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Are you trying to decide the best place to live in Ecuador? In this post by expat Deborah Hughes, you’ll learn about Ecuador’s mountains and coast. Deborah and Ash (her daughter) blog at 4000miles.com to chronicle their family’s life in Ecuador.Full bio
Best Place to Live in Ecuador? Mountains vs Coast
Five years ago my family and I moved from a mountainous region of California to Ecuador.
When we decided to move to Ecuador we didn’t have a specific location in mind. We had traveled to Ecuador and visited certain locations to spy out the land.
We visited both the mountains and the coast. We had liked both areas equally and decided that we would move, but we just didn’t know exactly where.
Two years later, after arranging our affairs, we moved to Manta, on the coast.
What helped us decide, and what can help you decide if this is your dilemma?
Is Cuenca the Best Place to Live in Ecuador?
As we are from the mountains, we love the mountains of Ecuador and everything about them. We also loved Cuenca. The air is fresh and clear in the mountains.
There are many places to hike in Cuenca and the surrounding areas, and we love hiking.
I really love a mountain storm as well. As the storm comes in, the big bank of dark storm clouds appear over the mountain ridges, lightning flashes and thunder roars as the storm makes its way through the area.
Storms like these are truly awe-inspiring. Plus, beautiful clouds mean amazing sunsets.
Cuenca is a great city with cobblestone streets and historical buildings that have a Spanish influence. One may even forget for a moment that they are in South America as they sit in these lovely streets.
One is reminded, however, of the great distance from Spain, the cultural richness, and diversity of Cuenca at the sight of the local Quichua. This culture adds to the appeal of Cuenca and many other mountain cities.
Even though Cuenca has a small-town atmosphere, there are all the big city conveniences such as malls, markets, and good restaurants. There are some really great restaurants in Cuenca, from local cuisine to cuisine from Mexico, Germany, Austria, Italy, Argentina and more.
It’s possible to find a similar variety of restaurants in other mountain cities. The array of options of where to eat adds to the enjoyment of living in the mountains.
Cuenca and other mountain cities in Ecuador have been described as having ‘eternal spring’ weather. This is true since they are at such a high elevation.
Even though the sun can be intense, the temperature doesn’t get much past the low 70’s (Fahrenheit) in the day, and it dips much lower at night. I do not think that this type of weather would bother me.
I also don’t think that the elevation would bother me (Cuenca 8,200 feet above sea level). Quito is even higher in elevation than Cuenca, and for some, this may be too much, especially for those that have lived most of their lives at lower levels. This is where we had an advantage since we are from a mountainous region.
Or, Is the Coast the Best Place to Live in Ecuador?
The Coast on the other hand is quite different than the mountains, almost in every way. The coast gets none of the cultural flare that you see in the mountain areas.
Spanish architecture is not found on the coast, for the most part. Cuisine from around the world is not as abundant as it is in the mountain cities. The weather seems to be unpredictable, and if it rains it is without fanfare.
In the 5 years that we have lived here, we have only seen three lightning and thunderstorms.
So, what really drew us to the coast? A number of things, the beaches and the coastline of Ecuador are beautiful and nearly untouched.
There is nothing like the feeling of tranquility as one enjoys the beach, a gentle breeze blowing the warm air, the rustle of the palm trees, the waves gently lapping at the sand, as the sun dip into the ocean, painting the sky with the amazing colors of an afternoon sunset.
If that is not a good enough reason to come to the coast, remember, with the ocean comes fresh seafood.
There are a large variety of restaurants at almost any beach with fresh seafood and local cuisine, which is delicious. In addition to that, the people of the coast are warm and kind just like the weather.
In choosing the coastal life, there are the options of living in a small village on the ocean, with its small-town advantages and comfortable feel, friendly neighbors and a beach half a block away or less, or a beach city with all the luxuries city life has to offer. As mentioned earlier we chose Manta.
About Deborah Hughes
Deborah’s family of 4 moved to Manta, Ecuador from South Lake Tahoe, California.
