With sophisticated historical cities, miles of unspoiled sun-kissed beaches, fertile farmland, and temperate mountain hideaways…

This retirement haven has it all…

• Perfect weather year-round

• A U.S.-dollar-based economy

• Top-notch medical care at one-fourth to one-tenth the costs of the U.S.

• Affordable private health insurance plans and a new free government health plan

• A retirement program that will save you thousands of dollars a year.

• The lowest cost of living we’ve found yet. (Expats report monthly expenses as low as $500!)

…and the world’s lowest real estate prices

But would I send my mother there?

Dear International Living Reader,

If you could improve your lifestyle by about 200%, would you?

What if it meant relocating to a place where the weather is always perfect…say 77º during the day and 50º at night? A place where, in a single day’s drive, you could go from a sophisticated city with true cultural appeal to a tranquil pine-studded mountain hideaway… or an alpine retreat where you can bask in warm thermal waters under a starlit sky… or lush rainforest jungles full of exotically colored birds and flowers… or pristine beaches where the only footprints are yours?

This place exists. It’s Ecuador. And it may just be the ‘find of the century’ for anyone who wants to live life like it’s meant to be lived… fresh air, deliciously healthy food, the warmest, kindest, most generous people, and no lifestyle sacrifices. None.

I know what you’re thinking…it’s too far, it’s too ‘foreign,’ too ‘third-world’… maybe you think it’s unsafe or its government isn’t trustworthy?

I’ve just returned from Ecuador and  I know that none of those things are true.

You see, International Living has been recommending Ecuador as a retirement destination for nearly a decade now. And that comes with a lot of responsibility.

I’m Jackie Flynn, the publisher of International Living. Although I trust our editors and know they would never lead our readers astray, I wanted to find out for myself if Ecuador lives up to the billing we’ve given it.

The truth? Ecuador far exceeds expectations.

You can enjoy a four-course lunch (soup, fruit juice, meat, salad, rice, and dessert) for $2. A taxi ride in Quito typically costs $1. A 30-minute massage: $15. You can stay in a very nice hotel…private room with cable TV and breakfast included for less than $20.

By the way, Ecuador’s official currency is the U.S. dollar – so you needn’t worry about complicated currency calculations or exchange risks.

International Living readers who live in Ecuador report that total monthly expenses can be as low as $500! (See the sidebar for details.)

And real estate costs? They’re among the lowest we’ve found anywhere in the world.

(Keep in mind, Ecuador is just a four-hour flight from the U.S. – less time than it takes to fly from New York to Los Angeles.)

Imagine… a brand-new two-bedroom/two-bath condo – with city-or ocean views -- for less than $50,000. A hacienda-style home on an acreage in the mountains for less than $90,000. A gorgeous home with floor-to-ceiling window on two acres of hilltop overlooking the blue Pacific…just $83,000!

These aren’t just the lowest prices…these are typical prices!

There’s so much information to share with you about Ecuador. As you may know, for the last two years, International Living has hosted its Ultimate Event­–our biggest conference of the year­–in Quito. And as you might imagine, our writers and editors have taken advantage of that to scour the country and learn even more about the benefits, cost-savings, opportunities, advantages (and yes, challenges) this country has to offer.

I’ve asked them to share that information with you in a complete overhaul of our best-selling Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual. And I guarantee it will help you decide if Ecuador is right for you.

But don’t just take my word for it. Keep reading to learn what some of your fellow International Living readers have found in Ecuador…

$50,000 for a 3-Bedroom Home on a Pristine Stretch of Beach…

Mike Sager is a motorcycle-loving, rock-n-rolling free spirit...a former surfer from Huntington Beach, California and a die-hard beach lover.

In California, Mike put in long hours as a mail carrier. He lived a few miles from the closest beach, but rarely had time to go to there -- and when he did, he had to get there early to stake out his piece of sand before the crowds arrived.

Fortunately, Mike no longer has to worry about making his way to a costly, crowded California beach. Because today he lives in the picturesque fishing town of Olón, just north of Montañita, one of Ecuador’s most popular surfer towns. His home is smack-on-the-beach…no housing projects or boardwalk…not even a road in front of it. He walks out the door and his toes hit the sand. A few steps more and he’s at the water’s edge.

His home is no beach shack, either. It’s a well-built, two-story home with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The upper floor has a covered balcony facing the sea…this is where he’s hung his hammock. Downstairs, a long covered terrace is the perfect place to watch sunsets and strum a little guitar in the evenings.

