Wow. We're almost there. It's hard to believe. Last little details are being taken care of. We've sold our house, all our goods are in storage. This time next month, we'll be in Ecuador.
I like the positiveness you have about Ecuador.. No place is like home people should have that in mind. I’m not moving to Ecuador but I will be visiting after 55 years away.
Never forget that foreigners get "culture shock" when travelling in the US as well. That should give us pause when we travel abroad and start to make judgements, because Americans tend to live in a vaccuum and don't consider that our culture is just as shocking to an outsider, just in other, and not necessarily positive ways.
Love the vid. Did this in 2016, spending a month in Loja to see if i could live there. Wanted to live like a local and avoid expat communities, but still had a 20 min bus ride to Vilcabamba if I wanted expat company. Loved Loja, about 250,000 but felt smaller. 6k elevation in southern Andes, so weather was always temperate. 3-4 hour ride to Guayaquil and the beaches. Located at least a couple hundred miles from any volcano zone. Couple hour bus ride to the Amazon basin if that caught your fancy. Availability of CHEAP fresh fruits and veggies was out of this world. Other standard grocery stuff is pretty expensive as it all has to be imported. Friendly people. Make an effort to learn "survival" spanish---the locals appreciate it. And here's a biggie: CARRY CHANGE. A lot of small bills. Large stores no problem, but smaller merchants don't often carry much change, and just like the US, banks will not give you a lot of change unless you have an account with them. They'll give some, but begrudgingly. Don't be afraid to swallow your fear and ride the local city buses. Great way to immerse yourself in the culture, and don't let language limitations dissuade you. Certain phrases and a lot of arm waving go a long way. Have patience: things don't happen as quickly. Not many multi-lane freeways/expressways, and a lot of trucks, so your journey, even for small distances, will take longer than planned.
For a second I thought, "JP seems overly excited about seeing two cans" (Sorry for the dad joke, I could'n resist) - Nah! Mindo is one of my favourite places in Ecuador!
Top notch-top of the line video for anyone thinking of moving to Ecuador...or anyplace else! Lots of common sense tips for anyone thinking of moving to another land. Amelia and JP would be great employees of the Ecuadorian Chambers of Commerce. 😃
Hello, love your videos. My gf and I are moving sometime next year. I'm a returning Ecuadorian and we are definitely looking forward to living down there.
I'm "Jelly!" I've lived in South America (Colombia) and can't wait to return! Like you guys in Ecuador, I enjoyed the different culture and the much lower cost of living! I also loved that people in the andean region are non conftontational and usually very nice. Not feeling the love in NY!😭
@@amywalker7515 True, but I wasn't referring to the politics. More the cultural differences. People downrange are less conftontational and easier to deal with regardless of their political beliefs. Also, it's nice walking out the door every day and not having to spend tons of money for just living! When I lived in Colombia, I lived twice the better and spent HALF LESS! The trick is to make a U.S. based income. "Dolares" goes a long way down there and I never missed the U.S. creature comforts because I had more in Colombia. I miss being there and will return since I'm now retired. The other hidden benefit is that you get away from U.S. POLITICS 😅
Thank you for another amazing videos, but here is my 2 cents; I don’t think anyone would know if they like a place by visiting it. Even if I change my neighbourhood, and I visit it ahead of time, I wouldn’t know until I actually start living in it. First impressions aren’t always right. What I may love could turn out to be what I hate after living there and vice versa. Unless money isn’t an issue, moving around and deciding where is the cheapest place one can afford can’t happen during short exploration. I think, again it’s my humble opinion, that the major factor for moving should be for more important reasons that could suit my purpose and my family’s wellbeing.
Rachel & I are working with Gringo Visas to get our Professional Visas. Our move out/fly into Ecuador day is June 4th. We already bought the private insure to ensure that we are fully covered by the time we arrive. Your videos were very influential in helping us choose Apartamentos Otorongos for the first 90 days. I thank you so much for your videos and recommendations. You have made it so much smoother for us!!!
I'm from the U.S., my husband is from Ecuador. We've made many visits to see his family from Quito, to Ambato, to Puyo and Tena, but now we are starting plans to move to Ecuador as we approach retirement. I've only been a three weeks-at-a-time visitor or a tourist, of sorts. Family visits can feel like business trips, they provide limited experience with leisure. We are planning property tours, fincas, actually, this summer. Both of us want to be away from cities. I'm not sure if I'll be successful creating a new life in a new culture. Your videos help answer my many questions of day-to-day domestic routines and creature comforts. thanks for all the variety of topics and interviews with various professionals.
