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

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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13 Best Travel Umbrellas for Rainy Cities (Compact, Windproof) 7 Factor Guide

Don't forget your umbrella! Travel puts us in new climates and seasons. The best travel umbrella will help you stay dry during your trip. In this post, you'll get 7 factors to consider, plus 6 types of travel umbrellas and ...
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43 Galapagos Penguin Facts: Tropical Guide (Spheniscus mendiculus)

Tropical penguins? Yes! In this post, you'll learn 43 Galapagos penguin facts, including adaptations to keep cool, habits and habitats, when and where to see them, and more. Plus lots of photos and videos of this amazing warm water penguin ...
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35 Squirrel Monkey Facts: All 5 Saimiri Species (Plus 8 Subspecies)

Is there anything cuter than a squirrel monkey? In this post, you'll learn 35 squirrel monkey facts, including diet, range, all 5 species, and a couple of gross habits. We also cover specifics about baby squirrel monkeys, communication, and differences ...
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25 Waved Albatross Facts: Largest Galapagos Bird (It has 8ft Wingspan!)

The waved albatross is the largest bird in the Galapagos Islands. In this post, you'll learn 25 facts about the waved albatross, including diet, wingspan, mating habits (including a special mating dance), range and more. Plus lots of photos and ...
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43 Blue-footed Booby Facts: Dancing, Dive Bombing Clowns (Sula nebouxii)

The blue-footed booby has become the unofficial mascot of the Galapagos Islands. In this post, you'll learn 43 blue-footed booby facts, including dancing and mating rituals, diet, dive bombing feeding habits, range and more. Plus tons of photos and videos ...
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25 Red-footed Booby Facts: Color Morphs, Tree Clinging Webbed Feet… (Sula sula)

Red footed boobies are one of the most unique birds that you'll find in the Galapagos Islands. In this post, you'll learn 25 red-footed booby facts about color morphs, three subspecies, unique features, range, size, and more. Plus lots of ...
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Reader’s Favorites

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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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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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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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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12 Rainy Day Activities in Cuenca Ecuador

So it's raining in Cuenca, Ecuador. (This happens kinda often.) What is there to do in a wet and cloudy Cuenca? 12 Rainy Day Activities in Cuenca Ecuador Here are our twelve favorite things to do in Cuenca - on a ...
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What’s it Like to Live in Cuenca Ecuador?

What's it like to live in Cuenca Ecuador? That question could have many answers. The response could differ greatly depending on who you ask, where they are from and what mood they are in at the time. Curious about where to ...
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The Best Book to Learn Spanish (Reader’s Choice 2019)

What is the best book to learn Spanish? Choosing the best book can help accelerate your learning process. In this post, you'll read about 11 books for learning Spanish - and which one is our readers top choice in 2019. But first, ...
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29 Ecuador Currency Facts: USD, Sacagawea Coin, Tipping, History

Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency. In this post, you'll learn about Ecuador currency including pesos, francos, Sacagawea coins, and the dollarization in 2000. Plus, we cover how to handle your money in Ecuador, how to avoid ...
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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!