I live in a condo in Manta, Ecuador, where I wake up to the Ecuadorian surf right outside my door. In season, I watch whales play almost daily, and I kayak, surf, body board, ride my Portuguese Andalusian horses, hike, bike, watch movies at one of our local Cinema 8 Theaters, and eat out at hundreds of restaurants with same-day fresh seafood. I’m also a keen photographer—I did a photography course some years ago, and one of my favorite hobbies is taking photographs of this beautiful country (and the number of species of birds alone here is staggering). I am hoping to start selling these photos to agencies and magazines in the future. I also snap much of my adventure sports.

I did not work all these years to sit around and watch the world go by. I am living life to its fullest and enjoying my new cultural experience.

I have visited almost every country in South America, and although many are beautiful, I would not give up my Ecuador beach property for any of them. The fact that I live only four-and-a-half hours from Atlanta is even better. I can hop on a plane and be back in the States to visit my family in less time than when I lived in Alaska for 25 years (it took an average of eight hours to fly from Alaska to Valdosta, Georgia, where most of my family lives).

Bring single dollars to Ecuador—it’s all you’ll need
In the U.S., it’s easy to pull $200 from the cash machine one day and wonder where it all went the next. But in Ecuador, the biggest problem is tracking down $1 bills.
Everything is so inexpensive that no one wants to deal with bills larger than ones. Using a $20 bill in Ecuador is akin to trying to use a $100 bill in Colorado to buy a candy bar; it can be done, but it’s not easy. As for using $50 or $100 bills—don’t even try! Consider this: A four-course meal—good soup, meat, vegetables, potatoes or rice, a drink, and dessert—will cost you $1.90. This is a country set back in time, with all the comforts of today and the prices and service of the U.S. in the 1950s. A taxi across town will cost you $1, gas is still pumped by a helpful attendant, and Sundays are for families. By Kent Zimmerman

But that is only part of the story. Now I can fly to other destinations in South America in half the time—one hour to Lima or Santiago; three hours to Buenos Aires; five hours to Tierra del Fuego.

In Manta, I am more active and have more friends than I ever imagined I would have. The local people are the nicest that I have met. My monthly expenses are just $600, and the weather is perfect all year long.

My days are busy by my own choice. When I wake up, I have a cup of locally grown coffee, and then take a walk on the beach right in front of my condo. The locals are health-conscious, so I see many friends walking the beach everyday, too. If you go south just 10 minutes by car, though, you will be almost alone on the beach there. I work as a real estate agent here, and I frequently take trips with clients that lead to such adventure outings as deep-sea fishing for blue marlin.

The main difference in my life now is that I run it “my way.” No longer tied to a company schedule, I love my new work…and I love seeing the happy faces on my wonderful new friends and property owners here in Ecuador.

How to get half price on your international flights
If you’re a retiree in Ecuador, you’ll be eligible for the same benefits as Ecuadorian retirees at age 65. At this time, you’ll also get 50% off international airfares for round-trip flights originating in Ecuador, on Taca, Copa, or AeroGal airlines.

And best of all, you never have to stand in line. Seniors go to the head of the line throughout Ecuador.
Other benefits include:

• 50% off all public transportation
• 50% off domestic airfares
• 50% off tickets for all cultural and sporting events, including movies
• 50% off electric and water bills (below certain usage levels)
• Free landline phone service (without long distance)
• Reductions in income, sales, and property taxes

I know many people who live on a budget of $450 a month, choosing a more local lifestyle. Others, like me, live with all the creature comforts as back in the U.S.—but at a fraction of the cost. I also bought a large tract of land on the coast south of Manta and I’m building my permanent home there. It’s 5,000 square feet, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with an infinity pool.

Building costs are inexpensive here ($45 to $50 per square foot), and I have already built a three-level condo and two homes, where I installed granite countertops, ceramic tile floors, solid cement construction, and swimming pools.

I lived for about a month in every part of Ecuador, and, for me, there is no comparison to the coast for property appreciation, enjoyment, and investment purposes. This is where I chose to settle down, and this is where I will always have a sizable investment in this wonderful country.