Thanks guys! I felt you shot this just for us...lol! We're planning on coming down in either June or September for our discovery visit. We're going to rent a car and work the coast.
Hi Amelia & JP. I'm still not planning on moving to Ecuador, but this video was very informative! Some very nice tips. The one I like the best was, '...just select 2 cities to explore thoroughly...'. Nice job!
Let’s include Cotocachi in the conversation , it has a large expat community in a pretty mountain town , very near Otovalo with the famous artisan market , an area rich in indigenous culture .
Lo explicáis todo muy bien,debe ser genial para un extranjero tener ese apoyo de información Gracias por mostrar esos lugares con encanto de mi bello país
I love Quito and Cuenca because I love the cool weather. I'm Ecuadorian born and I have dual citizenship THanks for your awesome videos!!!. Banos is beautiful in Quito and in Cuenca. And yes! Ecuador is a very diverse country!
Another fantastic and informative video! Thanks so much for all that you do to help provide everyone with great information and answers to common questions!
I lived in Ecuador for two years from 1992 until '94, your videos are so inspirational to me, and remind of me how fortunate I was to live in Guayaquil, Loja, Cuenca, Machala, and Azogues. Thank you for taking the time to create all of these amazing videos and keep my memories alive until I can return again. The people, the culture, and the country changed me from being an American to a global citizen. Keep up the fantastic work!!!!
We were concerned on an exploratory trip we could get stuck with COVID travel restrictions. We did our tours on TH-cam and found your videos very informative, honest and educational. I totally embraced the coast and knew health care would be more challenging but I sometimes go overboard on the “positive mental attitude” thing. I was hoping to run into you and buy you guys lunch but my wife decided we should relocate to Cuenca for reasons related to my recent cardiac stent placement. Hey. She always was the smarter of us two.
@@AmeliaAndJP I will not lie. I walked the beach and cried like a baby until it dawned on me from Cuenca a trip to the coast is a day trip. Well, ok a weekend trip. My plan is to visit and visit often. Thank you.
Always nice to watch your videos, Ecuador is a beautiful country & you do a great job making us discover it without leaving our homes, thank you Amelia & JP
Felicitaciones me he visto todos sus videos, me han motivado a seguir con mis estudios de Inglés , por si me los encuentro algún día poder charlar. Ustedes hacen más por el Ecuador que el mismo Ministerio de Turismo
GREAT VIDEO ! It is SO important to NOT go "starry eyed" to a foreign nation, especially if you are planning to move there ! Have an AGENDA - and DON'T be in the "tourist mode", where folks spend all their time looking at the typical tourist attractions. You'll have plenty of time for that, IF you decide to become an EXPAT there !
I travelled around Ecuador with Wanderbus and highly recommend it! It was a great hop-on, hop-off experience and was a good overall look at Ecuador and the diverse areas and culture. The staff was great too!
Good tips lots of folks do not realize Quito is almost 9000 feet easy to get altitude illness. Better to fly into Guayaquil (GYE) from abroad and gradually work your way up to altitude over several days stopping at nice places like Cuenca to adjust.
I am not sure if Manta is safer than Guayaquil but what I certainly sure is that Guayaquil has better hospitals, just a small example is that the Mayor of Manta who was really sick with COVID-19 was transfer to one of Hospitals in Guayaquil and many people from other cities comes to Guayaquil to be treated.
Great video; great advise. We did Ecuador Expat Journey's extended tour which went on down to Loja and Vilcabamba instead of ending in Cuenca (their standard tour) back in January 2019. After the tour, we went back to Cuenca as that was the area we were interested in. We looked at a house out in the country SW of Cuenca that we'd already been looking at online. Sold our house in August and moved in September 2019. Stayed at Apartmento Otorongo for a short time while awaiting our container (which did run about $10,000) as we didn't want to move into our empty house. Xavier is great. Very helpful and hospitable. Enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing!
Do a video for single, mature women, planning to move abroad. Please??? I will initially come out with my daughter, then she will head back to her job. I will be abroad on my own. I welcome all tips and suggestions. Thank you both.
Cuenca. For at least two weeks solo. Include a morning Spanish class. Thinking if i were lucky enough to have close to a month, doing hop on off thing i guess from Quito to Cuenca ? I like the idea of Otorongo cause of the kitchen , abd if i do move, could stay again with my cats when settling in. Ill keep the tour in mind! Need a walkable barrio for sure!!! So much good info guys. Will donate soon as more work comes in as you guys deserve it!!
