Ecuador Travel and Living Guide

Ecuador Travel & Expat Guides

Best Way to Learn Spanish: Beginners Guide [Immersion, Books, Classes]

Looking for the best way to learn Spanish? This guide will help you learn about the primary ways to learn Spanish, and help you choose the one that's best for you. In this guide, you’ll also get the resources and Spanish basics to learn Spanish for beginners. Author is English-speaking Canadian ...
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Ecuadorian Food: Guide to Ecuador’s Traditional Dishes, Typical Drinks, Fruit…

Curious about what Ecuadorian food is like? You're going to be surprised by the variety of flavors and foods in Ecuador. In this guide, you'll learn about traditional dishes (like cuy and secos), chicha (yes, it actually contains fermented saliva), and drinks, fruits and other typical, local dishes. Ecuadorian Food ...
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Living in Ecuador: All About Life in Ecuador (Cuenca, Salinas, Quito, Loja, etc)

Are you thinking about living in Ecuador? Does it have what you need? And what part of Ecuador will you live in? In this huge guide to our very best Ecuador expat content, you'll learn what it's like to live in Ecuador, the best areas to live in, and how ...
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Cuenca Ecuador: The Complete Guide to Living and Traveling in Cuenca

Cuenca Ecuador is a top destination for travelers & expats. Learn all about food, culture, attractions, travel, retirement and living in Cuenca, Ecuador. Cuenca Ecuador: Complete Guide Cuenca Ecuador is located in the Andes mountains at an elevation of 8500 feet. The city is famous for its architecture, climate and ...
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Ecuador Real Estate Guide

If you are planning on living in Ecuador you are going to need a place to live. While some new expats jump right in and buy a property (sometimes sight-unseen) most take a more relaxed approach and rent for a while. There are some definite joys to renting... While Ecuador ...
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32 Ecuador Expats Talk About Living in Ecuador

Thinking about a move to Ecuador? Meet 32 Ecuador expats and learn about what life is like in Ecuador as an expat. Ecuador Expat Journeys While every expat's Ecuador relocation is unique, you can learn a lot from each experience. Each expat interview offers insight into what you can expect during ...
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Latest Posts

Guide to Ecuador Souvenirs: 16 Best Things to Buy in Ecuador

As you travel around Ecuador, you'll see some amazing things. What are the best things to buy in Ecuador? What products are worth the price and what's actually made in the country? In this post, you'll find our picks for ...
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Guide to 18 Largest Cities in Ecuador (Population, Elevation, Attractions…)

As you plan your trip (or relocation) to Ecuador, it's good to know about the major cities. In this post, you'll learn about the largest cities in Ecuador, including details like their population, elevation, attractions, locations and more. I'll share ...
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22 Sally Lightfoot Crab Facts: Guide to Galapagos’s Grapsus grapsus

Sally Lightfoot crabs are easily recognizable, with their reddish-orange shell and their baby blue belly. In this post, you'll learn 22 Sally Lightfoot crab facts, including size, diet, symbiosis, habitat, range and more. Plus lots of photos from our Galapagos ...
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47 Amazon Rainforest Animals (Ecuador’s Monkeys, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Mammals, Amphibians…)

The rainforest is home to amazing (and often giant) animals. In this epic guide to rainforest animals, you'll learn facts about monkeys, birds, insects, mammals, fish and other animals from Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. Each animal includes unique features, sizes, and ...
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24 Spectacled Caiman Facts: Guide to Caiman crocodilus

Interested to learn more about spectacled caiman? These average sized caiman live across much of Latin America - from Mexico to Brazil and Peru. In this post, you'll learn facts about spectacled caiman including their diet, habitat, habits, unique features, ...
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40 Bothrops Asper Facts: Guide to Fer de Lance (Terciopelo Viper)

The bothrops asper is one of the most dangerous snakes in the Americas. In this post, you'll learn about these short-tempered and highly poisonous fer de lance, terciopelo vipers. We'll cover their habitat, diet, size, habits, differences, and more. Plus, ...
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28 Scarlet Macaw Facts (Ara macao) Guide to Both Subspecies

The scarlet macaw is famous for its appearance, intelligence and personality. But how much do you know about the scarlet macaw? In this post, you'll learn about their habitat, diet, speaking ability, and how to tell them apart. Plus lots ...
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39 Vampire Bat Facts (All 3 Species) Tiny, Heat-Sensing Flying Mammals

Are vampire bats real? Yes, but don't be scared. In this post, you'll learn about their habitat, diet, size, hunting methods and more. Do they drink human blood? Do they carry diseases? What happens if a vampire bat bites you? ...
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Reader’s Favorites

Otavalo Tour: 11 Things to Know When Visiting Otavalo Market, Ecuador

In this post, you'll take an Otavalo tour that'll show you the highlights and everything you need to know as you plan your actual trip to the Otavalo Market. One of the top things to do in Ecuador's Andes mountains ...
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What is Ecuador Famous For? 16 Fameworthy People, Places, Foods…

So, what is Ecuador famous for? In this post you'll find out what makes Ecuador famous - the people, places, and things that have put Ecuador on the map. What is Ecuador Famous For? The list of what makes Ecuador ...
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22 Ecuador Beaches & Beach Towns [Ultimate Guide] Maps, Photos, Videos

Looking for a great beach in Ecuador? In this post, we'll cover 22 Ecuador beaches worth visiting. Plus details on the best beach towns in the country. We begin the post with our picks for the 3 best beaches in Ecuador ...
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17 Interesting Facts About Quito Ecuador (Natural, Cultural, Political)

Looking for Quito Ecuador facts? In this post, you'll learn 17 interesting facts about Quito Ecuador. We're going to learn about volcanoes, location, sister cities, airport, seasons, altitude sickness, and a lot more! Read more about the top things to do ...
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19 Galapagos Islands Animals [Travelers Guide] Facts, Photos, Videos…

Planning a trip to the Galapagos? Here are 19 amazing Galapagos Islands animals to watch for on your next trip! This traveler's guide to the animals of the Galapagos will whet your appetite for adventure. For me, one of the ...
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Ecuador Amazon: 8 Things to Know Before Visiting the Amazon Rainforest

Are you thinking about visiting the Ecuador Amazon? In this post, we'll cover 8 things you should know before you visit Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. You'll learn about yellow fever risk, the climate, accommodations, safety, and more. Many people travel to ...
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How to Choose the Best Camera for Travel [Buyers Guide] Tips, Factors, Gear

In this post, you'll learn how to choose the best camera for travel - for activities like cruises, hiking, wildlife trekking, and snorkeling. You'll learn about the 6 type of cameras for travel photography and 7 factors to consider when ...
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12 Best Sun Protection Hats [Buyers Guide] Men, Women, Kids in Ecuador

It's no secret that the equatorial sun is harsh. In this guide, you'll learn about the UV index in Ecuador and how to choose the best sun protection hats. We also answer commonly asked questions about sun protection. And we ...
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Welcome to GringosAbroad!

Hi! We’re Bryan and Dena – and we are the editors of GringosAbroad. What started as a small blog to document our life abroad has grown to become the largest English language blog about Ecuador.

We blog about travel, living, and real estate in Ecuador. While we cover all areas around the country, we have special focus on the city of Cuenca and surrounding regions. We have also produced the ultimate guide to Ecuador beaches and Galapagos animals. To help you get to know more about other areas, we have a special feature of Ecuador expat interviews.

Because Ecuador is a Spanish-speaking country, we had to learn the language. We’ve written a lot about learning Spanish, including the best book (chosen by our readers), realities of total immersion and the books and courses we used to learn Spanish.

Happy travels!