This work consists of a review of the development of Mexican and Ecuadorian anthropology from the perspective of the dialogues that go through theoretical and methodological proposals, taking into account the range of training of professionals to the implementation of public policies related to the so-called ‘applied anthropology’. A quick and comprehensive outline of six decades of Ecuadorian anthropological thinking – although this is not a balance- seeks to establish how the interrelationship between Mexican and Ecuadorian anthropology shows a way forward and back, built by the crossing of various theoretical perspectives generated within the disciplinary debate with the emphasis and different interests of local actors.