The 7 Reasons Why Ecuador Is Popular among Expats
Ecuador is regarded very well among expats, coming in 8th out of 64 countries worldwide in the Expat Insider 2019 survey. But what makes it so popular among those who relocate here?
To begin with, people in Ecuador seem to be exceptionally friendly and warm, also toward foreigners. This way, locals and expats can coexist in harmony in an ever-growing multicultural community. In their spare time, expats can appreciate this country for the variety of outdoor leisure options, as the climate and wildlife offer much in Ecuador. The culture is also very rich, with vibrant colors, lively music, and tasty food.
Other, more practical aspects, such as the cost of living and personal finance, are further positive characteristics of what this country has to offer. However, services such as travel in-country, public transportation, infrastructure, and general access to some technological services is more restricted.
1. EcuadorHas the IdealNatural Landscape and Climate
Ecuador’svast wildlife, natural scenery,andtemperateclimate reflect on thelocalculture andadd to thequality of life ofthe people.With aunique fauna and flora, Ecuador counts withmany cultural heritage sitessuch as the Amazon RainforestandtheGalápagos Islands, the former comprising species of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world, and the latter included in the World Heritage List according to UNESCO.Also includedinthis listareother places in Ecuadorsuch as theSangay National Park, theHistoric Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, andQhapaqÑan—anantique Inca roadsystem.
Regardingtheweather and climate in Ecuador,86% of expats are satisfied with it,as reflectedintheExpat Insider 2019survey. This is not a surprise:the entire country enjoystwelvehours of daylight,365 days a yeardue to its proximity tothe equator. Furthermore,theoverall warmtemperatures in Ecuador donot change much throughout the year, so the seasons of spring, summer, winter, and fallpass unnoticed.In Quito, the average temperature is around 17°C, whileexpats inthe coastal lowlandscan look forward toaround 25°C.The one seasonal change,however,is that of precipitation,butwetseasonsdifferdepending on thegeographical features of the region.
Duringthewarmer months in Quito,you caneasilygo for a walk in the afternooninsummer clothes. However,youwillprobablyneed to takean extra layerin case thesunhides behind some clouds, asthis canchange the temperature drastically.Moreover,cold-weather gear is needed for high-altitude hiking and mountain climbingany time of the year.
All in all, the perfect combination ofstunninglandscapesanda pleasantclimatecertainlymakessocializing more appealingfor the community in Ecuador, and a perfect destination abroad if you are looking to improve your quality of life.
2. Ecuador’sLivelyCommunityand Traditions MakeItUnique
Another reasonwhyexpats might want to move to Ecuador is its social life. Ecuador comes insixthwithin the Leisure Optionssubcategoryof theExpat Insider 2019survey,andover three-quartersare satisfied withthesocializing and leisure activitiesin Ecuador.While social life is usually centered around family gatherings and religious holidays, there are alsoseveral festivals taking place during the year thatprovide opportunities for parades,traditionalfoodand music,and dance.NightlifeinEcuadoris relatively lively in the bigger cities, but in smaller towns it remains quite limited.
In fact, tradition is quite prominent in Ecuador;evenbigger cities such asGuayaquiland Quitohave developed and modernized, but not lost their cultural cores. From handcrafted products to historical monuments, most cities in Ecuador, and especially Quito, conserve part of its past in some way.
However, it’s safe to say thatEcuador is a placewitharelevantmix of manytraditions andcultures, as its international community has experienced an unprecedented growth lately.The officiallanguageis Spanish, although natives from Ecuador also communicate in Quichua, as well as in tenother, notas widely spokennative languages. However, it is not difficult to communicate with locals,as English is also widely spoken, mainly because of tourism.
3. Ecuadorians Are Exceptionally Welcoming and Cheerful
Nine in ten expats agree on the fact that the population in Ecuador is generally friendly.This warm welcome isof help for expats to settle in—Ecuadorevenranks among the top5countriesworldwideon the subject offeelingathomein theExpat Insider 2019survey.
Ecuadorians are said to beratherindirectwith their dialogue, though.As they usually speak diplomatically and with courtesy, they might find blunt verbal communication quite rude.However,non-verbal communication can also bevery revealing.
Ecuadoriansalsotend to bequiteoptimisticandsee the bright side of things.The family core is very important here, and almost all leisure time is centered around it:families tend to gather formeals orspend public holidays together.
Similar to other Spanish-speaking countries, the relationshipsand common courtesy withinthelocal community are especially importantin Ecuador, so do not be surprised whensomeone you have never seen before saysbuenosdías(good morning) to you when commuting, oryou see neighbors helping each other outwith thegroceries.
