“When are you going to hold a conference in Ecuador again?”
Since I joined the Events team here at Live and Invest Overseas three years ago, this has been one of the most frequently asked questions to drop into my mailbag.
Though our last Ecuador conference was in 2014 (before my time at the helm of LIOS events), we never lost interest in Ecuador. But sometimes we have to shuffle around destinations on our calendar… and some old favorites must retire—at least temporarily—to make way for new ones.
Now, I’m thankful for all those reader requests… and to Overseas Property Alert Editor Wendy Howarter for helping to bring Ecuador back into the limelight.
Earlier this year, Wendy made a scouting trip around Ecuador’s main cities and along the country’s Pacific coast… and found that everything that was great about Ecuador four years ago is still there today…
At our Retire Overseas Conference last September, Wendy took our audience on a whirlwind tour of the country—highlighting the best places for expats to consider… and the pros and cons of living in this Latin American country that’s slightly smaller than Nevada.
Topping Wendy’s list of places to consider setting up a new home in Ecuador were:
- Cotacachi and Otavalo—two neighboring towns (20 minutes apart) north of capital city Quito that have thriving expat populations and are famous for their leather (Cotacachi) and textile (Otavalo) production. (Wendy pointed to the bright handmade alpaca scarf she was wearing that day—which she’d picked up in the Otavalo market for US$3.) You can rent in these towns for US$400 to US$500 per month, or you could invest in an apartment of your own for as little as US$45,000.
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- Quito—the capital city, celebrating 40 years as a UNESCO World Heritage city, with an historic center and attractive suburbs between the center and the airport (Wendy’s favorite is Cumbayá). Quito sits at an altitude of 2,850 meters meaning lots of sun and springlike weather year-round. Rent from US$4 to US$8 per square meter per month or buy from US$79,000.
- Cuenca—also a UNESCO-protected colonial city with the highest expat population in the country (between 6,000 and 7,000 expats call Cuenca home). This former Incan capital also has the most impressive architecture in the country. Average rent is US$530 per month. Buy from US$150,000.
- Pacific Coast—from Atacames in the north to Playas in the south, you have plenty of options for beach living. Salinas—two hours west of Guayaquil (Ecuador’s biggest city)—is a popular choice along this coast. Salinas is home to a growing expat community and an ideal spot to wait out the North American winter.
As for the ups and downs to Ecuadorian living, Wendy shared the following insights…
Ecuador Pros
- Nonstop flights to Quito and Guayaquil from the United States—plus direct flights to Europe…
- Springlike weather year-round (without the need for air conditioning, energy bills are low)…
- Medical services are cheap making pay-as-you-go health care an attractive option. A specialist visit costs US$38, and a hospital stay costs from US$110 per night for a suite (or from US$60 for a standard room)…
- Attractive residency options with low qualification thresholds (retirees need only show an income of US$800 a month; for an investor visa, you must invest a minimum of US$27,000)…
- Large and vibrant expat communities—particularly around Cuenca and Quito…
- Handicrafts make a great export business opportunity for those looking to make extra income…
- Easy and inexpensive to explore the whole country (Wendy’s driver for her two-hour journey between Salinas and Guayaquil charged just US$12).
Ecuador Cons
- Lack of English spoken outside of major cities…
- Corruption, dishonesty, and lack of regulation (as in many parts of Latin America)…
- For the first two years of residency, you must not leave the country for more than 90 days.
That’s just a taste of what Wendy covered in the limited time slot we gave her in Las Vegas recently… and a sneak preview of what’s to come when we gather our full team of Ecuador experts in Quito next March.
Ecuador is hands down the cheapest destination in Latin America where you could live a comfortable lifestyle…
But it’s not for everyone.
To get the full picture—and to decide whether it could be for you… as well as where specifically you should considering focusing your own search in this country—I hope you’ll join us next March 20–22 for our Live and Invest in Ecuador Conference.
As I mentioned, our schedules haven’t permitted us to hold an event in Ecuador for four years. This is your chance, finally, to come see firsthand what this beautiful country has to offer.
Valentine Fouché
