When applying for cedula renewal, are we required to transfer our permanent visa from our expired passport to our new passport?

Would appreciate any guidance.

Chris

City: Cuenca 

Although we live in Cuenca, it would be nice just to get away for a couple of days outside of the city with new surroundings. Preferably it would be within a 30-minute drive at the maximum and it absolutely has to be dog friendly.

Full disclosure: our French bulldog sleeps on the bed with us. we would be more than happy to bring our own blanket for him to sleep on top of.

Ryan, ryanincuenca@gmail.com

City: Brownsville 

My dentist in Loja recommended José Cáceres for ceramic implant work. It needs to be specifically for ceramic, not metal implants.

Does anyone here have experience with him in general, and in particular ceramic implants?

Many Thanks,

Anthony

City: La Union

If our US dollars were automatically converted to CBDC and Ecuador didn’t switch to CBDC how would that affect permanent residents?

I’m guessing that the larger banks here would allow us to convert our CBDC to Ecuador’s currency (USD). But that would defeat one of the features of CBDC — i.e., control the quantity of certain items that we can purchase (e.g., meat), etc.

I’m guessing it wouldn’t matter if we used a US or Ecuador address with the SSA, IRS, etc. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I know the current admin says they’re opposed to CBDC, but that could change. And future administrations may have different plans.

Chris

City: Cuenca

Editor’s Note:

CBDC refers to a Central Bank Digital Currency—a digital form of a country’s official currency issued by its central bank. In the U.S., this would mean a digital version of the dollar issued by the Federal Reserve.

At present, the United States has not implemented a CBDC, and there are no announced plans to convert existing U.S. dollars into a digital-only form. Most discussions around CBDCs remain at the research or exploratory stage.

For expats in Ecuador—which uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency—any future changes of this kind would depend on decisions made at both the U.S. and Ecuador government levels. At this time, there is no immediate impact on daily financial life. 

There’s been a growing conversation in the US around “solo aging” and solo living awareness; particularly as more people are living independently without traditional family support structures.

Organizations like AARP have begun highlighting this shift, noting that a significant and increasing number of adults are navigating later life on their own (estimated at over 24 million).

It made me curious how — or if — this shows up in expat communities, especially in places like Cuenca, where many people are building long-term lives abroad as retirees or independent workers.

In these contexts, the “support side” of life isn’t always as visible or built-in as it might have been back home.

Do you feel like this is something people here are thinking about?

Or does it feel less relevant in this context?

I’d be really interested to hear perspectives. Feel free to comment or message me if you’d rather share privately.

Colleen

City: Cuenca 

I’m interested in taking a vacation this fall. I’m truly wary of travel sites and would like to work with someone local. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Russell (Russ)

City: Cuenca 

I have to get a driver’s license. I want to find your recommendations for driving schools in Cuenca.

Thanks in advance, 

William

City: Cuenca 

Hi! I am still on my quest to find a new health insurance. It seems to me that paying for coverage that doesn’t work, like outpatient surgery, doesn’t make sense.

I have heard about a more restricting Confiamed policy through Banco Pichincha. On the website it says it is only for people up to 64 years old, but I have heard that they do have policies for 65 plus.

Can anyone share any information or experiences?

Thank you in advance.

Ellen

City: Cuenca 

Basically I am looking for what the title says.

I am just staring to open everything I had shipped from the US, and apparently my packers in the US didn’t do a good job so several of my stained-glass art pieces are broken and I’d like them fixed.

I know there are lots of artists in Cuenca, but I don’t even know where to start to look.

Anyone have any ideas?

Karen, 099 288 0003

City: Cuenca 

Is anyone else having problems with the Catchon App? Mine has been down since Thursday.

Thanks,

Craig

City: Cuenca 

Is there anybody out there that teaches ChiGung classes or privates?

Please contact me at my email address with GringoPost.

Thank you!

Mary

City: Cuenca

I have lived in Ecuador for 14 years. I don’t know how to get health insurance to “work”. I am with what I think is a reputable company (BB). I recently had to have minor surgery.

I used the doctor and the surgeon that BB recommended. I jumped through all of the hoops, did all of the paperwork. Got pre-approval for a little over $500.

Guess what? I was reimbursed less than $60! Should I switch insurance companies? Am I missing something? All help appreciated!

Ellen

City: Cuenca 

We are going to the Embassy in Quito on business. Can someone recommend a nice hotel close by the embassy as well as what places we should visit during our 1-2 day visit there.

Douglas

City: Guayaquil 

I am working with an experienced Ecuadorian customs broker who is handling everything from Cuenca to Guayaquil to Miami and then to Maryland, however, he is not a US customs brokers. we have both struck out in the last 2 weeks with recommended US Miami-located brokers. My 3.5 pallets of household goods (81 boxes) travel tomorrow to Miami. This is becoming urgent.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheryl, pomeroy.cheryl@gmail.com

City: Cuenca  

I am wondering if there is a more economical way to rent by the month in Cuenca. Coming in July. I looked here and I looked in AirBnB.

