Im originally from cuba, lived in Ecuador for 3 years then moved to the US. it has been 10 years since then and I still miss Ecuador! Once you know it, you will never forget about that magical country! God bless you guys, live long and enjoy that pure life! Hopefully I can make my move back there soon !
I lived most of my life in Vancouver, born in Edmonton....now I live in Nanaimo. Planning on retiring in 2 years to either Panama or Ecuador and I can't wait...Canada is no longer the country we grew up in.
😢 somos ecuatorianos... Vivíamos al sur de Ecuador, Ahora viviendo en la península de Santa Elena, pero mi familia quiere irse a vivir a Estados Unidos.
Fellow Canadian here, been in Ecuador for 10 years now and your video is bang on. I also lived in the Canadian back country and sometimes miss it a lot, but no more winters for me.
Hi. We live on Vancouver Island and are looking at moving to Ecuador. We like beach and sun- the more desert-like conditions the better. Are there two or beach towns that you would recommend we go and see?
Winter in Calgary can go from September to June some years. My husband and I do not miss Winter at all even though we were avid skiers.....until I blew my knee. :) Winter or low season in Manglaralto is June to October, more cloud less sun but that means it is Humpback Whale season. To be able this year to see 11 new born whales take their first breath from our beach front home. And still be able to wear my shorts all year long. And walk an uncrowded beach all year long. Just puts a smile on my face.
Hey Claudette, thanks for your note. We were down there in June to check out what low season was like and let's just say it's a lot better than winter lol
I live in Los Angeles, but my parents are Ecuadorian. My entire life since the age of 5 I have been traveling back and forth. We even had a house in Quito. If you want a beautiful hotel in the jungle, La Casa del SUIZO is remarkable. I highly recommend it. It's beautiful. i wish I could post pictures. You arrive on canoes, yet its comparable to a wonderful hotel in the middle of the jungle. And a beautiful village outside the gates. I'm lucky to have been born into my family. I'm in my mid 50's now....with so many relatives in Quito, Cuenca and Loja. I sometimes to give consideration of retiring there.
Definitivamente Ecuador es un país hermoso, increíble, sus paisajes ,la gastronomía, su arquitectura ,su gente muy amable,,,,tiene todo en un solo país. Felicitaciones muchachos por sus videos y disfruten de ese lindo país,.......saludos 🇩🇪🇧🇻🇩🇰🇪🇨🇯🇵🇧🇪🇪🇨
I am Canadian living in Baños de Aqua Santa for 5 years now. Adventure capital of Ecuador, beautiful mountains. Have permanent legal residency. Your video is bang on. No desire to return to Canada even though spent my entire life there...70 years. Hope you visit Baños sometime.
I love Canada and Canadians but I’m hoping to make this one my last winter here in northern Alberta! Moving to Santa Ana de las Piedras! My farm in the loja province.
Kris and Mike thank you for promoting Ecuador.....without a doubt a beautiful country....and it is true....you can find different kinds of climate....I am from Guayaquil.....and I love our mountains ( LA Sierra )....those snow caped volcanoes are so beautiful....our Volcano Cotopaxi have a perfect cone like the Fujiyama..... I am about to retire.....and I am thinking to live in Cuenca....a very pretty city....and secure.....many Expats are living there.....down south is Vilcabamba ...a place we're people lived easily more than a 100 years....Someday we will have a much better government.....and we will more safe and secure.....Right now ( like somebody said ) avoid Guayaquil and Esmeraldas.... With the $ we are making here in the US....we can live very comfortably.... Eating excellent and fresh foods ( vegetables...fruits....meat and seafood)....for my wife is a fountain of youth ( volcanic thermal waters )...the only thing is holding me down is our sons and grandkids! GOD BLESS YOU KRIS AND MIKE !!
We’ve been traveling through Ecuador for the last 2 months and it’s been amazing. Totally agree on the international feeling and ability to stay close to nature. Hope you love it here!!
Hey! Just came across your channel. I lived in Cuenca, Ecuador with my children for a year in 2015. I have been back to visit a few times and miss it. Thank you for your fresh new perspective and personality for us to follow. You chose the best country in my opinion! God bless you.
I just suscribed to your channel and enjoy your videos very much. Your new life in the coast of Ecuador seems to be relaxed and enjoyable. I live on the outskirts of Quito, Valle de los Chillos. I am Ecuadorian and have not been able to travel to the coastal region unfortunately. The heat is too much for me....since I was born in Quito and the climate here is mild...although it has been raining quite a lot recently. Welcome to Ecuador and look forward to seeing more of your videos coming in. Best wishes
Thanks for watching our channel. One of the great things about Ecuador is there is a climate for everybody. We have seen quite a few areas but can't wait to visit all of Ecuador. It's a beautiful country.
@@KrisandMike I am so happy that you appreciate and like your new life in Ecuador. I have a niece who works for a well known travel agency in the country and a brother who is an experienced tourist guide, should you ever wish to tour around in Quito, Mindo, Baňos, Puyo, Mitad del Mundo, Cuenca. He is also a professional driver and has her own car to take tourists around mainly the highlands, also known as the Sierra region.I will be happy to help, please reach out if you may require any further information. Have a lovely weekend.
I'm Ecuadorian. Welcome to my country. Please do not hesitate to visit other regions. What I've noticed from watching TH-cam videos of other expat couples that moved to Ecuador is that the city or town where they decide to move first is not where they end up living in when they finally settle down in Ecuador. I would also appreciate if you can post some videos of options of part time jobs as a retiree while living in Ecuador.
I’m watching this bc my bf is Ecuadorian and his parents want to move back I have been thinking on going with them to show my children where their roots are from. Thank you for sharing this video 🥺
Great video guys. We are also thinking of moving to Ecuador. Hopefully our first exploratory trip is in January. In the meantime we subscribed to your chanel.
So glad I just found your channel. We are five years from making the move and I would really enjoy watching a couple like us (we're coming from mid-Michigan) make the transition. Winter has been kinder this year, but I harbor no illusions. All the reasons you listed are our reasons too. Every time I mention to someone here we are planning to move to Ecuador, some nervous Nellie will ask me about the crime. Um, the CRIME? We live about 30 minutes from Flint, MI. I watch the news. You Canadians don't have to worry about the gun crime Americans have, but it's hysterical that they will still worry about crime in a country like Ecuador while we have a shooting here every 24 hours. LOL!
We started out with a 5-year plan too and quickly became a two-year plan lol so get ready! Yeah we got that whole crime thing too. At some point we'll do a video on it, but I'm hesitant until I know a lot more and have more experiences here. In our exploratory trips, we've been through a good part of Ecuador, including Guayaquil and have always felt very safe. Obviously there is crime and it has gotten worse over the past couple years but most of the world has. It's a complex subject but the good far outweighs the bad.
Bienvenida a Ecuador! Pocas personas reconocen lo hermoso de este país, además de lo amable de su gente. Vana encontrar muchas cosas buenas y también malas pero lo más importante es que estén felices aquí. Una vez más Bienvenidos!!!!
We see the beauty in Ecuador, the country as well as the Ecuadorian people. Every country has its issues but I find sometimes they are exaggerated for developing countries. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
Having our dogs safely arrive is for sure the thing that we are the most worried about. We will be filming everything that we can and will share. Hopefully. Very happy moments with our fur babies. Thanks for watching.
