported, either to the police or shared in expat groups. Some people are embarrassed or just want to move on without the attention. Or they know that the police will do very little. One thing that we didn't mention in the video is that we heard of several instances in the south where police were called, but they don't answer. It's one of those places where you feel like you are meant to be, or you don't. The people that love it, love it. It just wasn't the place for us. Hope this helps!
My daughter is a college student who used to run an amazing drive through coffee shop. We will be visiting Vilcabamba this winter to evaluate as potential new home for our family. I will tell her about the need. She is an amazing batista and people love her!
Hi: Good to see you again. Question: Cotacachi is surrounded by volcanos. Is that concern you?
Hi fluffy! We believe the volcanoes are dormant, but if not it will be a wild ride 🙏✌️
You are way too real to be successful influencers, LOL. I love you.
Thank you ... But, we will take a little success as well 😉🙏✌️
Good reminders one and all. It’s better to be inconsistent posters than consistent posers. We look forward to catching up someday. :-)
Good to hear from you BD! Hope all is well and we look forward to seeing you and the family again ✌️
Your message about personal safety really resonated with me. I wondered if you lived in a gated community in Cuenca? Do you think someone could live in Cuenca and not live in a gated community and still be relatively safe?
Hi Jeanie! We did not live in a gated community in Cuenca, but it was a very nice neighborhood and the people watched out for each other. Being isolated or your own island in between other small farms is way more difficult to secure. Cuenca has many safe neighborhoods 🙏✌️
Encontrar a alguien que le guste este tipo de vida seria perfecto, living the semi free life. Lol
Glad to see y'all again. I was full-on moving to Ecuador about a year ago, but now I'm reassessing - not for any negativities about the country, but more because of trying to find a place that I can have more access to my children and extended family. Ecuador is still on the list, and I'm glad for your videos and info!
I don't think that Ecuador is right for me.
That's Ok and It's understandable 🙏✌️
I normally love your videos but I hear lots of generalizing and condescending comments in this video about Ecuador. You are guests in another country and perhaps connecting to locals and building community would make a difference and widen your perspective. I feel safer anywhere in Ecuador than in the US where mass shootings are a regular occurrence!
Thank you for your feedback. We can see how a video mainly focused on safety and security could trigger misunderstandings of a bigger picture.