Is Cuenca STILL The Best Place in Ecuador to Start Your Expat Life Abroad? 

I moved to Cuenca about a year and 1 month ago and it’s a great city. I’m currently 16 but I don’t really live in the main city, I live around 8 minutes away from Cuenca so I live in a rural area. So far I haven’t really found anyone my age that speaks English but besides that I enjoy being here, it’s has been a great year for me and I have had many amazing experiences.

I'm from Quito, and I consider Cuenca the best city in Ecuador.

I'm from Cuenca and I'm usually saying my city is full of cons, but after listen to you guys speaking about how beautiful is this city, and showing a lot of beautiful places, I think I should stop complaining about the city where I'm living and start enjoying more about my city and the people who live here! I'm glad you really like this small city, hope you get back soon! And I enjoyed a lot this video!

I moved to Cuenca 9 mos ago and moved into the country to Cumbe in the Azuay.. I have a beautiful 4 BR House on 20 acres for 300 a month all included even Internet.. Cuenca is a lovely culture rich city ..Definitely a great place to retire and live ..

The tranvia is fully operational. As a senior it costs me 17 cents a ride with my tranvia card which you can easily get at the airport lobby. You need your cedula for that. You can charge up the card at any tranvia stop. I use it all the time and love it. Actually, when I feeling a little low in spirits I take a tranvia ride and all is well again :)

My husband and I spent five weeks in Cuenca and we absolutely loved it there. It did rain but only 20 minutes here and there. And then the sky was blue. We were there from mid January to the end of February. I absolutely fell in love with that city and the people. We cannot wait to go back. After COVID. Thank you Amelia and JP. I love your videos

I met my current girlfriend online six months ago, she's from Cuenca and I'm planning to move there from Argentina, very excited about my new life in that beautiful city. I've watched most of your Cuenca's videos, but this new one is most welcome by me, thank you guys 😊

I concur,I live in NY (I'm from Cuenca ) every time I go there now I feel the cold "acha chay" , I have to rediscover Cuenca again ,haven't been there in long time ago , Thank you guys for sharing this content. I almost cried seeing the video ,I got many flashbacks of my childhood.

Hi, I’m Canadian of Ecuadorian heritage. I really appreciate you guys giving a breakdown on Cuenca. All my mother’s family is from Cuenca and I been to Cuenca 7 times to visit my family. Unfortunately, because of Covid 19 I wasn’t able to travel back to Ecuador this year. ☹️ It’s a beautiful place and as you said there is so much to do there. People are very friendly and respectful. What I love most about Ecuador is the Native indigenous culture and the Amazon’s. It’s so beautiful to see how the native indigenous people still today keep the culture alive. Well I hope you both keep enjoying your time in Ecuador and be safe.

I love the fact that you guys included different spots/cities outside of Cuenca than can be visited. There’s absolutely a lot to do and visit with a short day trip from Cuenca. Azogues and cojitambo, very beautiful places

It’s interesting to hear how Cuenca has developed since my visit there over 20 years ago.

I have been to Cuenca and the coast, your analysis is spot on....I liked puerto Lopez , small but comfy...can’t wait to go back after the pandemic...

You must go to Galapagos now prices are available for residents, also a beautiful small town you must visit is Cotacachi, near Ibarra and Otavalo also 2 hours from Quito.

Hey Amelia & JP I would like to thank you both for the excellent videos and information about Ecuador and surrounding cities

I really love your videos and cuenca is a great place to live the weather is awesome, the people, the view I hope you keep it up like this see you in another video

Since 2011, I live in the Urbanizacion del Mirador San Jose and the city, Manta, who offer everything is at about one hour car drive or bus, from my place. I love Manta because with the young mayor, this city is changing for the best. I know Olon too and yes it is a nice place to stay. Different life though. One day I will be moving permanently to Manta. Thanks for you information, this sure help people who are thinking to move to Ecuador.

