Just Returned From Ecuador

[Kiltboy1]

Well
 
My wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in Ecuador yesterday. We took our son to live for the Summer and I will go back in August to bring him back for the school year. This was the first time I had been back in about 2 1/2 years and a lot has changed. Here are a few observations
 
1) Infrastructure is sooooo much better and there is new construction everywhere
 
2) There are so many brand new cars on the roads and all over the country they have built American standard interstate system.Seems like they are giving 0 interest loans to just about everyone to get a car
 
3) More $$$$$. Everything seems to cost about 30% more then just 2 years ago, yet , seems like the whole place is full of people at the restaurants, bars, travel. Everyone has money to spend.
 
4) Cost of houses, condos, land has gone up 30-40 %. The coast is getting really expensive to live and a condo on the beach costs as much as one in say Myrtle Beach SC. I am glad I bought my lots when I did.
 
5) An a big one   CRIME .  Crime has increased  a lot. Lots more robberies in the streets and banks. We were at Quito most elegant mall when the main bank there was robbed about 6pm. 6 Colombians did the job. Thanks to the President, Correa, he has let all the undesirables from Cuba, Colombia , Haiti and Mexico come in. This has caused crime to go off the charts and I hate to say it, but the Colombians and Cubans are the ones doing it.My wife came back and now feels she is stuck-Not really Ecuadorian anymore nor American. She feels like the flavor of her country has been sucked out by all the Immigrants  piling in to get the free services Correa is handing out(sound familiar to any USA residents )
 
6) Did I mention that everyone seems to have plenty of money ?? Well, they do I guess.
 
It was a great trip and I love Ecuador, but its a shame all places in paradise needs to be spoiled by people of other countries and cultures that could care less about the country they are living in or exploiting.
 
Part 2 in August
 
KB
 

[Bob_S]

Part 2 in August

Eh?!  What?  August?!
     

[whitey]

Interesting observations, Kiltboy ... can't wait to hear more.


You really think the influx of undesirable immigrants in just the last two years is the cause of all the crime?

[Kiltboy1]

Whitey
 
Yes. the policy's of Correa has allowed refugees and immigrants with little or no documentation to enter without any background checks. This is part of his Anti American, Anti Euro, Anti anyone that is not a socialist to enter . Just like the Wikileaks guy, Correa would love to let him come there just to piss off Washington. Thus, Crime is really gotten bad and sadly it is Cubans and Colombians that are getting caught for the major bank jobs and murders. Sad , but true.
 
KB

[V_Man]

I always thought Ecuador would be the first country I would visit in SA. I found it the most fascinating to read about. I originally planed to go there to learn Spanish before visiting other countries. As things have turned out, I have been to 4 other SA counties, some more than once but I still haven't been to Ecuador.  I am sorry to hear about those negative developments. Has life changed for the average Ecuadorian?

Julian Assange (the WikiLeaks guy) is an Aussie. The Australian government has all but abandoned him. I think what is happening to him is terrible. He hasn't been charged with anything. The sexual assualt allegations didn't stand up to any scrutiny and I believe the women have droped their charges. The police have kept the charges active however. Why would they do that? You don't need to be a genious to see that Swedish police could interview him in London if that was all they wanted to do. I hope Correa does grant him asylm but I don't know if it will happen. The Ecuadorian embassies in the United States and Britain have received more than 10,000 messages in support of political asylum for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

[dtibbet]

so sad, another black eye for colombians:)))

[Kiltboy1]

V Man
 
I would say that life is better for the average Ecuadorian then when I first started going there. Even the  Indians all are driving brand new SUV.s and as I said the bars, restaurants, resort hotels are full of people. 3 years ago in Atacames I paid $35 for a oceanfront room at a nice resort. The same resort is now getting $90 and  people pay it without a word.
 
Yes, another black eye for Colombians but the facts do not lie that it is Colombians that are committing the majority of the violent crime . They show up on Ecuadorian TV daily in a police line up after being caught . Cubans are bad news too in Ecuador. All in all, it still is much much safer then Colombia and other Latin American countries and I still have no hesitation still plan to retire there in a few years, but things have certainly changed in the past 3 years. Some for the good, some not so good.
 
KB

[V_Man]

Apparently Chile is having a similar problem with Colombians. It worries me because these countries may decide that Colombians need a visa to be a tourist.

I would love to learn more about Ecuador. What can you tell us?

