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About Coastal Ecuador
The daily English-language news source we wished existed when we first arrived.
Hey, I'm Chip
I'm a 27-year-old American who came to Ecuador in January 2024 after remote work stints in Mexico and Peru. By May 2025, I'd made it permanent — Ecuador is home, and the Pacific coast is where I spend as much time as I can.
My background is a weird mix: six years as a mortgage broker, a CS degree from WGU, and an IRS EA Candidate credential (Part 1 passed January 2026). That combination led me to found EcuaPass after navigating the visa process firsthand, and FileAbroad for expat tax filing.
I built CoastalEcuador.com because when I first arrived, I couldn't find a single English-language source that covered the coast daily. The Spanish papers are great — El Universo, El Diario, El Mercurio de Manta — but if you're new and your Spanish isn't there yet, you're flying blind on everything from water shutoffs to visa rule changes.
So I started reading the Spanish papers every morning and writing up the stories that matter most to the expat community. That's still what this site does, every day.
When I'm not writing, I'm usually eating encebollado at a beachfront cevichería, exploring somewhere new along the coast (Manta, Puerto López, Olón, Bahía — I've covered a lot of ground), or trying to convince other expats that the seafood here is seriously underrated.
How We Work
We read the Spanish papers so you don't have to
Every morning we scan 21 Ecuadorian news sources — from El Universo and El Diario to municipal press releases from Manta, Salinas, and beyond — and pull out what actually matters for expats.
We explain the "so what" for expats
A tariff change or municipal vote doesn't mean much without context. We always answer: what does this mean for someone living here?
We cite our sources (all 21 of them)
Every article links back to the original reporting. Check our Sources page — transparency isn't optional.
Reported from Ecuador — not remote content farming
Written by an American expat based in Ecuador who covers the coast year-round and knows these beaches, malecóns, and bus terminals firsthand. No generic AI filler, no outsourced takes.
Our Partner Sites
Coastal Ecuador is part of a family of resources for expats and travelers.
Get in Touch
Have questions, a tip, or want to contribute? I'd love to hear from you.
Email: info@coastalecuador.com
Chip's Daily Briefing
One email every morning with the stories that matter for expats in Coastal Ecuador — written by me, not a wire service. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Join expats across Coastal Ecuador. I respect your privacy — no third-party lists.
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