This series is super interesting for Betty and I. We to are looking at a big move in October 2023.... Well, we will be revisiting our favorite S.E. Asian countries plus visiting a couple for the first time, looking for a perfect fit. We don't particularly want to retire in another 10 years..... leaving this great country let's us retire now. It's a very empowering feeling. Love the videos and thanks for sharing: )
LL=Y in spanish. Very nice video thank you. I just wanted to pass along to you two and anyone else who may be watching. You can live in any country in Central and South America for $ 800 to $1,000 a month for 1 person. About $ 1,800 for two. This gives you a basic middle class life. It does not matter how many pesos or soles or what ever the currency is to the doller. It all works out the same. The reason I wanted to tell you this is, you might miss out on something special if you just move to one place and stop. Keep the great videos coming. I will be in Cuenca in 10 days, your videos are very helpful.
Hola from Toronto. I really hate winter as well. Moving up my move abroad plans from 2025 to 2024 with my eyes on Cuenca. I have heard it is cold there, but I figure compared to Canada, how cold could it be ✌
Well that's great Kim. We haven't been to Cuenca yet, but we're planning on visiting there on one of our many trips around Ecuador. We are rural people so that wasn't an option for us. Enjoy the journey.
My wife and I just moved to Cuenca about 5 weeks ago. A major reason we chose Cuenca is the mellow weather. It doesn't really get hot or cold. High elevation under the equator keeps things from either extreme most of the time. Most places don't have AC or heating (including mine) because of the mild weather. See you in a year or so.
Hi fellows, I am an Ecuadorian and I live in Vancouver - Canada. Ecuador is indeed a beautiful country with an incredible biodiversity because of the Andes. One of the reason why I am not living in Ecuador is because of the high crime, specially in the major cities of Quito and Guayaquil. As you know, you earn American dollars in Ecuador and that has attracted thousands of immigrants from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and other countries and unfortunately no the best people, so now we are invaded with local and foreign crooks. For me, security is the most important thing and that is something that I appreciate a lot in Canada. Just be careful never park your car on the streets of the big cities, always look for a private parking and put good securities in your home. Walk always watching over your shoulder.
You really shouldn't get your pantalones mixed up with your pentacones! LOL! I started laughing when you told that story. Something similar happened to my husband when he was learning to speak french. 😄
Thanks for your comment and support. We've been here just over a week now and we'll have a new video out in the next couple days. Talking about our first week in Ecuador. Enjoy your journey.
We stayed at the Suchi Pakari Equadorian Jungle Lodge in Tena & it was truly delightful ❤ The food is all homemade & delicious & the restaurant crew was extremely careful with making every morsel with gloves & a hairnet, not one person in our group got sick as their food is fresh & full of healthy veggies & fresh fruits!! We were very lucky to get the beautiful loft up high in the rain Forest because we had a big group of people, so make sure if you book here, ask for the loft, you will not be disappointed;) The views from the top were seen from both sides, the Lodge side & the rain Forest side, with a cross breeze of fresh rainforest air & a large ceiling fan!! So beautifully decorated with a lovely touch;) We were the lucky ones for sure;) What’s even luckier is that you will witness their very friendlyToucan, whom we named Tommy, he/she was so absolutely beautiful & delightful that we didn’t want to leave there! He hangs out at the Suchi Pakari bar, where you can feed him by hand😀 She’s a lovely girl & so sweet;) There is also a shallow pool to cool off in, not real deep, just up to your waist but enough to cool off in for sure, so, all in all, you will not be disappointed in coming here to stay, it was a memorable experience for us & a very clean place at that to visit, you two will love it there💞💗 I’ll try & send some pics for you;)
I just found your channel- thanks to Emelia & JP. Just beginning my initial research and looking forward to viewing more of your videos. Most of your reasons for moving are in line with ours.
What an awesome decision. Ecuador is a beautiful place, a lot of great places to visit. I hope you can go to Galapagos and Cuenca. I am so happy you can enjoy my birth place, it is a peace of heaven ♡♡♡♡ enjoy it and I wish you your best ever moments of life here. You won a subscriber. God bless you!
Hi guys, just found your channel. Lol, love the snow shoveling on the roof. I lived most of my life in MN, so I can relate, uhggg, and mosquitos too. Not as bad of winters as you guys, but bad enough. Am retired now and enjoying winters in southern Texas, but the summers really suck here. Am very seriously considering moving to Ecuador real soon now. Lots of pluses and the nature as well. Thanks for the video, will be watching for more.
Thanks for your note. If you want to ask any questions, just ask away. We've been here a week now and everything is better than we expected. Enjoy the journey.
I'm still trying to decide where I want to settle down, been looking at Panama, cost of living no matter where I settle down is #1 for me. I'm 75, ready to relax and enjoy what years I have left. I've become jaded about life all around me, I tend to trust people way touch and have been taken advantage of too much, my fault, but I tend to believe people when or what they say or will do. If the people there in Ecuador are as nice as a friend of mine here in the States, then Ecuador could be just the right place for me. Like I said, I'm 75 but most people think I'm in my late 50s or early 60s because of looks, energy and overall health. I'm healthy, on no medications and eat right most of the time. I'm weary of the US, it's politics and having to still work to make ends meet. Thank you for sharing your story, and best always.
Thanks for your comment. I think in your research you will find that Ecuador is significantly cheaper than Panama or Costa Rica. As you move away from North American influence prices do go down. I also like the fact here in Ecuador that we are on the US dollar so there's not this huge risk of currency fluctuation. If you have family, it is much farther to travel to go back to the states on a regular basis. On the other hand, it really has an amazing international feel and you can pick whatever weather you want and surroundings you want because of the Andes going right through the middle. I wish you luck on your journey. And yes a totally understand. Even in Canada, the whole political situation is becoming more polarized and I was very tired of it. We've only been here just over a couple weeks now and already I'm way more relaxed than I've ever been. Take care
Just found you! We're in northern BC, still have 2 feet of snow on the ground (beginning of April). We love birding and botany, seriously considering a recce trip this fall.
Hello Kris and Mike. I'm 74, live in Toronto and completely agree with your views. Toronto is a great city between early May to late September. The other 7+ months are awful. The weather greatly affects my mood and disposition. I suffer from SAD every year. There is no colour, the skies are leaden grey everything is dead and the cold, snow, sleet and ice is unbearable. Could you make a video on what are the sunniest, warmest cities in Ecuador? It's currently mid-February in Toronto and I have cabin fever. I'm depressed and stressed. Thank You.
Your description of Toronto in the winter sounds like my description of Minneapolis-I left there years ago and am now considering Ecuador for retirement.
Hello Kris and Mike, and Happy New Year! Thank you for posting this video, very good information to have. My wife and I are planning our retirement outside of the US in about three years, and we have been researching a couple of areas, one of which is Ecuador. Cost of living is a big one, and being in nature is something we both enjoy very much. One thing I don't know if you have mentioned in a previous video (this is the first of your videos I've seen) is the cost of healthcare. How have you found the healthcare system compared to Canada's? Feliz año nuevo!
Thanks for your note and thanks for watching. I think covet has hurt a lot of the public health care systems around the world, including Ecuador and Canada. As you are well aware. I think the private health care in Ecuador is better than the public in Canada, but the public in Ecuador is not quite up to park compared to Canada in most cases. Just my perspective and we will touch on it in a future video.
@@KrisandMike Thank you, good to know. We have been looking at the difference between public and private in Panama as well as Ecuador, as these are our first two choices right now.
