Ed
@docputter
American looking for information about Ecuador
Forum posts
48
Contacts
2
About me
American
Lives in Salinas
Registration: 07 January 2011
Get out of Alaska in the winter months by Eao
Hello, My name is Beth. I have lived in Alaska for many years and am looking to leave here in the winter months. When I signed up I must have done something wrong. I would like to communicate with others that live in Ecuador, or perhaps ...
Have to agree with ccmedia and vsimple that Ecuador is not the place to try to find employment. Costs are low and can be very low if you are only here for a short time but the winter months in Alaska correspond to high season in Ecuador. And ... Read More
Catacocha not Cotacachi by MegfromCT
I am interested in moving to the South. I would like to be near Loja but not necessarily in the town. I am curious if anyone lives there or near and has traveled there....difficult to find information about it.
Megandmsm, the beach person; One of the best beach areas in Ecuador is the Santa Elena Peninsula. This includes Chipipe, Salinas, La Libertad, Santa Elena, Ballenita, Punta Barandoas and Punta Blanca. On the other side, Mar Bravo, Punta Carnero, ... Read More
Crime Rate in Ecuador by DXBDINO28
I am considering moving to Ecuador but after reading this article https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=13476 I am bit scared . How true is the article? Can Expats please tell me is it safe for family life? Thanks
To post a reply to the original question and ignore the jabs and jibes of all the repliers: I am a resident of Ecuador and enjoy my life here. I do not think it is particularly hazardous place to live. But I agree with the State Department ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
There are a few expats in the Salinas area that may be willing to do this. I will ask those I know. What is your time frame for coming here and is Salinas on your list of places to live? Read More
Any assistance in finding a furnished 1-bedroom
Try quito.craigslist.org or mercadolibre.com or 3porciento.com (Manta based realtor). Read More
Ecuador beachfront property S.A. by Rafi46
Does anyone here know of this company or have any dealings with them The name of the owners are Tom and Lynn Saunders
Second that. I have heard of a lawyer who transferred all of his clients assets into his name. Beware, beware. Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Hi, Sorry for the confusion. There are a number of "forums" on Facebook that are really a like minded group, usually, that pass information back and forth. When someone asks a question, they usually get a good number of replies. For ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Where is "there"? What city are you planning on visiting? Read More
Retired Military Couple looking seriously at Ecuador by BKind2Anmls
My husband and I are both retired from the military and would like to find a place where we can live on both our pensions. We don't need a big social scene and really enjoy nature and being away from things. Right now we have 38 acres of forest with ...
Hi, Just to let you know, you should take the time to visit to see if this is the place you want to live. As for citizenship, you retain your US citizenship and you obtain a resident visa that is indefinite and a cedula (ID card) that needs to be ... Read More
Visa and household goods duty free by MarMe
Hello, I have a chicken/egg sort of question. I need the residency visa before I can import my household goods duty free, but can't return once I have the residency to ship them. How have others dealt with this? Am I missing something? Do I get ...
Hi Kristin, You can leave as soon as you have your residency visa and you can remain out of Ecuador for 90 days, day by day or by the week or by the month. The 90 days can be spit up anyway you want BUT you are limited to only 90 days per year the ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Yes there are legitimate companies that manage real estate but I won't put them here as it constitutes advertising (not me). Salinas is not a ghost town during the off season but the population is greatly reduced, the number of cars decreases ... Read More
Retired But Still Working by mrhargi
My wife and I taught for enough years to draw a small retirement. Our combined retirement is about $1300. I still work as a consultant on a 2 week on 2 week off schedule. We want to retire in Ecuador this summer. The question is can I still ...
Yes it is 90 days or parts of a day total for the year and that is not 3 months. Also, If you leave at 11:30 PM, it still counts as a day. If you return at 1:00 AM, that is another day out of the country. Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
I think you can find noise at various levels everywhere. I live in Salinas, supposedly one of the noisiest cities on the south coast. I come from Valley Forge, one of the quietest communities on the east coast. Buses and motorcycles, ambulances ... Read More
Retired But Still Working by mrhargi
My wife and I taught for enough years to draw a small retirement. Our combined retirement is about $1300. I still work as a consultant on a 2 week on 2 week off schedule. We want to retire in Ecuador this summer. The question is can I still ...
I am a new visa holder and was reminded by the passport /immigration official as I left the country that I could only be out of the country for 90 days. Very important! Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Yeah, just good enough to make you want to peek once in awhile:). Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
I've been following this post for some time and I have to ask, what the h3ll happened to it? Read More
3 month restriction on staying in Equator? by twblu
We are a Canadian couple flying to Quito in October (2013). We are hoping to stay in South America for 3 - 6 months. Our question is about our return flight? When our plans are a bit open-ended, do we have to have a return flight to Canada from ...
You may only stay in Ecuador for three months in any calendar year. If your other three months of the six are spent outside of Ecuador, you will be fine. If you wish to spend more than three months in Ecuador, you need to apply for a 12-X visa ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Ensatina: I think you will find that temperatures will be quite suitable in one part or another of Ecuador for you. You have the right idea on exploring the various altitudes to determine the best place to be. I also qualify as an OF and really ... Read More
New Here... The Great Shipping Debate by meganmvallejo
Hi, I'm Megan an American... my husband is a Colombian. We have a 2 year old daughter and a 3 year old pooch. We will be re-locating to Quito September 15. The hubs has started a business there and we are officially ready to make it our home. We ...
