International Living presents all the on-the-ground intelligence and reliable contacts you’ll need to fast-track your new life overseas in this fascinating country.

Dear Reader,

I’m writing to let you know about a new opportunity to learn about one of my favorite destinations, and one of the best places in the world to retire or invest.

Ecuador.

This is a country where you can live surrounded by unparalleled beauty, whether it be in the ancient colonial cities of the Sierra, the tranquil Valley of Longevity, the exotic Amazon rainforest, Ecuador’s beautiful and natural coastline, or the mystical and unique Galapagos Islands.

But it’s also a country where you can live on the smallest of incomes. A country where you can still find pristine beachfront lots for under $12,000, antique colonial homes for under $25,000, and peaceful mountain retreats for under $50,000…and you’ll pay almost no taxes and enjoy one of the most non-intrusive and un-regulating governments in the civilized world.

A One-Of-A-Kind Conference

But this conference—hosted by our Latin America Roving Editor Lee Harrison and our Ecuador correspondent David Morrill— is a bit different than most.

Not only will you have access to all the information you need to live, work, invest, or retire to Ecuador, but you’ll also be meeting several expats who have actually done what you may be dreaming of doing yourself: they’ve left their old careers, reinvented themselves, and retired
overseas.

I have long found Ecuador to be one of the most beautiful, diverse, and exciting countries that we cover. Nestled in the jagged Andes Mountains, it is home to a large portion of the world’s wildlife and bird species, as well as a staggering array of different landscapes and climates. There’s truly something here for everyone.

Ecuador’s real treasure, however, is its people. It’s one of the few places where a foreign resident or visitor can blend easily into the community, being welcomed into a new circle of friends and a new way of life with relative ease. As a foreigner here you’ll be treated with respect, and the people will be proud to get to know you.

During the last 5 years, Ecuador has gone through a number of tumultuous changes, including the recent ousting of a president in 2005. But today’s Ecuador has emerged as a country which remains a haven for those wanting to retire or invest, and in fact, I myself have recently bought property here. The landscape of the market has changed, but there are plenty of areas where
significant property bargains can be found and a comfortable lifestyle can be enjoyed on just a
fraction of what you’d spend in much of the world.

Today, you can buy a two-bedroom condominium in Quito’s historic center, close to good shopping, gourmet restaurants, and hotels, for under $55,000…and a one-bedroom for just over $25,000. Quito’s antique Spanish colonial homes in need of restorations start at around $30,000. A two-bedroom apartment in Cuenca’s colonial historic center a block from the main square just sold to a reader for $34,000, and a beautiful one-bedroom apartment can be rented in Cuenca’s most luxurious neighborhood—directly on the Tomebamba River—for just $250 per month. In Vilcabamba, Ecuador’s Valley of Longevity, a two-story Home of the Panama Hat Grazing llamas in El Cajas traditional Ecuadorian house with five bedrooms on 2.5 acres with lots of fruit trees, and a fresh water source that provides fresh water year-round, sold this year for $60,000. During this conference, you’ll learn about the best places to buy, and a step-by-step process on how to get it done.

Maid service costs around $120 monthly, and construction workers still earn around $200 per month. At the market, you’ll find handmade fisherman sweaters for less than $10 and leather jackets for under $50. If you join us in Quito, you’ll get a full accounting of what you can expect to pay for day-to-day living.

A Quality Of Life That’s Hard To Beat

Low prices alone do not make an ideal retirement or investment destination. There are plenty of places the world over where you can buy cheap land and find a 5-cent cup of coffee—but you wouldn’t want to live there. Not so in Ecuador.

Here you’ll enjoy a quality of life that’s hard to beat, and an experience in living that you won’t get anywhere else. If you enjoy the outdoors, have dreamed of owning a Spanish Colonial home in a World Heritage site, or want to spend hours strolling on an undeveloped beach, then Ecuador may be for you. Hear about it directly in May from expats who are enjoying the life here already.

