Should You Visit Ecuador? (My Definitive Answer)

[@brianbenny6790]

Looks like Don Shader has given up posting videos about Ecuador, and I can understand his trepidations. I think you both do a great service for those of us visiting such a wonderful Country, despite drawbacks and risks.

[@magnusb6311]

I hope he is back soon

[@redpointt]

I visited Ecuador in December and then lived locally in Quito for about 6 weeks in May and June. It was an absolute great time and I’m trying to figure out how to move over. For those thinking of visiting, it really is an amazing place, and Aces comment about using common sense is a really good approach, and that applies to all places in the world really. If you want a resort experience go to a resort. But as far as a beautiful country and wonderful people, Ecuador is top! Also congratulations on the Olympic medals! 🎉

[@redpointt]

Oh also delicious food 😋

[@akaltaf]

I enjoy your vlogs, they are informative, real and telling the things as they are without sugarcoating. Thank you for sincere advice.

[@octonion]

Thanks for the updates, info and links! Alvey is a new find for me and I’m a bit surprised YT had never recommended it. You might do a video that simply scrolls through your A-list - English and Spanish! Kris and Mike from the Olon area have a nice mix of videos covering news, community engagement and personal views. Just as interesting to me, if not more, are the experiences, views and impressions of non-Ecuadorian Latin American YTs who visit Ecuador. Many are young travelers in vans and motorcycles from places such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Obviously a much different age range and demographic than the US/Canada retiree group. A different view of the elephant!

[@debraprescott6144]

I like how Mike offers great factual information with documentation, graphs etc to help understand the crime rates, weather etc. They are living the life they love. GM Ace, thank you for another great well spoken, easy to understand video. People can make informed decisions with the info you give and thank you for telling people to watch other YT chanels too. The more perspectives, the greater the knowledge! Take care, Debra

[@jakobmichael97]

I've noticed that too during the past few years there's been many couples in their lat 20s to late 30s especially from Argentina, passing through Ecuador in their vans, for example I used to watch many videos from "Americando" and "Isa por ahi"

[@QuinnPrice]

I live in Ecuador and agree with your insights. It's not an easy call to visit or not as there are clear hot spots and like anywhere in the world, talk to the locals to find out times and places to avoid. Locals usually know.

[@garygerman8774]

Thank you for this post. I visited Ecuador in February of 2024 and loved my experience there. I will return. The area I visited is Cotacatchi. Its very safe there. But I always used caution. Ecuador has areas of safety. I feel for the many people who suffer because of the lack of tourism. Thank you for providing sights who provide safe vacations.

[@finger925]

Great information! Thank you

[@JohannaMKey]

Thank you! I greatly appreciate your honesty and your hard work.

[@LivingLovingAbroad]

Ace as always, great advice!

[@magnusb6311]

Thank you Ace, I want yo come right now, but I can't. It's on my list. Cheers from Sweden

[@livingabroadwitheric]

Hey there my friend im here with Grumpy Old Don and he suggested reaching out. I just drove here to Manta from Quito and i wanted to say. I watched one of your videos months ago and loved it. Wanna do a collab video (ill be here in Manta 4 more weeks then off to Cuenca) lmk!

[@GMAceM]

Sounds great! Send me an email and we can talk more about it.

[@livingabroadwitheric]

@@GMAceM what's your email

[@GMAceM]

It’s [e-mail] I’m not sure if KZbin will block this comment since it’s an email but I guess this is a good test for that lol

[@GMAceM]

Hey not sure if the comment went through since it had my email in it but if it didn’t, you can check out the about section on my channel and my email is there

[@nishanthd5201]

First viewer from 🇮🇳

[@floresyturismo]

👏🏻

[@RM-ud5yv]

I still love Ecuador inspite of the current challenges. I encourage you to watch the Video Wake me up when September ends, to recall the sacrifice of families that try to protect your freedom. Also recall some parts of the world don't want children to attend school. I am sure you will reflect on how this affects your life and maybe worthy of classroom discussion too. Best of luck to you, your family and all of your students

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

Don Shader announced yesterday he will no longer or rarely be on KZbin any more

[@luisdetomaso867]

Don rents at ground zero of the drug war because his girlfriend is there and his health doesn't allow him to live at higher altitudes

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

@@luisdetomaso867 I have no clue what the first part meant

[@luisdetomaso867]

@@Whatsupbuddiebud Don rents in Manta. It's the dangerous part of Ecuador. His mayor was assassinated by drug lords

[@magnusb6311]

​@@WhatsupbuddiebudI think he means Manta

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

@@magnusb6311 now I get it thanks

[@redpointt]

I saw the new curfew the other day and was wondering if you were safe Ace

[@manuelpatino8314]

I wonder how the insecurity in la sierra compares with the potential for harm or death in the big cities of the US? You’ve obviously lived in the states and know the score. I’m coming to visit soon to see what I can of Ecuador and of course all the talk about crime and insecurity makes one afraid…. I’ve friends who came to Ecuador and loved it but nixed their plans to relocate from fear of the gang violence, I also hear from people that it’s not so unsafe and actually safer than many areas of the US.

