Digital Nomad Life in Ecuador

"Use your skills to get some form of employment. Consult, teach, help with a multitude of civic type organizations. Immerse yourself into the life," explained one expat living in Ibarra, Ecuador.

"People here have one main priority- putting food on the table and caring for their family. They work 7 days a week when they have work. They sell items on the street, bake bread and torts for sale, clean, do general labor or what they can to exist. They are mostly industrious, though there are those few who will loaf, steal, and rob to stay alive. Those with solid jobs then concentrate on their children and homes. The wealthy associate with others like themselves. Most are middle class here- which would be considered dirt poor in the US. I have not met a single discourteous or unkind person toward foreigners. Everyone says Good morning or afternoon as you meet. They are respectful of older persons and help those whom are infirm and need assistence. In many ways it is like the US was back in the 1950's when life was slower, easier going and people had respect for each other," said one expat who made the move to Bahia de Caracruz.

"Living in Ecuador as an expat or digital nomad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. With its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, it's no wonder that more and more expats are choosing to make Ecuador their home. Many expats and digital nomads choose to settle in the larger cities such as Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca which offer all the amenities of a larger city with a more relaxed atmosphere. Ecuador's cost of living, coupled with its relaxed visa requirements make it an ideal choice for those who want to live abroad. Furthermore, the country is remarkably diverse with its own unique cultures, landscapes, and people, making it an excellent choice for those who want to explore and experience something different. With its temperate climate, stunning nature, and friendly people, Ecuador is a great choice for expats and digital nomads looking to live and work abroad," explained one foreigner living in Ecuador.

"Cuenca has a lot going for it as far as the arts. There are always free concerts that you can attend in the city. Art festivals, Choirs, Orchestras you name it. This is a very family oriented society and life revolves around the family. My local business colleagues are always spending time with their families on the weekends and we should learn from them. They have a wonderful network of family around them. Religious events are a time for parades, church and other activities," said one in Cuenca.

"Ibarra is the capitol of Imbabura and as such has many lawyers in the area but it is primarily agricultural with a lot of commerce going on. It is the largest of the cities in this province and offers a lot of night life, greater restaurant selection and a pretty progressive city leadership," explained one expat in Ibarra.

"Salinas is a really nice place. Is like being in Guayaquil, but with a beach nearby, You will find supermarkets, banks, schools, hospitals and many more things than other ecuadorian beach. And a big plus is that is near Guayaquil (the biggest city in Ecuador and main commercial city of the country)," explained one person living in Salinas, Ecuador.

"The best way to find a place to live in Ecuador is to visit the country in person. This will allow you to explore different neighborhoods and areas and get a better understanding of the local culture and environment. You can also look into renting an apartment or house from a reliable source. There are numerous real estate agencies and websites that list rental properties in Ecuador, so you should have no trouble finding a place that suits your needs. Additionally, many expats join local Facebook groups and other social media sites to network and search for housing opportunities. Lastly, you could consider connecting with an established property management company that specializes in providing international real estate services," said one person in Ecuador.

"We made an exploratory trip months before we decided to come and live in Cuenca, Ecuador. We did not really choose the neighborhood we just found the apartment absolutely fell in love with it and the price was just right and the view and everything. It seemed like a good neighborhood as well and we bought it within two weeks of being in this country. To date 18 months later we are still very very happy with our purchase. We have since found it is a great neighborhood close to all amenities but far enough from the centre of the city," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Cuenca.

"We live in Valle de los Chillos just outside of Quito and did not have any security problems during the nearly 3 week paro (strike) like there were in Quito. Food was in shorter supply and a bit more expensive but available. Propane tanks for cooking and heating water also a bit more expensive but available. Gas stations had gasoline. Pretty quiet. Since Quito is capitol, any demonstrations will likely be there along with the associated disruptions. Outside in the valleys, peace and tranquility," explained one expat living in Ecuador.