How much did this idyllic home on the beach set him back? He paid just $50,000.

Maybe you prefer to be in the center of the action? Even in a world-class resort city, with all the amenities you’d expect in a place called the ‘Miami of Ecuador,’ you can buy a brand-new three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath condo with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean for $119,000!

And there are lots of deals like this to be had on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast. We tell you exactly where to find them in Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual.

City Condos for $40,000…
and a Two-Bedroom Mountain Hideaway for $22,500

If you’re not a beach fan, no worries. Ecuador is more than beaches. In fact, it’s far better known for its majestic mountains. The ‘Spine of the Andes’ cuts through the middle of the country from north to south. But because Ecuador is located smack dab on the equator, it’s never too hot and never too cold. You won’t find a better, more agreeable climate than in this ‘Land of Eternal Spring.’

There are so many cities and towns along Ecuador’s ‘Spine of the Andes’ that deserve your attention. Briefly…

• Quito is the capital and its second-largest city. In its modern neighborhoods, you’ll find trendy coffee shops, boutique hotels, modern shopping malls, high-rise office buildings, and state-of-the-art hospitals. And it’s easy to find two- and three-bedroom condos starting at $50,000. Think about it…a modern condo in one of the world’s most exciting cities for less than the price of a new BMW!

• ‘Old Town’ Quito was the first-ever city to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, in 1978, and you won’t find more traditional Spanish colonial-style architecture anywhere outside Spain itself… massively thick walls, high ceilings and romantic balconies. Huge wooden doors open from the street to reveal interior courtyards with cobblestone floors, tastefully decorated with lush greenery and bright flowers. Many of these have now been renovated into shops, restaurants, offices, and condos. You can buy renovated two-bedroom apartments in Old Town starting at just $40,000.

• You may have heard of Vilcabamba…located in what’s known as the ‘Valley of Longevity’ because so many of the locals live to be 100 years old or more. Expats who’ve moved to this healthy valley report that they feel better than ever…and couldn’t be happier. (Here, a two-story traditional Ecuadorian house with two bedrooms sits near the entrance to Podocarpus National  Park, with majestic mountain views.  A gurgling river that borders the property will lull you to sleep at night. It’s being sold for just 60,000. Even closer to the center of Vilcabamba, you can buy a small house on a nice-sized parcel of land for just $26,000.)

• In quiet Cotacachi, a leather artisan village about two hours north of Quito, International Living editors Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher bought a brand-new condo on the edge of town recently for $46,000—as did real estate editor Ronan McMahon. And International Living reader Bob Baker just bought a two-bedroom apartment—in move-in condition--overlooking one of Cotcachi’s main streets, about equal distance between the pretty village plazas. He paid just $22,500!

Important Note: In Ecuador, foreigners are afforded all the rights of citizens when it comes to property ownership. Still, things are done a bit differently than they are at home. You need to understand the intricacies of property ownership in Ecuador and know who to turn to for legal help in order to safeguard your investments. See Chapter 5 of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual, ‘Buying Property in Ecuador’ to learn more.

Cuenca: the #1 Retirement Destination in the World

Every year International Living editors conduct interviews, analyze statistics, and crunch the numbers to prepare our Global Retirement Index. This year we named Cuenca—a city about 275 miles south of Quito—as the #1 Retirement Destination in the World.

Cuenca is Ecuador's third-largest city, but its central historic district feels more like a small, charming old-world town, with tidy plazas, ancient churches, and cobblestone streets lined with tall colonial-era adobe-walled buildings transformed into small hotels, restaurants, and shops. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

But this city offers more than just aesthetic beauty…

• It shares Quito’s year-round, spring-like weather, so the crisp mountain air is never too hot or too cold. (Also like Quito, Cuenca has no tornadoes, hurricanes, or even a rainy season.)

• Its infrastructure can’t be beat, with drinkable water, good phone service, and inexpensive high-speed internet. And culture? Restaurants and cafes are numerous and diverse, and orchestra performances in the colonial Teatro Sucre are free to all…and you’ll find modern malls and supermarkets where you can buy just about anything that you can get back home.

• Medical and dental care are excellent and inexpensive. At one hospital we know of, you’ll pay just $25 for an extended appointment with a specialist. Another offers its own private insurance policy that costs as little as $85 a month for a 61-year-old.

• There’s a small but thriving and energetic expat community…with only about 700 full-time expats in Cuenca (in a total population of almost 500,000), you can truly mix into and experience another culture.