They have lived there for 5 years and have gone through many wonderful adventures.
The attraction for many gringos, of traveling and living in a foreign country, is the thrill of traditional open markets. When we first arrived here, we heard everything from: “everything is so cheap” and “its such nice / fresh / beautiful / unique products here” to “don’t go there – you’ll get robbed or mugged”…
Today, we’re going to visit Mall del Rio in Cuenca, Ecuador. The largest mall in the city, Mall del Rio, will have you wondering if you even left your hometown. This probably isn’t what you thought would be in Ecuador’s Andes Mountains. A large multi-screen theater, bowling alley, huge food court, and over 220 other…
Ecuador is for hiking and jungle exploring – right? Who goes to Ecuador for the beach? That’s what Mexico and Aruba and the D.R. is for, isn’t it? Check out this new video – and let us know what you think. This guide is a work in progress. We’ll be updating this in the coming…
We receive lots of review materials. Mostly books, but some software too. Some publishers are hesitant to ship to Ecuador, telling me that their shipping department is “unable” to ship out of the US. Other publishers (especially Wiley) must have broken the difficult shipping secret because I regularly receive review copies from them. I have…
Buying a car is something we swore we would never do when we moved here a year and a half ago. We were terrified of the style of driving and the apparent lack of road rules. Well, we’ve loosened up a lot since then, and we are ready to be independently mobile once again. Our…
Our pets often become a part of our families. So when we relocate, it opens up the question of how to move them to our new city. In this post, we’ll cover moving pets to Ecuador, how to fly with a pet, litter training a dog for apartment living, and how a new pet can…
19 Comments
You have a wealth of info.
Can you suggest a retirement place outside of the US where we would still have golf, tennis, hiking and pickleball? Thank you.
What is the best city to live in along the coast I am open for suggestions!
I am a retired person looking to finish out my years and looking for the best city along the coast .. thank you
I am intrigued and interested to read more of your blog. In the commentary section I see only the question NO REPLY… Is it set up that only the sender can see the reply or am I as an observer able to see replies to many questions NOT from ME?
Brian
I need help! I want to move to Ecuador to live permanently. I am on Social Security Disability and would like to know how to find a contact to set up living arrangements in the city of Cotacachi or Atuntaqui. Please tell me if these cities are a good choice and contact with American citizens to help me in my move. Thank you
Hi Bryan,
Useful site here. I am intrigued with the idea of living cheaply but enjoyably in Ecuador. Do you know of any expats from Canada or US I could have a conversation with and get more of a personal feel for the country (thinking of Cuenca or Quito)?
How do people ship the stuff they don’t sell off back home to Ecuador (I don’t have a huge amount–no furniture)? Are there good gyms in Cuenca? I speak Spanish so might be interested in local clubs etc., in addition to activities with expats–good idea?.
Hi, I’m from Ecuador, actually I living here in Las Vegas NV, I don’t recommend to you, living in Quito or Cuenca, both cities are very nice, but in this moment the rent payment is growing and growing, they have a lot of people (Quito 3M, Cuenca almost 1M), to get a decent apartment or house with furniture maybe you need to give $500 a month, also right now is a lot foreigner people from Venezuela and Colombia living in that cities, that’s mean is more unsafe for everybody (please check numbers about criminality is growing in both cities, I highly recommend to you, go and live at the North of Ecuador, Imbabura (Cotacachi, Atuntaqui, Otavalo), Imbabura (Province) has a lot lakes, mountains, rivers, history and it’s very safe place and the good thing, you are only to 2 hours to the International Airport of Quito, and in that town’s (Cotacachi, Atuntaqui) many retired people is living there. Very nice place and peaceful.
Deborah we have enjoyed your postings. Susie and I are planning our first trip to Ecuador for February 2018. We live in Seattle and would like to find a place to get out of the rain! We do enjoy the mountains, but ultimately we love being on the water. Boating, paddle boarding, diving etc. Manta looks spectacular.