"People here are friendly and very helpful. You can get fresh fruit and veggies everywhere. You can get fresh seafood right from the fisherman in the mornings, as the come back in from a nights fishing," said one person in Crucita.

"1. Learn some basic spanish before coming here. 2. Have a source of income to sustain you, don't expect to work to survive. 3. Keep an open mind and expect things to be very different from home. 4. Come for 3 to 4 weeks to see if you will like the country and city before making permanent immigration plans. 5. Have great patience and don't expect the people to act in a manner to which you are accustomed. Things here take time. 6. Remember you are a guest in their country so be respective of their customs, If you don't know what is expected-- ASK. Don't demand anything. They wll be nice if you are. 7. Always check your passport for visas and date stamps. They have been known to make errors on dates--quite often! 8. Be flexible, things are not under your control. Have Fun," said one expat who made the move to Bahia de Caracruz.

"There is an expat community in Vilcabamba. Its membership varies in variety and number. People arrive people depart. Some are in the town, visible every day, some come in only on market Sunday, some might go months without setting foot in the town. Come for a visit. Stay more than a couple of days to get the feel of the town. Have a taxi give you the tour. You'll have a better idea of the place and options for living there. Look at San Pedro and Malacatos as well, two towns near Vilcabamba. These are worthwhile places to look at," explained one foreigner living in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.

"Expatriates in Ecuador appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Ecuadorian people and their willingness to share conversation and demonstrate their culture. They also enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities and the various cultural events, like music festivals, parades and national holidays that take place across the country. The rich array of local cuisine is also a favorite among expats in Ecuador and they are also appreciative of the unique architecture, from colonial and neo-classical styles, to the mid-century modern and Indigenous varieties. Finally, being surrounded by such gorgeous landscapes and the abundance of flora and fauna found throughout Ecuador is something many expats can't help but appreciate," said one person in Ecuador.

"Ecuador is a better place to learn Spanish. In Spain they want to practice their English. In Ecuador they mostly don't speak English. Read up on the Inca empire and its encounter with the Spanish in the 16th century. Some of the roads you'll travel in Ecuador were Inca trails 700 years ago," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Vilcabamba.

"Still working on that one as I do not care for this town I am living in and is much more primitive than cities," explained one person living in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador.

"On the whole I have experienced the Ecuadorians to be honest. As a people they are culturally extremely polite. In my estimation they rivel the French with their protocols of politeness. "Buenos días, "Buenas tardes," "buenas noches, " "Saludos." If you don't greet someone, they feel slighted. And they address you by title, "don Ernesto". "doña Maria". o "mi señora linda". which is something we would never dare say in the north "my pretty lady."," said one expat in Cotacachi.

"More relaxed generally, people are very friendly and helpful. More tranquil way of life. Fresher food," remarked one member in Salinas.

"Although scrupulously polite, I have not found the Ecuadorian people to be particularly friendly or outgoing. And they are extremely protective of their privacy. Which is why they often live behind eight-foot-high walls with wire or broken bottles on top. Whether the fear is justified or not I can't say, but it seems to infect most everyone. It is very unusual to invite someone into your home, or to be invited. Mostly, in my experience (only one opinion mind you) socializing is done within the family, not by getting together with friends to tell stories and share meals. That is one difference I find really hard to take. And they love noise. They honk, they put a big speaker outside each store and blast music assuming that everyone wants to hear. To me it is a form of polution, pure and simple. Give me quiet any day," said one person in Cotacachi.

