Why Cuenca Ecuador is SOOO Popular! 

Hi LIz, I too am coming from Mexico to Cuenca this coming November. I wanted to spend time here 1st to spend time with friends and pet sit for a friend. I would love to hear more about how much more you love Ecuador compared to Mexico.

@@destinationmax well, that’s not an easy question to answer, but since you’re asking about my personal experience that makes it a bit easier. First let me say that my experience would undoubtedly be different had I lived in another city in Mexico then Puerto Vallarta. I loved Puerto Vallarta, but it was somewhat limited in its offerings being mainly a tourist destination, I’m speaking of architectural aspects, museums and variety of shopping. It didn’t really have much in the way of architectural history being mostly just a hundred years old whereas Cuenca’s el Centro is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s not old like much of Europe, but it still has impressive buildings to capture your eye. I’m a big architecture fan. It has a number of museums, I haven’t been to any yet, but I’ve only been here not quite three months and haven’t really been behaving like a tourist, I’ve been more concerned with getting familiar with the city. Puerto Vallarta only had one small museum if memory serves correctly. And the shopping is far more varied and interesting. Case in point I’ve found at least two stores that carter to people who are into goth attire. I didn’t find one in Puerto Vallarta. I’m sure my experiences would have been different if I had lived in Mexico City, but I didn’t want to live in a city that massive. I will say that Cuenca could be about five to ten degrees warmer on average, but because it is cooler I get to wear clothes that I hadn’t worn in years. Another thing, Cuenca is much cleaner than Puerto Vallarta, there are people out sweeping the curbs at least five days a week and the city seems more concerned about its citizens well being, because there are many places to sit most everywhere and there are parks and small parks all over the city. The river banks are like these long narrow beautiful parks that cut through the city. There are four rivers, but I’ve only seen two. There are other reasons, but they are more personal and I won’t discuss them here. I hope this helps.

@@lizsavage1178 Thank you so much Liz!! That was a terrific comparison! I’m currently living in Puerto Morelos and it’s pretty great but as you described it’s very limited on other wonderful experiences shopping, etc. I really appreciate the time you took to describe, and write this out.

@@destinationmax it was my pleasure as writing is one of my joys.

I agree girll

You can do it!

Johnny, have you moved yet? We are leaving end of year. 2023.

@@glenncapitanio470 NOT YET, BUT LOOKING AT AND INVESTIGATING A FAR AWAY LOCATION. UNFORTUNATELY NOT ALL MY FAMILY IS AS CONVINCED AS I AM. MY BEST TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY 🙏❤❤❤

Thanks for sharing! 😊👍

This Canadian quickly realizing I’ll never be able to afford to retire in Canada. Got my sights on Cuenca.. thanks for sharing

@@UnbindingRayne Everything is much less expensive except imported goods. Cars and motorcycles will give you sticker shock, but if you spend most of your time in Cuenca, it is pretty walkable if you have time, and taxis are cheap when you go for a big shopping day, or want to skip the walk in the rain. Definitely bring a top rate light weight rain jacket and some GTX urban hikers with smartwool socks and you will be good to go. A really cold night might go down to 10 and a really warm day might go up to 24. Mostly more like 13-21.

@@davidc1961utube the climate there is part of reason Cuenca is attractive to me.. very similar to where I am now. (Victoria, BC)The altitude? Not sure if that’ll affect me. I’m living at sea level currently. Going to do a trip or two first to see how it goes. Thanks for the info David.

@@UnbindingRayne Air BnB first, for sure. Try several different neighborhoods. Your Victoria rain gear will do ya just fine. Cheers from Kelowna!

Have you been to Arequipa, Peru 🇵🇪 I hear this is also a very good place to live and near perfect climate!

Hola q Bueno saber q hay boricuas q les guste el ecuador, yo quisiera mudarme para allá porque mi esposo es del ecuador estamos en usa , pero a veces lo pienso porque no se si hay más boricuas allá con quien uno pueda reunirse y compartir porque es un país muy diferente pienso ir también d vacaciones a finales d agosto ☺️

@@aureahernandez2012 Hola, a nosotros nos encanta Ecuador. Es nuestro destino pensado para el retiro. Nos pasamos viendo videos de allá. Hay varios canales muy buenos. Creo que sí hay boricuas aunque no tantos. Cuando fuimos hace 11 años nos preguntaban si eramos cubanos porque hay bastantes allá. Nosotros al menos tenemos amistades de allá que vivieron en PR y son nuestro contacto.

@@gagrinsoni oh si ! Q Bueno pero ustedes están en pr pero son nacidos allá en Puerto Rico? De q parte son me gustaría q siguiéramos hablando pues tenemos algo en común

@@aureahernandez2012 sí vivimos aquí en Yabucoa, PR.