And real estate prices? You’ll be happy to know that even in Cuenca—the most desirable city in Ecuador and the #1 spot in the world for retirees—you can find bargain prices.

Just five blocks from Parque Calderon, in a historic colonial building now being renovated you can buy a loft or duplex starting at just $45,000. A two-bedroom/two-bath condo in a brand-new building across from the Rio Tomebamba is selling for $69,000. In another, prices begin at $47,000 for a two-bedroom/two-bath unit with tile and wood floors, granite counter tops, 24-hour security, and more.

We’re so excited, in fact, by the opportunities we see in Cuenca that we've just put the finishing touches on an urgent Special Report, called Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven .And I want to send you a copy of it FREE just for agreeing to take a no-risk look at our updated 2010 edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual.
I’ll tell you how to reserve Ecuador: The Owner's Manual is just a moment…

But would I recommend Ecuador as a retirement destination to my best friend…or my mother?

At International Living, the ‘best friend and mother question’ is our litmus test. If we don’t feel comfortable sending the people closest to us there, we won’t recommend it to you.

And we wholeheartedly recommend Ecuador.

It’s a peaceful country with a long-standing commitment to democracy. Ecuador president Rafael Correa was democratically elected to back-to-back terms, and like leaders everywhere, his popularity wavers.

By and large, political watchdogs give Correa high marks for effort and say his policies are more closely aligned with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva than with Chavez. Importantly, Correa has insisted all along that property rights in Ecuador are secure--and the country’s new constitution, ratified just last year, restates that point.

So would I recommend Ecuador as a retirement destination to my best friend…and my mother? Absolutely yes.

The Best Way to Find Out if Ecuador is Right for You?

As I said, the only way to find out if Ecuador is right for you is to plan a visit and see for yourself. But before you spend that kind of money, I’ve a proposition for you.

Reserve your copy of the completely updated 2010 edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual.

We’ve spent a decade researching Ecuador…. and make no mistake, this isn’t a travel guide. Our editors have lived in Ecuador or spent extensive amounts of time there. They’ve experienced all the benefits this country has to offer and interviewed hundreds of expats who’ve done the same. They’ve been through the challenges, too—and they tell you all about these—there’s no sugar-coating here.

With Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual, you’ll benefit immediately:

• SAVE TIME!Whether you’re a city, country, mountain or beach person, there’s a perfect place in Ecuador for you…more than one, I’d dare say. But no worries, we provide the pros and cons to help you narrow down the choices and save hours of painstaking research and expensive travel time. We’ll help you pick the best locales in the country that best fit your lifestyle.

• SAVE MONEY! We’ve done the scouting work for you and provide you with the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for our most trusted and helpful contacts. This information is worth its weight in gold (and can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars).

• MAKE MONEY! We devote a full chapter to current business opportunities for the entrepreneur, outlining the sectors where you'll find the most promise. And we provide complete references and resources to help you launch your new business.

Our Newly Updated 2010 Edition of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual Includes:

• Nine steps to buying property in Ecuador. We've spelled out in plain English exactly what you can expect when you buy...with notes about each step that gives you the inside, "we did it, and here's what you need to watch out for" story.

• Complete details of exactly how much you can expect to pay in fees when you buy property in Ecuador. Don't worry, it's seldom more than $1,000. And we'll explain how everything is calculated so there won't be any surprises.

• A Rolodex of the best attorneys who can arrange everything from residency to your home purchase to setting up a business. We recommend honest, efficient, and affordable lawyers you can be sure will take care of every detail and make navigating the bureaucracy a breeze.

• Firsthand tales from the field -- stories from people who have already done what you're thinking about doing. Their hard-won advice will save you time, money, and hours (maybe even weeks) of frustration...

And All the Practical Know-How You Need to Live In Ecuador

• Complete details about residency and citizenship. Learn which of the six visas is right for you...and how to get it.

• What you should bring. Whether you're traveling for a week or six months, we've included our list of eight things you don't want to be without.

• What it costs to hire a maid, employ a gardener, visit a doctor or dentist, hire a driver for the day...and much more.

• Where to find the best medical and dental care and how much you can expect to pay to have tendon surgery or your teeth cleaned.

• The best way (and place) to get full-coverage health insurance in Ecuador, including 100% hospitalization benefits, 60% paid prescriptions, and visits to doctors and clinics for $5-$6, among other benefits.

