It’s no wonder then that over 5,000 expats call Cuenca home. And while many of them are happy to fully embrace their overseas retirement, plenty more are taking the opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial side.
On February 1, 2019, I experienced a serious health scare. When I was released from the hospital, my cardiologist told me my arteries were not good and I had clots in my legs and lungs. I asked what I should do regarding diet. He demonstrated with a gesture to zip my mouth shut. Not much help.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My wife, Mary, and I arrived in Quito, Ecuador on February 15, 2015 and have never looked back. We selected Quito after spending a year looking at 13 different countries and eventually settling on 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.