Everything can be found in Ecuador, from reasonably priced real estate on the beach to new cars to cheap international food. The pace of life and the enjoyment of it, as well as the warmth, is a nice change from the fast-paced English-Speaking countries. The lifestyle is qualitatively better than one you can have with the same income in North American or Europe.

Where is Ecuador:

Ecuador is located on the west coast South America, bordering Colombia and Peru. The Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, are also part of the country. It’s name, obviously enough, comes from the equator, which passes through the country.

Going to Ecuador: Residents of English-speaking and European countries do not need a visa to enter Ecuador for 180 days. A 90-day extension is easily obtainable.

The office in charge of immigration is the National Direction of Immigration (Direccion Nacional de Migracion) and their website is here: www.migracion.gov.ec

Ecuador Weather:

Depending on the region, Ecuador has a generally tropical climate, due to its location on the equator, especially on the coast and the Galapagos Islands and along the Amazon River. This is where the major cities are also located. However, it’s not very rainy or hot in the highlands in the eastern areas of the country.

Ecuador Population:

Ecuador has a population of roughly 14 million inhabitants, giving the country a population density of about 139 people per square mile. Much of that population lives in either the capital, with almost 2 million people, and Guayaquil, which has just slightly more.

Ecuador Holidays:

Ecuador has a lot of holidays which are:

• January 1st: New Year’s Day

• January 6th: Dia de los Inocentes y Reyes Magos (Day of the Innocents and the Three Kings (Three Wise Men))

• February 27th: Dia de Civismo (Day of Civility/Being a Good Citizen)

Carnivals, the Monday and Tuesday before Lent, though people generally take the whole week off.

• Easter

• May 1st: Labor Day

• May 24th: Batalla del Pichincha (Independence Day)

• June: Corpus Christi

• August 10th: Primer Grito de Independencia (First Cry of Independence)

• October 9th: (Guayaquil Independence)

• October 12th Columbus Day

• November 1st All Saints Day

• November 2nd Dia de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead)

• November 3rd: Cuenca Independence

• December 6th The founding of Quito

• Christmas Day

Ecuador Electricity

The standard voltage is 110 V, which is the same as is used in the U.S. and Canada. Most hotels will have both 110 V and 220 V outlets and adaptors are readily available.

Ecuador Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the national currency and has been since the year 2000.

Ecuador Schools

There are 61 Universities in Ecuador and a number of k-12 schools that give instruction in English.

Ecuador Entertainment

For the ‘local flavor’ type there’s no end to the amusements available. It takes an hour and a half by plane from Guayaquil to arrive at the Galapagos Islands, one of the world’s biological wonders and wildlife conservatories. Another main attraction on the mainland is architecture. There are Incan ruins, Spanish colonial churches and old buildings. Surprisingly there are many experimental artsy building projects as well. Some popular places are the ruins of the Museo del Banco Central in Cuenca and the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito. Further, there are indigenous and local markets selling fruits, meats, and locally made products—like Panama Hats that are from Ecuador, not Panama.

The beaches are empty during the off-season (January-March, though it can very according to region) and beautiful year-round. There are volcanoes, some of which are active. The most popular ones to climb are the Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, and the Cayambe.

Ecuador Food and Drink

Ecuador has excellent seafood, fruit, vegetables, potatoes, corn, dairy products and meats, all of which is locally grown, caught, produced or raised. As for indigenous food, chicken and rice is the most common mean, as are potatoes, avocados, tortillas, yucca, ceviche, and all kinds of soups. This kind of local food is found everywhere and is very, very cheap. A good lunch is about $2.

On the other hand, the most Americanized supermarket is Supermaxi which is expensive by local standards but has the same name brands as the U.S. or the UK. Many corner stores also carry the general supermarket brands, such as Gillette razors and Little Debbie snack foods, though it is slightly more expensive.

As for restaurants, in the big cities are teaming with all varieties of Epicurean delight, from Argentinean steak to Brazilian meats to German sausage to American hot dogs to excellent Thai food. Anything you want is out there.

There are 3 major brands of Ecuadorian beer: Pilsener, Club, Biela, all of which are readily available for under a dollar, and South American wines—Chilean and Argentinean—are reasonably priced. The usual hard liquor is everywhere and cheap, especially their own aguardiente or that of bordering countries. It tastes like licorice, but really it’s a matter of personal taste—people from the region love it, people from other regions tend to not like it.

Ecuador Crime and Safety

It’s often best to avoid making somebody who would normally not be a thief, become a thief. This means don’t tempt them by wearing gold Rolexes, for example. Crimes of opportunity are common throughout Latin America, but if you use your judgment it’s unlikely that anything will happen to you. That said, it’s not uncommon to see false news reports about the crime in Ecuador since other countries have much to gain (money and visitors) from deterring people from visiting. The numbers of these petty crimes are actually very low.

The president enjoys widespread support, especially because of his negative opinion of the United States, which is not at all in the people’s good graces. It is a politically stable nation. Further, the indigenous people take crime into their own hands if one of them commits a murder, rape, etc. They do not have Supreme Court appeals and teams of lawyers to acquit them—they are severely punished by their own.

As for the police, as in many other countries that are not English speaking, it’s not easy to arrest somebody or attain a warrant without incriminating evidence. There is corruption, however, and you should always be cautious. For this reason, many people use private security companies with men that are well trained. It’s common to see them in homes, shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. Because they are so cheap, they are everywhere, providing a layer of protection.

Ecuador Guns and Arms

You must have a gun permit for the gun (issued by the military) and can carry concealed weapons without a separate permit. However, most people can only have semiautomatic 9mm guns with 2 magazines, 10 bullets each, and .38 caliber revolvers. Accessories such as laser sights and night vision are also allowed. It’s difficult for non-citizens to get a permit, but if you can come up for a reason why your job would require this, you can get it. Remember, though, that laws are not always set in stone.

