Preparing to spend winter in Ecuador. Where on the coast

Hello paulbarton37,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

It sounds like a wonderful next chapter.. I hope you find exactly what you are looking for so you can start planning your time in Ecuador with peace of mind.

Wishing you all the best,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@paulbarton37

Hello Paul.  Ray & I moved from Fort Myers, FL to Manta, Ecuador October 21, 2021.  My brother moved 3 weeks earlier (from Saskatchewan, Canada). His massive research lead him to move without prior visit. We did the same. We are glad we did and would do it again.  We picked a gated community 10 minutes south of Manta called Ciudad Del Mar.  Need a car or a driver. We chose a driver & a bilingual driver who helps us on most everything needed to thrive. We do not go out after 7pm and feel safe and informed.  Wanda & Ray Bluz

@paulbarton37  The United States Department of State says that most of coastal Ecuador is dangerous to Americans because of the drug trafficking.  Going north on the coast, the danger increases.  Probably the safest place is Salinas.  It's a fairly large city and you could find the things that you seek such as medical services and infrastructure.  I've lived in Quito for over five years, and it is supposed to be less dangerous here, per capita.  However, I would also say that Ecuador is becoming more and more dangerous, overall.  Good luck in your search.

I would suggest Salinas. It is developed with good accommodations, a variety of places for food and groceries, nice malecon to hang out in the evening just to relax, and safe. I have been visiting there for the past 15 years and owned a house close to the malecon that I had bought to retire from NY, but had to sell it after five years when I got divorced. Nevertheless, it is one of my favorite places to go every year whenever I want to relax and escape NY. Never a concern with safety up to late hours at night on the malecon and main street. Adequate police presence day and night. Usually make about 3-4 trips a year and explore another town or two before heading out to Salinas as my base before returning home.

@paulbarton37

Hello Paul, greetings from Samborondon. If you search something more urban surroundings Samborondon is one good alternative. Green, many actiivities, 60 km from the Pacific Ocean and near the airport. Other places if you prefer the beach is Olón or Ayampe where I visited just few weeks ago. Ayampe is even more relaxed if you prefer it.

I publish travel destination magazines where you can find articles about Samborondón and Ayampe. Feel free to read them with no cost.

Greetings

Lassi

@Coxhere1

We have lived on the north coast, Jama area, for 13 years and NO problems.  We feel safe. Builders are developing resorts and a golf course here. Lots of people from Quito have second homes. People have been investing in high end properties here and they seem to be happy with the area.

John Vollmecke

Ecuadorhomesandland@gmail.com

@Coxhere1

Consider that Chicago has about 10 shootings a week. Does NOT happen in Ecuador.

The US has gotten increasingly dangerous

John Vollmecke

About 7000 murders in Ecuador last year though.

@ecuadorhomesandland

For someone who asks about living on the Pacific Coast of Ecuador, my suggestion goes along with what the U. S. State Department says.  I recommend one who is considering a move to the coast to read the department's suggestions and warnings.  I've lived in Quito Ecuador for six years with my husband in a duplex;  my mother-in-law and sister-in-law live in the other, next-door duplex.  The three are Ecuadorians by birth and are Spanish-English bilingual.  I know that I am safer than many ex-pats who move down here.  By merely watching the Ecuadorian news, I also know that the country, in general, has more violence and crime than when I first moved here.  Comparing Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, or New York City with any part of Ecuador would be similar to comparing apples with pineapples. 

@Coxhere1

Twelve people are shot in Chicqgo every weekend . Never happens in Ecuador.

We would never consider Quito. Did not feel safe there, so to each their own. I have sold real estate on the coast for 12 years and not one client has complained about crime

.We briefly lived in Cotacachi and did not feel safe due to many break-ins in what we thought to be a lovely community.

@B.Bindon

Population 15,000,000. Do the math.

I believe Noboa has done some good, as far as the cartels. They took the internet away from the dealers, who were in jail. and separated them from other prisoners.  A new President in Columbia should help.

@ecuadorhomesandland

Correction, 12 shootings every weekend in Chicago. Eight to 10 deaths per weekend

@ecuadorhomesandland

Again, the U. S. State Department warns Americans about going into coastal areas, especially in the northern part.  It warns Americans to stay OUT of Esmeralda Province because of kidnapping, highjacks, terrorism, and murders.  It also says for Americans to reconsider going into Manabi and, if going, to take extreme caution.  The Department actually advises that Americans not go to the Pacific Coast at all.  Here's the link to the U. S. State Department's warnings concerning Ecuador:  https://travel.state.gov/en/internation … ador.html.