If there’s a way you can allow me to send photos, I will be delighted to do so, but, for now, it’s not allowing me to do so, keep me posted on how I can send you photo’s & videos of our experience with our stay, especially “the ever friendly Tommy the Toucan” 💚
We are from Canada, and we were in Ecuador in June. We loved it there, but the major hurdle for us was the US dollar and the 1525.00 US we had too have as foreign income for the Visa. The way the US dollar has sky rocketed in the last few months really brought that home. We booked our trip when the income requirement was much less. The Canadian dollar and the way the public pension system works means our meager pension becomes even worse when converted to US dollars. I'm hoping the government review in February will lower this income requirement, other wise we will buy property and live in the Philippines.
Yes, you're absolutely right. The exchange rate right now is not great to say the least. We purchased a house down there so we don't have the same income requirement. Also the professional visa doesn't have the same income requirement. But yes, hopefully when it is all reviewed it will lower the income requirements for many of the visas. Hope it all works out for you.
@@KrisandMike We were also planning to buy a few hectares and start a farm. I understood that even with buying a property of at least 42,500 US still required the foreign income of 1525 (for the two of us...) to get the Visa. Did I get that wrong?
@@billwhitis9997 Yes, the amount is correct for the purchase. However, the income is much less. I seem to recall that JP and Amelia have a recent video.
You are a nice couple with a very remarkable sense of humor. Everything you say is true, but you should have also mentioned the cons. One of them is that the dollarization of the economy makes everything more expensive compared to neighboring countries like Colombia and Peru. Just compare how much it costs to hire 1 hour of taxi service compared to those two countries and you will see the difference.
Thanks very much for your comment. We really focused on this video about our reasons for moving to Ecuador. We didn't do a whole pros and cons list of Ecuador. I totally agree that the dollarization of Ecuador is a pro and a con depending on the circumstances. Many ecuadorians are going to Columbia to shop as things are much cheaper there to your point. Thanks again!
Welcome to Ecuador, I hope You enjoy living here. Be careful, many people can take advantage of you because you are a foreigner. This happens in all Latin American countries.
Thank you for your honest opinion about life in Ecuador. I am Hispanic and my husband and I would like to go to Ecuador for 2-3 months to experience life in Ecuador. Any suggestions about realtors that can help us rent a furnished condo in the countryside on Olon or Manta? Will appreciate your advice. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. I don't have any suggestions for manta. But I do for Olon. Send me an email at michaelalbertnelson@gmail.com and I will give you detailed info.
Im thinking of making the move. Im really considering living near my grandparents. Ive never dedicated spending time and caring for them. The only bad thing is they are in yuayaquil
Thanks for sharing you thoughts. I can really identify with nature being a prime reason. I love trees and wild animals, the sounds of the natural world. Not an urbanite at all, living in a somewhat rural setting in central Florida, which is being overrun with more and more "development" and people and trash and noise - just plain blight. Cost of living is another issue as well as the unstable and crazy, at least to me, political situation in the US. Anyhow, Ecuador has been in my sights for a while as one of just a hand full of sane options.
Dear Guys…. Welcome to Ecuador!!!!! Just a suggestion…… Ecuadorian Cost ….better is for visiting……and eating excellent seafood ….security issues. But for living…..Cuenca, Loja, baños de Ambato, Otavalo, Cotacachi, vilcabmba……nice!!!! The rest…..coast (Salinas, farallón Dillon, mintañita, puerto López)….mountains (from north to south), jungle and Galapagos (super safe) that’s for visiting…. Enjoy it!!!!
When talking about the beaches and other reasons why you like Ecuador, it would make your videos more appealing and I probably would have watched the entire video if you were showing video of the beaches, the international feel etc instead of showing you two.
Welcome to Ecuador. I hope your stay here is filled with pleasant experiences and joyful moments. You'll find Ecuador is much more than nature and nice weather; we also have a very rich history and cultural diversity.
Glad you moved to Ecuador, explore the country, and enjoy the scenery, the food, the people, the life, and the nature, Ecuador is amazing, but please stay away from only 1 province/state with problems, don't go to Guayas Province, that is a big city with big problems, it's a port city and all cartels, from Colombia and Peru, want to move their merchandise to North America and Europe from that city called Guayaquil. Everything else in Ecuador it's beautiful. Enjoy.
We have been researching Ecuador and are excited to be doing the Crash Course in Jan. I was curious how you narrowed in on San Jose as opposed to other beach towns. Is there an expat community there? Is the town big enough to get what you need, food, medical? We are looking at Santa Marianita.
Thanks for watching. So Kris and I love the coast from just south of Manglaralto to north of Ayampe. Its very lush. Which of course means more rain there compared to where you will be going. But we are ok with that. So there are a bunch of beach towns there with Montanita and Olon the biggest. They are only a few kms from each other. So we see them all as where we live. lol Not just San Jose.
loved this video, for San Jose you flew into Quitio?? Also your area that you living is what appeals to me. What location in San Jose are you approximately, looking to book flights and air bnbs
Enjoy this beautiful country, for vacations or for people who are retire, it will gives you a good quality of life, but BEWARE if you come for work, the basic salary is $400, food for a week for 4 people will costs you $100, rent for four people costs $400 per month If you buying a car a chinese one will cost you $20,000, if you want a Toyota, $40,000 and you have to be very careful where you go, because some one will take your cell phone at gunpoint or at any moment some one can break into your house armed and rob you and police can do nothing.This is the reality of Ecuador
Thanks for taking the time to write. We are aware of all the amazing things about Ecuador as well as some of the downsides. Luckily the downsides don't happen to everybody.
Everything you've said, is pretty much true - but it is a very glossy picture of only the curent positives in Ecuador. If you're going to pitch Ecuador to the unfamiliar - they deserve to know the downsides - of which there are many, and some are significant. This isn't hate, it's a caveat.... Lack of fluency in Spanish, equates to proportional vulnerability at every turn. The corruption here, is epic. It permeates everything. 1/3 of the population lives in abject poverty. From begging Venezuelan refugees, to uncared for dogs - thrown away like garbage. Cartel & narco crime, has exploded in recent years - especially along the coast you are venerating. There is little to no accountability for anyone, good luck ever getting a resolution in the courts (which are not based on common law). Decent private medical insurance is a significant expense. The public IESS system is ravaged by fraud & ineptitude, and barely functions now in many locales. Many medications are not available here. Major surgery for the unfamiliar/unconnected? Holy hell, get ready! There is no functioning postal system. Shipping/import costs are high, as muling services & couriers are your only option. Petty, non violent crime - especially fraud, is a near societal norm. Violent home invasion wherever gringos are found - is escalating. A gated/guarded compound means nothing. That low paid guard gets threatened or paid off, and the criminals have the night to do as they please. Everything is wonderful here, until it's not... Ecuador is a cash society. Banks & credit unions here are already fraught with issues. Ecuador is currently dollarized on the US dollar. But when the G20 nations central banks shift to digitized currencies next year - there will be unquantifiable upheaval of some size here. And pension/deposit reliant people who've moved here "all in" - will have some scrambling ahead. I could go on... but all told, there is no where else I'd rather be than Ecuador - because I thrive on independence, adventure, self accountability, self reliance, opportunity - and am capable of my own due diligence for everything significant that life here demands Come & enjoy this incredible country. Look hard for both the pros & cons as you plan your new life. And those who live by due diligence will always have vastly greater security & outcomes.
Kent, thanks so much for your detailed comment. I have heard all those things but have not seen them first hand yet but it will happen I am sure. We are documenting our journey (we are not there til the 5th). We will document all of our experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly. I have no illusions. We knew we were starting an adventure. There are alot of issues in the world now that are putting huge pressures on all countries but certainly developing countries like Ecuador have more challenges. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
My husband and I have thought about moving there, we are near retirement age. The biggest motivation is the politics and how society in general is changing in the USA. My question is, would you consider Ecuador more conservative or progressive?