Ecuador Political Situation

There are 10 main political parties. The current president is a member of the Alianza PAIS party which is center-left. He is very popular with the people, largely because he has implemented free schooling, medical care, and has modernized the country. Plus he’s very Anti-American even though he received an U.S master’s degree at the University of Illinois--this lack of brainwashing is rare--and as a result, does not have good relations with the countries the US supports, like Colombia, Ecuador’s neighbor with a more right-wing government, or the IMF, World Bank, etc. He has said that he believes in reciprocity—"The U.S. can have a military base in Ecuador when we can have one in the U.S."

As for the economy, the worst thing going for the country is the fact that they use the dollar. However, in April 2009 after Correa’s reelection he stated that the country would no longer price oil in dollars, which will help to stabilize the economy. For now it doesn’t look like they are going to switch currencies, but this is a definite possibility.

In any case, the country is currently politically stable. There have been no bank failures since 2000 and there is no danger of a coup.

Cost of Living

Having an income of $2,000 allows you to enjoy a significantly better lifestyle than you could afford in the US or the UK. You can go out to eat, travel around Ecuador, go out at night, etc.

Ecuador Property Rights

On the Property Rights Index, Ecuador scores the same as Panama and Guatemala. Foreigners can own property and when you do so you are eligible to apply for residency, which is not hard to get. There is a property tax, which varies depending on the type of property.

Living on the Beach

tropical flowers, trees, etc surround the beaches in Ecuador. The sand is a light tan color, and the water is very clean. Many people live in these more rural areas (where there is still electricity, broadband, cable, etc. in a lot of areas) for under $1000 a month, including rent, and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Housing prices vary a lot. You can get a very nice 3 bedroom home for $50,000, though there are smaller and cheaper as well as larger and more expensive options available. If you are looking to buy real estate, however, you should use a lawyer or reputable real estate agency.

Real Estate Financing

If there is financing involved in the purchase, the seller can keep the title until the full amount is paid. This right is given by the buyer in a "promesa de compra," a promise of purchase.

Ecuador Military

In total, the armed forces are about 42,000 men strong.

Ecuador Shopping

There are 12 major shopping malls in Quito, and about around 5 in Guayaquil. There are many cheap stores, especially for clothing. In every large city there is at least one mall that is as modern as a European or a North American mall, including food courts with many of the major chains, and movie theaters. There frequently is a lag for movie releases—they can come a few weeks or sometimes months late, but the selection is good.

There is also no end to the supply of artisan markets, shops, and handcraft stores. As is expected, they will charge more in touristy areas, but if you go outside of a major city or to the suburbs all of these products are inexpensive and well-made. For example, you can buy solid wood, handcrafted furniture for basically the cost of very cheap labor.

It can be cheaper to import your own appliances from another country since they can be more expensive in Ecuador. However, if your appliance has a warranty, it becomes null and void if the good leaves the country, so it can sometimes be worth it to buy this type of household item overseas if you’re planning a long-term stay.

Ecuador Medical

The Ministry of Public Health is the governmental organization that directs the nation’s health care services, sets the standards, etc. The general population gets free health care and services for old age, sickness, and pregnancy. There are both public and private hospitals, the private ones being the most modern and amenable to foreigners. An appointment runs about $20 and an appointment with a specialist is just a few dollars more. You are also not treated as a slab of meat, but rather a patient deserving good care and attention. As for family doctors, house calls still exist, at any hour of the night.

Prescription drugs are not very regulated and when they are these regulations are often ignored—you can easily get pain medicine or cold medicine that now requires a prescription in the U.S. Dental care and cosmetic surgery are also available at a fraction of the cost. However, one should always do their due diligence before undergoing any treatment. It’s best to only go to doctors that have been recommended to you.

Ecuador Driving and Cars

It’s generally better to have your own car in Ecuador—one that doesn’t stand out. For example, a Toyota is better to have than a Mercedes. As discussed earlier, crimes of opportunity are to be avoided. You must have a driver’s license (can be an International Driver’s License) and papers to be in the country. However, another very common option is to hire a driver who knows the area and can handle the police or other locals better than you will be able to. It’s good to have somebody like this around sometimes. Whether or not it’s better to buy a car there or to import one depends largely on the value and age of the car. The older the car, the lower the import taxes will be, and the higher the value of the car, the more it may be worth it to pay the money, which can be thousands of dollars. Buying a car can also be expensive because they are imported. It’s possible to buy them at sticker price, though the practice of dealers discounting doesn’t really exist in Ecuador.

The road signs and markings are universal, so there is no learning curve and they drive on the right side of the road. However, pedestrians do not always have the right of way. There are no such laws that condemn a driver if a pedestrian does a stupid thing and steps in front of your car. Also, it’s better to not drive very fast in rural areas as cattle or other animals can cross the road. It’s something to be aware of. The traffic in the larger cities can be quite heavy. Rush hour is something to be avoided. This is easy if you aren’t working a 9-5 job in the business district.

Ecuador Communications

All decent sized cities have broadband and up to 4G Internet. Satellite dishes are commonplace, as is Cable TV. The large networks in English are available through Satellite, which generally has a better selection for this type of programming. With Cable TV, many of the networks have their own Spanish version—like CNN News 'En Espano'l.

There are prepaid cell phones. The largest provider is Movistar (which is all over Latin America) and sells cards starting from $5. Cellular phones run from about $20 and up. Or you can get a contract. The costs vary greatly depending on the amount of minutes per month, features, family plan, etc. Most of the same phones from the U.S. are available.

Please contact us if you have any more questions. Questions are always welcome.

Source: http://www.panamalaw.org