Expat Life

Editor's note: Rob Gray's life-long passion for gardening led him from California, to Costa Rica and finally to Ecuador's fertile Yunguilla Valley, where he established Gran Roca farm. This is the first in a series of articles by Rob about his quest to produce the...

[Editor's Note: This is Chapter 5, excerpted from The Viagra Monologues.] So there you are, standing across the counter from a pharmacist’s assistant, usually an Ecuadorian woman, or even the pharmacist him or herself. She’s wearing the official white- jacket uniform...

By Natasha Verkley Year after year, Cuenca receives accolades as one of the best destinations to retire in the world. It is easy to see why. Overall the city is beautiful, clean, affordable and safe. Once here, expats are welcomed into the community, providing a...

I went to the Galapagos for three weeks and didn't set foot on a cruise ship. Three weeks? No cruise? Don't you have to go on a cruise when you go to the Galapagos? With all the advertising for cruises, it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s possible to explore the...

Editor's note: Since becoming Cuenca expats in May of 2010, Edd and Cynthia Staton have created a life beyond their wildest expectations. In addition to their duties as International Living correspondents and speakers, the two make frequent trips back to the States to...

By Laura Jones Thinking of moving to Ecuador with children? As an expat with several children of my own, I am often asked what the transition is like for kids. The answer depends on a number of factors, including: * What are the ages of the children? * How much time...

American-born photographer Thomas Ives has worked for international news and feature magazines for over 38 years. His photo essays and images have appeared in National Geographic, Time, Geo, Stern, Newsweek, Life, Smithsonian, and many others publications. He...

By Joanna Bender Being a doctor was the earliest dream Cuenca dentist Daniela Ordoñez can remember. “Ever since I was very small, I loved medicine and wanted to be a plastic surgeon,” she recalled. “When I graduated high school, there was no doubt I would enter...

By Christopher Lux Brian Benson grew up surfing in Southern California. His wife Tabitha was born in Cuenca and moved to the United States when she was very young. "When we met, in San Diego, I was intrigued about her country," Brian recalls. "We had been to Ecuador...

According to Mayra León, Cuenca attorney and director of Ecuador Legal Services™, prospective expats are often not aware of the legal options that can make their relocation to Ecuador easier. An example, Mayra says, is the fact that there are visa options that offer...

American-born photographer Thomas Ives has worked for international news and feature magazines for over 38 years. His photo essays and images have appeared in National Geographic, Time, Geo, Stern, Newsweek, Life, Smithsonian, and many others publications. He...

By Gary Michaels Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a new restaurant in Cuenca that offers something that I doubt you’ll find anywhere else in Ecuador — maybe anywhere else in the world. The restaurant is called Amañan which, in Quechua, means “make your own,”...

Whether it's the requirements for obtaining a visa, starting a business and hiring employees, tenant - landlord rights and obligations, real estate closings, banking regulations, the role of notaries in legalizing contracts, or criminal issues, the laws and regulatory...