Moving to Cotacachi, Ecuador

[@claudiaescobar9442]

My mother in law Lives around the corner of one of those streets . Good memories

[@ExploringEcuador]

Welcome to Cotacachi. We might see you around town.

[@FlynnsOnTheFly]

Wow! You're rental looks amazing 😁 We'll be heading north as soon as we find something. If you know of any similar rentals, please pass along the info!

[@drhoy15]

Fantastic place to stay! Great show and tell of the things in Cotacachi. I can’t wait until your next video.

[@honeyspringshomestead1411]

Awesome video and gave me a good idea of what to expect when me and my wife (whose from Ecuador Santo Domingo) will be seeing. She has been there before and I went with her back in 2017, but we drove all over the place for nearly 2 weeks and I took in many many sights that were amazing. For instance my favorite picture I took we were driving above the clouds on a cloudy day and all you can see is a little bit of the road and all clouds with some mountain peaks. Long intro, so I will be succinct with this part. We are specifically looking into the Cotacachi area to retire to by April 2026. I am hopeful to open a Texas themed smokehouse in or near Cotacachi because I LOVE smoked foods and such, and am hopeful the people there do as well. Cotacachi looks amazing and your video gives a very good impression of what it is like there and I thank you.

[@peggywickizer4849]

I'm surprised at the clean streets and sidewalks. Very impressive!

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Yes, they have a lot of pride in their town here.

[@claudiaescobar9442]

I was there twice . People are extremely clean and very educated . I am moving there soon

[@ivanlopez1842]

Let's move there Miss Peggy!

[@claudiaescobar9442]

All over Ecuador is like that . Amazing !! I was there . People are amazing !

[@claudiaescobar9442]

I was there walking on that day I remember . I probably see you guys recording

[@PatientenO.T.]

How much is Your rent on that fabulous home?

[@aylex1974]

Is beautiful ❤

[@claudiaescobar9442]

I am moving there soon . I am so excited 🥰🥰

[@ivanlopez1842]

Home sweet home!

[@ericmarcos4988]

We are on this trip with you vicariously. If we visit IRL is there a place we can go to have coffee? Haha. Best from Ilene and Eric!

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Ha! Just get down here and we’ll find something! ☕☕

[@claudiaescobar9442]

They have many around . I can send you some names for your consideration

[@joshuataylor1642]

Just curious. What does rent and utilities for a place like that come out too?

[@dianamayfield5615]

Really, lovely home. So if it's not too intrusive. How much is the rent per month?

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Yes, we are enjoying this special home! I can say that it is over the market average, but it is very unique and has a second living quarters. If you search on Airbnb, you will find many nice places, but the prices are usually higher as those hosts are seeking international travelers who might pay more. Plusvalia and Flipkey will help you find nice rental homes in the area with lower prices geared toward long term rental, like this one: www.flipkey.com/properties/8502179/ (I have no connection to any rental sites or properties, so I’m just sharing a nice example of what is available.)

[@DTrent-uy1wl]

We have been considering moving to Ecuador but haven’t taken the plunge. I know it’s only been a few weeks but I’d like to know your first impressions of living in Ecuador

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

We are really enjoying the experience! We feel like we are fortunate to have found Cotacachi. I think your experience in Ecuador can vary widely based on where you spend your time, and if it aligns with what you are seeking. We love living in a smaller city that has a local feel and a large indigenous population. Everyone we pass on the street happily greets us with a “buenos dias.” In contrast, Mindo, while also small, is a tourist town and didn’t feel as quite as friendly. Cotacachi does have a significant expat population as well, so it’s possible to connect and have a community of English speakers if that is what you are seeking. I’d definitely recommend learning some Spanish, as that will truly help you connect with the people here. Weather is a big consideration as well and some people prefer the warm, coastal weather. Cotacachi and much of the sierra, or Andean highlands has more moderate temps with highs in the low 70’s, similar to Southern California. You can’t rely on weather forecasts here because they typically show 100% chance of rain each day. There is rain almost everyday in the wet season, as it is now, but nearly everyday has a lot of sun and the rain often comes during the night. We love the weather here. Cotacachi is perfect for us, but it is quiet and doesn’t have the entertainment or cultural attractions of a larger city like Cuenca, which is a very popular expat city. For us, the warm and welcoming community of both locals and expats here has made all the difference. Thanks for the question!

[@DTrent-uy1wl]

@@familylatitudeadjustment1773 thank you very much for the quick and detailed response. Our teens look to be similar age to your children. We are concerned about them transitioning to life/school in Ecuador. We’ve been looking at places on the ocean either south or north up/down the coast from Manta. Have you heard anything about the coastal areas? We are from Vancouver area and are wanting to escape the rain lol.

