You’d be hard pressed to find any literature in english on this subject. I found my information just from talking and listening to popular news of the time… what people were pissed off about in january was the tax increase. I dont have any specific document, however, I just searched google and turned up some interesting information. Taxes collected in 2008 ($465 Million), expected taxes collected in 2009 ($6500 Million).

Google: enero 2009 impuestos importacion ecuador

Good luck.

I am interested in where you found the information on the 200% tax increase on imports. Can you help?

Thanks

I read in a post of yours from last year that you have just overstayed your visa & paid the fine. What has been the longest you’ve overstayed and how much did you have to pay? I’m 5 months over & can’t get anyone in the govt to tell me how much the fine will be until I go to pay it. Thanks for any help

Best Regards,
Michael Sparrow

That’s was great!

I like the way you think, James… you just keep it real, man! I like it!

So the fines… how big are they?

And I guess they don’t prevent you from re-entering after you have over-stayed?

Good on you, my friend!

Jason

James, near the end of your message you got to something that is really important for me. How have you managed to stay for 3 years now?

I’ve scoured the IL resources and honestly they are of minor help.

I agree with what you say about knowing a place by living there, but really I’m trying to find out about how YOU are doing that. How do you earn a living there? Do you have some special visa arrangement, etc?

Thanks again!
Jason

There are actually other Americans who write for International Living magazine and cover topics that may interest you such as Ecuadorian real estate, conducting business, and retiring in Ecuador.

As for myself, I personally believe that the best way to get to know a place is to simply visit and have an experience. Many times, the image portrayed online is helpful but just doesn’t give you a wholesome picture. Much of what you find will be geared only towards the tourism / retirement / dollar aspects of Ecuador, and rather nothing to do with normal everyday living.

My view is that Ecuador is simply a tranquil place to live in peace, particularly on the coast and in Cuenca. My recommendation is come and try it out! I did just that and the beginning was slow. I have never been in a hurry to get somewhere outside the present, so I just live here and continue to enjoy my stay some 3 years on now.

Obviously there are lots of English language schools that seek out foreigners for teaching positions. If you get lucky perhaps even a management position occasionally opens up, but you’d need to be sufficiently bilingual.

That being said, one final recommendation to anyone coming south:

Learning to speak and understand Spanish fluently is a highly useful goal to pursue early on. Cuenca is small and the people here are genuinely friendly and courteous. This in and of itself may open doors, if you get out to meet people and try to observe and participate in local culture.

Glad I found you on HC! I’m interested in visiting Ecuador and possibly setting up shop there with a natural med clinic and/or English school. I was mainly interested in the Cuenca area, as I had not been able to find anything like what you described in this blog that I’m posting the comment to. Now I’m interested in both.

I’d love to hear your views. I teach English over the internet now on a part-time basis to individuals. Any ideas on how get there and stay long-term while scouting the area to find land for my project WHILE continuing my online work and picking up some work there?… I’d be grateful to hear your story!

Kind Regards,
Jason