Looking for suggestions.

Top 10 Suggestions For Matt and Jessica....

10.  Historically, the highlands and the Pacific Coast have been the top destinations for North American Expats coming to Ecuador.  That's because the interior lowlands are too hot and/or humid.

9.  The April 16th earthquake affecting the coast has made Ring-of-Fire destinations questionable for new arrivals.  Ecuador's coast will be re-building for years.  The earthquake threat has not gone away.

8.  Quality hospital care is available in the big highland cities, Quito and Cuenca. 

7.  Quito at 9350' and Cuenca at 8250' are at altitudes few North Americans are familiar with.  It's important to determine if you can adjust.

6.  Get your visa plan in order.  Many Expats younger than retirement age do not qualify.  Workable routes include a professional visa based on an approved university's degree .. or investment of more than $25,000 in a bank CD.

5.  Besides questionable health care, towns of smaller size may lack opportunities to commune with other Gringos.  Vilcabamba is an exception as it probably has the highest percentage of Gringos in Ecuador. 

4.  Both Quito and Cuenca have historically had air-pollution problems, largely from bus fumes and gradual increases in auto traffic.

3.  Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil, is hot, humid, dangerous and about an hour from the ocean beaches.  Forget Guayaquil.

2.  A lot of folks from Up North have trouble adjusting to a different language and the mañana culture.  A high percentage of arriving Expats move out of the country within several years for a variety of reasons.

And the #1 suggestion for Matt and Jessica....

1.  Don't buy or build on property until you have spent at least a year living in the target area.  Due to visa restrictions, this may take more than one trip to La República.

cccmedia in Quito

Is there a better time of summer time to visit?

Are there any suggestions as how best prepare for this retirement endeavor 10 plus years from now?...

Are there preferred places for Americans?

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Best time of summer:  In the highlands, any time during the North American summer is about the same as any other time.  The monthly average-high-temperature in Quito is about 68 F. every month of the year.  In Cuenca, the temps also vary little by month -- and are slightly cooler than Quito, according to most online weather sites that track this information.

How to prepare for retirement in EC in ten years or more:  Don't make any sudden moves.  It's unpredictable what this country will be like in ten-plus years.  Just since last year, we have had major volcanic activity, devastating coastal earthquakes, El Niño-produced weather phenomena, nationwide demonstrations ... and oil-price plummeting that adversely affected the economy and the political atmosphere, to say the least.

Preferred places:  Come visit based on your research, and see what feels right for you.

cccmedia in Quito