Ecuador is a popular place for students, young people volunteering abroad, and business people. Students come to Ecuador to learn Spanish in an immersion situation. Young and older people alike live in Ecuador for its international volunteering opportunities. Business people often choose to live in Ecuador to operate local businesses or to operate their international businesses remotely while enjoying the Ecuadorian pace of life.
Ecuador is located in the northern part of South America. It borders Colombia and Peru, and is a short distance from Brazil. Ecuador also borders the South Pacific Ocean. The country's namesake, the Equator, runs through the northern part of the country, with the capital city Quito the most popular access point. Ecuador boasts sprawling cities, mountains, and small indigenous villages that offer international visitors access to a unique culture and geography.
When living in Ecuador, international citizens must consider the experience they would like to have. In Quito, the capital city, apartments are readily available for all budgets and comfort levels, and the living experience will be fairly similar to most urban areas internationally. If you choose to live in a more remote village, the living experience will be considerably different and dissimilar to your country. Ecuador is welcoming to international citizens, and you are likely to be comfortable in any location throughout the country.
A common misconception about Ecuador is that it is entirely devoid of modern comforts and amenities. Not so; in Quito, for example, you will have access to high-quality medical care, modern buildings, internet access and most of the comforts you are used to in your home country. Ecuador operates like many of the other industrialized nations of the world, and is not cut off from modern business and entertainment standards.
Ecuador offers the opportunity to become immersed in its culture without considerable expense. International citizens will find that Ecuadorians are friendly and open, and willing to share their culture and language with visitors. When you live in Ecuador, you will gain access to a more intimate view of the culture than you would as a tourist or short-term visitor.