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

@@DTrent-uy1wl We looked into Manta, but the school season was opposite - they take a summer break in March and April, I think. There is a school in Manta that increasingly teaches in English as the students progress through the grades. That might be perfect if you are hoping to enroll your kids at an in-person school. If not, they may be able to find friends and build a community through sports teams, or just in the neighborhood depending on where you live. Our kids are 12 and 14, and have joined a local soccer team. We haven’t been to the coast yet, but from what I can tell the coast has many local micro-climates so some towns, like Manta, are drier and sunnier and others, like Olon, or more humid and cloudy. I’ve heard Playas is the sunniest coastal city. My limited knowledge comes from internet and facebook research, so it may not be accurate and also depends on the time of year. The facebook Ecuador Expats group is very knowledgeable, and many common questions have been answered and can be found via a keyword search. I’d definitely recommend joining. Sadly, some of the coastal and port cities are being impacted by drug trafficking, but I’d assume the smaller and touristy towns like Montanita, would be less attractive to traffickers, though not without risk. The northern coastal province of Esmeraldas we’ve also heard is a bit more dangerous. An exploratory trip might be the way to go to really get a feel of the coastal towns. We look forward to visiting the coast, but for everyday life, Cotacachi feels safe, clean, welcoming, with perfect weather for us! The last 3 days have been mostly sunny with highs in the mid 70’s. 😎

[@DTrent-uy1wl]

@@familylatitudeadjustment1773 again, thank you for the awesome reply. I e subbed, we are going to follow your adventure!

[@claudiaescobar9442]

I am moving there soon myself . I am from Argentina . Cotacachi and Ecuador itself and its people amazing . Trust me if you move you won’t regret it . Hopefully moving in one year or two

[@MsBendoregon]

How would I find out about English speaking schools or high school options for my 16 year old in Cotocachi? Haven't found much from google searches. Congrats on your amazing move, you are so brave, and inspirational!!

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Hi! Thanks for your kind response! There is not an in-person English speaking school in Cotacachi. There are some located in large cities, like Quito and Cuenca, I believe. In Cotacachi, the one English speaking option we found was this: aiaandes.org/our-school/#our-school. They offer an in-person enrichment program on Mondays and Tuesdays. The in-person program does not cover regular school classes, and instead focuses on enrichment activities - art, STEM, cooking, technology, some spanish practice, physical education, etc. It is multi-age, and multi-grade combined. They also offer an online school option, but we did not enroll in that part. Our kids were enrolled in our Idaho-based online school. Hope this helps!

[@D_Marrenalv]

Very nice scenery and town. Are there taxis and buses that go to the nearest large city (Quito or other towns nearby)? And are there, or have there been, frequent home break-ins (or worse) in that town?

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Yes, the bus system is awesome. Inexpensive and rarely wait long to get the bus you need. You can take a bus to Otavalo and then get a bus to Quito. We are not aware of many break-ins. I think it is rare, but likely happens occasionally. Overall Cotacachi is very safe.

[@Curious859]

I just came across your video on my feed. I’ll check your channel, and you may already have the video, but would it be possible to let me know how much was the rent for the house you have in this video? I don’t live in Ecuador but we’re seriously considering moving there. Is the house an Airbnb? It’s such a gorgeous country. It’s been calling me for years.

[@claudiaescobar9442]

I am moving there soon . They have amazing places you can live and buy or build your own . With the money from here there it can be a house for real like a mansion

[@geoengr3]

Free avocados!?! That's bananas!

[@eme1ec]

LOL...good one.

[@duanepitts-p2h]

had your welcoming home invasion yet

[@GoodName558]

Oliver talking , is it traditional to forcefully open someone’s car and then have the entire parade go behind them? What if they had a doctors appointment, would they just say whatever, it’s for the king?

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

Yes, Oliver! And it’s for the Three Kings so everyone happily goes along. 😂

[@josefeijoo7415]

Gracias por mostrar Ecuador; se que muchos Canadienses estan interesados en retirarse en Ecuador : seria muy informativo que les de precio de la renta de tu casita, asi ellos tendran una mejor idea ,muchas gracias ¡¡¡

[@familylatitudeadjustment1773]

@@josefeijoo7415 Gracias! The rental prices vary widely, but it’s possible to find 2-3 bedroom apartments or homes starting around $600-$1000 per month depending on the location and amenities.