10 Things to Love About Ecuador

There are many things to love about Ecuador, but here is our Top 10 list.

Sunset on the beach in Manta

1. Climate

There are many misconceptions about the climate in Ecuador. Since Ecuador straddles the equator, it would be logical to assume the country is hot. But it's not.

In Ecuador, the climate is completely based on altitude and even in the hottest parts of Ecuador the temperature seldom gets higher than 35 C (95 F).

It is kind of funny to see people coming out of the Quito airport at night wearing shorts and a t-shirt thinking it's going to be hot. Quito, however, is at an elevation of about 2800 meters and the temperatures at night are usually between 8 and 12 C (46-54 F).

The beauty of Ecuador is that you can pick a climate and never have to worry about extreme weather unless you're climbing to the peak of some very high mountains. Ecuador climate is very stable with no hurricanes, tornados or tropical storms. Some places get thunder and lightning, but that's about it.

The coastal region to about 1000 meters in elevation is warm year-round and you will likely need air conditioning at night unless you happen to be in an area with a nice sea breeze.

Our personal favorite climate is at the 1000-1800 meter level. This elevation enjoys warm days and cool evenings. You never need heat or air conditioning.

At elevations of 2000 to 3000 meters, the climate is like an eternal spring. The days are usually 18-22 C (65-72 F), but you will likely need some sort of heating to keep the chill off at night. Many homes and hotels at this elevation have fireplaces to keep you warm and cozy.

The town of Baños along the Rio Pastaza is very picturesque

2. Scenery

Ecuador is the most bio-diverse nation in the world and the scenery here is nothing short of spectacular. And it changes rapidly. In a one-day drive, you can go from the beaches of the arid coast to the tropical fruit-growing plateaus of the midlands, up through the grassy highlands of the Andes and then down to the jungles of the Amazon Basin.

You will see mountain deserts, tropical rainforests, fruit and flower growing regions, majestic snow-capped volcanoes, cascading waterfalls and thick steamy jungles.

Ecuador is truly a landscape photographer's dream come true. If you are a serious hobby photographer or a budding amature who would like to learn more about photography, check out Ecuador Photo Tours. They will take you off the beaten track to some of the most spectacular scenery in Ecuador.

Everything in this photo was bought for less than $10

3. Cost of living

Whether you're traveling to Ecuador as a vacationer or looking to live abroad, the cost of living here will pleasantly surprise you.

If you're vacationing in Ecuador, hotels can be as cheap as $7 a night per person. Very nice accommodations can be found for $25-$50 a night. Of course, you can stay at very expensive places here like the Hiltons or Marriots, but in general, you will spend a lot less on accommodations in Ecuador than you would in other vacation destinations like the Caribbean or Hawaii.

Meals are incredibly cheap in Ecuador as well. Sit-down lunches (soup, main course, drink and dessert) can be had for $2-$4 depending on ambiance. Dinners usually run $6-$10 per person in decent restaurants. Like hotels, you can also find a very wide range of high end restaurants in Ecuador as well.

If you're looking at Ecuador as a place to live, you will find you dollar goes a long way here. You can buy a lot of groceries for $20 here, particularly if you avoid the supermarkets and buy from the grower markets. I recently filled the back of my SUV with fruit and vegetables for a friend with a restaurant - for $25!

For several years running, Ecuador has been identified by various organizations as one of the best places in the world to retire because of its climate, cost of living, ease of migration, solid ownership rights for forigners and cheap real estate - which brings us to point 5.

4. Cheap real estate

The real estate market in Ecuador offers a buffet of investment opportunities to suit almost any budget.

If you're looking to live in Ecuador and do not have a registered pension of at least $8000 per year, you will need to purchase a property with an assessed value of $25,000. This will qualify you for a resident visa. If you are retired with a registered pension, there is no requirement to purchase property to gain residency. You simply need to provide proof of your pension and you qualify for a pensionista visa and permanent residency in Ecuador.

If you're renting in Ecuador, the costal regionis will be the most expensive - particularly in the coastal cities. Rent for a furnished two bedroom apartment in Manta with sea view will likely run you $500 to $600 per month. A huge beachfront penthouse will be in the area of $800 to $1000.