@@sarahsoutar252 That's a great question and at this point I don't honestly have a full answer. Much of the society is conservative. Most people are Catholic and have conservative values. However, I have read and witnessed a welcoming of people of all different types and beliefs. I just don't see the polarization that is in the USA as well as in a lesser degree Canada. The Ecuadorian people are certainly political as it is an active democracy, but once the election is over again, I don't see this constant hatred of the other side in most circumstances. Great question though.
@@sarahsoutar252 You're thinking in political terms that are rapidly dying. Most of the world doesn't exist thru the lens you're accustomed to. The WEF is full steam ahead with the destruction of western society. Get out while you can. Life here is often rough, but those folks/this culture, laughs through the hardships that are looming for North America. No one here will starve, nor freeze. It's a very diverse country geographically - something for everyone. It is currently affordable, and no more politically volatile than any other Latin America nation. Simply, the longer you wait to flee America, the worse your position becomes. Ecuador is no place for those who rely upon others. The self reliant, thrive.
Great to see that some people are still bold enough to visit or even move to Ecuador. Many expats actually leave Ecuador because of rising crime levels (home invasions, muggings at gunpoint etc.) and deteriorating healthcare services. In San José are several gated communities and one of them is founded by Canadians, so there are many Canadians living in San José who can provide a support network.
Hi, I am not in that San Jose. We will be in the San Jose that is just north of olon about 5 km. We have been there a few times now and have been quite comfortable with everything. Although yes it will be an adventure and we all need to take adventures. Lol
We're in northern BC and considering where to move to in 4-8 years for retirement. For a long time Ecuador was our top pick, but since our kid will be living in Vancouver we're tending more toward Mexico (Pacific side). However, Mexico is getting more and more expensive to get permanent residency (the official government website says minimum pension $86,000 CAD!!) so other options have to remain on the table. I watched your other video on choosing a country, but I didn't see where you covered the cost of permanent residency. How much of that was part of your decision making?
Great question. When we were looking over 2 years ago, most of the countries we were interested in. You could renew your temporary visa regularly. And the cost of permanent was not crazy high. A lot has changed over the last few years with a lot of countries tightening things up. And those that didn't tighten the living expenses have gone up significantly. Portugal would be one example. You might want to look at JP and Amelia's channel as they have a lot of coverage on Mexico right now so you may get some alternatives there. Sorry, I can't be of much help.
Thanks for the info. Could you please tell how Canadians could legally permanently live and work in Ecuador? Also if you could tell how good or bad is the health care there? Thank you from Toronto ❤
Thanks for watching. We are not experts on visas so tend not give advice about that. Jp and Amelia have a video that explains the visas in depth. Also check out the Facebook expat groups in your journey for information. Medical system is great here. The private especially. Cheap affordable and fast. Check out our latest video.
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Im originally from cuba, lived in Ecuador for 3 years then moved to the US. it has been 10 years since then and I still miss Ecuador! Once you know it, you will never forget about that magical country! God bless you guys, live long and enjoy that pure life! Hopefully I can make my move back there soon !
I am Ecuadorian, I went to live in Vancouver and did not like, I came back, thank for speaking like that about my country
Thanks. We love Ecuador for many many reasons.
I lived most of my life in Vancouver, born in Edmonton....now I live in Nanaimo. Planning on retiring in 2 years to either Panama or Ecuador and I can't wait...Canada is no longer the country we grew up in.
😢 somos ecuatorianos... Vivíamos al sur de Ecuador, Ahora viviendo en la península de Santa Elena, pero mi familia quiere irse a vivir a Estados Unidos.
@@robynguinn8941I’m living in Cedar / Nanaimo and looking at selling my house and moving there too. I’m aiming for equator.
Fellow Canadian here, been in Ecuador for 10 years now and your video is bang on. I also lived in the Canadian back country and sometimes miss it a lot, but no more winters for me.
Thanks for all your kind comments
Hi. We live on Vancouver Island and are looking at moving to Ecuador. We like beach and sun- the more desert-like conditions the better. Are there two or beach towns that you would recommend we go and see?
Two or three beach towns
@@DTrent-uy1wl check out to Manta as well as beach towns around Manta in the north. Also you can look at Salinas in the south.
One last thing. Fly into Quito or Guayaquil?
Winter in Calgary can go from September to June some years. My husband and I do not miss Winter at all even though we were avid skiers.....until I blew my knee. :) Winter or low season in Manglaralto is June to October, more cloud less sun but that means it is Humpback Whale season. To be able this year to see 11 new born whales take their first breath from our beach front home. And still be able to wear my shorts all year long. And walk an uncrowded beach all year long. Just puts a smile on my face.
Hey Claudette, thanks for your note. We were down there in June to check out what low season was like and let's just say it's a lot better than winter lol
That sounds like an amazing place.
I live in Los Angeles, but my parents are Ecuadorian. My entire life since the age of 5 I have been traveling back and forth. We even had a house in Quito. If you want a beautiful hotel in the jungle, La Casa del SUIZO is remarkable. I highly recommend it. It's beautiful. i wish I could post pictures. You arrive on canoes, yet its comparable to a wonderful hotel in the middle of the jungle. And a beautiful village outside the gates. I'm lucky to have been born into my family. I'm in my mid 50's now....with so many relatives in Quito, Cuenca and Loja. I sometimes to give consideration of retiring there.
Thanks for your note. I can't wait to travel throughout Ecuador. We will certainly look up that hotel. It sounds amazing. Merry Christmas.
I moved to Cuenca 3 yrs ago and loving every minute of it ..BEST city in Ecuador
That's great 👍
Definitivamente Ecuador es un país hermoso, increíble, sus paisajes ,la gastronomía, su arquitectura ,su gente muy amable,,,,tiene todo en un solo país.
Felicitaciones muchachos por sus videos y disfruten de ese lindo país,.......saludos 🇩🇪🇧🇻🇩🇰🇪🇨🇯🇵🇧🇪🇪🇨
I am Canadian living in Baños de Aqua Santa for 5 years now. Adventure capital of Ecuador, beautiful mountains. Have permanent legal residency. Your video is bang on. No desire to return to Canada even though spent my entire life there...70 years. Hope you visit Baños sometime.
Thanks for watching. Yes we can't wait to go to Banos.
I love Canada and Canadians but I’m hoping to make this one my last winter here in northern Alberta!
Moving to Santa Ana de las Piedras! My farm in the loja province.
Wow! That's so exciting! Congratulations. Can't wait to visit that area.
You betcha,let’s keep in touch.
Kris and Mike thank you for promoting Ecuador.....without a doubt a beautiful country....and it is true....you can find different kinds of climate....I am from Guayaquil.....and I love our mountains ( LA Sierra )....those snow caped volcanoes are so beautiful....our Volcano Cotopaxi have a perfect cone like the Fujiyama.....
I am about to retire.....and I am thinking to live in Cuenca....a very pretty city....and secure.....many Expats are living there.....down south is Vilcabamba ...a place we're people lived easily more than a 100 years....Someday we will have a much better government.....and we will more safe and secure.....Right now ( like somebody said ) avoid Guayaquil and Esmeraldas....
With the $ we are making here in the US....we can live very comfortably....
Eating excellent and fresh foods ( vegetables...fruits....meat and seafood)....for my wife is a fountain of youth ( volcanic thermal waters )...the only thing is holding me down is our sons and grandkids!