@@gagrinsoni oh q Bueno yo soy de Carolina pero vivo en Ct

It’s easy to stay busy in Cuenca!

“Busy” is usual in USA, “Entertained” is Cuenca fun.

Great advice 👍

Which travel insurance companies?

@@pattibiley4383 can’t name one. I would check with your insurance broker.

Most places are still closed on Sunday 😁

Great! We love Ecuador!

Gracias! 😊

move its very good

Wow! So happy to be left out of that! 🥶

Gracias!

Gracias!

Gracias! 😊

Gracias!

The centralist government based in Quito and Guayaquil would be the best answer to that.

that is the last thing it needs.

Hola hermana! 😊

We have a video about altitude sickness here: How to Avoid & Treat Altitude Sickness in Cuenca Ecuador (and other high altitude cities) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N0pLNh-uCnw.html

If your health insurance works anywhere in the world, you would likely need to pay for services rendered in Ecuador and submit the claims with your insurance company for reimbursement. For your visa application, your coverage letter needs to specifically state it covers Ecuador. We aren’t affiliated with Don.

They have replaced most of the blue puffer buses with low emission diesel red and white buses 👍

We have a video and detailed article about that: liveabroadnow.com/weather-in-ecuador-best-time-to-visit-ecuador/

Olón, Ayampe, Santa Marianita, Canoa.

Gracias! 😊

Not much. It used to be worse but the replaced most of the blue puffer buses with the red low emission diesel buses.

I wrote about inflation in 2 of our recent newsletters. Way too much to reiterate here.

Ok cool I'll go check that out.

Ecuador went on the dollar in 2000 so I doubt there are any silver coins in circulation unless a gringo brought them here without knowing.

@@AmeliaAndJP well I was hoping you were knee deep in gringo sliver. Too bad.

In addition to what JP writes above, it is important to note that Ecuador mints their own Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters and Half dollars (sizes and colors are similar to US coins, but designs are different). The dollar coin is the only coin not minted in Ecuador (sent from the US). It is rare to see US pennies in circulation, but US quarters and half dollars are slightly more common. Older coins from the US are a rare find.

Tea is easy to find in EC.

So sorry about that! The latest visa changes are affecting a lot of people 😔

Mike, hang on, because Ecuador has changed that requirement several times and who knows? They do it as multiples of the "basic income" - and it was 2x when we first came, it went down to 1x (that is, $425) about a year ago, and now it is 3x. Who Knows? hang on.

The public IESS is available to everyone and covers everything 100% including pre-existing conditions after 3 months. The private insurance companies charge more as you get older and cover pre-existing conditions after 2 years.

do you have a video about this topic? @@AmeliaAndJP

Unfortunately, there’s no way to know until you’re at elevation. Most people are fine after a few days adjustment.

@@AmeliaAndJP thanks thanks

Yes. In fact, we recommend it. Here is an article with more visa info and tips: liveabroadnow.com/ecuador-temporary-resident-visas/

@@AmeliaAndJP Muchas gracias !!!

We have all the details here: liveabroadnow.com/ecuador-temporary-resident-visas/

Parque de la Madre and other parks in Cuenca.

@@AmeliaAndJP Fantastic thank you so much. Will definitely have to bundle up to get the juices going and warm up the body.

You can get medical coverage through travel insurance.

You can get private insurance, but it won’t kick in until 30 days after you sign the contract except for emergencies so if you want to be covered for routine stuff, you’ll need to sign up a month before you arrive. The cost is based on a variety of factors so we can’t give you an estimate, but we can introduce you to the brokers we recommend: liveabroadnow.com/referrals/ecuador-insurance-broker-referral/

Thank you I just sent in my request

The best place depends on what is important to you. The best website for rentals in Cuenca is probably GringoPost.com.

Yes

@@AmeliaAndJP But there are also Ecuadorian produced American coins.

Seems like housing is less expensive than Cuenca, but everything else seemed similar.

AzuTaxi

Here’s the video: How To Get the MOST Out of Your Exploratory Trip to Ecuador ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-k_0OgDbqNug.html

@@AmeliaAndJP Thank you. Enjoy the videos👍👍

The pandemic is “under control” here. Very few cases and life is back to normal except most Ecuadorians are still wearing a mask even though it’s not required in most places.

@@AmeliaAndJP Amelia I am a Galapagueño, I mean a native of the Galapagos Islands, when they visit us? We would like you to visit us and if possible be able to greet you, I am your follower since you first arrived in Ecuador, greetings :)

It’s not working for me either. Looks like they have a bug. Maybe try again in a couple days. You can get a cab outside the airport in Cuenca. Or take the tranvía.

@@AmeliaAndJP thanks!

Parts of the coast have high humidity and temps, but the mountains are cooler and drier due to the high elevation, which might pose a problem.

@@AmeliaAndJP Thank you, Amelia and JP!