"Proof of at least $800 a month income, FBI and local police report, birth certificate and if applies divorce papers or marriage certificate. All need to be notarized and apostle stamped. You can hire a lawyer or do it yourself at the local Immigration office here takes about 3 months to receive your residency card good for ten years. I have a blog about the process: AAA Living in Cuenca gas2335.blogspot.com or book available on amazon: Why Ecuador for me," explained one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Think it was an long term tourist visa for more than 6 month (90 days upon entry and 3 month extension is easy) I needed bank account with about $7000 in it to prove I had resources to stay. Problem was chicken and egg. Had to have cedula to get account opened and had to have account to get visa to get cedula. Did an informal workaround but ended up getting different visa. Trying to prove usa resources for a visa is difficult as the government here wants all kinds of certificates with apostilles for your Financials. Only works with Social Security. As you may or may not know, apostilles are verifications of government issued documents and banks in the USA are privately owned (not owned by government) so any usa bank document cannot be apostilled. Their laws apparently allow them to apostille their bank documents for use outside of Ecuador but usa rules do not allow the same. Also the certificates they want do not exist in usa banking practice," said one person in Ecuador.

"To say the visa and cedula process can be "frustrating" is a mild way of putting it. But, the frustration is in the applicant and is because of expectations. What we in North America are used to sets us up for frustration. A cultural reset is needed...not at all easy. Hire someone who is vetted by a lot of expat experience (please, not by advertising exposure alone) AND by your personal involvement. Most of all have patience. Never give up. Twelve years ago I hired a lawyer in Quito to get the Jubilado visa. She was good. The cedula and visa transfer to a new PP I did myself years later. Great help if you both speak Spanish. Especially if you know the culture. Be friendly with the clerks, they work there, they didn't invent the procedures. If they grease the rails just a little for you it will help. If they put sand on them progress will be delayed. its worth it," said one expat who made the move to Ecuador.

"I can only speak of my own experiences with Ecuadorian Bureaucracy. I've been here five years, and currently hold a permanent resident's visa. If they can find a way to make any paperwork-based process more difficult they do. Without fail. From cédulas to driver's licenses, to getting married, which I gather you understand being, like me, married to an Ecuadorian. Or buying a car or land. Months of frustration. For example: my new cédula as a married person. Five trips by bus from Otavalo to Quitumbe (outside Quito) to the Registro Civil which deals with foreigners. Each trip 3-4 hours each way. Each time we went armed with all the documents we felt we could possibly need. Each time there was something lacking. "You were born in the States but are a Canadian?" "Yes, I've lived in Canada since I turned 23 and am a naturalized citizen. " "But can you prove you were born in the US?" "Here are my two passports, Canadian and US, both of which state I was born in New York." "But do you have your birth certificate?" "Yes, but not with me." Another trip back to Cotacachi and back to Quitumbe the next day." "But señor, this is the original." "Yes, by some miracle I still have it 73 years later," "But señor, the original is unacceptable as proof of anything." We need to see a copy, notarized and apostilled by the Secretary of State of New York." At this point, we gave up and contacted the lawyer in Cuenca who had organized my visas for me and she made it happen in two days, in Cuenca. Both the permanent visa and the cédula done on the same day. Worth every penny. And a road trip to boot," explained one foreigner living in Cotacachi, Ecuador.

"I can't recall that I did although my Ecuadorean friends may tell tales. I have a few friends who made the embarazado and embarasoso mistake as well as trucha vs chucha," said one person in Ambato.

"It is important to respect Ecuadorian customs when visiting the country. Trying to save face is valued highly, so it is best to remain calm and avoid any confrontational behavior. In conversations it is important to be aware of the local language and customs, being sure to avoid making jokes or being overly familiar. Ecuador is a conservative country, so it is best to dress modestly, particularly when visiting religious sites. Greeting people with a kiss on the cheek is popular and should be done according to the country's gender-based norms. Food is important to Ecuadorian culture, so it is polite to finish what is on your plate and wait for the host to indicate dessert, rather than helping yourself," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Ecuador.