GOD BLESS YOU KRIS AND MIKE !!
Thank you so much for all your kind words and good advice. Take care my friend
Bienvenidos a Ecuador. Disfruten de la naturaleza de mi hermoso país.
Gracias
We’ve been traveling through Ecuador for the last 2 months and it’s been amazing. Totally agree on the international feeling and ability to stay close to nature. Hope you love it here!!
Thanks for watching. I am glad you had a great time. Enjoy your journey
Glad you guys chose to live in Ecuador and I hope everything always goes well for you! 👏🏼
Thanks so much!
Hey! Just came across your channel. I lived in Cuenca, Ecuador with my children for a year in 2015. I have been back to visit a few times and miss it. Thank you for your fresh new perspective and personality for us to follow. You chose the best country in my opinion! God bless you.
Thanks very much and thanks for watching
Great video! I loved all the info and charts. My goal is Ecuador, as soon as it can happen.
Thanks very much
ECUADOR 🇪🇨 SO BEAUTIFUL 😍 AND DELICIOUS 😋 FOOD
I just suscribed to your channel and enjoy your videos very much. Your new life in the coast of Ecuador seems to be relaxed and enjoyable. I live on the outskirts of Quito, Valle de los Chillos. I am Ecuadorian and have not been able to travel to the coastal region unfortunately. The heat is too much for me....since I was born in Quito and the climate here is mild...although it has been raining quite a lot recently. Welcome to Ecuador and look forward to seeing more of your videos coming in. Best wishes
Thanks for watching our channel. One of the great things about Ecuador is there is a climate for everybody. We have seen quite a few areas but can't wait to visit all of Ecuador. It's a beautiful country.
@@KrisandMike I am so happy that you appreciate and like your new life in Ecuador. I have a niece who works for a well known travel agency in the country and a brother who is an experienced tourist guide, should you ever wish to tour around in Quito, Mindo, Baňos, Puyo, Mitad del Mundo, Cuenca. He is also a professional driver and has her own car to take tourists around mainly the highlands, also known as the Sierra region.I will be happy to help, please reach out if you may require any further information. Have a lovely weekend.
I'm Ecuadorian. Welcome to my country. Please do not hesitate to visit other regions. What I've noticed from watching TH-cam videos of other expat couples that moved to Ecuador is that the city or town where they decide to move first is not where they end up living in when they finally settle down in Ecuador. I would also appreciate if you can post some videos of options of part time jobs as a retiree while living in Ecuador.
Thanks 👍. We love it here. We will be seeing as much of this beautiful country as possible.
Thanks for it, welcome to Ecuador.
Saludos! 🇪🇨❤️🙌
Thanks 👍
I’m watching this bc my bf is Ecuadorian and his parents want to move back I have been thinking on going with them to show my children where their roots are from. Thank you for sharing this video 🥺
Thanks 👍. We love it here.
Great video guys. We are also thinking of moving to Ecuador. Hopefully our first exploratory trip is in January. In the meantime we subscribed to your chanel.
Enjoy your first trip and thanks for subscribing.
So glad I just found your channel. We are five years from making the move and I would really enjoy watching a couple like us (we're coming from mid-Michigan) make the transition. Winter has been kinder this year, but I harbor no illusions. All the reasons you listed are our reasons too. Every time I mention to someone here we are planning to move to Ecuador, some nervous Nellie will ask me about the crime. Um, the CRIME? We live about 30 minutes from Flint, MI. I watch the news. You Canadians don't have to worry about the gun crime Americans have, but it's hysterical that they will still worry about crime in a country like Ecuador while we have a shooting here every 24 hours. LOL!
We started out with a 5-year plan too and quickly became a two-year plan lol so get ready! Yeah we got that whole crime thing too. At some point we'll do a video on it, but I'm hesitant until I know a lot more and have more experiences here. In our exploratory trips, we've been through a good part of Ecuador, including Guayaquil and have always felt very safe. Obviously there is crime and it has gotten worse over the past couple years but most of the world has. It's a complex subject but the good far outweighs the bad.
Bienvenida a Ecuador! Pocas personas reconocen lo hermoso de este país, además de lo amable de su gente. Vana encontrar muchas cosas buenas y también malas pero lo más importante es que estén felices aquí. Una vez más Bienvenidos!!!!
We see the beauty in Ecuador, the country as well as the Ecuadorian people. Every country has its issues but I find sometimes they are exaggerated for developing countries. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
Be sure to tell us--in detail--how you are transporting your dogs to Ecuador. I subscribed and will be watching for more videos. I am excited for you!
Having our dogs safely arrive is for sure the thing that we are the most worried about. We will be filming everything that we can and will share. Hopefully. Very happy moments with our fur babies. Thanks for watching.
Moving there soon! The country is a gem 👍🏼
Great, enjoy your journey
Great video, thanks for sharing and welcome to my country 😊
Thanks for watching. We love it here!
Great video, thanks for choose our country ! 🙌🏻
Thanks
This series is super interesting for Betty and I. We to are looking at a big move in October 2023.... Well, we will be revisiting our favorite S.E. Asian countries plus visiting a couple for the first time, looking for a perfect fit.
We don't particularly want to retire in another 10 years..... leaving this great country let's us retire now. It's a very empowering feeling.
Love the videos and thanks for sharing: )
Thanks so much. It is very empowering. Good luck on your journey!
Thank you for the video. Will be looking for the next episode.
Coming soon!
LL=Y in spanish. Very nice video thank you. I just wanted to pass along to you two and anyone else who may be watching. You can live in any country in Central and South America for $ 800 to $1,000 a month for 1 person. About $ 1,800 for two. This gives you a basic middle class life. It does not matter how many pesos or soles or what ever the currency is to the doller. It all works out the same. The reason I wanted to tell you this is, you might miss out on something special if you just move to one place and stop. Keep the great videos coming. I will be in Cuenca in 10 days, your videos are very helpful.
Thanks for watching and sharing.
Blessings and Welcome to beautiful Ecuador!!!
Thanks 👍
Thank you! It is for me!
Thanks for watching
Welcome to Ecuador 🇪🇨
Great information and very well presented. All five reasons resonate with me. Thanks for sharing how you are living the life you love!
Thanks for watching
Thank you for sharing Ecuadorean vibes. The mountain peak in Ecuador is farther from our planet earth s center that Mt Everest’s peak. Chimborazo
I just watched Alice Ford video on Amazon . It was very interesting and shared about the true natives there.❤
I will need to check it out.
THANKS for sharing
Hola from Toronto. I really hate winter as well. Moving up my move abroad plans from 2025 to 2024 with my eyes on Cuenca. I have heard it is cold there, but I figure compared to Canada, how cold could it be ✌
Well that's great Kim. We haven't been to Cuenca yet, but we're planning on visiting there on one of our many trips around Ecuador. We are rural people so that wasn't an option for us. Enjoy the journey.
The cold of Cuenca compared to Canada is like Africa haha the lowest temperature in Cuenca is 7 degrees and at dawn
My wife and I just moved to Cuenca about 5 weeks ago. A major reason we chose Cuenca is the mellow weather. It doesn't really get hot or cold. High elevation under the equator keeps things from either extreme most of the time. Most places don't have AC or heating (including mine) because of the mild weather. See you in a year or so.
@@richardivey1585 Yes, one of the best things about living in Ecuador is you can pick the climate that is most appealing.
