RSE works to eliminate the worries and nightmares of getting your cherished belongings to Ecuador. We trust you’ll find Ecuador a multifaceted country of real freedom. If you have decided, or are deciding, to make Ecuador your home, the team at Relocation Services of Ecuador (RSE) can help you.

There are many questions customers have when moving to Ecuador. One of those is, “How do I get my household goods to Ecuador, and what can I bring?” The team at RSE will answer these questions.

You may hear horror stories about some Expats’ experiences trying to ship their personal items to Ecuador—stories like

• Having their items stuck in customs in Guayaquil for months, having to pay $ 130 a day demurrage fees and ending up with the storage fees being more than the original shipping costs.
• Putting up container deposits and not having it returned.
• Being told it would cost $9,000, only to end up being charged $14,000 to $16,000.

There are many people who attempt to ship their personal belongings into the country themselves, but quickly learn that while you may save a few dollars on the front end, you could find yourself paying thousands of dollars on the back end dealing with issues you weren’t aware of regarding its arrival. Hiring a reputable company with the knowledge, expertise and contacts, and with a clear understanding of customs laws, is a far better way to go.

Since November 2009, Paul and his team have successfully shipped in/out over 650 containers to Ecuador(June 2020), averaging between five and six containers each month. Considering they manage the process from start to finish, you realize that’s a lot of paperwork (from your home in your country of origin to your door anywhere in Ecuador).

From the first inquiry by phone they help you understand the process and walk you through each step so that there are no surprises along the way. Paul insists on having a conversation with every potential client, so they understand the scope of the project and he can get a clear idea of what they are looking for and advise them on their best course of action.

Once you have all the proper documentation, Paul helps you determine the appropriate size container for your household goods. There are three container sizes:

20’ container – 8’ wide x 8’ high x 20’ long – fits the contents of a two-bedroom apartment.

40’ container – 8’ wide x 8’ high x 40’ long – fits the contents of an average three-bedroom home.

40’ HC container – 8’ wide x 9’ high x 40’ long – the largest container offered, and it’s the exact same price as a 40’ standard container to ship.

“We don’t leave the office at the end of the day until every question has been answered satisfactorily for our customers. We pride ourselves on our communication. We push ourselves to offer the highest level of customer service to our clients.”

If you are thinking about shipping a container of goods to Ecuador, first and foremost it’s a good idea to understand what you are NOT allowed to bring with you:

1. Firearms, explosives or munitions of any kind – it will be considered contraband and could lead to a jail sentence.
2. No motorized vehicles, cars, motorcycles, scooters, golf carts, jet skis, etc. (only Ecuadorians who apply the return program can bring it a car)
3. No more than 23 litters of liquor.
4. No regular filament lightbulbs.
5. No cash, gold or silver bars, etc. – All of this must be brought in through the proper channels.
6. Food stuffs – You can pack your leftovers (what would normally constitute the contents of a pantry) but you can’t bring 40 cases of baked beans, for example.

To assist in making this process as painless as possible, Relocation Services of Ecuador provides a detailed inventory spreadsheet that you can use. Relocation Services of Ecuador have delivered containers all over the country including Cuenca, Quito, Salinas, Vilcabamba, Cotacachi, Loja, Olon, Puerto Lopez, Puerto Cayo, Santa Marianita, Manta, Crucita, Canoa, Otavalo, Jama and even the Amazon. They have a team on this end that will unload your container for you—a personal service that is included as part of the package.

*All prices relate to costs in Ecuador of the same quality appliance as in the US.

Many people might think that shipping a container is too expensive and they look at replacing all of their household items once they get here, but check out the comparison chart above which shows the average cost of an appliance in the US vs. buying it new in Ecuador. As you can see, just in the cost of replacing five major appliances, you could have brought a 20’ container to Ecuador with all of your belongings. Another consideration is that furniture made in Ecuador is made for Ecuadorian sized people, and can be uncomfortable for average Americans, unless you have it custom made, which can be expensive.