A Great Opportunity For Starting A Solid Business

As you may know, Ecuador survived the Latin American financial meltdown of 2002, in part because of a stability factor that came from adopting the US dollar as the official currency. The formerly high inflation rate came in at 3.9% in 2004, and it’s on track to be about the same in 2005.

There are no foreign-exchange controls and no restrictions on foreign-owned businesses. You can repatriate 100 percent of your profits. Several of our readers have started their own businesses here…come to Quito and learn how they did it.

What’s Hot Right Now In Ecuador

While there are good buys all over the country, the best buy right now in the property market is unquestionably the purchase of old Spanish colonials in Quito’s historic center. The city is in the
process of restoring the old colonial center, something which caused property values to rise rapidly in Cuenca and Guayaquil upon completion. Yet the tremendous value found in these
irreplaceable antique homes—some in the $25,000 to $50,000 range—has not yet been recognized by the Ecuadorian investors. Many IL readers have already bought here, and this conference will tell you how to get involved.

The other hot area at this writing is the village of Vilcabamba in Ecuador’s southern Sierra. Enjoying near-perfect year ‘round weather and dramatic mountain scenery, it has Ecuador’s highest concentration of IL readers.
The true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity however, is in the Galapagos Islands. Not many people even know that it’s possible to own private property in this worldfamous preserve, but there is a way, and we’ve found a few things on offer. Conference attendees will get first look at what’s available and how to buy.

Read on to get all the details on our first Live and Prosper in Ecuador conference.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

During three information-packed days, you’ll benefit from years of experience gathered by speakers who are experts in their fields

An Overview and a Close Look at the Country’s Regions
We’ll take a virtual tour around Ecuador, highlighting the major areas and attractions of the country. We’ll then follow this with an in-depth look at each of the country’s regions along with their strengths and weaknesses for the potential expat.

Galapagos Islands

These islands are unique in the world, with a large percentage of the wildlife there occurring nowhere else on the planet. It’s a little known fact that 3% of the land area in Galapagos is now available for private ownership, with the rest of the islands remaining a national park. We’ll introduce you to people with the inside track on how to buy a piece of this World Heritage Site at
prices you won’t believe.

Overview and Details of the Real Estate Market
We’ll take a look at the regions of Ecuador with respect to real estate, and then our local
experts from around the country will present the “in’s and out’s” of their market, as well as giving you a sampling of what’s currently on offer.

Step-by-step Guide to Buying Property
The property purchase is simple and straightforward in Ecuador, with foreigners (including non-residents) having the same rights as citizens with respect to Teatro Sucre in Cuenca
This way to the disco property ownership. From the time you consider making the offer until you’ve completed closing, you’ll see how the entire process fits together.

The Property Rental Market
For the first time in Ecuador, we’re seeing expats making inroads into the rental property market. We’ll take a look at what’s working for them, and talk to some of the people making this happen.

Title Insurance and What to Look For in Your Property Purchase
Title insurance is now available for your property purchase in Ecuador. This is turning into a real plus with respect to the property market, and has made your overseas property purchase here much less threatening. Always a favorite speaker, Tuey Brady-Murdock, Vice President of First American Title, will go over what this means to your purchase, and some of the pitfalls to look for when buying property overseas.

Leading Edge Concepts in the World of International Banking
Mr. Thomas Fischer of Jyske Bank in Denmark, one of Europe’s oldest and soundest financial institutions, will talk to us about how to take advantage of the world’s currency fluctuations and show us some truly creative international investment strategies. As many expats in Ecuador already know, Jyske Bank is private banking at its best.

Economic Outlook and Business Climate in Ecuador
For those who are considering doing business here—or even just living here—we’ll go over Ecuador’s current economic indicators and the economic outlook for the country. Also, we’ll be covering the latest political issues and happenings with the government.

An In-Depth Look at the Cost of Living
Perhaps the most important attraction in moving to Ecuador is the cost of living. You’ll get a first-hand look at what it costs to live here, and have a chance to quiz the expats who have already
made the move.

