Things To Do on Your 1st Day in CUENCA ECUADOR!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Use this link to save 65% on the annual plan for LingoPie: learn.lingopie.com/jpamelia

[@scooter6509]

Thanks for all your help. Does JP get all his cool shirts in ecuador?

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks! Most of them are from EC.

[@carlosespinoza2453]

@@AmeliaAndJP where are more expats living in Ecuador ? Coast ( Manta + Guayaquil + Salinas . . ) or Highlands ( Cuenca + Otavalo + Quito . . . )

[@jeanettem5982]

I, too, was inspired by your videos, course and discord group to retire early and move to Ecuador. I arrive on May 26th! Thanks for the inspiration and "how to's"

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great! Thanks for sharing!

[@charlottelamb4143]

I’d love your opinion on finding a place to rent and how life is different there. I’m bilingual so that won’t be a problem at least for that part. Where are you moving from? Have you visited before? I’m in South Carolina presently. Hope to hear from you! Charlotte

[@andresm0783]

I think Cuenca is the most beautiful city in Ecuador, I’m feel ashamed that I haven’t visited it for more than 10 years but still continues being beautiful.

[@stacyadkins5374]

I lived in Quito in the 80s and it’s fascinating to see how much and how little has changed in Ecuador.

[@genog3788]

My family and I are leaving Cuenca soon and this video has brought up so many good memories of when we first arrived in here. I don't usually comment on videos, but thanks for your content. I really like your videos!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks!

[@nancytrevino9750]

We went on our exploratory trip to Ecuador in March. We spent parts of 5 days in Cuenca and this video brings back great memories. Can’t wait to go back and hopefully retire there. Chao!

[@dohduh167]

Wow, your timing for this video is perfect for us! My wife and I fly tonight, our first trip to Ecuador (arriving tomorrow, Sunday). One week in Cuenca. Wish we could do more, but that will have to be another trip.

[@jackier.6036]

Que bien! Bienvenidos a mi país, espero la pasen chevere y les guste tanto, para que regresen. 🤗👍

[@daverodb]

A recommendation is visit El Cajas National Park and Ingapirca...

[@sharibreyfogle2081]

Amelia and JP! Thank you so much for sharing your life in Ecuador. It makes me so happy to follow your adventures. 🌞 I love your honest up beat style. Dios Bendiga! Mucho Gracias!! Shari

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thank you so much!

[@lianespicer7623]

So lovely to see Cuenca again.

[@catbernstein8628]

Wonderful to see you back in Cuenca. I will finally get to make my first visit (pandemic- postponed a few times) in August. Like your friend from NY, your videos have been a constant source of inspiration to make the move to unconventionality!

[@bela-sofia34]

This reunion with your 'family' and meeting the little baby makes me tear up. Also that you are getting back to Cuenca where you once lived and learned to love Ecuador. So beautiful. So happy for your joy!

[@greencraig8570]

The more I see Cuenca, the more I like it. I like the mix of old and new.

[@raiz91]

When I return to Ecuador, I will visit Cuenca, wonderful place.

[@qiangyin6810]

We were visiting Cuenca last week. We took a walking tour last Monday and the bus tour the next day. It was a great experience 🙂

[@bodvargregersen5161]

Thanks for the Tour of Cuenca. It was premium video of Cuenca! I had heard that Cuenca was nice, but I did not know how nice!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

It's really nice!

[@johntarpey8567]

Awesome new video! I'm no expert, but the quality of your videos has improved dramatically over the years. Best one yet!

[@jodia7435]

I have seen them always great

[@AdM-h2r]

Your video brought back so many wonderful memories of Cuenca! Thank you!

[@vilmalazo9834]

me alegra mucho su regreso a cuenca ustedes conocen muy bien mi ciudad espero que todas las actuales que hagan lo pases muy bien y gracias por compartir al mundo lo bonito que. tiene ecuador como decimos aquí les envío un enorme abrazo de oso y quizá aya oportunidad de volvernos a ver cuidense

[@Emmenimaliste]

Rain is normal at this time of the year. It’s our "Winter" or rainy season all over but we get no rain from May thru November (our Summer or dry season).

[@tmcdon]

Love this video! Can't wait to get to Cuenca!

[@D_Marrenalv]

I love the rain and cool overcast clouds.

[@rociogonzaleztoral5862]

hey!! it ir good to see you in Cuenca again. Enjoy and thanks for the video. My city is so beatiful.

