Complete Guide to Ecuador: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts
Ecuador is four worlds in one small country: Galápagos Islands (Darwin’s living laboratory), Andean highlands with perfect spring weather, Amazon rainforest, and Pacific coast — all using the US dollar, with one of the cheapest and fastest residency programs in the Americas (USD 45K real estate). In 2025 it remains the ultimate retirement and digital-nomad sweet spot.
Four Worlds, One Passport Stamp
Quito sits at 2,850 m with a perfectly preserved colonial center, Cuenca is the expat darling with 15 °C year-round, Baños is the adventure capital, and the Galápagos are the most biodiverse islands on Earth. Ecuador is fully dollarized (no currency risk), has low property prices, and some of the friendliest people in South America.
Visa Policy 2025
Visa-free 90 days for 90+ countries (USA, Canada, EU, UK, Australia, Japan, most of Latin America). Easy 90-day extension available once.
Residency by Investment
- USD 45,000 real estate or bank deposit → permanent residency immediately
- Or USD 60,000 in approved investment funds
- No minimum stay requirement
- Citizenship possible after 3 years (must speak basic Spanish)
- One of the cheapest and fastest programs in the world
Ecuador You Must Experience
- Galápagos Islands — swim with sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas
- Quito Old Town — largest UNESCO site in the Americas
- Cuenca — most beautiful expat city in South America
- Baños de Agua Santa — swing at the end of the world, waterfalls
- Amazon (Cuyabeno, Yasuní) — pink dolphins, anacondas, indigenous communities
- Cotopaxi & Quilotoa — volcano hikes and turquoise crater lake
- Montañita & Puerto López — surf + whale watching
- Mitad del Mundo — stand on the Equator line
Safety in 2025
Tourist areas (Quito old town, Cuenca, Galápagos, Baños) are very safe. Mainland coast has seen some issues, but highland and island zones remain calm and tourist-friendly.
How to Buy SIM Card
Claro (best coverage), Movistar, or CNT at any airport — USD 5 starter + USD 15 for 20 GB. Claro works even in parts of the Amazon and Galápagos.
Current President
Daniel Noboa — youngest president in Ecuadorian history, in office since November 2023.
Getting Here
Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) are main hubs. Direct flights from USA, Europe, Panama, Colombia, Peru.
Final Thought
Ecuador gives you the Galápagos, the Andes, the Amazon, and the beach — all using US dollars and with permanent residency for the price of a used car. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfectly imperfect — and once you stand on the Equator line with one foot in each hemisphere, you’ll understand why so many people come for a week and never really leave.