@@richardivey1585 Thanks for sharing. I am so looking forward to moving to Cuenca ✌🏽
Hi fellows, I am an Ecuadorian and I live in Vancouver - Canada. Ecuador is indeed a beautiful country with an incredible biodiversity because of the Andes. One of the reason why I am not living in Ecuador is because of the high crime, specially in the major cities of Quito and Guayaquil. As you know, you earn American dollars in Ecuador and that has attracted thousands of immigrants from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and other countries and unfortunately no the best people, so now we are invaded with local and foreign crooks. For me, security is the most important thing and that is something that I appreciate a lot in Canada. Just be careful never park your car on the streets of the big cities, always look for a private parking and put good securities in your home. Walk always watching over your shoulder.
Hi thanks for watching. Yes we are rural people and stay away from the big cities where most of the crime is right now. We have felt very safe here.
You really shouldn't get your pantalones mixed up with your pentacones! LOL! I started laughing when you told that story. Something similar happened to my husband when he was learning to speak french. 😄
Yes I get things wrong on a regular basis. Lol. Thanks for watching 👍
I like the 60 to 85 temp, all 12 months , and swimming in 3 of 11 pools . Natacion Olympica, Estadio, Medellín.
Great video we have almost the same reason for choosing Ecuador
Thanks, thats great. Glad you liked it.
We are new followers. From Alaska. Currently living in Texas. Planning on moving to Ecuador next. Just found your channel and are enjoying it.
Thanks for your comment and support. We've been here just over a week now and we'll have a new video out in the next couple days. Talking about our first week in Ecuador. Enjoy your journey.
@@KrisandMike We will be watching!
Your five reasons are the same as my wife and I. We'll be there for two months this summer. I hope to connect with you guys once we start our journey.
Thanks. Enjoy
We stayed at the Suchi Pakari Equadorian Jungle Lodge in Tena & it was truly delightful ❤
The food is all homemade & delicious & the restaurant crew was extremely careful with making every morsel with gloves & a hairnet, not one person in our group got sick as their food is fresh & full of healthy veggies & fresh fruits!!
We were very lucky to get the beautiful loft up high in the rain Forest because we had a big group of people, so make sure if you book here, ask for the loft, you will not be disappointed;)
The views from the top were seen from both sides, the Lodge side & the rain Forest side, with a cross breeze of fresh rainforest air & a large ceiling fan!! So beautifully decorated with a lovely touch;) We were the lucky ones for sure;)
What’s even luckier is that you will witness their very friendlyToucan, whom we named Tommy, he/she was so absolutely beautiful & delightful that we didn’t want to leave there! He hangs out at the Suchi Pakari bar, where you can feed him by hand😀 She’s a lovely girl & so sweet;)
There is also a shallow pool to cool off in, not real deep, just up to your waist but enough to cool off in for sure, so, all in all, you will not be disappointed in coming here to stay, it was a memorable experience for us & a very clean place at that to visit, you two will love it there💞💗
I’ll try & send some pics for you;)
That sounds amazing. We can't wait to hear over to the Amazon.
I just found your channel- thanks to Emelia & JP. Just beginning my initial research and looking forward to viewing more of your videos. Most of your reasons for moving are in line with ours.
Thanks for watching. Good luck in your research. Enjoy
Bienvenidos a ECUADOR ❣️🇪🇨..
What an awesome decision. Ecuador is a beautiful place, a lot of great places to visit. I hope you can go to Galapagos and Cuenca. I am so happy you can enjoy my birth place, it is a peace of heaven ♡♡♡♡ enjoy it and I wish you your best ever moments of life here. You won a subscriber. God bless you!
Thanks so much. We will be traveling all over Ecuador as it has so many treasures.
@@KrisandMike Wonderful!!!, I hope you record your trips. Send you tons of hugs!!!
Hi guys, just found your channel. Lol, love the snow shoveling on the roof. I lived most of my life in MN, so I can relate, uhggg, and mosquitos too. Not as bad of winters as you guys, but bad enough. Am retired now and enjoying winters in southern Texas, but the summers really suck here. Am very seriously considering moving to Ecuador real soon now. Lots of pluses and the nature as well. Thanks for the video, will be watching for more.
Thanks for your note. If you want to ask any questions, just ask away. We've been here a week now and everything is better than we expected. Enjoy the journey.
@@KrisandMike Thank you
I'm still trying to decide where I want to settle down, been looking at Panama, cost of living no matter where I settle down is #1 for me.
I'm 75, ready to relax and enjoy what years I have left. I've become jaded about life all around me, I tend to trust people way touch and have been taken advantage of too much, my fault, but I tend to believe people when or what they say or will do.
If the people there in Ecuador are as nice as a friend of mine here in the States, then Ecuador could be just the right place for me.
Like I said, I'm 75 but most people think I'm in my late 50s or early 60s because of looks, energy and overall health. I'm healthy, on no medications and eat right most of the time.
I'm weary of the US, it's politics and having to still work to make ends meet.
Thank you for sharing your story, and best always.
Thanks for your comment. I think in your research you will find that Ecuador is significantly cheaper than Panama or Costa Rica. As you move away from North American influence prices do go down. I also like the fact here in Ecuador that we are on the US dollar so there's not this huge risk of currency fluctuation. If you have family, it is much farther to travel to go back to the states on a regular basis. On the other hand, it really has an amazing international feel and you can pick whatever weather you want and surroundings you want because of the Andes going right through the middle. I wish you luck on your journey. And yes a totally understand. Even in Canada, the whole political situation is becoming more polarized and I was very tired of it. We've only been here just over a couple weeks now and already I'm way more relaxed than I've ever been. Take care
We are about 9 months out from our move. We are looking at coastal regions around Manta.
Good luck with your move. How exciting. That's a very popular area.
Just found you! We're in northern BC, still have 2 feet of snow on the ground (beginning of April). We love birding and botany, seriously considering a recce trip this fall.
Thanks for watching. Very exciting for you. I love waking up to the birds. Nature is so beautiful here.
Hello Kris and Mike. I'm 74, live in Toronto and completely agree with your views. Toronto is a great city between early
May to late September. The other 7+ months are awful. The weather greatly affects my mood and disposition. I suffer
from SAD every year. There is no colour, the skies are leaden grey everything is dead and the cold, snow, sleet and ice is unbearable.
Could you make a video on what are the sunniest, warmest cities in Ecuador? It's currently mid-February in Toronto and I have cabin fever. I'm depressed and stressed. Thank You.
Look at my other reply and also look at vilcabamba. Thanks for watching 👍
Your description of Toronto in the winter sounds like my description of Minneapolis-I left there years ago and am now considering Ecuador for retirement.
Very interesting. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
From Vancouver and we love your video. We are looking at Eastern Europe to make our move. Right behind you...
Thanks and enjoy your adventure!
Happy married life in Ecuador
👍
Hello Kris and Mike, and Happy New Year!
Thank you for posting this video, very good information to have. My wife and I are planning our retirement outside of the US in about three years, and we have been researching a couple of areas, one of which is Ecuador.
Cost of living is a big one, and being in nature is something we both enjoy very much. One thing I don't know if you have mentioned in a previous video (this is the first of your videos I've seen) is the cost of healthcare. How have you found the healthcare system compared to Canada's?
Feliz año nuevo!
Thanks for your note and thanks for watching. I think covet has hurt a lot of the public health care systems around the world, including Ecuador and Canada. As you are well aware. I think the private health care in Ecuador is better than the public in Canada, but the public in Ecuador is not quite up to park compared to Canada in most cases. Just my perspective and we will touch on it in a future video.
@@KrisandMike Thank you, good to know. We have been looking at the difference between public and private in Panama as well as Ecuador, as these are our first two choices right now.