I just love all the honest and useful information. I love my country and as anywhere else, it's far from perfect. But you make us locals appreciate lots of things that we often overlook. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for posting this informative and well presented video JP and Amelia!:)

I have visited Quito and Cuenca. I think Cuenca will be my landing spot. I brought my 3 daughters , and we took all the tours we could. Priceless experience.

Thanks for the update on Cuenca. Very helpful information.

Great video, very informative and useful information. I really love your videos. Keep up the good work. Thanks.

Nice video , shows us all the places we missed a few years ago. Now have a long list of to dos when we return. Thank you for another great video.

I visited Cuenca for the first time a couple of weeks back. Absolutely loved it. It did rain quite a bit while we were there. We did ride the tram. Have to have exact change to buy your ticket. So be sure to have plenty of change...no body who works for the tram has change. We did eat at some really tasty restaurants. We stayed at the Eldorado which was in a good location for walking around the historic district. We also visited the Mall de Rio. It was very nice and modern. We also did the yellow double decker bus tour to get a feel of Cuenca before we set off on our own...great video...very informative and correct! Thanks...need to get back to Cuenca..and yes that mountain drive was beautiful. Watch out for the mud slides...😁👍👍Robert in Quito....Quito has more sun but the elevation is also up there. But I am good with the elevation coming from Santa Fe, New Mexico...Oh yes, I have to add my visa lawyer who lives in Cuenca. Sara Chaca has her office. She is absolutely great and very informative and walked me through getting my visa permanente. I tried on my own 3 times and got shot down. Sara Chaca made it happened!!!

Hi Amelia and JP! I just watched some of your videos and wanted to thank you for the easy to follow and very informative presentations. Plus, your personalities and presentation style makes it fun and easy. I hope to one day be an expat myself & the plan is to retire outside the USA. Thanks for your shares!

We're so happy for you guys!! We were going to move there...but, things happen : ( You guys are great!!

Love your videos! Helping me prep for the big move in a few years

Excelente video, gracias amigos por su buena energía. Mil bendiciones.

Thanks for all that great info. You two are so helpful.

Great video 👍 You know Cuenca better than me and I have lived here for more than 30 years 🤭 I will definitely visit some of the places you mentioned.

Si, el comentario en español que estabas buscando. Pdt: soy de Cuenca

Lindo video, gracias amig@os por resaltar las bondades de la hermosa ciudad de Cuenca. En Ecuador tenemos infinidad de sitios únicos en el mundo por su belleza, así como su amplia variedad en la gastronomía. Sean siempre bienvenid@os, les saludo desde Quito Ecuador

Welcome to Cuenca. I will listen to you to improve my English language skills. Also, thanks for mentioning places that I haven't visited yet in my hometown. God bless you.

It is nice to know how much you love and talk about my country Ecuador 🇪🇨 thank you for all the information given!!

Chicos, uds son geniales. Gracias por subtitular. 🇦🇷💛🇪🇨

Hi, Amelia and JP! My wife and I love your videos and are thinking of relocating our family to Cuenca. Just a quick note to put your laptop on the table instead of your lap. That’s extra EMF your body can do without. We just learned of your channel and will likely contact you there if there’s anything we don’t know after finishing all of your material. Thank you!

Charity again..sooo appreciate your time and info put into these in depth videos!! Super helpful

Altitude sickness can be overcome over time. The body starts producing more red blood cells to increase oxygenation to cell tissue. Maybe your system just didn't react quickly enough for you. The weather would get old. I happen to like it cooler. This was a good, informative video for me. Thanks for posting.

Loja is by far the best city in Ecuador.

Vivo en Cuenca y es hermoso que la hayan disfrutado. Yo tengo mi familia en Olon, son dueños de Roadhouse Restaurant, y Olon es un pueblo precioso también. Felicidades y sigan por mas videos son bastante informativos y entretenidos. PD: me encanta el carisma de ustedes.

I live in Longmont Colorado and I am so ready to leave. Thank you so much for these videos, I am learning so much.

Hi Amelia and JP. Thanks for the video. As always very informative. I really enjoy your videos.

