The Hidden Paradise Where A Couple Can Live Well On Less Than $600 a Month!
Sell your winter clothes…and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in the Land of Eternal Spring.
Dear International Living Reader,
Every cliché you've heard about living large on little…about settling into the lap of luxury on even a retiree's budget…is true in the place I'm about to reveal.
This is one of the world's cheapest places to live. Take $150 out of the ATM Monday morning…and your expenses are covered for the week.
You heard right. In a moment I'll show you the actual monthly budget of a couple living the good life in one of the most beautiful, healthy and relaxed places on earth on less than $600 per month…much less than an average Social Security check.
And this couple rents. If you own your own home in this remarkable place you could pay even less each month for one of the best lifestyles on the planet.
Happily, owning in this place is easy, because it also boasts some of the world's great real estate bargains and investment opportunities. How about 2,100 square feet of beach front land… with two-bedroom house… for $115,000? Or 1,200 square foot beach view condos with hotel and beach club privileges for $79,000? Or a three-bedroom, lock-and-leave condo in a charming village in the heart of the Andes with mountain views for $54,500?
Some countries offer low costs of living. Others have good real estate buys…or attractive business opportunities. But, in two decades of looking, we've never found a country that offers all these things in abundance…plus perfect year-round weather.
I'm talking about Ecuador.
We've been telling you about the attractions of life in Ecuador and the many opportunities this country offers for nearly a decade. There are so many good reasons for coming to Ecuador, it's hard to pinpoint the best one...but this is for sure: It's a remarkably affordable place to live.
You can employ full-time household help to cook and clean for $30 a week...enjoy a gourmet meal for two, with wine and dessert, for $25...get a haircut or take a taxi for $3...have your shoes shined for 30 cents...own a grand colonial mansion in the heart of Quito's old quarter for $150,000 or a three-bedroom home overlooking the ocean for just $85,000...pay just $150 per month for a two-bedroom apartment with courtyard in a fairytale Andes mountain village...
Indeed, Ecuador wins top honors in nearly every Global Retirement Index we've done in the past few years. It is among the cheapest places on earth…and the most beautiful.
Cheap...But Not Backward
Lots of places are cheap. But you wouldn't want to live in most of them. Ecuador offers a high quality of life, too. This is no isolated backwater.
And it's better every time we return. Most recently, the Quito airport has been improved dramatically--new jet ways, a totally renovated entrance, new waiting area, and huge vases of roses everywhere.
And an even newer international airport is nearing completion…one that will land passengers outside the congested metropolitan Quito area and drastically cut drive time to some of the country's most popular highland destinations like Otavalo and Cotacachi.
In Ecuador, you can live on little…and you can live very well. You can golf on breathtaking courses so free of crowds you never have to make a tee time. Indulge in a gourmet meal in a world-class restaurant. Why not? The cost is about what you'd pay for bottled water and an appetizer in a restaurant in Los Angeles, New York, or London. The fresh fruits and vegetables you find overpriced at specialty "organic" shops up north...sell here at the local markets for pennies.
And Ecuador is increasingly connected. Daily flights depart for destinations across the hemisphere. Cell phones are standard issue. Cyber-cafes are easy to find, and home-computer hookups are common. Cable TV gets you the major U.S. networks, CNN, three HBO channels, CineMax, TLC, and more (for less than $50 a month).
You give up nothing to live here… except the high prices.
Safe...And Stable
Before I go further, let me reassure you: Ecuador is a safe place to live and invest.
Crime isn't unheard-of. Petty theft, particularly in the big cities is an issue...as it is in all big cities. But a bolstered police force and greater attention to education have been brought to bear on the problem.
In the small towns and in the countryside, the calm, quiet, and safety are remarkable. In the highland towns of Otavalo and Cotacachi, you can stroll the streets at night accosted only by the sounds of music from the parks and the greetings of passers-by. You'll find graffiti if you look hard enough…you'll find things like “Julio ama a Maria”.