[@normaalvarado6522]

aww the baby is so cute, that was such a nice surprise at the airport, have a fun time in cuenca amigos

[@westcoastkitties]

That is sooo nice, WOW they brought you flowers!!!!! Wow!!!

[@jackier.6036]

Saludos Amelia y JP. Soy de la costa de Ecuador y reconozco que Cuenca es la ciudad más bonita del país, pero al igual que tu, me hace daño la altura y mi cuerpo no soporta tanto frío, pero es excelente para las personas que no tienen ese problema.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Es verdad 👍

[@donstephens4232]

A mi no gusts el frio tampoco

[@jackier.6036]

@@donstephens4232 Pero te cuento que el frío de Cuenca en los meses de agosto, septiembre y octubre es lo más frío y puede llegar a 12°c, es decir tampoco es el frío extremo que lo tienen otros países, que es bajo cero, pero soy de la costa y no soporto el frio. Para los que vienen de climas bajo cero les parecerá calor y les gusta, en mi caso prefiero la playa y el sol.

[@daveandrew589]

You've inspired more than a few people to visit Ecuador. Arriving mid-June for 3 weeks. Probably won't move there, as I love my place in Evergreen, but have really enjoyed your coverage of Ecuador. Thanks.

[@janetwhite7786]

Where is Evergreen?

[@daveandrew589]

@@janetwhite7786 It is a small town in the mountains about 15-20 miles west of Denver. It is quite beautiful. But I am writing this from Cuenca, which is also beautiful.

[@cjc2]

Great video JP and Amelia! I visited Cuenca about 20 years ago. Absolutely loved it. Hope to return soon.

[@jodia7435]

C J T I left Cuenca 22 years ago for moving to the US, when I was yet a child. Cuenca has changed a lot. Heavy vehicular transit, more shops, more restaurants, population has almost doubled.

[@texaslu2001]

I was just there yesterday and also took the city tour bus. ❤️ Ecuador

[@nellie...]

The airport is lovely.

[@robertgalutia3587]

You did a very good job on this video very informative very entertaining thank you for spending the extra time to make it special. (on a previous video you said that you had spent 40 hours on this video) it really shows.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks! The Quito video took 40 hours. This one took around 20 hours to edit.

[@JimmyDew_]

Your friends are so welcoming and happy. Cuenca is beautiful 😍

[@renech1240]

Felicitaciones muchachos que hermosa ciudad 👏 bienvenidos

[@eileenfostel2645]

Love watching your Equador adventures! We seriously considered Cuenca for retirement. Health issues have convinced us to stay put in the US....We will have to be content to watch people like you!

[@CCCamp-ij7pi]

It's ECUADOR😁

[@CCCamp-ij7pi]

@@paulsmith2279 You should really educate yourself about a topic before commenting. Ecuador is a country with different climates just like in the United States. They range from rain and cold like in Cuenca one of many cities in Ecuador. We will be retiring in the coast which is the opposite of cold more like hot and humid similar to Miami or New Orleans.

[@ernestbehring9034]

I don't know your issues, but many times, health numbers improve here. And there are many folks very good at facilitating medical treatment.

[@info781]

You would be surprised how good health care when you have money

[@55mikeburns]

Thanks for the good video. I missed Cuenca and this helped me relive some of it. :)

[@Robertsdogs]

I like Sunday arrivals, to rest and recuperate, and get ready for my week ahead! Review plans, prepaid excursions etc. No vemos pronto!

[@piabarros4371]

Great video, I miss Cuenca , thanks big hugs

[@maritzazambrano3543]

Thank you very much for making this video, I cried every minute I watched it, I felt very nostalgic, I love my city, I love my country.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🇪🇨

[@maritzazambrano3543]

@@AmeliaAndJP ❤💛

[@mariaf.lapiana913]

It’s so exciting to see my beautiful city through your eyes… I lived in NY for almost 2 years but I can’t wait to visit my city!!! Thank you for your wonderful and funny videos and for making Ecuador known!!!! 🇪🇨😍👏🏻🤗

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Gracias! 😊🇪🇨

[@noboaana]

You’re right JP! Perfect pronunciation on “pitajaya” you said it without accent 😉👏🏼👏🏼

[@ivandeus]

Hi, Amelia and JP! You inspired my wife Asya and me to make visa and fly to Ecuador. It's good to see you back in Cuenca, we are also bloggers and also are here in Cuenca. We would like to meet both you in person, just drop a message if it's possible!

[@eternitywithjesus777]

Lord knows how much I miss Cuenca. Was last there in 2018. We've had above 90 degree temps here in Alabama for over two months. I'm so over it!

