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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

What is Ecuador’s Weather? Annual Climate Charts from Across Ecuador

So, what is Ecuador’s weather like? To help you plan your trip, here are all the details on Ecuador’s four climate zones. Ecuador’s weather is quite moderate with just a few exceptions. In this detailed weather chart for Ecuador, you’ll learn the best time to visit the areas you’re interested ...
Read More

Latest Posts

Where are the Galapagos Islands Located? Coordinates, Elevation, Timezone…

The Galapagos Islands are a top destination for nature lovers all over the globe. But where are the Galapagos Islands located? Which country do they belong to and how do you get there? We'll cover this and more in this ...
Read More

15 Ecuador Landmarks to Visit: Historical, Natural, Artisan, Cultural

Ecuador is a place rich in culture. What do you want to see on your trip to Ecuador? We'll give you some ideas on what we think you just have to see! Check out these 15 iconic Ecuador landmarks. This ...
Read More

10 Plantain Recipes: How to Cook Plantains (Videos, Photos, Recipes…)

Plantains can be eaten as a snack or a side dish and they taste amazing regardless of whether they're green or black. Here are 10 plantain recipes that'll make your mouth water. Learn how to cook (and eat) plantains like ...
Read More

Guide to Ecuador’s 11 National Parks (and 25 Reserves & Wildlife Refuges)

Love nature? Then Ecuador belongs at the top of your bucket list. In this post, we'll cover all of Ecuador's national parks, wildlife refuges, and ecological, biological, and geobotanical reserves. These 36 parks and reserves cover every part of the ...
Read More

Guide to Yasuni National Park (13 Things: Ecuador’s Biodiverse Park)

Yasuni National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on earth! Visiting Yasuni is sure to be a highlight of your trip to Ecuador. In this post, we cover 13 things you need to know about visiting Yasuni, including ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

Reader’s Favorites

The Best Book to Learn Spanish (Reader’s Choice 2020)

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 2020 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

29 Ecuador Currency Facts: USD, Handling Your Money, Sacagawea Coin, 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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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!