[@whosebonesaresharp]

As always it is easy to appreciate people willing to be honest with all things good and bad. You do a far better job offering the dark along with the light. I am wondering what is the reason to decide to use "un-life-ing" to describe crime vs murder or assassination? Seems a weird word choice though I suppose it's not even a word. My first thought is that it disrupts any automated review process? Crime exists nearly everywhere my biggest beef with crime in Ecuador is the lack of effective civil response. The police won't stop it or solve it or even really give a rat's ass that some visiting gringo or expat is a target. Don was a great resource and will be missed. He has often shared his opinion of your channel so I imagine there will be many who seek you out.

[@elahejafari432]

Its super hard to breath The SUN AND MOON IS SUPER CLOSE TO THE GROUND

[@thierryminet9682]

2 guys and 2 women kidnapped in Puerto Lopez their bodies found in Manglaralto two days later, a corpse discovered last week in Puerto Lopez , here in Manta we have murders all over the place three month ago, we were sitting at a traffic light when sicarios executed two guys in their vehicle at the Primax on the via al aeropuerto we were twenty feet away and it happened half a mile from the Eloy Alfaro airport. So piece of advice, I have nothing to gain or to lose by saying this but if I had to do it all over again, Ecuador wouldn't be the place i'd retire. The guy who delivers my pomas de agua had to remove his business sign because there's so much vacunas in the area that he doesn't want to show he's in business to avoid being racketed. And I'm not even talking about the shit going on in place like Duran, Machalla, Quevedo or La Libertad these places have murders everydays. Stay away, this place is going down the drain fast.

[@octonion]

It sounds like you might be working on an exit plan

[@paratroopergirl4064]

Wow. As a single female, I was going to ask about Manta.

[@thierryminet9682]

@@paratroopergirl4064 stick to the tourist places but in Manta you stay away from barrios like La Pradera, Los Esteros, Jocay, las Cumbres or Porvenir because those are really sketchy areas

[@thierryminet9682]

@@octonion Let's say that we monitor the situation and we keep all avenues open

[@luisdetomaso867]

That curfew list is an extremely incomplete list of areas to avoid . Cartel-plagued Ecuador is like two different countries in terms of safety. 95% of violent crime is taking place near the coast from Esmeraldes to Guayaquil. The Highlands and Amazon regions are many orders of magnitude safer except for along the borders with Colombia and Peru

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

Then highway between Cuenca and Loja has had a lot of robberies I heard

[@luisdetomaso867]

@@Whatsupbuddiebud That's the route to the Peruvian border

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

@@luisdetomaso867 thanks...

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

When you hide, delete or allow comments to remain in Spam you are not nuetral as yku claim

[@elahejafari432]

U DO NOT WANT TO GO TO ECUADOR its super hard to breath the sun and moon is so close to the ground

[@livingabroadwitheric]

@elahejafari432 that's such a strange comment

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

Though SafetyWing is a good insurance how does SafetyWing help when you have to pay the bill upfront then get reimbursed later? Who has thousands of dollars available as these medical facilities in Ecuador are holding people and babies hostage until the bill is paid. Some hospitals, doctors and facilities may be charging people and especially foreigners more and for things unnecessary or not even done. I read even though I heard thats illegal

[@debraprescott6144]

Many countries want payment upfront before you leave the hospital or before you even get medical help including Canada and USA. Whichever insurance a person gets, one needs to be sure about upfront payment direct from the insurance to the facility.

[@Whatsupbuddiebud]

@@debraprescott6144 That's simply untrue about the US. No one can come up with thousands in the 6 digits or higher. You must be on another planet

[@ChestertonReg-f6b]

Borer Spur

[@VilcabambaTheUnderbelly]

Hell no!

[@Jetmab04]

Dear ACÉ... It's all about the huge plans of the west.. Ecuador is supposed to. Lose, to be afraid etc a d yes, I am coming down as plánned (by me) and, I can't wait.. On top of this you'll have someone living there, who know of the Western perpetrators, are not afraid óf them (they are small, small humans) and, I don't believe Ecuador is more dangerous than a LOT of small, small European colonial-wanna be's.. Take care and,, see you in a years time 🌹🌹🌹

[@luisdetomaso867]

There is always that one guy wearing a tin foil hat who enters the chat...

[@thierryminet9682]

@@luisdetomaso867 And usually they stay six month to a year then they go back because they can't adapt. I've known my share since I moved here

[@Manchurian1990]

I have lived here for over two years The first reason is economy here is bankrupt, many people have no job opportunity and they want to rob and rape , second reason is the justice system here have been almost corruption , so that criminal have no severe panelty for their terrible behavior, tremendous number of local guys have been immigrant to US or Spain , no matter the way is legally or illegally All the above i said is absolutely true here Hehe. Ok , at last, Welcome to Ecuador