Is moving to Ecuador worth it? What a real case reveals
The story of a backpacker who stayed in Ecuador: well-kept farms, sunshine and cheap living, but a healthcare system that makes you look to Europe. The analysis.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Living in Ecuador: the backpacker's dream that became permanent
What makes a backpacker stay in Ecuador when the plan was only to pass through? The story circulating these days has a bit of everything: constant sunshine, affordable nature and a tastefully kept farm. Also, the shadow of a healthcare system that offers no reassurance.
The bright side: sunshine, countryside and breakfasts with a view
The first impression is positive: stable weather, scenery and a gentler pace of life. Visitors describe well-kept houses, order and a level of care you don't see in other destinations. The promise of a simpler life at a lower cost.
The fine print: when health fails
But the debate turns when health comes into play. As long as your body holds up, Ecuador can be a paradise. The moment something goes wrong, the option of returning to France for tests and surgery comes up. You don't need to be inside the system to understand how precarious the public hospital is.
Stereotypes, oil and migration in both directions
And then there are the stereotypes: that Ecuadorians are all in Spain, the altitude, the oil running out. The country's economy depended for years on the oil boom; when prices fell, the mirage deflated. The country is small: you can see it all in a few years. And the one issuing the warning is not being alarmist.
The backpacker stays. But none of those commenting seems willing to trinc his example. The backpack still hangs at the entrance of the farm, waiting for the first serious illness.
What makes a backpacker stay in Ecuador when the plan was only to pass through? The story circulating these days has a bit of everything: constant sunshine, affordable nature and a tastefully kept farm. Also, the shadow of a healthcare system that offers no reassurance.
The bright side: sunshine, countryside and breakfasts with a view
The first impression is positive: stable weather, scenery and a gentler pace of life. Visitors describe well-kept houses, order and a level of care you don't see in other destinations. The promise of a simpler life at a lower cost.
The fine print: when health fails
But the debate turns when health comes into play. As long as your body holds up, Ecuador can be a paradise. The moment something goes wrong, the option of returning to France for tests and surgery comes up. You don't need to be inside the system to understand how precarious the public hospital is.
Stereotypes, oil and migration in both directions
And then there are the stereotypes: that Ecuadorians are all in Spain, the altitude, the oil running out. The country's economy depended for years on the oil boom; when prices fell, the mirage deflated. The country is small: you can see it all in a few years. And the one issuing the warning is not being alarmist.
The backpacker stays. But none of those commenting seems willing to trinc his example. The backpack still hangs at the entrance of the farm, waiting for the first serious illness.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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