Where to Base Yourself in Ecuador as a Digital Nomad

The capital stretches along a high valley below the Pichincha volcano, with a UNESCO-listed colonial centre, parks and a modern north. Most nomads live in La Floresta (cafes and a creative scene), González Suárez (views and high-rise apartments) or La Carolina (the business district, on the metro). Quito has the most coworking spaces, the best hospitals and the main international airport, and it is the jumping-off point for the Galápagos, the Amazon and volcano hikes. The altitude takes a few days to adjust to, and you need care with safety, especially at night and in the old town after dark. See the Quito digital nomad guide.

Ecuador’s third city is calmer, cleaner and cheaper than Quito, with a UNESCO-listed centre of cobbled streets and blue-domed churches, four rivers and a tram. It has one of the largest North American expat communities in Latin America, so it is easy to find housing, Spanish classes and English-speaking doctors, and its private hospitals are good. The scene is older and quieter than in Quito, and the airport has few flights, so most international trips start in Quito or Guayaquil. See the Cuenca digital nomad guide.

A small adventure town in a green valley below the Tungurahua volcano, with waterfalls, hot springs, rafting, canyoning and mountain biking. At about 1,800 metres it is warmer and easier on the body than Quito. Rents are low and the town is walkable, but it is touristy, internet varies by building, and serious medical care means a trip to Ambato or Quito.

A small village in a warm valley in the far south, known for its mild climate, hiking and an alternative, health-focused expat crowd. It is one of the cheapest places in Ecuador to live. There is little to do in the evenings, internet is slower, and the nearest city and airport are in Loja, about an hour away.

Ecuador’s best-known surf town, on the Santa Elena coast, with a backpacker and party scene in the centre and quieter places to stay along the beach and in nearby villages such as Olón. It suits surfers and people who want a social beach life for a few months. Internet and power are less reliable than in the cities, healthcare is basic, and Santa Elena province has been included in recent states of exception, so check the current situation before you go.

A fishing town on the Manabí coast, next to Machalilla National Park, Los Frailes beach and Isla de la Plata, with humpback whales offshore from about June to September. It is quiet and cheap, with a small community of long-stayers. Services are limited, and Manabí is one of the provinces affected by recent states of exception and curfews.

Ecuador’s largest city and business capital, on the Guayas River, with a riverside promenade (the Malecón 2000), the old Las Peñas quarter, good shopping centres and private hospitals, and a busy international airport. Most foreigners who live there stay in Samborondón or the north of the city. It is also the centre of Ecuador’s gang violence, with frequent states of exception and curfews in Guayas province, so it is a base mainly for people with work or family ties there.

The islands are a once-in-a-lifetime trip rather than a base. Visitors pay a $200 national park fee and a $20 transit control card, tourist stays are limited, and living there long term needs a special residence status that is hard for foreigners to get. Prices are much higher than on the mainland, and internet on the islands is slower and more expensive. Most nomads visit for a week or two from Quito or Guayaquil, staying in towns such as Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

• Start in Quito or Cuenca to sort your visa, cédula, SIM and bank account, then decide.
• Think about altitude. If Quito feels hard, Baños and Vilcabamba are lower, and the coast is at sea level.
• Check the security situation. States of exception and curfews change every few months, mostly on the coast; check current government advice before committing to a coastal base.
• Check the internet and power backup before you rent, especially outside the big cities.