• How to easily get your pet into the country. You'll need to start the paperwork a few weeks before you go. Learn what to do first, what documents you'll need, and more.

• How to import your household goods to Ecuador and pay no taxes...including on brand-new appliances. (And some firsthand advice about what to bring and what to leave at home.)

• How much it really costs to live here. I’ve already shared with you the monthly budgets for International Living readers living in Cotacachi and Vilcabamba. But what about monthly costs in Quito and Cuenca? We give you all the details and more, including for all those ‘extra’ things—everything from anesthesia to X-rays, from cable TV to cross-country flights.

Get to Ecuador Now...And Beat The Crowds

Your timing is good. Now is a smart time to gain a foothold in Ecuador...before the rest of the world catches on to what a wonderland this is. Like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama have done, Ecuador will attract a growing number of foreign retirees in the years to come.
Make no mistake…the mainstream media will catch on to Ecuador’s charms very soon. Just recently, in fact, Travel Guru Arthur Frommer wrote about three friends who are looking to relocate to Ecuador.

"It’s the new hot spot for Americans seeking an affordable life where you can live large on little money,” he said.

And he’s right.

Baby Boomers are approaching retirement at a time when the world economy is in tatters. The global financial crisis has pummeled their investment portfolios, IRAs, 401Ks, and pension funds.

They face greater financial pressures in retirement than at any time since the Great Depression. And in greater numbers than ever, they are seeking alternatives to a retirement of merely scraping by in the U.S.

Right now…today…Ecuador makes perfect sense as an ideal escape from financial chaos and stress.

And Ecuador:The Owner's Manual puts everything you need to live and prosper in one of the most beautiful and affordable places on earth right in the palm of your hand.

In additional to all those things I’ve already mentioned, you'll get:

• A review of Ecuador's history, customs, and culture so you'll know exactly what to expect when you get there.

• A list of need-to-know Spanish terms for getting around (although many expats get along just fine with only English).

• An overview of Ecuador's economy (hint: it's more than just bananas!).

• A complete rundown of Ecuador's diverse climate and geography and a guide on choosing which area – beach, mountains, or forest -- is right for you.

• A review of social and business etiquette in Ecuador, including tipping, taxis, meeting protocols, business dress, personal titles, greetings, gifts, and much more.

• An introduction to commercial real estate opportunities in Ecuador, from hotels and apartment buildings to farms and ranches.

• An overview of tax considerations for expats living and doing business in Ecuador.

• Extensive appendices full of invaluable Ecuador contacts and resources, including our comprehensive Rolodex of legal, personal, and professional services that will be your Ecuador bible for getting anything you want done in Ecuador.

Ecuador: The Owner's Manual is a complete guide for everything you'll want to do, know about, and see in Ecuador.

You’ll Also Get Our Editors’ Insider Travel Tips: Luxury Hotels At Boarding House Prices...A Smart Shopper's Handbook...And More

• Leather handbags...shoes and jackets...ponchos...hats...mittens... blankets...silver jewelry with lapis and turquoise...painted balsa wood birds... handmade flutes...and more. You'll learn where the best markets are, the best days to go...and the smartest way to negotiate.

• A world-class spa resort at one-third what you'd pay for a comparable experience in Europe. Five-star meals. Gardens filled with flowers and hummingbirds. Spa treatments so divine you'll never resist a return visit.

• The village where you should buy an original Panama Hat. (That's right… authentic Panama hats actually come from Ecuador.) You can get them straight from the families who weave them in their homes.

• Visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands for one-tenth the price. Albatrosses, boobies, and other rare birds, and 11 species of whales come to court in the waters off these islands each year. We'll tell you where to stay...and the best months to go.

Everything You Need to Make an Informed Decision About Ecuador …and Your FREE Report

As I’ve said, Ecuador: The Owner's Manual has just been updated, We’ve gone through it page by page and sentence by sentence to ensure that all the information…all the resources and contact details, including websites, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers… all the maps, statistics, dollar figures and prices quoted…are completely up-to-date.

We’ve left no stone unturned. And the best part is that we publish this manual electronically…so it's much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. And you'll have access to it as soon as your order has processed.

But we’re not stopping there… We think that Ecuador makes so much sense right now…from almost every economic and quality of life point of view that we're sending you two special updated Bonus Reports too:

FREE Bonus Report: Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven (value $29)… As I already mentioned, it's yours absolutely free when you order Ecuador: The Owner's Manual.