[Kiltboy1]

V Man
 
I have traveled a lot around Colombia as I was married to a woman from Cali way back and dated women from all over the country. Colombia does not resemble Ecuador very much. Ecuador is easier to get around then Colombia. The roads system is surprisingly very good  and they have a better tourist infrastructure then Colombia. I would suspect  that years of having the Galapagos on the international map helped. Food to me is better , especially if you like good seafood . Ecuador exports more Tuna then any other country and also lots of Shrimp, so a cerviche plate can cost you as little as $3.00. You can go from 65-70 degrees in Quito to 20 minutes down the mountain to the Valle and it is 85 with pool clubs everywhere. The coast reminds me of the PCH in California and just one picturesque sea town after another. One of my favs. is Bahia DE Caraquez, a place international yachtsman stop off on there way back and forth. I could go on an on. We will retire there within the next 10 years, sooner if the political situation continues to go socialist here in the USA. I would rather live in a socialist country that the scale of economies are cheap then one where it is increasingly expensive and intrusive. Men on these forum's do not generally go to Ecuador as the abundance of 7-10 hot women are not their like Colombia, BUT, make no mistakes, they have some very hot women  that turns any mans heads. As hot is my wife is, I still have a neckache from this trip, LOL.
 
KB

[whitey]

As hot is my wife is, I still have a neckache from this trip, LOL.
 
KB

Quote of the week!

[no comment]

Interesting report on Ecuador.  Got me wondering if it might be an economic bubble with the turndown in economies worldwide.  This article doesn't think so and confirms what Kiltboy says:  http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=8347   


KB, what makes are those new cars you saw?  Any run on natural gas as they have in Peru?

[QRCAP2012]

Thanks for the excellent commentary Kiltboy. I've been thinking about living in Latin america full time and I'm curious about Ecuador. I'm planning a month long trip there for October. For retirees I understand that the exchange rate is more stable in Ecuador and that retirement is easier there than in Colombia. For example, I could bring my car and my household goods into Ecuador, but nearly impossible to bring a car and hugely expensive to bring household goods into Colombia. The Colombian retirement process is more convoluted, too, from what I understand so far it takes 5 years of annual renewals to become a resident, whereas Ecuador is only 3 years. Will you apply for citizenship when you retire to Ecuador?

[Kiltboy1]

QRCAP
 
Yes
 
I am going to get my Ecuadorian citizenship and will pay into there SS system like my wife does. You can bring your car and such but with the taxes they charge you and the cost of getting it to Ecuador, it might be better just to purchase one there. I think it is a great place to retire and has everything a person could want  and an excellent healthcare system  with US & Cuban trained doctors. Insurance  is about $80 a month for a Cadillac plan.I am going back in August for 10 days to get my son and I am looking forward to that very much  and will get to the coast to scout out condo purchases as well as we have decided to stay in our current home here in the US and put our extra money into coastal investment in Ecuador.
 
KB

[dtibbet]

yes i have to agree ,  its tough here in Columbia to retire and feel totally relaxed. i have to keep telling mysef its still a 3rd world country. if you can handle that, its awesome.

[V_Man]

Please tell us more about life in Ecuador. I am very interested.

[Kiltboy1]

Please tell us more about life in Ecuador. I am very interested.

 
V man
 
I do not live in Ecuador. I live in the USA. My wife and I will move to Ecuador in about 10 years after the kids are in the University or sooner if this pathetic socialist government keeps intruding on my freedoms and Illegals living better then we do off my taxes.. But I think Ecuador offers about anything a person could want in an Ex Pat. Lifestyle with cost of living and quality healthcare and incredible places to live and visit.
 
KB

[Alabamaboy!]

What city are you looking to retire in? Which of the Coastal cities would provide the best all around living experience on a $2,000 budget? We were looking at the possibility of Colombia as a retirement place, but it seems like it is getting pretty expensive there, especially with the poor exchange rates which do not seem to be improving any during the last few years.

Have you ever been to Dominican Republic, specifically Las Terrenas which retirement magazines have been touting alot lately? How does it compare with Coastal Ecuador?

How would you compare Coastal Ecuador with say, Santa Marta?

Is there a lot of sunshine at the beaches? I see lots of gloomy looking skies when I search for photos of the Ecuadorean Coast.

The benefits of retiring to Ecuador are many. The more I look into it, the better it looks.

[Hector_Lavoe]

Yes, I'd be curious to hear about Kiltboy's search for a coastal house/condo.  What are the current price ranges?  What city/area along the coast, etc.? 
 
And finally, can U.S. Citizens without a wife from Ecuador buy real estate and gain title without any major obstacles?
 
 

[Kiltboy1]

What city are you looking to retire in? Which of the Coastal cities would provide the best all around living experience on a $2,000 budget? We were looking at the possibility of Colombia as a retirement place, but it seems like it is getting pretty expensive there, especially with the poor exchange rates which do not seem to be improving any during the last few years.

Have you ever been to Dominican Republic, specifically Las Terrenas which retirement magazines have been touting alot lately? How does it compare with Coastal Ecuador?