[@garyprater8139]

WOW! You 2 channel has really grown. Congratulations! This is a beautiful city.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Gracias!

[@DinoMaRenAlva]

I hope the renovations of the stairs and the overlook in Turi are completed by now (Dec. 31, 2022), or at least will be completed by early Spring. Enjoyable tour..thank you to both!

[@pompeareyes2876]

I would like to say that I used Paul to move all my belongings to Ecuador he was fantastic in helping with all the information that was needed. Thank you

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks for the feedback! 😊👍

[@janetwhite7786]

We are considering the move. May i ask, how much stuff did you bring and how difficult/expensive was it? I realize this is very subjective and hard to answer. Where did you move from? Thanks, regardless.

[@BruceLeslieMusic]

Great video! I've been in Cuenca 4 months and you showed me things I still haven't seen! Thanks!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great! Thanks Bruce! Wish you could have made it to our gathering!

[@BruceLeslieMusic]

@@AmeliaAndJP Next time!

[@jwebb3337]

great video! such a lovely city!

[@RicMoxley]

"there's not a lot to see here today," you say -- i beg to differ. You showed us so much here, thank you!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Gracias! But Sunday's are far from the best day in Cuenca. Especially rainy Sunday afternoons. We're happy so much was still open!

[@deejayfresh6451]

Thank you for sharing my beautiful city. It’s been 11 years and can’t wait to go back this July. You guys are awesome, keep rocking 🙏👍💪🇪🇨

[@priscillabenavides7824]

Beautiful...thanks...ese es mi país

[@mikeschultz817]

I'm still heartbroken that I won't be able to retire in beautiful Ecuador. Nonetheless, I hope, I will make it to Peru in the course of this year. And, once settled over there, I'll try to take regular trips to this lovely country.

[@jonathanivanasuazo3867]

My wife and I lived in Cuenca from 2020 - 2022 and we had to come back due to our families health issues. Love seeing these videos and the memories always come rushing back! Ty guys for great content

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@luisalbertoonofrezapata1538]

Very very happy

[@Washitaw]

I miss Cuenca & plan to return one day in the near future.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great!

[@PhoenixBeI]

Loved the video! And Amelia's necklace. Gorgeous. I've never been to Cuenca, and I hope to visit in the future. I knew it has a reputation of being cute. Thanks to your video, I now know it's awesome. :) A little tidbit about the Quito airport. The old airport used to be outside of the city, and then the city grew around it. Honestly, I think that people ask JP to take pictures is because he's a very handsome man, and they want to flirt with him. :)

[@harrymadray6362]

Thanks to you both for doing such a great job on Beautiful Ecuador!

[@brandonreyes5195]

I have been following you guys for quite sometime and you guys are amazing and made my move to ecuador

[@paulcelleri9164]

Awesome 👍👍👍 thank you for letting see lovely Cuenca, beautiful City...

[@williamlane9844]

Your good videos have inspired me to visit Ecuador something in the near future,

[@sandylopez7181]

Cuenca is super nice. I visited Cuenca 2 years ago. Thank you for your videos. I enjoy them…Saludos 🌞😀

[@ChristCommunityNisswa]

Thank you for the video! So many places that i love! We will have to try the roof top resturant in September when we return. All the best and we enjoy your videos greatly.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Gracias!

[@jorgevillavicenciope910]

We have to flexible every time we flight inside the US. Airlines have not figure out times for departure. Waits, delays and cancellations are vastly common.

[@Honestly_Happy]

Love you guys💕💕💕💕!!!! Beautiful city 👍👍👍👍

[@CCCamp-ij7pi]

Your videos have fast track our retirement!! We closed on our new build in Guayaquil in February. We can't wait to move in a couple of years. We are finally doing what I have heard my entire life while living in the USA...going back to were we come from and finally receiving affordable medical insurance 🥰🥰🥰.

[@celestecarrera2963]

I don’t understand why people complain about how expensive healthcare is, I have never had a problem with healthcare in the USA.

[@CCCamp-ij7pi]

@@celestecarrera2963 It's a simple economic answer people like me who always select top tier medical insurance coverage pay around $500 a month for medical insurance that you will have to first need meet a deductible of around $2500 per person before your insurance starts covering at 80% maximum. So let's do the simple math $500 times 12 months that's $6,000 plus $2,500 making it a total of $8,500 a year before your insurance kicks in at only 80% coverage. And this is only for people who don't have any chronic illness. I haven't factored prescription medicine cost to this simple calculation. I hope this helps you understand why people complain about medical insurance in the United States.