Residency
A key item about relocation to any country is what it takes to become a resident. Our experts will fill you in on the types of visas available and help you decide which of the many options fits you best.

Importation of Your Household Effects and Pets
New residents are entitled to import their household effects to Ecuador dutyfree…but you’ve got to follow the rules and procedures to make it happen. We’ll take a look at the rules, restrictions, processes, and lessons learned for getting this done.

Health Care
This critical item is high on everyone’s list, and Ecuador measures up nicely to many places in the
developed world. From laser dental work at less than one third of US prices to shoulder replacements to good old-fashioned one-on-one medical care, you’ll find Ecuador a pleasant surprise.

Learn How We Did It!
Perhaps worth the price of admission in itself: You’ll have the chance to meet some of the expats who are already here, and find out how they managed to reinvent themselves and start over in this exotic land. Whether you eventually choose Ecuador or somewhere else, this will help you on your way.

Colonial Quito Real Estate Tour
As an added bonus, we’ll be offering a free tour of Colonial Quito after the conference, with a chance to take a look at some of the antique colonials that are now selling at amazingly low prices. This is now probably Ecuador’s best property buy.

Getting to Know Ecuador—Optional Country Tours
After the conference, we’ll have a number of tours available for those who want to get to know the country first-hand, including real estate tours, as well as a tour focused on meeting the village artisans around the country who make some of Ecuador’s most popular export items. To see what we’ve got to offer, click here.

A Little About Where the Conference is Held
The conference is being held in the Spanish Colonial city of Quito, in the heart of the Ecuadorian Sierra, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’ll be hosting Live and Prosper in Ecuador at the beautiful Hilton Colon. The Hilton provides an ideal venue from which to enjoy the conference, as well as the city of Quito. Mount Sinai Hospital
Arriving in an Amazon village Hotel Hilton Colón Situated facing the famous Parque el Ejido, you can enjoy the park’s well-known art fair on Saturday, taking part in the festive atmosphere or possibly getting an economical head start on your Christmas shopping. And any night of the week, the Mariscal Sucre district located behind the park is one of the city’s biggest draws, with its tree-lined streets, quaint shops and popular restaurants. Also, you’re only two blocks from a bustling indigenous artisan market.

We’ve negotiated a special rate at the hotel, which offers a wide range of
amenities including a gym, pool, and business center, as well as local excursions
and much more.

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Lee Harrison, Contributing Editor, International Living, Cuenca, Ecuador. Mr. Harrison enjoyed a 30-year career in the U.S. electric power industry, working with Bechtel Power Corporation and Exelon Generation (one of the nation’s largest power generators), where he served as a director. Taking advantage of an early retirement offering, he retired in 2001 at age 49, sold off most of his worldly possessions, and moved to Cuenca, Ecuador. Formerly International Living’s Ecuador editor, his is now IL’s Contributing Editor for Latin America. He is a frequent contributor to Hoy, a Spanish-language newspaper based in Quito.

Kjetil Haugan is owner and founder of Simon Bolivar Language Schools in Quito and Cuenca. He left his native Norway in 1994 after managing the Winter Olympic Village at Lillehammer, and moved to Ecuador. In addition to his work with the language schools, which are rated among the best in Ecuador, he owns and operates Columbus Travel Agency with his Ecuadorian wife, Jessica.

Turalu Brady Murdock, Counsel, First American Title Insurance Company. Ms. Murdock works in the Caribbean/Latin America Division of First American, based in South Florida, which provides residential, commercial, and homebuilder title services throughout Latin America. She'll discuss how, and why, you should guarantee your investment overseas and outline the steps you should take to do it. Getting title insurance on your property, particularly in young real estate markets where title disputes are often common, is a prudent way to ensure your investment.

Thomas Fischer is the manager of international client relations for Jyske Bank Private Banking in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has worked in the banking business for more then 30 years, 10 of them in Germany where he earned his MBA degree. He travels 90 to 100 days a year to seminars around the world, promoting Jyske Bank’s products and services. When he is in the office, he supervisors the account managers and works with the trading room in order to develop new and profitable products for clients.