Ecuador is a peaceful country. The population is gentle. Even in the throes of a violent economic upheaval when the local currency careened downward, losing 67% of its value against the dollar in 1999, protests were peaceful. Nobody fired a single shot.
In 2000, with its back against the wall, Ecuador implemented an economic program aimed at stabilizing the country. It replaced the sucre, the local currency with the U.S. dollar, and the congress managed to approve significant reforms in tax and Social Security law.
Ecuador is still walking its own path to recovery despite the world financial crisis. President Correa is a U.S. trained economist who is serving back-to-back terms and has instituted constitutional reforms guaranteeing human rights, property rights…even the rights of Nature to protect and preserve Ecuador's incredible biodiversity.
And what a diverse country it is. Since Ecuador lies on the equator, it gets year-around, continuous sunshine…just one reason some of the world's largest rose plantations thrive here. And because Ecuador has everything from gorgeous Pacific coast beaches to snow-capped Andean mountains to lush, tropical Amazon rain forest, you can pick your favorite environment just by choosing your elevation and which side of the mountains you want to be on.
In fact, Ecuador is so affordable that many expats keep two places… one on the beach and one in the highlands.
There aren't many countries left in the world where you can do that and still keep most of your nest egg intact.
Extraordinary Profit Opportunities
Local expatriates are involved in all kinds of business endeavors--import/export…small hotels…spas…restaurants…tour companies… One of the easiest businesses to get into in Ecuador is import-export. Done even on a small scale, buying merchandise in markets and shops for resale back home can easily pay for your travel. Done on a larger scale, you could turn this kind of project into a steady income.
Ecuador's artisans are highly skilled. The markets are overflowing with handicrafts, jewelry, sweaters...all on sale for bargain prices. From turquoise, silver, and leather goods to statuary, fine alpaca apparel, and magnificent textiles, you'll find an endless selection of products you might export and resell for great profits.
But that is just one business option. The list of potential fields goes on--ecotourism, extreme sports, textile manufacturing and export, hospitality, real estate development, and much more.
Time For A Closer Look
For all these reasons and many others, it's time to take another close look at Ecuador. That's why we've compiled our experience and firsthand information into the most complete guide to Ecuador we've published yet… Ecuador: The Owner's Manual.
This is the most comprehensive, current guide to this country available anywhere. In truth, to call it a "guide" is an understatement. This is nothing like Frommer's or Lonely Planet…not by any stretch.
For example, in our new edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual, we devote a full chapter to current opportunities for the entrepreneur, outlining not only the sectors where you'll find the most promise, but also providing complete references and resources to help you launch your new business in whatever field interests you most.
This manual, literally years in the making, gives you everything you need to invest, travel, buy real estate, or retire in this Land of Good Living and Eternal Sunshine.
We've included contacts and how-to information in every chapter, filling this new edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual with the kind of firsthand, on-the-ground insights you can gather only when you live in a place. We've included step-by-step guidelines and how-to's at every turn...the useful things you won't find in a run-of-the-mill guidebook or an embassy's country report. You'll find details on:
How To Invest In Places That Promise The Best Lifestyle...And The Highest Returns
* Whether it's a mountain view or a beachside hideaway you're looking for, we'll pass along the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for the contacts we've found most trustworthy and helpful in each of our favorite destinations.
* If you're coming here to settle, you'll need a place to live. We'll tell you what, exactly, 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.
* How to find an attorney 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 from hacienda owners, shrimp-farm proprietors, tour operators, and resident retirees will save you time, money, and hours (maybe even weeks) of frustration...
* 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.
The Practical Know-How For Living In Ecuador
* Complete details about residency and citizenship, learn which of the six visas is right for you...plus how you get it. * How much it really costs to live here. You'll find a sample monthly budget for a couple living in Quito on $1,600 per month and for another living in less-expensive Cuenca on a mere $1,415 per month, (and yes – the couple I told you about earlier who are living a dream life in Ecuador's highlands for $600 a month!), plus notes about what things cost, from cable TV to dentures.