[@dmb3428]

pretty views , makes me want to travel more

[@KalikaWeerasinghe]

Hello Amelia & Jp Have a Great Day💖🧚‍♀️🌻😇🙏

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Igualmente!

[@michaelkirby58]

I love this video! It brings back many wonderful memories of my three visits to Cuenca. What a beautiful city. Turi must have been disappointing for you because of the construction. My last visit to Cuenca was Holy Week, 2017. Beware! Vendors were selling huge canisters of foam and water guns. I saw many drive-bys where many unsuspecting people were blasted on the sidewalks with foam or water. I saw a guy fill a HUGE water gun and squirt a lady in the face in the park in front of the cathedral. She had some choice Spanish words for him as he ran away. LOL. Needless to say, I traveled the less traveled roads to avoid the drive-bys. Thanks for sharing your visit.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

We stay inside during Carnival 👍

[@whacked00]

Love the video. I'm planning my second trip to Cuenca and realizing how many things I missed the first time...

[@whacked00]

Believe it or not, we did not walk along the river or visit parks and museums. In my defense, my bride was sick for a few days from something she ate. This time I am planning 3 weeks.

[@georgearias7336]

Amelia and JP, Cuenca misses you!!

[@PoolCarol]

Nice video, very informative with great explanations!

[@stephengaren2219]

Crawling through windows is fairly normal in Ecuador. My fiance and I were visiting one of the Catholic churches in Quito. My fiance is well known, has a huge family and a lot of friends. She talked to someone at the church and then we were lead up the stairs to the roof of the church, across from the church built in the 1600's over Aztec ruins. From there we climbed through a window and were back inside the church high above the pulpit. It's common to see tourists pay for guided tours, which can be expensive. Having a local show you around, if you are lucky enough, can get you into places most tourists do not get to see. And I'm not kidding about my fiance, she has a very large family and many friends. Everywhere we went, even in Esmeraldas, we ran into them. I tease her with calling her "Popular". She just rolls her eyes, smiles and replies, "Popular. Suuuuure...". Lol. Maybe one day we'll run into you two somewhere. I'm seriously missing Ecuador right now. Your videos help, so Thank You both. Stephen

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks for sharing 😊👍

[@chinnumol]

Great video ❤️

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad you liked it!!

[@elshivi8323]

Cuenca is looking beautiful, I hope to go back soon

[@edwardsharpe6234]

Thank you. Great video. Interesting city.

[@scooter6509]

Love your videos, been watching you guys forever. Looking forward visiting Ecuador. Have you done a up date video on visas for living in Ecuador?

[@AmeliaAndJP]

I’m editing the new visa video now. Should be ready soon 👍

[@mmcn3862]

We will be visiting Ecuador within the next weeks. Any tips on what is needed to enter the country always good to see your videos

[@AmeliaAndJP]

This is the most reliable and current source for travel protocols: www.aeropuertoquito.aero/en/covid-19-protocol.html

[@oscarguajala1727]

Nice video and amazing city, greetings from London !

[@candacecalkins3958]

I'm sitting in Goza right now, based solely on your mention in this video. LOVE IT! ❤️ (and then I'm off to the Punte Roto and Pumapungo)

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Awesome! 👏👏👏

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

Wow, I was one of those people who was going to correct you and tell you you're pronouncing "Pitaya" incorrectly. I learned something new today. Thanks for the info.

[@divinahermosa6643]

Hi, Amelia and JP greetings from the Cuenca City.

[@victory6823]

Very interesting video. Thanks, guys.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cindyk3076]

Really nice area!

[@luismero3220]

saludos amelia ya practique el español poquito a poquito

[@HyrumEstrada]

I am planning to move to cuenca hopefully in January. and try to set up a Dominican/American restaurant out there. Hoping to meet you guys pretty soon.

[@divinahermosa6643]

Nice video!❤

[@ScoutRiflelab]

Hello from Denver! Love your videos and hope one day to join you as expats in gorgeous Ecuador!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Hola! Welcome to the group! 👍

[@PP-ob8zr]

Hello guys, Nice video...hope everything is going well for you 2. :-))

[@eternitywithjesus777]

I miss Cuenca. I hope you told your new friend to be careful walking on the wet tile in the park!

