Jaye B. Says:
What are the expats in Ecuador like? I mean, the kinds of people in my own situation I might meet if I move there.
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Jaye,
Ecuador draws a wide range of expats looking to stretch their budget and experience a different way of life. Many say they are attracted by the country’s less intrusive government and the tranquility of life there.
I’ve heard foreigners who settle in Ecuador contend they are a little more adventurous and free-spirited than expats in Mexico and Central America, say. That’s a matter of opinion, of course: Folks speak to the “psychological divide” created by the Panamanian isthmus, as well as to the reality of being in South America and further removed from the familiarity of the U.S. and Canada.
The expat community is made up mainly of a mix of retirees and those involved in some sort of business. However, increasingly more young families are making Ecuador their home.
Generally speaking, the expats who have settled in Ecuador are those who tend to blend into society, rather than live together in expat-oriented communities. Nonetheless, a bit of time in any town of significant size in Ecuador is all it takes to find the gringo haunts and watering holes.
In Quito and Cuenca, you’ll find online English-language newspapers and email services that keep expats up-to-date on community events and national news. There are also Facebook groups for many expat communities around the country, including broad ones like Ecuador Expats and city-specific groups like Expats in Quito.
You can learn much more about life in Ecuador and how to make this affordable, welcoming nation your home in our guidebook, Escape to Ecuador, available here.
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