* 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 use a phone...hire a maid, employ a gardener, visit a doctor or dentist...and much more.
* Where to find the best medical and dental care and how much you can expect to pay to have your shoulder repaired or your teeth cleaned.
* How to get full-coverage health insurance in Ecuador for $133 per month (for a couple), including 100% hospitalization benefits, 60% paid prescriptions, and visits to doctors and clinics for $5-$6, among other benefits.
* Getting your pet to Ecuador is easy. But you'll need to start the paperwork a few weeks before you go. Learn what to do first, what you'll want to have with you when you travel, and the key person to speak with if you bring your pet back to the States.
* How to pay no taxes on your household goods...including brand-new appliances...and some firsthand advice about what to bring and what to leave at home if you're moving here full-time.
Traveler's Tips You Can't Afford To Ignore:
Luxury Hotels At Boarding House Prices...A Smart Shopper's Handbook...And More
* Where to find 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). Here you get them straight from the families who weave them in their homes.
* Get a taste of the Galapagos for one-tenth the price. This little island we'll tell you about is inhabited by albatrosses, boobies, and other rare birds. Eleven species of whales come to court in these waters each year, and you can see them between June and October. We'll tell you where to stay...and the best month to go.
Business Opportunities Detailed
* From auto parts to snack food...there's a market for U.S. goods and services in Ecuador. Find out which four sectors show the most potential, and our take on how you might best position yourself to profit.
* The names and contact information for 13 excellent resources to help you launch your business in Ecuador.
* The web address for our favorite on-line site about investing in Ecuador. The more than 100 links posted there will prove invaluable, saving your time, energy, and frustration.
Think Of Us As Your Own Private Consultants...
You'll find on the shelves in Barnes & Noble a short stack of guidebooks about traveling through Ecuador...and an on-line search invariably produces hundreds of websites with Ecuador content.
None of this compares with this new edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual. This is not a guide for a general audience. It's designed to help you focus your search for the right place in the world to live and invest…and, specifically, to introduce you, in full detail, to all the reasons Ecuador should be at the top of your list.
It's like having a consultant walk you through your options and offer you advice. Only instead of paying somebody hundreds, even thousands of dollars for his time and expertise, you get the benefit of our collective experience and know-how, earned over more than two decades researching the world's top havens, for the price of a modest meal out.
International Living has been writing about Ecuador for nearly a decade now and over the years has developed an extensive network of local contacts. We've been to the places covered in this newest edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual again and again, noting changes, finding new advantages. We've long championed this country, never more enthusiastically than when economic crisis scared off so many other investors.
We have a history here. And that gives us a competitive advantage. The truth is, our team is uniquely situated to give you insider advice…for example:
* Our Rolodex of contacts--the names, phone numbers, emails, and fax numbers for every one of the people and resources we've found helpful (and trustworthy) over our years in this market.
* First-person accounts from people who have already invested in or moved to Ecuador. It's the next-best-thing to chatting with these folks face-to-face. They'll tell you why they chose this country...what they most like (and dislike) about it...and what they wish they'd known before they jumped in.
* Detailed, step-by-step guides to buying property, getting residency, and launching a business, for instance including an outline of what to expect and what to watch out for.
* A full description of the areas in Ecuador where you'll find the best opportunities for an affordable lifestyle...profitable investment...warm-weather escape...and cool-weather living...in other words: the places we think have the most to offer you in terms of value investing and quality of life--specifically, Quito, Cotacachi, Cuenca, Vilcabamba, and beyond...
Get In 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 Costa Rica and Mexico before it, Ecuador will attract a growing number of foreign retirees in the years to come.
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 the financial chaos.
Tale of the Tape
Remember that monthly budget I mentioned earlier? The one that allows two U.S. expats to live a healthy, happy lifestyle on less than one average Social Security check?
Lee and Peg Carper live in Cotacachi, a small village in the Ecuadorian Andes two hours north of Quito. Like the clock above the town park with hands permanently stopped at 1:07, time stands still here.