5:40 Would it be possible to subscribe to a streaming service like TH-cam TV, and then get the US Networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, etc ? I know that some VPNs like ExpressVPN allow you to connect like you are in other parts of the world different from where you are physically
Just about 20-30min outside of Manta is the Montecristi Golf Club which is a great course! They are one of the top courses in the country and they even have the new GPS golf carts. I have played the course myself on several occasions and love it! They are open to the public and they also do a membership for added discounts. Hope that helps!
Hi folks! Love your vids. Retired Canadian here, seriously considering Ecuador as a permanent destination. Studying spanish on Duolingo for the past year. I am following the GringoTree website and the Cuenca Expats FB page as well. With so many expats in Cuenca, is there not an established club, or clubhouse there? For things like Thanksgiving, Superbowl parties, Christmas, etc. etc. ? Thanks for the info
Hola Lance! There are a lot of different groups/meetups in Cuenca. There are some bars and restaurants that are popular with the expats as well. Check out gringopost.com for current happenings:)
Hola! Have been binge watching your videos, all very helpful, thank you for the service you're providing. I do have a question. How many times did you visit Cuenca before moving there, and how many times would you recommend? My plan is to sell everything stateside and probably rent a furnished place for at least 6 months before and then decide if I want to rent an unfurnished place and furnish it myself. Any additional insight would be appreciated.
Also remember that it may be possible to get your visa at an Ecuadorean consulate in the US before you move to Ecuador!! That would have saved me months of hassle and frustration.
@@AmeliaAndJP you are situated between two very beautiful countries , Colombia and Peru. Spend time in both. I like your plan.. I planned to.vudut equator in 2020 to study Spanish but spent 2 weeks traveling in Peru which was amazing
The $ 50 and $ 100 bills are not accepted by gas stations or small businesses, because they are easier to falsify and because of drug trafficking (money laundering) since we share the border with Colombia. If you bring bills of that nomination, change them in banks for $ 20 or $ 10 bills - or also in supermarkets.
Sorry to go "off-topic", but I've watched many of your videos. My family and I are about 50 minutes from Marietta. :) Wish we were 50 minutes from Ecuador at this point. ;)
HELLO JP & MRS. AMELIA ... I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ... YOU TWO ARE GREAT TOGATHER ... I WAS LOOKING AT ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS ... IN OLON ... WITH THE LADY'S FROM NEW YORK AND MINNESOTA ... THERE WAS A CASITA ON THE BEACH FOR 350.00 ... WOULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IF THAT IS POSSIBLE .... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AVAILABLE ... THANKS FOR YOUR TIME .... CHOW ....
I’ve been living in Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the past 6 and a half months and love much about it. I’m considering coming to Ecuador for my next destination and would like to stay in a city that has weather comparable to Puerto Vallarta. Also I’ve managed to keep my living expenses to about $800 USD a month. I’m an American and retired can you suggest a place in Ecuador where I might find similar weather and living costs? Thanks!
Liz Savage, where in PV did you live? We are doing our exploratory trip to PV this May-June and staying somewhere close to airport (Airbnb). $800 is very good for PV...
@@yestohappiness2721 I’ve stayed in El Centro and Cinco de Diciembre. Still here btw and I stayed in Colonia Linda Vista, which is real native Mexico but on the outskirts of the city.
@@gadgetgrader well, imo the best time of year to visit Puerto Vallarta is any time, but the rainy season. April through June is the driest time, so otherwise when it rains it’s a really warm rain so it doesn’t really bother you. In late summer it’s really hot every day for months, so you’re going to perspire profusely. I left PV the end of March, so I haven’t been watching the weather there. I’m in Cuenca, Ecuador now and it’s much cooler, in fact by my standards there is no summer here at all, but this weather has given me the opportunity to wear warmer clothing, so I’m not bored with my wardrobe. I got to buy some new clothes! Lol! Enjoy PV!
You mentioned Manta as a city on the tour, but you alwaya mention Quito as the city to fly into. Doesn't Manta have an international airport that US travelers could travel to (or maybe there are no flights from Miami to Manta)?
Many cities located in the mountains have issues around air pollution (I'm talking about you, Mexico City and to a lesser extent Medellin). Is this an issue with Cuenca?
Everything looks so great definitely when you have a good retirement plan the cost of living in Ecuador is cheap compared with United say I hope when I move to that country thing still the same good luck guys enjoy
Great info, thank you!!! We are semi-retiring in a couple years and are considering Ecuador. Question about working there . . . We own/operate a small tax practice here in the state. We will retain a few clients. Are foreigners required to pay Ecadorian income tax on income earned (while in Ecuador) from US clients? Also, can we use staffing agencies to hire locals or digital nomads?