Can you recommend places to stay? We would love to connect with you while we at there.
Thank you
Hi Deborah, my husband and I are considering a short term move to Ecuador (6-8weeks) to escape our brutal Canadian winter! I love this post, because this is precisely my current dilemma – Cuenca vs. seaside.
My husband will actually be working, so reliable and fast Internet service is absolutely crucial, a total deal breaker. From what I’ve read, Cuenca seems to be pretty good in that regard, but I’m wondering what the Internet situation is like on the coast. How is internet service in Manta? Are there any larger towns/small cities that would have really good internet service?
Thanks,
Deb
I think I would be stuck being able to decide, but in the end, even though I am a beach girl, I think I would go mountains, if just for the fresh mountain air. Great post!
Thanks to you I’m ready for my move just need a little advise as to finding a relocated contact there that could help me find a place to live.
Thanks
Irene
Bryan,
Thank you and your family for this resource.
We are considering retiring to Ecuador and I haven’t found the answers to these questions.
Is the Gov’t friendly to Americans? Is it stable and how does that affect daily life?
Should we bring a car or buy one there?
We plan to visit this summer to “check things out”. Sherry speaks Spanish fluently so that’s a plus.
Can we bring my wifes cat? What are requirements?
From what I understand pets run free sometimes. There isn’t the same mind-set you will find in America regarding pets. You will have no problem finding a dog in Ecuador. In fact they just might find you.
Thank you so much for the information about the coastal areas. I am looking forward to the next installment about coastal areas north of Manta, especially the Bahia area, and progress of recovery and current conditions of the Bahia/San Vicente area, since the earthquake of last year. There seems to be very little current information available. I have long considered this a possible retirement destination, and would appreciate any current information. Thanks, Mark
“There is nothing like the feeling of tranquility as one enjoys the beach, a gentle breeze blowing the warm air, the rustle of the palm trees, the waves gently lapping at the sand, as the sun dip into the ocean, painting the sky with the amazing colors of an afternoon sunset.”
You forgot the sand fleas.
Hi Deborah, by any chance might you be up to date on the reconstruction progress in Bahia de Caraquez and Canoa and the surrounding hard hit areas? Have you traveled thru there recently? Is it coming back to life…….? Has the cost of living risen dramatically in the last 3 years since I was there? Thnx much…………Alan
Hi Alen, I have friends living both in Canoa and Bahia. We have also taken a couple trips to the area. Rebuilding is going on in Canoa, however Bahia is another story. The progress is slow their. Its been 1 year since the quake and I am impressed on how well things are looking. I am seriously considering writing a post on the topic, so watch my blog.
Thanks for reading.
Prices have gone up, but not dramatically.
Reading Time: 5 minutes 
You have a wealth of info.
Can you suggest a retirement place outside of the US where we would still have golf, tennis, hiking and pickleball? Thank you.
What is the best city to live in along the coast I am open for suggestions!
I am a retired person looking to finish out my years and looking for the best city along the coast .. thank you
I am intrigued and interested to read more of your blog. In the commentary section I see only the question NO REPLY… Is it set up that only the sender can see the reply or am I as an observer able to see replies to many questions NOT from ME?
Brian
I need help! I want to move to Ecuador to live permanently. I am on Social Security Disability and would like to know how to find a contact to set up living arrangements in the city of Cotacachi or Atuntaqui. Please tell me if these cities are a good choice and contact with American citizens to help me in my move. Thank you
Hi Bryan,
Useful site here. I am intrigued with the idea of living cheaply but enjoyably in Ecuador. Do you know of any expats from Canada or US I could have a conversation with and get more of a personal feel for the country (thinking of Cuenca or Quito)?
How do people ship the stuff they don’t sell off back home to Ecuador (I don’t have a huge amount–no furniture)? Are there good gyms in Cuenca? I speak Spanish so might be interested in local clubs etc., in addition to activities with expats–good idea?.