" We have private insurance which costs $100 per month per person with $90 deductible. Our doctor copays are $5 for office visit (general and specialty). My husband had physical therapy for $15 each visit since deductible was not met yet. Normal blood tests are about $50. Colonoscopy $150 with anesthesia. I have gone for lab tests without rx for thyroid and other issues. About $12-20 each cash pay. There are doctors who will make house calls also, probably Spanish speaking. Costs are cheap without using insurance except for discounts. Rarely use it for meds because very little require rx. Just go talk to local friendly pharmacist about your issues and they will recommend a variety of meds and give you the pros and cons of each. They will also advise when you REALLY need to go to doctor. My lab test for infection ($12) gave me a list of meds that could be used to kill that bacteria. Took lab results to pharmacy to discuss which med would be the best for me. The amount of attention that the doctors in USA are able to give has made us fairly educated medical consumers. The system here makes it easy and cheap to get care," explained one digital nomad living in Ecuador.

"Healthcare services in Ecuador are provided by both public and private institutions. The public healthcare system is managed by the Ministry of Public Health and is available to all Ecuadorian citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare varies depending on the region, but generally it is considered to be of good quality. Foreign residents are able to access the public healthcare system, but they must first register with the Ministry of Public Health. Expats in Ecuador typically use the public healthcare system, as it is often more affordable than private healthcare. However, some expats opt to purchase private health insurance to access private healthcare services," said one member in Ecuador.

"One important point to make that might make a difference: My Spanish is fluent so all of my conversations with doctors are in their native language, not mine. I never even ask if they speak English, and I don't know how many there are that do and to what degree. Another interesting point is more of a cultural difference. My wife accompanies me to all my doctor's visits and I to hers. We both address the issues with the doctors and are privy to their explanations. I find that very comforting. And there are times when I can't understand the doctor because of regional dialects and the ever-present masks and my wife, who speaks no English, doesn't translate, but rather paraphrases into language I can understand. Between the three of us clear communication usually results," explained one expat in Cotacachi.

"Do sign up for IESS national healthcare. Note that as of July 2017 the rate will be based on Verified Income. The rate will be 17.6% and an additional 2.4% per dependent. An expat on $1200 Social Security with one dependent would therefore pay $240 a month for Health coverage," remarked one global nomad in Montanita.

"I let them know about public and private insurance options. This with chronic conditions should enroll in Ecuadorian IESS public system. But even without insurance the medical care in Ecuador is much more affordable than in the US," explained one digital nomad living in Loja, Ecuador.

"My wife loves Catamayo and would move there in a nano-second if we did not have family, property, and obligations here. Catamayo is warmer and dryer than Loja, Vilcabamba, or Malacatos ( although the latter two are a bit sunnier than Loja ) and all of the above are less damp and rainy than Cuenca. Catamayo is only about a 35-minute bus ride into Loja, so you can get your big city amenity fix or simply go shopping - Prices in Loja are much better than in Quito, Cuenca, or Guayaquil ! Also, because there aren't a ton of gringos living in Catamayo - unlike Vilca - the real estate prices are considerably lower. Go and explore for yourself then decide. There are several nice hotels with very reasonable prices that you can stay in and use for a "home base" as you explore the entire Loja area," commented a person living in Catamayo, Ecuador.

"Yes, it rains a bit, but if you have ever traveled to San Francisco, Amsterdam, London, Vancouver, you just keeping walking through it. The sun will dry you 10 minutes later. It definitely rains more today than 11 years ago. The only concession to Climate Change that Cuenca has made. But, there is greener grass and more flowers too. This new weather all started about 8 years ago. I find the weather wonderful! We have had enough beach living to make us tired and bored of it. ," explained one digital nomad living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Expats and digital nomads often appreciate the affordability of living in Ecuador. The cost of living is much lower than in many other countries, making it an attractive option for those looking to stretch their budget. Additionally, the country is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes mountains, making it a great place to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Expats and digital nomads also enjoy the friendly and welcoming culture of Ecuador, which makes it easy to settle in and make friends. On the downside, the infrastructure in Ecuador can be lacking in some areas, making it difficult to access certain services. Additionally, the language barrier can be a challenge for those who don't speak Spanish," said one member in Ecuador.