Looks like your knee has recovered. Congratulations. I’m looking for something unconventional in Ecuador. I would like to rent a room in the home of a former primary school teacher who is retired and who is willing to teach me Spanish four hours a day until I become fluent. I would prefer a room and board but I could cook for myself if necessary. Any website I can visit to find something like this?
how about a self guided motorcycle tour? We are thinking of going with Ecuador freedom rides for maybe an 11 day trip around the country. Interested in your thoughts on this idea, thanks
With looming runaway inflation in the US, and looking at the postings beneath , I get the feeling a lot of folks are jumping the ship. Am I getting this right ?
Is it possible to find homes to rent near Cuenca that allow 2 large dogs, Pyrenees for example? The big white fluffy dogs? I have two, one 80 lbs and another mix at 60? Are there fences on properties?
Is there a water filtration system that I can bring down to Ecuador so that I can avoid using bottle water? Obviously it would be a small self contained device. Thanks.
Wow. We're almost there. It's hard to believe. Last little details are being taken care of. We've sold our house, all our goods are in storage. This time next month, we'll be in Ecuador.
Woohoo!!!
@@AmeliaAndJP - Joy and trepidation are seldom so mingled. But if there were no risk, there'd be no fun and no good stories, eh? Venga!
welcome to Ecuador
@@JorgeMurillo777 Gracias!
What about a mobelity scooter ? what about handicap people ?
They must have some law's.
You guys are really great!!! we look forward to returning to Ecuador! Hope to see you soon!
Thank you!
I like the positiveness you have about Ecuador.. No place is like home people should have that in mind. I’m not moving to Ecuador but I will be visiting after 55 years away.
Never forget that foreigners get "culture shock" when travelling in the US as well. That should give us pause when we travel abroad and start to make judgements, because Americans tend to live in a vaccuum and don't consider that our culture is just as shocking to an outsider, just in other, and not necessarily positive ways.
Excellent point!
Very well said!
you want to hear a shocker???? Many foreigners also get the trots when they come to the states!!!!
Amazing how much info you guys are able to give. Love you both.
Thanks for watching!
Love the vid. Did this in 2016, spending a month in Loja to see if i could live there. Wanted to live like a local and avoid expat communities, but still had a 20 min bus ride to Vilcabamba if I wanted expat company. Loved Loja, about 250,000 but felt smaller. 6k elevation in southern Andes, so weather was always temperate. 3-4 hour ride to Guayaquil and the beaches. Located at least a couple hundred miles from any volcano zone. Couple hour bus ride to the Amazon basin if that caught your fancy. Availability of CHEAP fresh fruits and veggies was out of this world. Other standard grocery stuff is pretty expensive as it all has to be imported. Friendly people. Make an effort to learn "survival" spanish---the locals appreciate it. And here's a biggie: CARRY CHANGE. A lot of small bills. Large stores no problem, but smaller merchants don't often carry much change, and just like the US, banks will not give you a lot of change unless you have an account with them. They'll give some, but begrudgingly. Don't be afraid to swallow your fear and ride the local city buses. Great way to immerse yourself in the culture, and don't let language limitations dissuade you. Certain phrases and a lot of arm waving go a long way. Have patience: things don't happen as quickly. Not many multi-lane freeways/expressways, and a lot of trucks, so your journey, even for small distances, will take longer than planned.
Excellent insight, thanks!
The information you two provide is priceless.
Wow, thanks Amy!
For a second I thought, "JP seems overly excited about seeing two cans" (Sorry for the dad joke, I could'n resist) - Nah! Mindo is one of my favourite places in Ecuador!
Top notch-top of the line video for anyone thinking of moving to Ecuador...or anyplace else! Lots of common sense tips for anyone thinking of moving to another land. Amelia and JP would be great employees of the Ecuadorian Chambers of Commerce. 😃
Thank you!
I'll be in Cuenca on May 1. Thanks for all your inspiring videos.
You are Becoming Ecuadorian Superstars
Wow, thanks!
This was a great video, packed with valuable information. Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Hello, love your videos. My gf and I are moving sometime next year. I'm a returning Ecuadorian and we are definitely looking forward to living down there.
That's great!
I'm "Jelly!" I've lived in South America (Colombia) and can't wait to return! Like you guys in Ecuador, I enjoyed the different culture and the much lower cost of living! I also loved that people in the andean region are non conftontational and usually very nice. Not feeling the love in NY!😭
It's not NY. It's the entire USA. Too divided right now.