How would you compare Coastal Ecuador with say, Santa Marta?

Is there a lot of sunshine at the beaches? I see lots of gloomy looking skies when I search for photos of the Ecuadorean Coast.

The benefits of retiring to Ecuador are many. The more I look into it, the better it looks.

 
I just returned from 10 days in Ecuador and was one of my best trips ever.
I love the coast of Ecuador and it reminds me of Southern Cal. . It blows the coastline of Colombia away, not even close. They have many beaches that are more beautiful than Santa Marta , and of course Cartagena, we all know the beaches suck there. We are looking to retire somewhere along the "RUTA DEL SOL" , which is the central coast from Manta south in Salinas. The coastline has many small fishing villages and large towns like Manta, Bahia DE Caraquez and Salinas , which is like South Beach. You can live a very nice lifestyle for 2K a month on the coast and from the central coast to the south you do not get the humidity you get in the northern beaches like Atacames.
Condos and oceanfront homes can be had anywhere from 125k down to 50k
Roads are fantastic and the sun shines a lot, thus the name RUTA DEL SOL
Google that and you will get the idea.I have been to the DR many times and it is much more expensive then Ecuador and very very humid. Coast of Ecuador, think Medellin  at 85 degrees and low humidity and that is what you have
 
KB

[Kiltboy1]

Yes, I'd be curious to hear about Kiltboy's search for a coastal house/condo.  What are the current price ranges?  What city/area along the coast, etc.? 
 
And finally, can U.S. Citizens without a wife from Ecuador buy real estate and gain title without any major obstacles?

For an investment of 25K USD, you get residence status and do not have to leave the country every year to renew. It is very simple to retire in Ecuador
 
 
 
 

[Zon]

I have been to the DR many times and it is much more expensive then Ecuador and very very humid. Coast of Ecuador, think Medellin  at 85 degrees and low humidity and that is what you have

DAMN!  Sounds perfect.  Good for you ... you are a lucky guy.


I am going to put in some time in the DR, but it is based much on business reasons.   The DR is cool for many reasons, but it has its warts too. 


About Ecuador, I get the impression that finding European (Paisa) looking women is a difficult.   Can you comment on that?  Also, how does the culture, differ from Colombia?

[Kiltboy1]

DAMN!  Sounds perfect.  Good for you ... you are a lucky guy.


I am going to put in some time in the DR, but it is based much on business reasons.   The DR is cool for many reasons, but it has its warts too. 


About Ecuador, I get the impression that finding European (Paisa) looking women is a difficult.   Can you comment on that?  Also, how does the culture, differ from Colombia?

While there are not as many of the Paisa looking ladies in Ecuador, there are more then most think. Not all woman are Indian Pygmies you know 
Most of the Paisa looking women are Costenas from around Guayaquil and Manta. Manabae. Although my wife has  what I would consider a Paisa look and she is from the Capital, Quito. As far as the culture, Ecuatorianas are much more conservative then Colombianas. They are more about work as more woman run companies then men in Ecuador, and less about Rumba. Family is very important as well .I find the Ecuadorian woman to be what I was looking for. They do not have to be babysat if you know what I mean and are in general more educated then there Colombiana counterparts. More in tact families and less single mothers then Ecuador too.
 
KB
 

[Hector_Lavoe]

For an investment of 25K USD, you get residence status and do not have to leave the country every year to renew. It is very simple to retire in Ecuador

Thanks for giving us the update.  Really does sound like a nice country.
 
I looked at Manta's climate entry on wikipedia.  The average highs are about 86 all year and the lows are around 70. 
 
Also, very arid:
"Despite its near-equatorial location, the Humboldt Current serves to give Manta an arid climate. The city is hot and cloudy almost throughout the year, but rainfall is very erratic and almost completely confined to the month from January to April. Even then it falls mainly during El Niño events when the Humboldt Current weakens."

[michaelb]

A former co-worker retired and moved to Cuenca a couple of years ago. He likes it just fine (at least he did last I heard, that's been 6 months or so, guess I need to send him an email to be sure he's still alive ). As I recall, he didn't have any problems getting a pensioner visa.

[Calipro]

Thanks for the excellent commentary Kiltboy. I've been thinking about living in Latin america full time and I'm curious about Ecuador. I'm planning a month long trip there for October. For retirees I understand that the exchange rate is more stable in Ecuador and that retirement is easier there than in Colombia. For example, I could bring my car and my household goods into Ecuador, but nearly impossible to bring a car and hugely expensive to bring household goods into Colombia. The Colombian retirement process is more convoluted, too, from what I understand so far it takes 5 years of annual renewals to become a resident, whereas Ecuador is only 3 years. Will you apply for citizenship when you retire to Ecuador?

It takes three years to become a resident of colombia if you are married to a colombian.