10 Best Places for Families to Live in Ecuador

If you're dreaming about moving with your family to Ecuador and haven't decided where to live, here are some of the best places for international families to live in Ecuador.

Quito

Quito is a good place for international families to reside, offering a wide range of activities and facilities that cater to all ages. For children, the Interactive Science Museum is a must-visit, offering a variety of engaging and educational activities. The city is also home to numerous parks and recreational areas, such as La Carolina Park and Metropolitano Guanguiltagua Park, which are perfect for family picnics, walks, and outdoor games. For those interested in athletics, Quito has several facilities that welcome families. The Megamaxi SuperAKI Gym is a popular choice, boasting a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a kid's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Quito Tennis and Golf Club, which offers tennis, golf, and swimming lessons for kids. With its rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and family-friendly amenities, Quito provides a vibrant and welcoming environment for international families.

Cuenca

Cuenca is a good destination for international families, offering a plethora of activities and amenities suitable for all ages. For children, the Pumapungo Museum and Archeological Park is a must-visit, featuring interactive exhibits and a variety of educational activities. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque de la Madre and Parque El Paraiso, which are ideal for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Cuenca has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Bolivariano is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Liceo Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and family-friendly amenities, Cuenca provides a vibrant and welcoming environment for international families.

"Cuenca has a lot going for it as far as the arts. There are always free concerts that you can attend in the city. Art festivals, Choirs, Orchestras you name it. This is a very family oriented society and life revolves around the family. My local business colleagues are always spending time with their families on the weekends and we should learn from them. They have a wonderful network of family around them. Religious events are a time for parades, church and other activities," commented an expat living in Cuenca.

"It is MUCH better than Costa Rica was. Cleaner, safer, more sophisticated, more elegant. Don't believe the west bloc weather reports on Cuenca. If the days is 5% rain and 25% partially cloudy and 60% sunny, they will report its raining. Cuenca placement very high up in a valley in the Andes between the massive weather makers of the steamy Amazon and the temperamental Pacific creates a local low pressure zone. So the weather can change and change back in minutes. If you are impatient, drive a mile and get whatever weather you want," said one expat living in Cuenca.

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is a good place for international families to settle, offering a variety of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Parque Historico Guayaquil is a must-visit, offering a zoo, historical exhibits, and educational activities. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Seminario and Parque Samanes, which are perfect for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Guayaquil has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Guayaquil Tennis Club is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Guayaquil Soccer Academy, which offers soccer lessons for kids. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Guayaquil provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Loja

Loja is a fantastic place for international families to live, offering a variety of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Museo de la Cultura Lojana is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the local culture. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Jipiro and Parque Pucará de Podocarpus, which are ideal for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Loja has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Deportivo Municipal La Argelia is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Loja Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Loja provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Manta

Manta is a wonderful choice for international families seeking a vibrant and welcoming environment. For children, the Museo del Banco Central is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the local culture. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Central and Parque de la Madre, which are perfect for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Manta has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Deportivo Jocay is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Manta Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Manta provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Ambato

Ambato is a great destination for international families, offering a variety of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Museo Quinta Juan Leon Mera is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the local culture and history. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Juan Montalvo and Parque Cevallos, which are ideal for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Ambato has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Deportivo Municipal de Ambato is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Ambato Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Ambato provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Otavalo

Otavalo is an ideal place for international families to live, offering a range of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Museo del Pueblo Kichwa is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the indigenous culture. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Bolívar and Parque Central, which are perfect for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Otavalo has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Deportivo Municipal Otavalo is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Otavalo Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich indigenous history, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Otavalo provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Salinas

Salinas is a good location for international families to settle, offering a plethora of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Whale Museum is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the marine life of the region. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as La Chocolatera and Chipipe Beach, which are ideal for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Salinas has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Salinas Yacht Club is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Salinas Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich marine life, vibrant culture, and family-friendly amenities, Salinas provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

"The life is around the gorgeous beaches of Salinas itself, Chipipe and to a lesser extend Punta Carnero, as it is a dangerous beach because of riptides," commented an expat living in Salinas.

"Salinas is a really nice place. Is like being in Guayaquil, but with a beach nearby, You will find supermarkets, banks, schools, hospitals and many more things than other ecuadorian beach. And a big plus is that is near Guayaquil (the biggest city in Ecuador and main commercial city of the country)," said an expat in Salinas.

Banos

Banos is an ideal choice for international families seeking a vibrant and active lifestyle. For children, the city offers a variety of engaging activities. The Museo de la Basílica is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the local culture and history. The city is also home to numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Palomino Flores and Parque Sebastian Acosta, which are perfect for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Banos has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Complejo Deportivo Municipal de Banos is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Banos Tennis Club, which offers tennis lessons for kids. With its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and family-friendly amenities, Banos provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

Vilcabamba

Vilcabamba is a great destination for international families, offering a variety of activities and facilities suitable for all ages. For children, the Vilcabamba Museum is a must-visit, offering interactive exhibits and educational activities that provide insight into the local culture and history. The town also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as Parque Central and Parque Recreacional Jardin de Quinara, which are ideal for family outings, picnics, and outdoor games. For families interested in athletics, Vilcabamba has several facilities that are family-friendly. The Vilcabamba Tennis Club is a popular choice, featuring a swimming pool, fitness classes, and a children's area. Additionally, there are several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Vilcabamba Soccer Club, which offers soccer lessons for kids. With its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and family-friendly amenities, Vilcabamba provides a dynamic and welcoming environment for international families.

"Ecuador is a better place to learn Spanish. In Spain they want to practice their English. In Ecuador they mostly don't speak English. Read up on the Inca empire and its encounter with the Spanish in the 16th century. Some of the roads you'll travel in Ecuador were Inca trails 700 years ago," said one expat living in Vilcabamba.

"Vilcabamba has become another example for a small place, sought out for a local bs legend and flooded with gringos. Reminds me of what happened to the once adorable little town of Acapulco after Hollywood discovered it in the 60s. It has wonderful beer-drinking weather, LOTS of English, a break-in pandemic and limited medical care. It will get worse," commented one member living in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.