After a month of searching for our future home in Ecuador, my wife Monica and I, were back where we had started, in Quito’s Centro Histórico. Knowing that we had to wake up at 3 a.m. for the shuttle to whisk us off to the airport—the first leg of many on our trip back to Seattle—I suggested that maybe we should just stay up, and out, and sleep on the plane.
A lot of people in Ecuador, locals and expats alike, do just fine without ever owning a car. In fact, getting around without one is part of the healthier lifestyle that they enjoy.
It has now been three-and-a-half years that I have lived in Ecuador, and I couldn’t enjoy living life here more. I chose Ecuador because it is affordable, I wanted to experience living in a different culture, learn Spanish, and enjoy a warm beach life.
I vividly remember the day when our five-year plan turned into a much shorter one. I had received our Canadian property tax bill in the mail, and after reviewing it said to my husband, “Why are we waiting?”
Many expats who are considering retiring to Ecuador look for a city or town they think they would like to live in, myself included. Many also make one or more trips to check out different locales prior to making their final move.
When I lived in Florida, I used to joke that my truck had more dates than me. I am not a professional mover, but by the time we sold our truck, I could have been—we had moved so many times. So, now, I'd do almost anything to avoid it.
Ecuador is famous for its colorful festivals and every town in the country has its own traditional celebrations and events throughout the year. Here are our five favorite festivals, taking place over the next couple of months, where Ecuadorians celebrate in style with fireworks, drinking, music, and dancing.
I'm standing on the rooftop ledge of Todos Santos church in Cuenca. This three-foot ledge encircling the steeple and bell tower is one of the best places to get a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the entire city. Although the drop is approximately 30 feet and there are no safety barriers, the view is inescapably beautiful, so for me it was worth the risk.
As the sun sets, my husband, Lynn, and I sit under a rooftop palapa at Casas Pacíficos, our very own tropical resort in Punta Carnero, Ecuador.
Cotacachi is a beautiful town located in the Andes Mountains at approximately 8,000 feet. We have a significant expat population here of about 300 to 500 people, several that live here permanently and others that come and go.