[@khangalex]

I really enjoyed the format of this video that starts with the the transfer flight from Quito, as well as the corresponding scenes and relevant map information. Would you be able to shed some info that international news stations (like Al Jazeera) point out regarding safety? For example, how did the Cuenca prison riots affect the area, if at all? Has the level of crime gone up since the pandemic? Thank you.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

I write about crime periodically in our weekly newsletter: liveabroadnow.com/newsletter/ In fact, I just wrote a long article about the Turi prison massacre on Friday. None of the prison riots over the past year have affected the surrounding areas. They are inside a prison and most law abiding expats and tourists don’t visit the prisons. Crime has increased since the pandemic, especially theft and gang violence, but most areas where foreigners live are still safe. Guayaquil just made the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world at number 50, but there are 7 cities in the US that are more dangerous than Guayaquil based on homicides per capita and 17 in Mexico. We still feel safer here than we did in Denver.

[@RichardVac]

Love it

[@travelfun3513]

So nice..... I'm jealous

[@FallingRayne]

The rain wouldn’t bother me at all. I’m in Victoria on Vancouver Island; think Seattle climate. However, I am living at sea level, so the elevation there is concerning, as I don’t know what to expect. What were your symptoms?

[@AmeliaAndJP]

I talked about my symptoms in this video: How to Avoid & Treat Altitude Sickness in Cuenca Ecuador (and other high altitude cities) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGHTfYGeYtp2pNk

[@FallingRayne]

@@AmeliaAndJP Thanks. I’ll check it out.

[@JonathanAmesPhD]

Planned to arrive 4/26 - however, flights from Quito to Cuenca cannot be booked on either airlines’ websites (Latam, Avianca) or Expedia. Can this usually be done, or must one just wait in Quito airport for an available flight? Neither airline has good reviews at all: how ‘open-minded’ should one be in getting from Quito to Cuenca? Thanks - hope I get there!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Patience is good. Amelia says you need to use the Ecuador websites for latam and Avianca. That’s the only way she gets them to work. We’ve had good experiences on both airlines but their websites SUCK!

[@jefftrader1]

Thank you - great video. Are you posting the gear you are using and the software for processing the video? Sorry for the techie question. Love the city and the tour!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

I filmed this with an iPhone 11 Pro and edit with premiere. Nothing special.

[@jefftrader1]

@@AmeliaAndJP Thank you! It looks great and great info. By the way, thank you for the lingopie offer. I took advantage of it. Its awesome.

[@hamzaarif7249]

You both are awesome couple

[@americanhomelessfirst7689]

I left Boston a week ago . I’m in South Africa training soldiers . Then hopefully in September I will be in Ecuador to retire.

[@Vicro777]

JP is naturally funny

[@ew4096]

I always look forward to your KZbin videos. I am hopefully attempted to make plans to travel to Ecuador sometime this year. The U.S. State department is discouraging travel to Ecuador due to increased crime and Covid issues., specifically Guayaquil. Even here in the U.S. crime is climbing so I do not take the State Department warnings too seriously. I am one of those who would like to become an expat: One of the cities I am very interested in, hopefully, relocate, is Cuenca, however, Loja is another city I am interested in. I have no interest in the Coast, however, I would like to visit Salina, Playa and la Libertad. I have seen many of your videos, yet I am still on the fence. I do have one additional question: Are there concert band in Cuenca or Loja where one can join as an amateur woodwind musician? May I suggest try some CAPULI fruit.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

There is a live music scene in both Cuenca and Loja 👍

[@booboo5244]

Hi: I am arriving in Cuenca shortly. I like to stay in the hotel / short-term residence you mentioned in your recent video. You gave us their web site. But I can't find that video any more. Would you please reply with their name? Thank you

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Apartamentos Otorongo, Gran Colombia Suites and AirBnB are the places we recommend in Cuenca.

[@smileywomen1]

I have a question in reguard to staying for a longer period of time beyond the 90 days ... do I need to visit a Ecuadorian attorney or do I arrange the extended stay thru a immigration attorney here in the USA ? Thank You Happy travels !

[@AmeliaAndJP]

You need to apply for the extension at a ministry office in Ecuador. You can do it yourself or a visa agent can help you.

[@smileywomen1]

@@AmeliaAndJP thank you for your response as well as educating all of us !

[@adrivinanzaca6646]

Es un gusto resivir turistas extranjeros, soy cuencana por lo que les recomiendo que visiten el "Parque Paraíso" y el "Museo Pumapungo" que es totalmente gratis además de aprender mucho de nuestra cultura podrán disfrutar de maravillosas experiencias y lo mas conocido las ruinas de Pumapungo.😊🙌