@@amywalker7515 True, but I wasn't referring to the politics. More the cultural differences. People downrange are less conftontational and easier to deal with regardless of their political beliefs. Also, it's nice walking out the door every day and not having to spend tons of money for just living! When I lived in Colombia, I lived twice the better and spent HALF LESS! The trick is to make a U.S. based income. "Dolares" goes a long way down there and I never missed the U.S. creature comforts because I had more in Colombia. I miss being there and will return since I'm now retired. The other hidden benefit is that you get away from U.S. POLITICS 😅
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU..SO FULL OF GREAT TIPS, FULL OF LIFE THANK YOU..SO INSPIRING...AND FUN!
Thanks so much!
Great advice, and I enjoy your cheerfulness.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for another amazing videos, but here is my 2 cents; I don’t think anyone would know if they like a place by visiting it. Even if I change my neighbourhood, and I visit it ahead of time, I wouldn’t know until I actually start living in it. First impressions aren’t always right. What I may love could turn out to be what I hate after living there and vice versa. Unless money isn’t an issue, moving around and deciding where is the cheapest place one can afford can’t happen during short exploration. I think, again it’s my humble opinion, that the major factor for moving should be for more important reasons that could suit my purpose and my family’s wellbeing.
Rachel & I are working with Gringo Visas to get our Professional Visas. Our move out/fly into Ecuador day is June 4th. We already bought the private insure to ensure that we are fully covered by the time we arrive. Your videos were very influential in helping us choose Apartamentos Otorongos for the first 90 days. I thank you so much for your videos and recommendations. You have made it so much smoother for us!!!
That's great Betsy! We're excited for you!!
Best of luck!
I'm from the U.S., my husband is from Ecuador. We've made many visits to see his family from Quito, to Ambato, to Puyo and Tena, but now we are starting plans to move to Ecuador as we approach retirement. I've only been a three weeks-at-a-time visitor or a tourist, of sorts. Family visits can feel like business trips, they provide limited experience with leisure. We are planning property tours, fincas, actually, this summer. Both of us want to be away from cities. I'm not sure if I'll be successful creating a new life in a new culture. Your videos help answer my many questions of day-to-day domestic routines and creature comforts. thanks for all the variety of topics and interviews with various professionals.
We're happy to hear our videos are helpful!
Hi JP, I saw your vid was 15 minutes, so I took a shot:) Thanks.
Great information. I'm planning my exploratory trip for the month of December. Thank you so much for your work and all the resources!
Our pleasure!
You two are so much fun...............I always laugh with you - like - "Unless you want to live in the Galapagos....." lol
You are so helpful, love what you offer about the whole Ecuador….thank you!!
Thanks guys! I felt you shot this just for us...lol! We're planning on coming down in either June or September for our discovery visit. We're going to rent a car and work the coast.
Good luck!
Hi Amelia & JP. I'm still not planning on moving to Ecuador, but this video was very informative! Some very nice tips. The one I like the best was, '...just select 2 cities to explore thoroughly...'. Nice job!
Glad it was helpful!
Good advice, thanks for that Amelia and JP.
Thanks Dave!
Let’s include Cotocachi in the conversation , it has a large expat community in a pretty mountain town , very near Otovalo with the famous artisan market , an area rich in indigenous culture .
We can't wait to visit Cotocachi!
@@AmeliaAndJP i think you’ll enjoy it ..I used to live there , now I live in Cuenca
Great info!!!!! I think the Ecuador Hop tour sounds perfect for us, that may be what we do on our first visit
Glad it was helpful!
Lo explicáis todo muy bien,debe ser genial para un extranjero tener ese apoyo de información
Gracias por mostrar esos lugares con encanto de mi bello país
Best video to date for me. Thanks.
Wow, thanks!
Always nice videos.
Thanks Hans!
I wanna go to Mindo. Just hang out and create some art around beautiful critters. Your videos are such a treasure!
We want to go there too!
I love Quito and Cuenca because I love the cool weather. I'm Ecuadorian born and I have dual citizenship THanks for your awesome videos!!!. Banos is beautiful in Quito and in Cuenca. And yes! Ecuador is a very diverse country!
Thanks for sharing. Great tips!
Thanks for watching!
OMG, was not expecting to see a cameo of Paul in your video! Tell him hello from Jennifer.
I SO look forward to being able to put my exploratory trip into motion!!!
Yay!!!
I think there are some excellent deals on airfare right now.
Found a cheep flight out of LA the 20th of this month one stop in Florida, ck it out amer and jet blue if that's your area.