4. Your Personal Finances Could Improvein Ecuador
In Ecuador, the cost of living is quite low for expats,with usually cheap housing, local transportation, and other services.The countryranks quite high (third overall) in the Cost of Living Index of theExpat Insider 2019survey andfifth inthePersonal Finance Index, with 78%of expats theresatisfiedwith their finances.
A spacious flat in Quito’s city centercostssignificantlylessthan in other capitalcities, while rent is a bit higher but stillvery affordablein Cuenca. The same is trueall over Ecuadorforutilities, phone bills, and groceries.Healthcare is quite affordable in Ecuador as well.Going out for a meal or for drinks is cheaperthaninmost countries,too, especially in smaller towns. The only exception is fuel,but public transportationand taxis areoftenverycheap,so there aresomealternativesto owning a car.And with the US dollar the official currency in Ecuador as well,expats from the US can even avoid any costs associated with currency exchange.
5. There AreDifficult Travel Connectionsbut Good InternetServices
However, not everything isgreatin Ecuador.Mainlydue toroadworks, it isofteneasier to travel to different cities by plane. If you aregoingto the countryside or smaller towns,travel via roadmight even take you twice the timethe distance would’ve suggested originally.
It is common to use busesto travelbetween bigger cities, while for other less populated regions,it is common to usecamionetas(trucks) andbusetas(minibuses). An alternative to these is the train, but only a few routes exist and are limited to touristic destinations. In any case, you should keep in mind to avoid traveling during the night for yourpersonalsafety.
Regarding public local transportationin the capital, Quito,thisis a cheap but unreliable service.Buses run throughout the city, butthere areno bus stops — youhave tostop it when you want to get on and off!Unlikethetrolley bus lines that also run throughoutQuito, buses arelikely to get stuck in traffic, too.Cuenca and Guayaquil’s public transportation ismore reliable and comfortablethan in the capital,Quito.Youshouldkeep in mind, though, thatpublic transportationinEcuadoris usually packed, exposing you to risks such as pickpocketing.
If you’reconcernedabout your internet connectionin Ecuador, you should not worry. This isawidely available service in Ecuadorand easy to set up at home. With many internet providers to choose from with different prices and plans,make sure to compareto get the best fit for your needs. If yourequirea wireless connection outside your home, cafés, malls, airports,and hotelsare the places to go, at least inthebig cities. If you rely onmobiledata, you should be able to connecteasilyin bigger cities,thoughthis might become a challengein places of high altitude or small towns.
6. You CanLive Unique Experiencesin Ecuador
Ecuadoroffers manyunique experiencesinnature,such as climbing to the top of the Cotopaxi volcano in the Andes. On the other hand, if you would like to discover the true culture of Ecuador, you should visit Quito,aUNESCO World Heritage Site.Not far away from Quito, there istheCiudad Mitad del Mundo(Middle of the World City)monument (pictured), where you can stand on the equator line — something you cannot do every day!
Especially important holidays in Ecuador are Carnival, usually hosted in February or March, andIndependenceDayon 10 August withfairs, military parades,and cultural events. Moreover, music is usually present in other local festivals, as well as colorful costumes and typical dances. The most famous traditional music form ispasillo, usually played with a guitar androndin(a flute-like instrument). However,yarabi(a sentimental music form) andpasacalle(accompanied by a dance)are also very populartraditional music genres.
The food in Ecuador is deliciousand alsoaclearhighlight, with cheese empanada, yuca,locrode papa(potato soup), and seafood as the main traditional dishes. For dessert,arroz con leche(rice with milk) andflan(similar tocrèmebrûlée) are popular picks here.
7. You Will Meet Plenty of Fellow Global Minds
While it might not beyourtypical expat hot spot such as Singapore orthe UAE, people all around the world move to Ecuador for its promise of a higher quality of life,gorgeous scenery,low cost of living, andwarm and welcoming locals.
“I love that there’s less stress, people are kinder and not in a big hurry,thefood is cheaper and healthier,theweather is great,andhealthcare is affordable. Life is just simpler and more enjoyable,”according to an expat originally from the United States.
So,if you are looking for a more meaningful lifeandwantto discover unique places, Ecuador might just be the right option for you!And you won’t be alone:theInterNationsCommunity in Ecuadoris over 11,000 expats strong andgrowing rapidly—so takethis chance to join fellow expats and global mindsin Ecuador.
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51ԹϺ Franziska Mutsch
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