2021 was a year of massive change for our family. We welcomed our newest son, Billy, into the family & one month earlier we finalized the acquisition of our 1st business in Ecuador. We’ve spent a lot of time adjusting to these changes but we’re super grateful for the lessons we’ve learned along the way.  […]

Many expats decide to open a bank account in Ecuador once they've decided to settle for any real length of time here. Once you're ready to take the plunge, this guide will walk you through the process of opening your very own Ecuadorian bank account. But first, you should know that it’s actually becoming a […]

As Bitcoin pushes well past the 2017 all-time high of $20,000, several expats have reached out to ask whether Bitcoin can be legally used and traded in Ecuador. The short answer is that trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is not prohibited in Ecuador. However, this doesn't give Bitcoin the complete green light. The government has […]

It's almost the perfect storm for working remotely from Ecuador. COVID 19 has forced a re-think of how we work and the growing gig economy means there have never been as many opportunities to work remotely.  There were already 7 million people (or 3.4% of the population) working remotely in the US before COVID19 hit in early […]

Editor’s note: I interviewed Tim and Crystal at the very start of the COVID19 pandemic when we all had no idea how far-reaching and devastating the virus would become. As I publish this (late July 2020), all tourism business on the Galapagos has been severely affected and it’s still unclear when tourists will be able […]

Need to send money to Ecuador quickly and cheaply? WorldRemit may be the best provider for you. I've had to transfer cash into Ecuador for numerous reasons and WorldRemit has been my go-to for the majority of these situations.  Once you've read this article you'll be armed with a step-by-step guide on how to send […]

The cost of living in Cuenca, or Ecuador in general, is often cited as one of the core reasons why expats move here.  It was a consideration for Michelle and me too. In particular, the cost of schools in Cuenca is approx half of that in Quito. So, we decided to move from Quito to […]

A question that many expats ask themselves on the start of their journey is whether they should buy property in Ecuador or rent first.  The decision can be made even more difficult when the excitement hits as you learn the price of property is a lot cheaper than in your home country. But, does this […]

One of the first questions new Ecuadorian expats ask is 'how do I send money to Ecuador and is it expensive?' The answer is, well, it depends. Like many Latin American countries, transferring money in and out of Ecuador has traditionally been problematic, expensive, and time-consuming. These difficulties arise through the combination of weak governmental […]