Real-world information about visiting, living, retiring, and learning Spanish in Ecuador.
No Bullshit
I have a great life and truly love living in Ecuador.
It is not something I ever imagined I would do. I started writing about my life and experiences here and eventually thought, maybe I can make a couple of hundred dollars a month by helping others follow a similar path and avoid some of the pitfalls.
My goal is to help people better understand both the pros and cons of life in Ecuador.
I’m retired, have the time to do this, and genuinely enjoy it.
With that in mind, I created this website (which has grown over time) to honestly share both the good and the bad of life and travel in Ecuador, with no bullshit.
And hopefully make a few dollars a month to help cover my beer costs.
About me (Rick)
Hi! I’m Rick. Welcome to my site.
I moved to Ecuador on February 1st, 2022.
It was a leap of faith.
At the time, I knew exactly one couple living in Ecuador. I spoke no Spanish, had never lived outside Canada, and arrived with two suitcases and a lot of hope.
What started as a temporary adventure quickly became my permanent home.
Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time learning how things really work in Ecuador, learning Spanish, marrying an Ecuadorian, and helping others understand what life here is really like.
Along the way, I’ve made plenty of observations, learned a few lessons the hard way, and built friendships with both Ecuadorians and expats from around the world.
Some of the resources on this site began simply as tools I created for myself. The first cue cards weren’t created as a product. They were hand-written notes I carried with me while trying to navigate daily life in a country where I spoke very little Spanish.
Over time, those notes evolved into cue cards, guides, and resources designed to help you navigate Ecuador and avoid some of the mistakes I made when I first arrived.
Ecuador has given me far more than a lower cost of living. It has given me a healthier lifestyle, a wonderful community, and a life that I genuinely enjoy.
Whether you’re planning a vacation, considering retirement, learning Spanish, or thinking about moving to Ecuador, I hope you’ll find something useful here.
Read More About Rick →
Featured Guides
Explore the five guides that make up the Ecuador Travel & Living Guide system.
- Understanding Ecuador
Culture, geography, history, traditions, politics, religion, regional differences, daily life, safety realities, and what Ecuador is really like beyond the tourist brochures. - Visiting Ecuador
Practical information for tourists and short-term visitors, including arrival, transportation, money, WhatsApp, packing, food, safety, communications, and travel realities. - Speaking in Ecuador
Real-world Ecuadorian Spanish for travelers, retirees, expats, and language learners, including pronunciation, common phrases, local expressions, vocabulary, and practical communication tips. - Survival Cue Cards
Printable quick-reference cue cards covering restaurants, transportation, hotels, airports, shopping, healthcare, emergencies, household vocabulary, WhatsApp messaging, and everyday situations. - Living in Ecuador
For retirees, expats, snowbirds, and long-term visitors, including visas, cedulas, healthcare, housing, banking, utilities, pets, shopping, costs of living, and day to day life.
Contact Information
WhatsApp:
Email: ecuadorlivingguide@gmail.com