I just love you guys. If I come to Equidor I want You as my guide. Nobody else. I trust you and only you. 😁
Wow, thanks!
Another fantastic and informative video! Thanks so much for all that you do to help provide everyone with great information and answers to common questions!
Happy to help!
I'm in Colorado Springs expecting (12-18 inches) a huge snowstorm tomorrow. The governor has activated the national guard. I wish I was there.
Stay warm! Hopefully the storm won't be too bad.
I lived in Ecuador for two years from 1992 until '94, your videos are so inspirational to me, and remind of me how fortunate I was to live in Guayaquil, Loja, Cuenca, Machala, and Azogues. Thank you for taking the time to create all of these amazing videos and keep my memories alive until I can return again. The people, the culture, and the country changed me from being an American to a global citizen. Keep up the fantastic work!!!!
Wow, thank you!
Good job. Still think about the move. Great video to get a good plan in place.
Yes! Thank you!
We were concerned on an exploratory trip we could get stuck with COVID travel restrictions. We did our tours on TH-cam and found your videos very informative, honest and educational. I totally embraced the coast and knew health care would be more challenging but I sometimes go overboard on the “positive mental attitude” thing. I was hoping to run into you and buy you guys lunch but my wife decided we should relocate to Cuenca for reasons related to my recent cardiac stent placement. Hey. She always was the smarter of us two.
The good news is you can always visit the coast! Hope you are doing TJ :)
@@AmeliaAndJP I will not lie. I walked the beach and cried like a baby until it dawned on me from Cuenca a trip to the coast is a day trip. Well, ok a weekend trip. My plan is to visit and visit often. Thank you.
Always nice to watch your videos, Ecuador is a beautiful country & you do a great job making us discover it without leaving our homes, thank you Amelia & JP
Glad you like them!
Felicitaciones me he visto todos sus videos, me han motivado a seguir con mis estudios de Inglés , por si me los encuentro algún día poder charlar. Ustedes hacen más por el Ecuador que el mismo Ministerio de Turismo
¡Muchísimas gracias Luis! Mucha suerte con tus estudios de inglés 😊
Thank you, Great information.
Thanks for watching!
Lived in Loja Dec 2017-July 2020
GREAT VIDEO ! It is SO important to NOT go "starry eyed" to a foreign nation, especially if you are planning to move there !
Have an AGENDA - and DON'T be in the "tourist mode", where folks spend all their time looking at the typical tourist attractions.
You'll have plenty of time for that, IF you decide to become an EXPAT there !
Mary A exactly!
Thanks a lot for your nice Videos. I think you are the best ambassadors of this country.❤️ Greetings from Switzerland.
Thank you! 😃
I travelled around Ecuador with Wanderbus and highly recommend it! It was a great hop-on, hop-off experience and was a good overall look at Ecuador and the diverse areas and culture. The staff was great too!
Thanks for sharing!
Already thinking about an exploratory trip and just like magic, you took the guesswork out of it for me. Gracias.
Great to hear!
Amelia, tienes un color de piel muy bonito.
¡Gracias!
SUCH a great, information- packed video! Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks for watching!
The writing is definitely on the wall. JP & Amelia are clearly buying a house in or near Manta!
Nope! We aren't buying anything because we want to live in other parts of EC:)
@@AmeliaAndJP Oh, I got it wrong! Well I hope you guys enjoy other areas. Can't wait to see your videos!
Great video, so exited about our exploratory trip next month!
Good tips lots of folks do not realize Quito is almost 9000 feet easy to get altitude illness. Better to fly into Guayaquil (GYE) from abroad and gradually work your way up to altitude over several days stopping at nice places like Cuenca to adjust.
Hi JP and Amelia. Could you do a video about... Soccer in Ecuador! Top teams, best soccer cities, ticket buying, etc.
Hola Mike. We love that idea! Thanks!!
I am not sure if Manta is safer than Guayaquil but what I certainly sure is that Guayaquil has better hospitals, just a small example is that the Mayor of Manta who was really sick with COVID-19 was transfer to one of Hospitals in Guayaquil and many people from other cities comes to Guayaquil to be treated.
Love your videos..and I am seriously thinking about making the move someday..thanks for your postings!!
Do you know if these buses like wander bus allow pets. We travel with an small ESA Dog
You didn't mention anything about the virus or vaccine. Can you talk about that issue soon !
