Loja is Ecuador's Hidden Gem for Retirement
As cities in Ecuador go, Cuenca is far more popular than Loja. Cuenca is one of the most popular expat destinations in the Americas, with beautiful colonial architecture and loads of amenities. By contrast, Loja is a city for Ecuadorians. Aside from a handful of exchange students, you'll see very few foreigners here.
While the expat population of Cuenca exploded, Loja is where locals live. Loja is loaded with opportunity for entrepreneurs, has lots of inexpensive real estate and is still in its original, pre-expat state. In Loja, you really feel like you're in Ecuador. While both Cuenca and nearby Vilcabamba have markedly different characters than they used to, Loja has maintained a pleasant, small city character.
[See: 10 Places to Retire Overseas in 2017.]
Loja lies in what's known as Ecuador's southern sierra. It's a beautiful and natural part of the country featuring high Andean peaks and lush green valleys. Cuenca sits 3.5 hours to the north by bus. The famous Valley of Longevity -- Vilcabamba -- is just 40 minutes to the south. The airport lies to the west, in the town of Catamayo.
The average high temperature in Loja is 73 degrees, with a seasonal variation of only one degree. Nights are always cool, with an average low of 45 degrees. So you don't need heat or air conditioning, and you can retire your winter clothes and your snow shovel.
Loja is a pleasant and clean place to spend your retirement years. The city has a number of attractive parks and plazas, a pleasant historic center and lots of country properties in the surrounding green hills.
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However, although it's a city of 185,000, finding real estate in Loja is a challenge. English-speaking realtors can be hard to come by. It's also difficult to find an agency that has inventory. You will probably see classic sandwich boards out front displaying beautiful property photos and great prices, but the properties in the pictures may not still be for sale. They may not take the nice photos down as long as they're still bringing customers in the door.
Once you've found a realtor who is willing to show you around, you'll undoubtedly see some terrific properties. But you will probably still have to do some of the work yourself. You might be able to find additional properties by walking the downtown, looking at "for sale" signs and jotting down phone numbers. Then you can give the list to an agent or call them yourself.
However, the extra work can be worth it. Properties here are less expensive than their equivalents in Cuenca, and the cost of living in Loja is less than either Cuenca or Vilcabamba.
[See: 10 Tips for Finding a Great Place to Retire.]
Loja is definitely off the well-worn tourist trail. So if you want to live among hundreds or thousands of other expats -- or you plan to speak only English -- then there are far better choices in Ecuador, including places like Cuenca, Vilcabamba or Cotacachi. Expats who settle in Loja will need to become a part of the local community.
In Loja, you'll experience life with the locals in Ecuador. You can enjoy a night at the symphony, or appreciate the art and culture that have made Loja unique in the country. Also, here in the southern Andes, you'll be part of a dramatic and beautiful province. So if you're ready to leave the beaten path for a fascinating lifestyle among warm and welcoming people, then Loja could well be for you.
Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group.