City: Brigantine

Am looking at a probable move from Ecuador in July/August. Does anyone have experience with transferring their cash into another country? I’m aware (painfully) of the 5% ISD regulation. Realistically, are there any legal workarounds? I’ve considered buying gold here and selling at my new destination, but all the possible downsides to that are indicating “not a good idea.” Any suggestions? Recommended bank or transfer service to deal with? Much appreciated.

Mike

City: Manta

Since I’m turning 65 in a couple of months and have read that Medicare mails a “welcome” letter a few months before your 65th birthday, does anyone here in Ecuador know whether or not Medicare realizes we have no mail here?

Thank you,

Douglas

City: Quito

Fellow expats with cars: In past years I have gotten my matricula in February. This year, that service seems to still be closed down, due to the corruption probe. Any news yet on when they will open the matricula services? Thanks in advance for any info!

Cheryl
pomeroy.cheryl@gmail.com

City: Cuenca 

I have been studying about the many benefits of taking different peptides. Does anyone have a source or know anyone using peptides in Cuenca that would care to share??

And, Peptides…

City: Cuenca

Hi all! We have had medical insurance with Blue Box since Bellgenica turned out to be a disaster. The thing is, we are quite healthy and have hardly ever used it. Can anyone share experiences or tips?

Since Ecuador makes it illegal to share bad experiences, I leave my personal email: dalleavefamily at hotmail dot com.

Thanks,

Ellen

City: Cuenca 

Hello all! I am looking to get health insurance here in Ecuador. It seems there are 2 big insurance companies, BMI and Confiamed. Any thoughts on which one to go with would be appreciated.

Does it matter which broker I use? Is there another option I should consider?

Thank you all so much!

CJ

City: Cuenca 

Greetings all. I‘m wondering if there is an active archery community in Cuenca. I‘d like to resume practicing barebow archery, preferably indoors. I‘ve reached out to Club Tsentsak several times, but have never received a response; so perhaps it isn’t active.

If anyone knows of an active barebow or Olympic-style archery club or group in Cuenca, please let me know.

Gracias mis amigos!

MacLeod

City: Cuenca

Hello! This is Valeria from Nómadas. Some of you may know me from my flamenco show. I arrived in Cuenca a few weeks ago to make one of my dreams come true: opening my own dance studio — not only for flamenco, but for the love of movement.

I will be partnering with a friend who has an amazing dance studio, Eskala, and we are currently looking for a space with at least two large rooms (minimum 50 m² each), parking and nice location (not in the center).

If anyone has any information, it would be greatly appreciated! 

Valeria, 099 870 4949 TELEPHONE +34 664635520

City: Cuenca 

I have to do the matricula (yearly registration) for my car this month. The ANT offices were temporarily closed to weed out corruption. If you hear that they are open, could you please do a post or respond to this post? Thank you so much!

Ellen

City: Cuenca

Hello,

I am looking for a dentist in Cuenca who has good experience with ceramic implants. I have tried the metal implants and they don’t work at all for me. So, not interested in those at all.

I have some work started in Loja and would like to finish it here in Cuenca.

Please, I would like a dentist who speaks English and who is responsive to WhatsApp or Email questions, and open to an occasional video meeting as I live two hours from Cuenca.

WhatsApp +593 96 917 8110

Stephen

City: near Cuenca

Has anyone experience with the WISE payment processor — does it work well to receive payments in Ecuador?

From the USA in USD to Ecuador in USD.

Stephen

I need to send in my current tax return, but used FedEx last time since I have an account with a 30% international discount. However, the cost for 10 pages of A4 paper was $157.

Does anyone know of other services which will result in my tax return being mailed to IRS in Austin Texas for a resonable fee? Alternatively, anybody who flies regularly and can mule small items back to Ecuador or my tax return to the US would be helpful to know contact info.

Many thanks,

Doug Mueller, dhmueller@gmail.com

City: Cuenca 

Does anyone know where I can get a full body MRI in Cuenca? And the cost?

Thank you!

CJ

City: Cuenca

Looking for expat experiences in Cuenca with Vabysmo (faricimab) injections for wet macular degeneration. If you’re receiving this treatment here, please share where you go (clinic or eye specialist), whether the provider is English-speaking, and approximately how much each injection costs. I’m considering starting treatment in Cuenca and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or recommendations. Thank you,

Betty, WhatsApp: 096 790 0367

City: Cuenca 

Hi,

I am ready to start a fun chapter of dancing…do you know of a fun, line dance class going on here in Cuenca?

Thank you!

Miriam, miriamdrakefineart@gmail.com

City: Cuenca