This study examines the phenomenon of ecotourism in Vilcabamba through the lens of localized globalization. It engages with the ongoing debate surrounding the categorization of visitors as either tourists or migrants, and investigates how the processes of “localized globalization” have transformed the local environment to meet transnational demands. This transformation is exemplified by Vilcabamba’s emergence as a globally recognized ecotourism enclave. By employing the concept of “place consumption,” the research explores the impact of tourism and the migration of retirees from the Global North on the development of Vilcabamba, within the broader context of asymmetrical globalization. In doing so, it positions the migration of older adults as a distinct form of mobility, contrasting the paradigms of development and underdevelopment from a Global South perspective. To address these issues, the study utilizes structural analysis and in-depth interviews to critically assess the implications of these phenomena on the local community and the developmental trajectory of Vilcabamba as an ecotourism destination.