JP and Amelia really make you want to move to Ecuador, especially Cuenca. We were there in December. The people were very friendly and helpful, everywhere we went. Many spoke English or at least tried to. Prices were incredibly reasonable except at the high end places that attract tourists or the better off expats. We went to a large expat dinner while we were there where maybe 100 people attended. It was overwhelming because you couldn't get around to meeting everyone because the people you met were so interesting. What was surprising were that there are younger people moving there and starting their own businesses, either virtual or hands-on there. The folks at our hotel found us drivers to inexpensively take us on private tours of Chordeleg, Gualaceo and even to a farm in Guayaquil where they grew everything from coffee to chocolate, their own salmon, trout and shrimp to all kinds of exotic fruits. A 6-course meal consisting only of things they grew on their farm was a major plus of the trip. I'm not even sure those people are listed in the tours available too. We're from upstate NY and actually found their December weather rather nice. We took day packs with us wherever we went because the weather was changeable in a short amount of time. You'd be warm enough for short sleeves for a few hours, then a breeze would come up so out comes the lightweight jacket or hoodie. Then a quick storm would pass over, sometimes with thunder and lightning and it would pour, but only for a few minutes. For northerners - it rarely freezes in Cuenca and if you like to grow things, you can do so all year long, but they have so much fresh produce there, you may never want to. The restaurants we went to were diverse in cuisine and inexpensive. Someone who hates to cook could probably afford to never eat at home again. I personally experienced altitude sickness like JP did, but we were only there for 12 days. They say most people get over it over time, but we met a man who had been there for years who claimed he still had it. For a pleasant, inexpensive lifestyle, I truly think Ecuador, especially Cuenca, is worth considering if you are thinking of retiring or living abroad.

Cold and grey. That's out, then. My ambition for my retirement is a simple one - to never be cold again.

I look forward to the walks and food (vegan) and Spanish school in the mornings for my exploratory trip. I hope in February. Oh and the river, the markets. A lot! Hope I can breathe well!!

Am from Cuenca and the sun comes out quite a lot. Thank you for sharing great information.

Good video thanks for visiting my country greetings from Quito ECUADOR

Me, too, JP! I've been in A-Fib since I returned from Florida . . . maybe time to move to the beach!

Now I know why you left Cuenca,the elevation and weather.I do not blame you guys...you guys are still young and able bodied...you can move around a lot more here in Olon. But,I prefer the cold and cloudy weather.Excellent video guys and I hope to go to Cuenca when this pandemic is over.....Good seeing you again.

What a beautiful video You have made. Congratulations

Very informational video! Both Cuenca and Olón are very beautiful places!

Thanks!! Looking forward to seeing more videos!!💖😍👍🎉

This is an honest assessment which I enjoyed

Cuenca is very beautiful.

SO helpful...as ALWAYS! 'Preciate you guys...bunches!

Doing a little investigating online now. I am friends with an extended family who are originally from Cuenca, but most have spent a long time living in the US. I visited in late July 2019 (first time, even though I first knew them in 1978) and liked it a lot. I saw some of the places you showed, and they encourage me to retire there, as have two of their family members after multiple decades in the US. Juan, the oldest sibling, is sad that he is still to Ecuadorian to be fully American, but is now too American to be fully Ecuadorian. At Museo de Arte Moderno, the receptionist made a big deal of giving him the guide pamphlet in Spanish because his Spanish was so good, which did not sit well with him. He was formerly the "honorary" consul for Ecuador in Minneapolis-St. Paul, which turned out to be an actual job with duties, even though he already had a job. Juan says that it is possible to live in the Gringolandi neighborhood in Cuenca without ever speaking Spanish, but that you don't want to do that.

I rewatched this video so we could get your favorite restaurants in Cuenca. We went to Paradise and told them it was because of JP and Amelia. The owner replied, you and many others😀

Very helpful, thanks.

Hi JP & Amelia. Wanted to thank you for your thorough and fun videos! You have given us great ideas and after 18 years my husband and I will be going back for an exploratory trip with our girls. Wondering if you’ll be coming out with videos on American International schools. We will be visiting some this summer while there but curious. Not very much on the internet. Thanks for your time!

thank you! Great to see you.