Hi guys. Loved your 5 reasons for moving.
Thanks so much
Lovely country enjoy your stay.....
We plan on snowbirding starting in a couple years. Looking for a wheelchair friendly place with the spring type weather.
That's great! You'll have lots of great places to choose from.
Ecuador it’s absolutely beautiful, just subscribed, bless 🙌🏼
Thanks so much
Welcome to our country. Enjoy it. Happy New Year!
Thanks 👍
If there’s a way you can allow me to send photos, I will be delighted to do so, but, for now, it’s not allowing me to do so, keep me posted on how I can send you photo’s & videos of our experience with our stay, especially “the ever friendly Tommy the Toucan” 💚
No I don't think photos work on comments here. Thanks for watching
Galapagos if you love nature: no place better. Cotopaxi Volcano Tambopaxi Lodge @ base. The horse back ride $20 for 2 hrs spectacular and unbeatable.
For sure on our list and of course the Amazon. We are heading to Cuenca for a couple weeks and will be bird watching in Cajas. Can't wait.
Picked my spot in Loja. Bought a beautiful valley building lot for 18000. Building an Ecolodge and loving the experience!
Wow that sounds so amazing! We will definitely be visiting Loja at some point.
@@KrisandMike Paradise Builders is the TH-cam channel amazing experiences documented! Make sure you guys contact us when in Loja!
We are from Canada, and we were in Ecuador in June. We loved it there, but the major hurdle for us was the US dollar and the 1525.00 US we had too have as foreign income for the Visa. The way the US dollar has sky rocketed in the last few months really brought that home. We booked our trip when the income requirement was much less.
The Canadian dollar and the way the public pension system works means our meager pension becomes even worse when converted to US dollars.
I'm hoping the government review in February will lower this income requirement, other wise we will buy property and live in the Philippines.
Yes, you're absolutely right. The exchange rate right now is not great to say the least. We purchased a house down there so we don't have the same income requirement. Also the professional visa doesn't have the same income requirement. But yes, hopefully when it is all reviewed it will lower the income requirements for many of the visas. Hope it all works out for you.
@@KrisandMike We were also planning to buy a few hectares and start a farm. I understood that even with buying a property of at least 42,500 US still required the foreign income of 1525 (for the two of us...) to get the Visa. Did I get that wrong?
@@billwhitis9997 Yes, the amount is correct for the purchase. However, the income is much less. I seem to recall that JP and Amelia have a recent video.
@@KrisandMike I'll have to check that, thanks.
@@billwhitis9997 I am fairly certain the income requirement is 425 a month for investors visa. It does change a lot so I don't want to say 100%.
You are a nice couple with a very remarkable sense of humor. Everything you say is true, but you should have also mentioned the cons. One of them is that the dollarization of the economy makes everything more expensive compared to neighboring countries like Colombia and Peru. Just compare how much it costs to hire 1 hour of taxi service compared to those two countries and you will see the difference.
Thanks very much for your comment. We really focused on this video about our reasons for moving to Ecuador. We didn't do a whole pros and cons list of Ecuador. I totally agree that the dollarization of Ecuador is a pro and a con depending on the circumstances. Many ecuadorians are going to Columbia to shop as things are much cheaper there to your point. Thanks again!
Welcome to Ecuador, I hope You enjoy living here. Be careful, many people can take advantage of you because you are a foreigner. This happens in all Latin American countries.
I understand. Luckily we have found most people to be very friendly and helpful.
Welcome to Ecuador 🇪🇨🤩🇪🇨
Thanks 👍
I love this, y'all are amazing ✨!!
Thanks so much 😊
Thx for this video, i plan to visit Ecuador in the near future and with a bit of luck also move there 😊🥰
Go for it
Check out Fruit Haven in South eastern Ecuador, morona Santiago region, chuchembleza.
Yo recomiendo el cuyabeno en el oriente o cueva de los tallos
Yes can't wait to visit there.
Thank you for your honest opinion about life in Ecuador. I am Hispanic and my husband and I would like to go to Ecuador for 2-3 months to experience life in Ecuador. Any suggestions about realtors that can help us rent a furnished condo in the countryside on Olon or Manta? Will appreciate your advice. Thank you.
Thanks for watching. I don't have any suggestions for manta. But I do for Olon. Send me an email at michaelalbertnelson@gmail.com and I will give you detailed info.
Im thinking of making the move. Im really considering living near my grandparents. Ive never dedicated spending time and caring for them. The only bad thing is they are in yuayaquil
There are good and bad areas so it may be ok plus things keep improving this year over last.
My family comes from otter lake in the same area. Far away from there now
I prefer to “Live my Dreams”;
rather than: dreaming my life.
Thanks for sharing you thoughts. I can really identify with nature being a prime reason. I love trees and wild animals, the sounds of the natural world. Not an urbanite at all, living in a somewhat rural setting in central Florida, which is being overrun with more and more "development" and people and trash and noise - just plain blight. Cost of living is another issue as well as the unstable and crazy, at least to me, political situation in the US. Anyhow, Ecuador has been in my sights for a while as one of just a hand full of sane options.
No place is perfect but I am sure there are many secluded places in Ecuador that you would enjoy. Enjoy your journey!
Dear Guys….
Welcome to Ecuador!!!!!
Just a suggestion……
Ecuadorian Cost ….better is for visiting……and eating excellent seafood ….security issues.
But for living…..Cuenca, Loja, baños de Ambato, Otavalo, Cotacachi, vilcabmba……nice!!!!
The rest…..coast (Salinas, farallón Dillon, mintañita, puerto López)….mountains (from north to south), jungle and Galapagos (super safe) that’s for visiting….
Enjoy it!!!!
Thanks for your comment 😊
We moved from the US to Cuenca for 5 years. We currently live in Serbia. Enjoy. :)
How exciting. Enjoy your travels.
When talking about the beaches and other reasons why you like Ecuador, it would make your videos more appealing and I probably would have watched the entire video if you were showing video of the beaches, the international feel etc instead of showing you two.
Thanks for the feedback. We have alot more videos once we moved to Ecuador.
Welcome to Ecuador. I hope your stay here is filled with pleasant experiences and joyful moments. You'll find Ecuador is much more than nature and nice weather; we also have a very rich history and cultural diversity.
So true. We are here to experience it all. Thanks for watching.
Glad you moved to Ecuador, explore the country, and enjoy the scenery, the food, the people, the life, and the nature, Ecuador is amazing, but please stay away from only 1 province/state with problems, don't go to Guayas Province, that is a big city with big problems, it's a port city and all cartels, from Colombia and Peru, want to move their merchandise to North America and Europe from that city called Guayaquil. Everything else in Ecuador it's beautiful. Enjoy.
I'm so glad you found your Shangri-la in Ecuador 🇪🇨. It is a nice country. Lots diversity in topography and climate 🙄.
Thanks so much!
We have been researching Ecuador and are excited to be doing the Crash Course in Jan. I was curious how you narrowed in on San Jose as opposed to other beach towns. Is there an expat community there? Is the town big enough to get what you need, food, medical? We are looking at Santa Marianita.
Thanks for watching. So Kris and I love the coast from just south of Manglaralto to north of Ayampe. Its very lush. Which of course means more rain there compared to where you will be going. But we are ok with that. So there are a bunch of beach towns there with Montanita and Olon the biggest. They are only a few kms from each other. So we see them all as where we live. lol Not just San Jose.