David Morrill, International Living’s Ecuador editor, is a California native who grew up in Florida. He has been a newspaper columnist and book reviewer, editor of two newspapers and three magazines and owner of an advertising agency. He is currently a partner in export and real estate businesses in Ecuador. He first visited Ecuador in 1995, accompanying his father on a bird-watching tour and returned in 2004 to purchase a home. David lives in Cuenca with his wife, journalist and author Creston Nelson, his 15-year-old daughter Helen, two Boston Terriers, and one toy Chihuahua.

Grace Velastegui has helped dozens of North Americans and Europeans obtain Ecuadorian residency visas and is one of the most knowledgeable attorneys in the country on immigration issues. She and her law partner husband, Nelson Idrovo, have also handled hundreds of real estate closings for foreign clients in the Cuenca and Loja areas. She is certified by First American Title Insurance Company to write title insurance policies.

Andres Cordova is a general practice Quito attorney concentrating in corporate and business law.  He has lived and studied in Lima, Montevideo and New York. He obtained his doctorate degree from the Pontificious Catholic University in Quito. In recent years, he has launched real estate projects on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. His first project, Santa Cruz Gardens has sold out and he started a second project, Santa Fe – Galapagos.

Creston Nelson is a journalist who owned a publishing company that specialized in insurance and health care issues. She is the author of books on care giving, workers compensation and corporate management. She has participated in Methodist church mission trips to Cuba and Guatemala and recently served as a translator on a medical mission near Otavalo, working with a team of doctors from Alabama serving the local indigenous population. She lives in Cuenca.

Experts and realtors from various regions of Ecuador, including Quito, Cuenca, the coast and Vilcabamba, discussing the areas and the local real estate market.

Local Expatriates will explain their decision to move to Ecuador and talk about their lives here. They will share their experiences, both good and bad, and give an honest appraisal of what you face if you’re considering full or part-time residency in Ecuador

SEMINAR PRICING

Reserve your place prior to April 15, and save an additional $100 per person…on top of the IL subscriber discounts

PRICE: 1 person = $895; 2 people = $1,490 (guest or spouse pays just $595)
 
The conference includes all seminars, presentations and informal Q&A sessions, introductions to reliable real estate resources, business contacts, fellow expats, and attorneys. It also includes morning and afternoon coffee breaks, welcome and farewell cocktail receptions, a real estate tour of Colonial Quito, as well as travel and accommodation assistance from our staff.

Also available for an additional fee are add-on optional tours.

Your international airfare, any meals not mentioned, and overnight accommodations are not included in the price of the seminar.

Speakers and schedule are subject to change, but the content will remain the same.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT -- SAVE $100 PER PERSON BEFORE April 15, 2006!
Reserve your place before April 15, 2006, and you save.
Discount Price: 1 person = $795; 2 people = $1,290

ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO INTERNATIONAL LIVING!
No matter when you signed on, if you're a subscriber to the print edition of International Living, you are eligible for a $50 discount off the registration price.
Additional Discount Price for subscribers who sign on before April 15, 2006:
1 person = $745; 2 people = $1,240

ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT FOR LIFETIME MEMBERS
No matter when you sign on, if you're a Lifetime Member of International Living, you are eligible for a $150 discount off the registration price.
Additional Discount Price for Lifetime subscribers who sign on before April 15, 2006:
1 person = $645; 2 people =$1,140

ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL LIVING:
You are eligible for a $200 discount off the registration price.
Additional Discount Price for Roundtable members who sign on before April 15, 2006:
1 person = $595; 2 people = $1,090

Please note:  Please take advantage of the greatest discount based on your membership status but only one membership discount applies.

YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE*

Thursday, May 25:
9:00AM-10:00AM Registration (receive your name badge and welcome pack).
10:00AM-2:00PM: General Sessions and Exhibits
2:00PM-5:00PM: Guided Tour of the City
5:00PM-6:00PM: Welcome cocktail reception. 