Sounds phenomenal, I want to go!!!!

Nice update about Cuenca.

You reminded me now how much I miss a dishwasher. I haven't seen one in years. Pots go on bottom and dishes on top. 🤔 loved your video. I need to visit cuenca!!!

Great job with this video!!!

Yes I see there are flights from the states into Quinto & short flights on to Cuenca , nice options to have flying in to Ecuador . I pray you both go to Cuenca again you go in the sunny season it will be more fun and I have back issues like JP & the sunshine helps out really .

Very informative, thanks!

My wife and I are moving from Washington State and are looking at Ecuador. We can't handle the constant gray here with cold rain. We had planned on staying in Cuenca at least for a little bit to get everything squared away. Even a little bit of sun does so much more for my energy and mood.

Once again...keep in mind that all of our situations are different. If you are a retiring person, like I will be, having interesting things to do with others is a lovely perk. I won't have to work for my living and will be able to volunteer, enjoy the Ecuadorian culture, and steep myself in Spanish. Everything else will be icing on the cake. I like coolish weather (having been in eastern Montana the last five plus years, and experiencing -30 to -40 in the winter, coolish weather that seldom reaches freezing sounds like heaven. Also, it seldom gets to 80 degrees...with much fewer bugs appeals to me. I have to admit...going to the coast to enjoy the beach sounds like a great way to beat the cloudy, rainy blues!

My husband loves Cuenca. We went there 2 times when we Visited my family en Ecuador 🇪🇨 we are living in USA 🇺🇸 and dream some day to move there. He is from Oklahoma. Thanks 🙏 for be so honest and show my beautiful country by the way I am from Guayaquil. God Bless you 🙏🙏🙏🇪🇨🇺🇸🇪🇨👏👏

Sorry JP, I only watch these for Amelia's amazing smile

WEATHER CAN CHANGE QUICKLY in mountainous terrain. We lived near San Ramon, Costa Rica at about 3500 feet elevation. Problem was, our home was in the so-called "fog zone". We had nasty WET fog for several months a year, starting in November. During the summer months, the weather was gorgeous - cool mountain breeze, no need for A/C, and 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains & valleys. IN THE END, the "neblina" (fog) ruined it for us - every year the fog season extended longer & longer. Yecch !

Someday when the pandemic ends, they should take a tour and visit Cuenca again and try the tram, and also take advantage of and give a tour of Quito and visit the Carondelet palace, the historic center, the virgin of the Panecillo etc, and try the new Quito subway and comment on its differences with other subways such as the one in New York

There are many coffee shops in many cities in Ecuador, my friends. Here in Guayaquil, we have a lot of them.

Amazing complete great information you should be hired to promote the country. You look great

I apologize for the previous negative comment. I have now looked at all of your videos. They are fine. This is definitely the best place for us to start for my Filipino fiance.

seattle, ugh. I have lived near there most of my life. Like Cuenca, lots to do, but the weather makes it difficult to enjoy. Retirement is two years away and I can't wait to live in the sunshine.Thanks again for all the valuable info.

I love chordeleg i have many pieces of jewelry from there.

so funny behind the scenes ^.^ hehe

Realmente los admiro, porque hay que tener mucho valor para a la edad que ustedes tienen mudarse a otro país y comenzar, la verdad no sé si yo podría a mis 50 años. Les felicito y espero que su vida aquí en mi país sea placentera y sin contratiempos. Bendiciones.

I love your videos, Ecuador has many beautiful places, I would like you to make a video of the most delicious dishes on the beach and how they are prepared

Great video. Just wanted to say you can also get to Guayaquil by going through Cañar. It's about 30 minutes longer but also very beautiful landscapes

I had commented on one of your other videos. I am married to an Ecuadorian woman, & I am planning on relocating to her home city of Manta. I can't say I have visited extensively in Ecuador, mostly just Manta, Guayaquil & the other towns or cities in the neighborhood. But I am really liking Manta, & the two most important reasons for me to live there is that she already does, as does her family! An in-built support system!