The TH-cam Vlogger ‘ Itchy Boots’ in session 6 - E 10 ; showed some unique Ecuadorean experiences with her mounted 3 cameras and her drone.
Yes, I've watched a little bit of her stuff. Very talented
loved this video, for San Jose you flew into Quitio?? Also your area that you living is what appeals to me. What location in San Jose are you approximately, looking to book flights and air bnbs
We are in the San Jose just 5km north of Olon. You fly into Guayaquil. Thanks for watching
Enjoy this beautiful country, for vacations or for people who are retire, it will gives you a good quality of life, but BEWARE if you come for work, the basic salary is $400, food for a week for 4 people will costs you $100, rent for four people costs $400 per month If you buying a car a chinese one will cost you $20,000, if you want a Toyota, $40,000 and you have to be very careful where you go, because some one will take your cell phone at gunpoint or at any moment some one can break into your house armed and rob you and police can do nothing.This is the reality of Ecuador
Thanks for taking the time to write. We are aware of all the amazing things about Ecuador as well as some of the downsides. Luckily the downsides don't happen to everybody.
ECUADOR AS WINTER WHT IT DOES NOT HAVE IS SNOWY WINTER WITH BLIZZARDS. IT HAS HOT AND RAINY WINTER WITH STORMS. AT LEAST ON THE COAST.
Yes we had a few rainy flooding storms that I have never seen in Canada. Thanks for watching
Take us with you. Greetings from Sault Ste Marie ON.
Sounds like a plan. We'd be happy too. Come and join us.
Everything you've said, is pretty much true - but it is a very glossy picture of only the curent positives in Ecuador. If you're going to pitch Ecuador to the unfamiliar - they deserve to know the downsides - of which there are many, and some are significant. This isn't hate, it's a caveat....
Lack of fluency in Spanish, equates to proportional vulnerability at every turn.
The corruption here, is epic. It permeates everything.
1/3 of the population lives in abject poverty. From begging Venezuelan refugees, to uncared for dogs - thrown away like garbage.
Cartel & narco crime, has exploded in recent years - especially along the coast you are venerating.
There is little to no accountability for anyone, good luck ever getting a resolution in the courts (which are not based on common law).
Decent private medical insurance is a significant expense. The public IESS system is ravaged by fraud & ineptitude, and barely functions now in many locales. Many medications are not available here. Major surgery for the unfamiliar/unconnected? Holy hell, get ready!
There is no functioning postal system. Shipping/import costs are high, as muling services & couriers are your only option.
Petty, non violent crime - especially fraud, is a near societal norm.
Violent home invasion wherever gringos are found - is escalating. A gated/guarded compound means nothing. That low paid guard gets threatened or paid off, and the criminals have the night to do as they please. Everything is wonderful here, until it's not...
Ecuador is a cash society. Banks & credit unions here are already fraught with issues. Ecuador is currently dollarized on the US dollar. But when the G20 nations central banks shift to digitized currencies next year - there will be unquantifiable upheaval of some size here. And pension/deposit reliant people who've moved here "all in" - will have some scrambling ahead.
I could go on... but all told, there is no where else I'd rather be than Ecuador - because I thrive on independence, adventure, self accountability, self reliance, opportunity - and am capable of my own due diligence for everything significant that life here demands
Come & enjoy this incredible country. Look hard for both the pros & cons as you plan your new life. And those who live by due diligence will always have vastly greater security & outcomes.
Kent, thanks so much for your detailed comment. I have heard all those things but have not seen them first hand yet but it will happen I am sure. We are documenting our journey (we are not there til the 5th). We will document all of our experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly. I have no illusions. We knew we were starting an adventure. There are alot of issues in the world now that are putting huge pressures on all countries but certainly developing countries like Ecuador have more challenges. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
My husband and I have thought about moving there, we are near retirement age. The biggest motivation is the politics and how society in general is changing in the USA. My question is, would you consider Ecuador more conservative or progressive?
@@sarahsoutar252 That's a great question and at this point I don't honestly have a full answer. Much of the society is conservative. Most people are Catholic and have conservative values. However, I have read and witnessed a welcoming of people of all different types and beliefs. I just don't see the polarization that is in the USA as well as in a lesser degree Canada. The Ecuadorian people are certainly political as it is an active democracy, but once the election is over again, I don't see this constant hatred of the other side in most circumstances. Great question though.
@@sarahsoutar252 You're thinking in political terms that are rapidly dying. Most of the world doesn't exist thru the lens you're accustomed to. The WEF is full steam ahead with the destruction of western society. Get out while you can. Life here is often rough, but those folks/this culture, laughs through the hardships that are looming for North America. No one here will starve, nor freeze. It's a very diverse country geographically - something for everyone. It is currently affordable, and no more politically volatile than any other Latin America nation. Simply, the longer you wait to flee America, the worse your position becomes. Ecuador is no place for those who rely upon others. The self reliant, thrive.
Great to see that some people are still bold enough to visit or even move to Ecuador. Many expats actually leave Ecuador because of rising crime levels (home invasions, muggings at gunpoint etc.) and deteriorating healthcare services. In San José are several gated communities and one of them is founded by Canadians, so there are many Canadians living in San José who can provide a support network.
Hi, I am not in that San Jose. We will be in the San Jose that is just north of olon about 5 km. We have been there a few times now and have been quite comfortable with everything. Although yes it will be an adventure and we all need to take adventures. Lol
Just south of La Entrada, near the famous bakery. It’s a beautiful area. Much nicer than the SanJosé with the Canadians. Enjoy it!
All these reasons are great. But I won't move anywhere that doesn't have a hospital.
Yes people who feel like you move to places like Salinas, Manta, Quito , Cuenca and surrounding areas. Lots of options
We're in northern BC and considering where to move to in 4-8 years for retirement. For a long time Ecuador was our top pick, but since our kid will be living in Vancouver we're tending more toward Mexico (Pacific side). However, Mexico is getting more and more expensive to get permanent residency (the official government website says minimum pension $86,000 CAD!!) so other options have to remain on the table.
I watched your other video on choosing a country, but I didn't see where you covered the cost of permanent residency. How much of that was part of your decision making?
Great question. When we were looking over 2 years ago, most of the countries we were interested in. You could renew your temporary visa regularly. And the cost of permanent was not crazy high. A lot has changed over the last few years with a lot of countries tightening things up. And those that didn't tighten the living expenses have gone up significantly. Portugal would be one example. You might want to look at JP and Amelia's channel as they have a lot of coverage on Mexico right now so you may get some alternatives there. Sorry, I can't be of much help.
Thanks for the info. Could you please tell how Canadians could legally permanently live and work in Ecuador? Also if you could tell how good or bad is the health care there? Thank you from Toronto ❤
Thanks for watching. We are not experts on visas so tend not give advice about that. Jp and Amelia have a video that explains the visas in depth. Also check out the Facebook expat groups in your journey for information. Medical system is great here. The private especially. Cheap affordable and fast. Check out our latest video.
Thanks a lot 🙏
Number one, Justin Trudeau! Great video. Thank you
Lol thanks
If you're talking to USA or Canada you probably want to say explicitly "BioDiversity". "Diversity" here right now is quite something else.
That's a really good point. Never thought of it like that.
I heard Colombia is less expensive
Yes with the US$ so high now it makes surrounding areas that are not on the us$ cheaper. I prefer being on the us$
Mosquitoes this past summer in Alaska was terrible. I couldn't even stay outside without being attacked. And don't open your mouth 😂😂😂
👍 lol
Are there any NO SNAKE environments???
I am afraid not. We don't see many tho. Lol