Friday, May 26:
9:00AM-6:00PM: General Sessions and Exhibits
7:00PM-9:00PM: Optional Group Dinner 

Saturday, May 27:
9:00AM - 6:00PM: General Sessions and Exhibits
6:00PM-7:00PM: Farewell cocktail reception. 

*Schedule subject to change. Conference attendees will be emailed a detailed, final schedule with complete speaker times and topics prior to the conference.

OPTIONAL POST SEMINAR TOURS

We suggest you take several days after the seminar to explore. We've put together a few optional  tours for you to consider.

If you would like more information on these tours, or to reserve your space please contact David Morrill in Ecuador at ecuador@internationalliving.com.

Real Estate and Sightseeing Tours

The following 2 tours combine the viewing of real estate opportunities with general sightseeing.

Cuenca / Vilcabamba Tour (Five days and five nights): We will explore the colonial city of Cuenca, widely considered the cultural heart of Ecuador. In addition to visiting the city's landmarks we will explore real estate opportunities in one of Ecuador's hottest markets. The tour continues south to Loja for a brief visit, then on to the famous Vilcabamba valley. Often referred to as the Valley of Longevity, the area boasts one of the highest concentrations of foreigners in Ecuador. At a little less than 5,000 feet of elevation, the valley enjoys cool nights and warm days and is considered to have the best weather in Ecuador. Although real estate prices have risen in the valley, we will show you that there are still good deals to be found. Tour begins May 28.

(Note: for guests only interested in Cuenca or Vilcabamba, this tour can be split into two parts. Cuenca only and Vilcabamba only)

Coastal Tour (Three days and two nights): The tour begins in Salinas, Ecuador's major resort, a city known for its high-rise condominiums, casinos, broad beaches, an international yacht club and world-class fishing. From there, we follow the Ruta del Sol north, through fishing and craft villages, looking at real estate along Ecuador's scenic coast. We will visit the world-famous surfing village of Montanita, the fishing town of Puerto Lopez, the major port city of Manta and the areas around Crucita. Tour begins May 28.

If you would like more information on these tours, or to reserve your space please contact David Morrill in Ecuador via email: ecuador@internationalliving.com

HOTEL INFORMATION

Discounted Rates at the Hilton Colón in Quito
We have arranged a special, discounted rate for seminar attendees at the Hotel Hilton Colón, where we are hosting this event. As an attendee, you'll pay just US$79 (plus taxes) per night for a single, and $89 for a double. This includes a buffet breakfast. You can contact the hotel by calling their reservations line at +593 (2) 256-0666 or by sending an Email to our conference agent Mercedes Barba at mercedes.barba@hilton.com.

Be sure you mention that you are part of International Living’s Live and Prosper in Ecuador conference.

DETAILS FOR THE TRAVELER

Getting to Ecuador
The flight time to Quito is about 3 hours 50 minutes from Miami, and you can take a number of
airlines to get here.

Additional Information
Conference attendees will receive an additional information package with details about what to wear and what to bring. This will apply not only to the conference, but to the extension tours as well, when finalized.

A Word of Caution About Altitude
The city of Quito is located at 2900 meters or just over 9,000 feet above sea level. If you have serious respiratory problems or experience difficulty breathing at sea level, then you should NOT attend this conference.

Travel Assistance
For all travel needs (including flight assistance and insurance) please contact your travel agency of choice. You should find a good selection of agencies in your local yellow pages.

You might also want to consider one of the many companies who specialize in online reservations and travel assistance. Some of the more popular ones include: www.orbitz.com and www.expedia.com.  We also suggest you may want to sign up for free e-mail alerts from your preferred airlines, via their websites. There are also numerous websites offering free e-mail alerts highlighting regular specials for a wide range of airlines, such as www.travelzoo.com. Many of these websites offer tips for getting the best flights, such as being flexible with travel dates and airports if possible.

To protect your travel investment, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.  Travel insurance protects you from all the unexpected events that can disrupt or cancel your travel plans.