Great video; great advise. We did Ecuador Expat Journey's extended tour which went on down to Loja and Vilcabamba instead of ending in Cuenca (their standard tour) back in January 2019. After the tour, we went back to Cuenca as that was the area we were interested in. We looked at a house out in the country SW of Cuenca that we'd already been looking at online. Sold our house in August and moved in September 2019. Stayed at Apartmento Otorongo for a short time while awaiting our container (which did run about $10,000) as we didn't want to move into our empty house. Xavier is great. Very helpful and hospitable. Enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your journey!
Do a video for single, mature women, planning to move abroad. Please??? I will initially come out with my daughter, then she will head back to her job. I will be abroad on my own. I welcome all tips and suggestions. Thank you both.
I plan on doing the same in the next few months! Trying to learn all I can in the meantime..
You guys are awesome and fair. Not too sure about the expat posts by “mr second passport” what do you think about his posts?
Now if I can only convince my wife!
I convinced my husband ;)
If I was a little younger.....
I love the year round climate in Cuenca
Cuenca. For at least two weeks solo. Include a morning Spanish class. Thinking if i were lucky enough to have close to a month, doing hop on off thing i guess from Quito to Cuenca ? I like the idea of Otorongo cause of the kitchen , abd if i do move, could stay again with my cats when settling in. Ill keep the tour in mind! Need a walkable barrio for sure!!! So much good info guys. Will donate soon as more work comes in as you guys deserve it!!
Gracias!
5:40 Would it be possible to subscribe to a streaming service like TH-cam TV, and then get the US Networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, etc ? I know that some VPNs like ExpressVPN allow you to connect like you are in other parts of the world different from where you are physically
We have a video about that here: th-cam.com/video/DS9Bh4w8M1I/w-d-xo.html
Do you know anything about golf in Ecuador? I'm an avid golfer. Thanks
Just about 20-30min outside of Manta is the Montecristi Golf Club which is a great course! They are one of the top courses in the country and they even have the new GPS golf carts. I have played the course myself on several occasions and love it! They are open to the public and they also do a membership for added discounts. Hope that helps!
Hi folks! Love your vids. Retired Canadian here, seriously considering Ecuador as a permanent destination. Studying spanish on Duolingo for the past year. I am following the GringoTree website and the Cuenca Expats FB page as well. With so many expats in Cuenca, is there not an established club, or clubhouse there? For things like Thanksgiving, Superbowl parties, Christmas, etc. etc. ? Thanks for the info
Hola Lance! There are a lot of different groups/meetups in Cuenca. There are some bars and restaurants that are popular with the expats as well. Check out gringopost.com for current happenings:)
Once you figure out where to live, do you recommend renting or buying a home?
I would say rent for a year then decide on buying, just my opinion.
Did u wire your money to a Ecuatorian bank or just used American Bank, how tax work or did u get any credit from US gov Thanks
Thank you very much !
You are welcome!
If Amelia shows me the way!
Hola! Have been binge watching your videos, all very helpful, thank you for the service you're providing. I do have a question. How many times did you visit Cuenca before moving there, and how many times would you recommend? My plan is to sell everything stateside and probably rent a furnished place for at least 6 months before and then decide if I want to rent an unfurnished place and furnish it myself. Any additional insight would be appreciated.
We visited Cuenca once for 8 days. That was enough for us.
Also remember that it may be possible to get your visa at an Ecuadorean consulate in the US before you move to Ecuador!! That would have saved me months of hassle and frustration.
Good point Rachel!
Do you still living in CUENCA, ECUADOR? And just exploring all Ecuador??
🙏🙏🙏
We live on the coast now but we still plan to live in other parts of EC.
I have spent most of my life living just like the citizens of Ecuador.
Question: can you see yourselves living in Ecuador long term? Are you still in the " honeymoon" phase?
We love it here and our plan is to live here long term. We want to visit other countries but keep EC as our home base.
@@AmeliaAndJP you are situated between two very beautiful countries , Colombia and Peru. Spend time in both. I like your plan.. I planned to.vudut equator in 2020 to study Spanish but spent 2 weeks traveling in Peru which was amazing
I travel back and forth to Ecuador. I am in Santa Elena, on the coast, at the moment and the internet is good. They have fiber optic cables.
I've heard you should bring small bills if coming from the US. Probably nothing over a $10 bill.
The $ 50 and $ 100 bills are not accepted by gas stations or small businesses, because they are easier to falsify and because of drug trafficking (money laundering) since we share the border with Colombia. If you bring bills of that nomination, change them in banks for $ 20 or $ 10 bills - or also in supermarkets.
Sorry to go "off-topic", but I've watched many of your videos. My family and I are about 50 minutes from Marietta. :)
Wish we were 50 minutes from Ecuador at this point. ;)
Maybe one day!