Wow It sounds like a beautiful place

Hi I Love to watch al ypur vdeos, I’m planning to retiré thaïs year, and visit Ecuador to see if it’ll be a place for us. We live in Canada and winter it’s very cold your videos are wonderful and very inspired. I can’t wait to visit Ecuador.

Very good videooooo

Love JP Spanish accent

You guys are great! I’m glad I’ve found you. I’m looking forward going to Ecuador. I recommend raw vegan ( life regenerator ) liquid life for the altitude sickness and joint pains. Ve awesome!

Cuenca does have a rainy season, but there are many major cities all over the US that has a much higher annual rainfall than Cuenca does. And it's not like it rains "all the time" during the rainy season... just more than than it does during the dry season. So I don't see the "rain" as a significant "con." As for the temps, I can't handle super-hot weather, so Cuenca is nearly perfect for me. The past few "winters" (which they refer to as summer, like we do) have been cooler over the past couple of years, but nothing a small space heater won't take care of indoors, or a good hoodie for outdoors. The altitude can be a problem for some people, as some folks never fully adapt. But as an initial landing point in Ecuador, you can't beat Cuenca. This is for all the reasons stated in the video, but I specifically want to emphasize the presence of a large expat population, which can be a great support system for new expats. Also, there are lots of gringo events, organizations, cultural events, etc., etc. But probably the most important thing is the number of people who either speak English and can help you navigate your way through the culture here. I disagree with the video that there is "too much English" in Cuenca. What there is, is that you can find a lot of people who do speak English and can help you conduct essential business. But can you be fully independent and function only on English in Cuenca? Absolutely not! Again, there are lots of people who will "facilitate" for you and handle your business transactions, but you are absolutely not going to become a fully independent expat here in Cuenca without at least a solid intermediate level of Spanish.

Love this ❤️

in cuenca we are lucky with visitors like you

jajajajja el camino del cajas es la 8ª maravilla, jajajajaja i love it

I'm in Cuenca right now visiting from the states and I have to say this is a wonderful city, really enjoyed Cajas national park. I do have to say the high elevation has me short of breath which sucks, other than that i recommend this visiting Cuenca.

Hi Amelia and JP. Just stumbled unto your channel and I have been watching it all day. I live up in cold old Canada and the winter is just kicking in. Brrr.! Never ever thought of going down to Ecuador but both of you have made it so inviting. I told my Lady Dian and she says "Lets Go" I am 62 and retired from General Motors and have great Health care service. I would love to come down and visit in March and April and check it out. Where you guys are staying in Olan near the beach sounds wonderful. Can you steer me in the right direction to find a place down there to stay. Thank you so much. Thanks for you informative videos. You actually got me all excited on a boring chilly day of 3 degrees. Thank you and look forward to any help you can give us. johnny ;)

Great video as always! Can you recommend any online expat communities that are a good source information about expats moving to or "long term visiting" Ecuador? It would be great to get advice about local apartments for rent, what to do and what not to do in certain cities. Your videos help very much, but there will always be questions.

You've got me hanging on the edge of my seat about that mystery video you aren't uploading!!!

Loved this video. I didn't pick up on that Cuenca was so overcast and kinda rainy at first. Or that the elevation could be an issue. Thank you.

I live in nyc and hard to explain the standard of living in Cuenca. I am in the UES in front of the metropolitan museum in Park Ave and still miss cuenca. My family is from San Sebastian for ever like over 400 for sure. But I am sure I am native cañari. Love

Saludos desde el Ecuador ciudad de Guayaquil un abrazo aquí activada y dejando mi like felicidades

Gosh, as much as you exude love while reminiscing about Cuenca, it seems that you may be moving or at least visiting there soon!

you guys have great videos you look good together such a happy couple you have a beautiful wife.... you living in paradise and having fun

I see what you're trying to do. You found paradise so you're trying to keep it from getting overcrowded by sending the masses to Cuenca ;)