Rents in the interior of Ecuador tend to be cheaper with decent apartments from $250-$350. These are averages, however. You can spend more and you can spend less, depending on your personal standard of living.

If you're buying real estate in Ecuador, you will be amazed at what $100K will get you. Again, this depends on where you are looking. In Manta $100K will get you a decent beachfront condo. In other parts of the country, $100K could buy you a hotel. Here's an example of a Manta Condo for under $100,000.

There is no shortage of places listed between $35K and $50K, but these places will often need work or be quite small.

An American client of ours recently purchased a small apartment in Manta for $21,000. It is very basic and most North Americans would find it too small, but he is very happy with his apartment which is four blocks from the beach and enjoys a great view of the Mant port.

The crab on the right cost $2

5. Fresh foods

If you love fresh fruits and vegetables, then Ecuador is heaven on earth. Pretty much anything grows here and domestic transportation is cheap, so fruits and veggies are cheap everywhere in the country. If you spend $10 on fruit or veggies, you better eat fast or have a lot of room in your fridge!

If you are into seafood, Ecuador has a lot of that to offer as well. Shrimp, crab, sea bass, prawns, and much more can be picked up anywhere along the coast for a fraction of what you would pay in most parts of the world.

An indigenous woman sells her goods in a street market

6. The culture

Ecuador is rich in culture - particularly in the highlands where you will see indigenous peoples in their traditional dress, or deep in the Amazon basin where you will find tribal villages that have not seen much change in the last 1000 years.

Unlike North America where the indigenous population which was pounded into submission by the colonists and little of their culture is visible in mainstream society, Ecuador's indigenous population is very visible and they have kept their culture.

Also unlike North America where the vast majority is of European descent, the majority of Ecuadorians are of mixed euro/indigenous blood. As a result, it is not uncommon to hear what many gringos would call racist, insensitive or politically incorrect terminology.

Anyone coming to Ecuador from very politically correct areas may be surprised - and perhaps even offended - by the way Ecuadorians refer to each other. It's very common to hear someone being referred to as "the black one," "the brown one," "the white one,"  "the fat one," or "the skinny one." These are not slurs, however. They are simply observations and often even terms of endearment. No one gets offended by these names.

Ecuadorians also love their fiestas and do not need much convincing to have a party. They love to sing and dance and have a good time.

7. Domestic travel

With so many wonderful places to see in Ecuador, domestic travel can be almost like traveling to a different country. Luckily, Ecuador is a small country and domestic travel is cheap.

You can fly almost anywhere in the country from Quito or Guayaquil for $100 return. The exeption would be the Galapagos islands which will run in the area of $375 for non residents.

Bus travel will usually cost you around $1 per hour travelled - a bit more on express executive coaches.

One of many beautiful churches in Cuenca

8. Architecture

For anyone into old colonial architecture, the cities of Quito and Cuenca are great places to visit. Both are UNESCO Heritage Sites and for a very good reason.

Ecuadorians love their fiestas - which usually include a dance in the street

9. The people

As noted above, Ecuadorian culture point, Ecuadorians are very laid back. They are a very friendly people who are very welcoming to foreigners, especailly if you make an attemtp to communicate with them in Spanish. Ecuadorians will be quick to strike up a conversation with you and likely have many questions about your country. In social situations such as fiestas, dances, or parties, they will be very sharing. It's not uncommon to see one person walking around with a bottle of beer or whisky and one glass offering a drink to every person in the room.

10. The challenges

Whether you're living in Ecuador or just visiting, there will be challenges. The most common being the language barrier. Luckily, Spanish is a very forgiving language and Ecuadorians very helpful, so if you have a little Spanish phrasebook, you can usually get yourself through any situation.

Another challenge is the laid back "mañana" attitude that is prevalent in most Latino nations. This is more of a challenge for gringos doing business in Ecuador, but it can also affect travellers as well.

We can choose to become frustrated or angry with these challenges, or we can choose to learn from them and maybe relax a little.