Hi, I’m from Ecuador, actually I living here in Las Vegas NV, I don’t recommend to you, living in Quito or Cuenca, both cities are very nice, but in this moment the rent payment is growing and growing, they have a lot of people (Quito 3M, Cuenca almost 1M), to get a decent apartment or house with furniture maybe you need to give $500 a month, also right now is a lot foreigner people from Venezuela and Colombia living in that cities, that’s mean is more unsafe for everybody (please check numbers about criminality is growing in both cities, I highly recommend to you, go and live at the North of Ecuador, Imbabura (Cotacachi, Atuntaqui, Otavalo), Imbabura (Province) has a lot lakes, mountains, rivers, history and it’s very safe place and the good thing, you are only to 2 hours to the International Airport of Quito, and in that town’s (Cotacachi, Atuntaqui) many retired people is living there. Very nice place and peaceful.
Deborah we have enjoyed your postings. Susie and I are planning our first trip to Ecuador for February 2018. We live in Seattle and would like to find a place to get out of the rain! We do enjoy the mountains, but ultimately we love being on the water. Boating, paddle boarding, diving etc. Manta looks spectacular.
Can you recommend places to stay? We would love to connect with you while we at there.
Thank you
Hi Deborah, my husband and I are considering a short term move to Ecuador (6-8weeks) to escape our brutal Canadian winter! I love this post, because this is precisely my current dilemma – Cuenca vs. seaside.
My husband will actually be working, so reliable and fast Internet service is absolutely crucial, a total deal breaker. From what I’ve read, Cuenca seems to be pretty good in that regard, but I’m wondering what the Internet situation is like on the coast. How is internet service in Manta? Are there any larger towns/small cities that would have really good internet service?
Thanks,
Deb
I think I would be stuck being able to decide, but in the end, even though I am a beach girl, I think I would go mountains, if just for the fresh mountain air. Great post!
Thanks to you I’m ready for my move just need a little advise as to finding a relocated contact there that could help me find a place to live.
Thanks
Irene
Bryan,
Thank you and your family for this resource.
We are considering retiring to Ecuador and I haven’t found the answers to these questions.
Is the Gov’t friendly to Americans? Is it stable and how does that affect daily life?
Should we bring a car or buy one there?
We plan to visit this summer to “check things out”. Sherry speaks Spanish fluently so that’s a plus.
Can we bring my wifes cat? What are requirements?
Where can we find pets for sale or free in Cuenca?
ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO GET CERTIFIED DOCUMENT TRANSLATION IN QUITO?
From what I understand pets run free sometimes. There isn’t the same mind-set you will find in America regarding pets. You will have no problem finding a dog in Ecuador. In fact they just might find you.
Thank you so much for the information about the coastal areas. I am looking forward to the next installment about coastal areas north of Manta, especially the Bahia area, and progress of recovery and current conditions of the Bahia/San Vicente area, since the earthquake of last year. There seems to be very little current information available. I have long considered this a possible retirement destination, and would appreciate any current information. Thanks, Mark
Mark, Canoa is my personal favorite beach town. Soon i will write more about it on my blog.
Thanks for letting my guest blog Brian. I love your site.
“There is nothing like the feeling of tranquility as one enjoys the beach, a gentle breeze blowing the warm air, the rustle of the palm trees, the waves gently lapping at the sand, as the sun dip into the ocean, painting the sky with the amazing colors of an afternoon sunset.”
You forgot the sand fleas.
Hi Deborah, by any chance might you be up to date on the reconstruction progress in Bahia de Caraquez and Canoa and the surrounding hard hit areas? Have you traveled thru there recently? Is it coming back to life…….? Has the cost of living risen dramatically in the last 3 years since I was there? Thnx much…………Alan
Hi Alen, I have friends living both in Canoa and Bahia. We have also taken a couple trips to the area. Rebuilding is going on in Canoa, however Bahia is another story. The progress is slow their. Its been 1 year since the quake and I am impressed on how well things are looking. I am seriously considering writing a post on the topic, so watch my blog.
Thanks for reading.
Prices have gone up, but not dramatically.