In this in-depth Special Report we take a look at a very special area of Ecuador – the #1 Retirement Destination in the World. And we reveal the need-to-know details about Ecuador's most popular expat destination:

• What’s the true appeal of Cuenca? Why are more expats choosing Cuenca than ever before? (Get the straight scoop from expats who are already living there. Find out what they pay for apartment rentals, meals, doctor’s visits, Spanish classes, and more.)

• Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats and where to find the biggest real estate bargains (even how to save 60-70% off the asking price!)

• How to qualify for Ecuador’s Senior Citizen Discount Program. Never stand in line at the bank or utility company, save 50% on utility bills, sporting and entertainment events, and public transportation…including international airfares!

FREE Bonus Report #2: South America's Last Coastal Frontier (value $49)
In this newly updated report we reveal the incredible details about Ecuador's soon-to-boom stretch of magnificent Pacific coastline, including:

• Ecuador's “Little Miami Beach”…This up-and-coming resort town hosts the country's biggest fishing tournament. At any given time, this city is likely to hold two or three world fishing records for sailfish, tuna, and black marlin. Hemingway even fished here. You'll also find excellent restaurants, casinos, beach activities, and it's close to an international airport. We recently spotted a new two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,000-square-foot house in a gated community for just $46,000.
• South American Boomtown… This small town is on the verge of a growth explosion. There's a major program in the works to expand its shipping and transportation capacity. The mayor says the city is setting its sights on becoming South America's largest port (more than $800 million has been committed to upgrading the port) and many in the shipping trade think the goal is achievable. In short, it's one of the top investment opportunities in Latin America. And here you could recently find a new three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,400-square-foot house with a swimming pool for just $70,000.
• Sport fishing, Surfing, And Spectacular Sunsets … In this small fishing town, you can stroll on a beach that's 2,600 feet wide in places (that's half a mile wide). You can enjoy world-class waves, exceptional sport fishing, windsurfing, hang gliding, horseback riding, jet skiing, and other outdoor activities. And in this area, which has all the earmarks of this country's newest coastal resort, properties are still cheap. In fact, a rustic two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage that is just 150 feet away from the water was listed at just $43,000.
• Caribbean Character, Lush Green Vegetation, And Palm-Lined Beaches… In this party town, you can swing to reggae and salsa beats. Enjoy spicy Afro-Caribbean inspired cuisine, go swimming and snorkeling, or just relax on one of the gray and white-sand beaches. Recent listings in the area include a new 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in a small beachside complex, with a pool and nicely landscaped gardens for just $82,900.

We've done our homework and found beachfront deals that would go for millions in San Diego or Malibu… deals you can take advantage of right now with this special report.

You’ve Nothing to Lose, Because As Always,
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed

If you’ve ever wanted to turn your back on skyrocketing prices for everything from health care to real estate to public transportation and restaurant meals, now’s your chance.

And if you’ve ever wanted to walk away from long, bitterly cold winters and brutally hot summers…then I’ve got a deal for you.

Reserve Ecuador: The Owner's Manual now.

I’m so confident you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all this manual includes and by all Ecuador has to offer, I’ll give you a 90-day, no-hassle, money back guarantee. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied with the depth and breadth of information you find in Ecuador: The Owner's Manual, call us within 90 days and we'll refund your purchase, no questions asked.

The newly updated 2010 edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual is your best guide to the best retirement haven in the world, and right now we're offering it for just $79.

With it, you’ll get… absolutely free… our Special Report, Colonial Cuenca: The World’s #1 Retirement Haven (a $29 value)and South America's Last Coastal Frontier (value $49)..

Think about it. Ecuador: The Owner's Manual and your free Special Report about Cuenca, the worlds #1 retirement destination. All for just $79.

And a no-question money-back guarantee if you’re not 100% satisfied.

That's a serious bargain for the amount of current, usable information you’re about to receive… especially considering that it could launch you on your way to the most enjoyable…and affordable…life you've ever imagined.

I’m daresay this will be the best $79 you'll ever spend!

Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living

P.S. If you’re at all interested in Ecuador, I’d suggest you get a move-on. The mainstream media is taking note of the tremendous values this country offers. I just flipped open the latest issue of Conde Nast Traveler to see that they’ve picked Ecuador as one of their top “biggest-value buzz-worthy” destinations. As they rightly point out, Ecuador is “underappreciated.” Not for long, we suspect.

Reserve Ecuador: The Owner's Manual now.