Do you have any videos on used furniture or consignment stores?
Not yet!
You guys look fantastic. There must not be too much stress in your lives. I am considering taking the trip.
Go for it!
HELLO JP & MRS. AMELIA ... I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ... YOU TWO ARE GREAT TOGATHER ... I WAS LOOKING AT ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS ... IN OLON ... WITH THE LADY'S FROM NEW YORK AND MINNESOTA ... THERE WAS A CASITA ON THE BEACH FOR 350.00 ... WOULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IF THAT IS POSSIBLE .... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AVAILABLE ... THANKS FOR YOUR TIME .... CHOW ....
I saved this as one of my favorites so that I can find it again before going to Ecuador. 👍🏽
Thanks Terry! We're glad this video is helpful:)
I’ve been living in Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the past 6 and a half months and love much about it. I’m considering coming to Ecuador for my next destination and would like to stay in a city that has weather comparable to Puerto Vallarta. Also I’ve managed to keep my living expenses to about $800 USD a month. I’m an American and retired can you suggest a place in Ecuador where I might find similar weather and living costs? Thanks!
Liz Savage, where in PV did you live? We are doing our exploratory trip to PV this May-June and staying somewhere close to airport (Airbnb). $800 is very good for PV...
@@yestohappiness2721 I’ve stayed in El Centro and Cinco de Diciembre. Still here btw and I stayed in Colonia Linda Vista, which is real native Mexico but on the outskirts of the city.
Hi Liz, when is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
@@gadgetgrader well, imo the best time of year to visit Puerto Vallarta is any time, but the rainy season. April through June is the driest time, so otherwise when it rains it’s a really warm rain so it doesn’t really bother you. In late summer it’s really hot every day for months, so you’re going to perspire profusely. I left PV the end of March, so I haven’t been watching the weather there. I’m in Cuenca, Ecuador now and it’s much cooler, in fact by my standards there is no summer here at all, but this weather has given me the opportunity to wear warmer clothing, so I’m not bored with my wardrobe. I got to buy some new clothes! Lol! Enjoy PV!
Hi guys what’s the name of at hotel in Baños ? Regards 😀👍🌞😀
Oou baby
You mentioned Manta as a city on the tour, but you alwaya mention Quito as the city to fly into. Doesn't Manta have an international airport that US travelers could travel to (or maybe there are no flights from Miami to Manta)?
There are no international flights to Manta.
The two international airports are Quito and Guayaquil. There is talk about a flight from Panama to Manta but we haven't heard anything definitive.
Guyaqual (ignore the spelling) to manta flights international go there.
Many cities located in the mountains have issues around air pollution (I'm talking about you, Mexico City and to a lesser extent Medellin). Is this an issue with Cuenca?
Can you bring a motorized wheelchair type vehicle???
Yes you can!
Everything looks so great definitely when you have a good retirement plan the cost of living in Ecuador is cheap compared with United say I hope when I move to that country thing still the same good luck guys enjoy
Great info, thank you!!! We are semi-retiring in a couple years and are considering Ecuador. Question about working there . . . We own/operate a small tax practice here in the state. We will retain a few clients. Are foreigners required to pay Ecadorian income tax on income earned (while in Ecuador) from US clients? Also, can we use staffing agencies to hire locals or digital nomads?
Looks like your knee has recovered. Congratulations. I’m looking for something unconventional in Ecuador. I would like to rent a room in the home of a former primary school teacher who is retired and who is willing to teach me Spanish four hours a day until I become fluent. I would prefer a room and board but I could cook for myself if necessary. Any website I can visit to find something like this?
Thanks for yours spanish language subtitules.
how about a self guided motorcycle tour? We are thinking of going with Ecuador freedom rides for maybe an 11 day trip around the country. Interested in your thoughts on this idea, thanks
That's a great idea and completely doable. Motorcycles are popular here.
With looming runaway inflation in the US, and looking at the postings beneath , I get the feeling a lot of folks are jumping the ship.
Am I getting this right ?
I think a lot of people are contemplating change right now due to a variety of factors. Remote working is making a lot of places/changes possible.
Is it possible to find homes to rent near Cuenca that allow 2 large dogs, Pyrenees for example? The big white fluffy dogs? I have two, one 80 lbs and another mix at 60? Are there fences on properties?
Yes, that's possible, especially in the country. A lot of places have walled in courtyards and some have fences.
Is there a water filtration system that I can bring down to Ecuador so that I can avoid using bottle water? Obviously it would be a small self contained device. Thanks.
Osmosis filter clean 99%.
Around $150 at home depot