I have seen several posts recently asking about visas. Here is a link to the Ecuadorian Embassy section that explains all you never wanted to know about Ecuadorian visas. You can send the required documents to the embassy before you leave the US or hire someone in Ecuador to help you. There is a woman, a single mother in Guayaquil--screen name is silverwater who assists expats in visa matters. Dealing with the Ecuadorian bureaucracy in country is not for the faint of heart. I personally plan on using the embassy in Miami. They claim they will get everything back to you in 3-4 days. The web link is: www.ecuador.org/visas.htm