Lee and Peg's monthly expenses:
TOTAL: $580 Miscellaneous expenses rarely amount to more than $100 and include $2 haircuts, $2 manicures, $1.25 cigarettes, $7.30 cases of beer, 25-cent bus rides, and an occasional $10 doctors visit |
Even though they live in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, neither of them is worried about stretching their retirement dollars. That's because their total monthly expenses are less than $600. This includes food, utilities, medical expenses, dog food, and even the rent on their new 1,200-square-foot apartment. An additional $100 covers miscellaneous expenses including cigarettes and a couple of cases of beer.
Banking scandals, market crashes, collapsing hedge funds? Living well on less than $600 a month, you can see why Lee and Peg barely give them a thought from their home in Ecuador.
It's All at your Fingertips
As another expat in Ecuador, Chuck Brown, puts it:
"I retired here in 1996 for many well-considered reasons--including low to no taxes...a non-invasive government...a pleasant, non-violent environment…plus a very low cost of living. I enjoy a good lifestyle on $700 a month. For this semi-retiree of 56 years, Ecuador offers exactly what I was looking for."
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.
You'll get:
- An 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 step-by-step guide to buying real estate, including fees, legal considerations, land measurements, and much more;
- A guide to Ecuador's visa and residency requirements;
- How to get your pets and household goods to your new home in Ecuador;
- A practical guide to the nuts-and-bolts… how to manage your utilities, internet, telephone, banking, transportation, mail, etc.;
- A review of social and business etiquette in Ecuador, including tipping, taxis, meeting protocols, business dress, personal titles, greetings, gifts, and much more;
- A complete chapter on business opportunities, including examples and advice from entrepreneurs actually doing business in Ecuador;
- 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;
- A complete cost of living overview including how much you can expect to spend to live in four of Ecuador's most popular areas;
- A guide to health care in Ecuador including general prices, insurance resources and hospital recommendations (hint: you simply can't get the same quality care in the U.S. for the same price);
- Ecuador travel advice, including what to pack, where to go, how to get there, how to stay in touch, and incredible deals on some of Ecuador's most astounding natural wonders;
- 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.
That's it… a complete manual for everything you'll want to do, know, and see in Ecuador.
And the best part is that we publish this manual electronically…so it's much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. Plus you'll have access to it as soon as your order has processed.
What's more, we're so confident that you'll be pleasantly surprised by all Ecuador has to offer, that we're giving 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, we'll refund your purchase within 90 days, no questions asked.
The newly updated edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual is your best guide to the best retirement haven around, and right now we're offering it for just $69.
That's a bargain for the amount of current, usable information in this manual… especially considering that it could launch you on your way to the most enjoyable…and affordable…life you've ever imagined.
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 going to send you a special updated bonus report too: South America's Last Coastal Frontier (value $49)… it's all yours absolutely free.
In this in-depth report we take a look at a very special area of Ecuador. In it 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.
- If you love peace and quiet, a pleasant community of beach houses, and a natural setting, we found a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, beachfront house that was recently for sale in the area for just $67,000 … and an oceanfront lot that was offered for only $39,000.
- 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.
If you want to get serious about living much, much better… for much, much less… and sheltering yourself form the global financial chaos in a world-class natural wonderland… order your Ecuador: The Owner's Manual now – it could be the best $69 you'll ever spend!
Sincerely,
Dan Prescher,
For International Living
P.S. Im spending my summers in Ecuador from now on. I love my adopted home town of Merida, Mexico, but I have to admit&it gets hot there in the summer. Up in the Ecuadorian highlands, thanks to Ecuadors location directly on the equator, it truly is spring-like year-around. I cant think of a better place to kick back and beat the heat than Ecuador. And yes, my copy of Ecuador: The Owners Manual is with me, stored safely on my laptop& it has way too much valuable information in it to leave behind. I honestly believe that the latest edition of Ecuador: The Owner's Manual is one of the most useful and complete country publications we've ever produced& and at just $69, one of the best values as well.
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