Expatsi Tours: Ecuador
Ecuador Scouting Trip Itinerary
Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxed retirement or a flexible life as a digital nomad, this 7-day scouting trip through Ecuador offers the perfect balance of exploration, insight, and inspiration. From the cobblestone charm of Cuenca to the breezy coastline of Manta, you’ll experience life as a local—touring vibrant markets, meeting fellow expats, exploring real estate options, and learning the legal and financial steps to make your move with confidence.
Day 1 – Cuenca: Real Estate & Legal
Start your journey with an overview of expat life in Ecuador and explore a selection of rental and purchase-ready homes in Cuenca, plus explore legal pathways and visit the supermarket.
Day 2 – Cuenca: Explore Markets & Meet Local Expats
Visit Cuenca’s bustling central and flower markets and hear from Americans who love living in Ecuador.
Day 3 – Cuenca: Custom Exploration & Cultural Insights
Choose between an in-depth tour of real estate or visiting the artisan town of Chordeleg.
Day 4 – Cuenca to Manta: Transition to the Coast
Fly to the coastal city of Manta and gain insight into Ecuador’s broader appeal with expert tips on legal steps, expat life, and success stories.
Day 5 – Manta: Coastal Real Estate
Begin with a local breakfast experience, then explore beachfront properties and investment opportunities with tax planning tips included.
Day 6 – Manta: Markets & Nature
Discover the flavors of Manta through its seafood and central markets, then explore the lush tropical forest of Pacoche and its wildlife.
Day 7 – Manta: Relaxation & Sustainability
Unwind at Tanusas Eco-Resort with a culinary sustainability experience, featuring a farm-to-table meal and insights from local chefs.
What to Expect
Community: Meet other people who want to move abroad and enjoy exploring and getting to know each other. There will also be opportunities to meet locals and other expats.
A learning experience: Stay in neighborhoods and live as locals to get a feel for how you might like living in each of our destinations. Meet local experts like realtors, immigration attorneys, and financial planners who know the ins and outs of moving to the local country. Get used to the currency, customs, and transportation.
Life as a local, not a tourist: We’ll bypass the touristy parts of town and experiences like visiting museums and landmarks. Instead, we’ll see livable neighborhoods, markets, and where the locals hang out. It’s easy to enjoy the monuments on your own: just add on a day or two at the beginning or end of your journey, bypass an excursion, or visit them in the evening.
Fun!: We’re all moving abroad for a better life, so we’ll work on giving you a taste of what that means to you.
Meet Your Guide
Marcos Chiluisa brings over two decades of experience in Real Estate, Corporate, Labor, and Immigration law, as well as a background in public service and environmental law. His leadership and hands-on approach have positioned EcuaAssist as a key player in Ecuador’s expat support ecosystem.
What’s Included
- Eight nights of lodging in Cuenca and Manta Ecuador, choice of single or double occupancy, breakfast included.
- Orientation session before the trip to meet other guests and ask questions.
- Whats App group and Trip Plans app to ask questions, get to know your fellow guests, and follow the itinerary.
- Access to travel agent for booking flights.
- Contact info for experts to schedule appointments to get started on your move abroad.
- Guided tours of popular towns and neighborhoods with a focus on lifestyle.
- Real estate tours of typical homes for sale or rent in each area.
- Private ground transportation for tours and transportation between cities.
- Information on immigration and taxes.
What’s Not Included
- Airfare & airport transfers
- Food or drink, aside from what’s served at the seminar and daily breakfast
As Featured in:
Testimonials
Jen and Brett – thank you so much for following your inspiration and creating Expatsi. You’ve created something very special and it’s been an honor to be a part of it. I sincerely appreciate the feeling of connection, authenticity, and like mindedness we got to share on this trip.
Jen and Brett, with all of the expat resources you and your team provided, a few of us may already be moved by the time we reunite ?
This is such an amazing idea and I’m excited to see how it and we evolve. I look forward to reunions and celebrations as each of us find our new homes.
Jen and Brett, what you all organized was hard. And all of us stretched. When you do hard things together and succeed, the results are amazing. I feel like we’ve made potential lifelong friends.
Thank you Jen and Brett for putting this all together. You guys did a great job and we appreciate all of your time and effort to create this experience for us to have. I will never forget it and especially not the connections I made on this journey.
You realize you’re stuck with us forever, right?
I am full of gratitude for the time I spend with each of you. To Jen and Brett for the drive, vision, tenacity and care to make your dreams and ours, a reality.
You guys did the damn thing! Group dynamics are tricky but you two showed leadership in both tactical and energetic ways. You exemplified that the path will appear when you take the first step ?
I feel more like my old self than I have in years. Thank you for taking on the straggler and helping with the healing.
Feeling the love over here ? y’all have been amazing and I hope there’s a way to keep in contact as people make moves on their plans. It would definitely help keep me motivated and I believe I can do it!
Next Steps
- Attend a Q&A session if you have questions
- Make sure your passport is valid for six months after the trip ends
- FYI, ETIAS may go into effect in 2026 (EU only)
- Book your trip with us
- Complete required forms from us
- Attend trip chats and use Whats App to ask questions and meet fellow travelers
- Schedule your flight, and book your rooms
- Get excited!
Got Questions?
Join virtual Q&A sessions to meet others considering the trip and ask us questions about the cost, itinerary, and more. You can also join our Facebook Group to meet people who’ve gone on past trips or people considering an upcoming excursion.