We are going through the same question now and are considering LCL (less than container load) shipment of goods we really want to bring down. This does not include large appliances. And you have to be in country to accept a shipment. And you need ... Read More
Getting to Ecuador from the US on four wheels ...? by GringoBueno
As stoopid [SIC] as it seems, it crossed my mind that it MIGHT be a [i]fascinating[/i] trip to come to Ecuador on wheels along with my meager expat belongings. I'll be coming with clothes, some kitchen stuff, a tennis racket, a pool cue and a ...
I have met an expat couple who did this. They included a spanish speaker. Their drive took six months and they had to ship their vehicle to Colombia from Panama. His description was rather horrific at times but they did it without any major ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
I have read some of the comments about my previous post and stand by my advice. Visit the country and spend some time there. My first trip to Ecuador was a "flying" visit of one week to explore the coast. My first impression of Salinas was not ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Just found this forum and have been looking back over the past year comments. Why does everyone ask about the best place to live in Ecuador? One post said it best...Ecuador is the best place! Your best place in Ecuador is a matter of your desires ... Read More
Rural VS Urban by RonSwansong
Hey guys, I am moving to Ecuador in June to train and get certification to teach English. I am a "gringo" - and look like one too. My girlfriend and I are moving there together, and she speaks fluent Spanish. My question is about the Pro's and ...
Hey Ron, When we were there, we rented a car because we needed to travel with a fair amount of luggage (6 months worth!) and seethe entire country. In a small town, you can walk everywhere except when you need to shop. But a taxi will do the job ... Read More
Hi Im Pam
Vilcabamba is a small, quiet town with limited infrastructure. Costs can easily be controlled and the mercados nearby offer anything you might desire, but require a car to reach them. We were there for a short time and loved the tranquility. But ... Read More
The negatives about retiring in Ecuador by Bob Way
Please tell me all the negatives of retiring in Cuenca, Ecuador. What are the most important things I need to know. I don't speak Spanish, how much of a problem is that? I thank you in advance for your answers. Bob Way
Not speaking spanish is a handicap. This shows you are a gringo and therefore, rich. This will result in certain tradesmen raising their prices. Even with some spanish, if you look like a gringo, prices go up. One way to avoid this problem is to ... Read More
Rural VS Urban by RonSwansong
Hey guys, I am moving to Ecuador in June to train and get certification to teach English. I am a "gringo" - and look like one too. My girlfriend and I are moving there together, and she speaks fluent Spanish. My question is about the Pro's and ...
First of all, where are you getting your certification? In a large city? At a University? This will drive where in the country you will settle. But urban or rural, you can be in the other by moving just a few km away. Many of the amenities and ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Thanks for the kudo , SawMan. Only thing I know about Canoa area is what an expat told me. Said it was more humid and hotter than Salinas and the bay spits out some god awful stuff that winds up on the beaches. I have NOT seen this so check it ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Just hit this forum and I find the diversity as wide as the diversity in Ecuador. My wife and I spent six months in Ecuador exploring the country. We concentrated our time on the south and central beaches and ignored the northern beaches only ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
Missed a point. Colombia, Cuenca, Villcabamba. Cuenca has an airport so that you can most likely get to Medelin from there easier. Cuenca is a wonderful town. We spent a month there and loved everything but the weather and the fact that there ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
To Dana Williams: I was just re-reading your posts and thought I would add some information regarding Salinas. The Salinas area is basically a desert when not in the rainy season. In the rainy season it can be brutal as it was this past year. ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
The company we used was in Guayaquil but because of the problems we had with the rep, I swore I would never recommend that company to anyone. Their price was good but they kept wanting us to return to Guayaquil for paper work changes to the car. ... Read More
Inshore fishing available? by Txsbigfoot
I have not read any posts about the opportunity to fish the coastal areas of Ecuador. I have found many sites but they all are offshore and expensive. I live on the Southeast Texas coast and we fish the bays and bayous leading to the Gulf of Mexico. ...
Just saw this post. There is surf fishing in Ecuador (see home in salinas post above) and fresh water fishing also. But going out in a small boat near shore is also possible. Won't catch the wahoo or dorado but smaller fish abound. National ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
You need to haggle with different car companies to get a semi-decent rate. We had our car for six months for $4300, including insurance. We also got the Budget quote of $2000+ per month. Need to look around. Buying a used car for only a few ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
Forgot...Car rentals. Had mixed results. We did rent from budget in Manta airport and car was excellent. Rented long term from an outfit in Guayaquil and had one good car and one very, very bad car. Really hard to say what you can find. Hiring ... Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
I would recommend that you check out the beaches for yourself. On our first visit to Salinas, we didn't like it (one day). Our second visit (one month in Feb., the rainy season) was a little better but we still were not convinced it was for us. ... Read More
Harleys in Ecuador? by Kurt01
Hey all, I'm a biker and could care less about a car, am wondering what type of motorcycles are available in Ecuador? Are they like the cars and way more expensive? How are the roads in Ecuador? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Kurt......
Don't recommend the $1.49 gas for a good bike. Still the higher octane runs about $2.15 and is affordable for a bike. Have been on bikes for about 35 years but won't drive one in Ecuador. Road lines there are typically used to steer by. Put the ... Read More
talk to me about Suicide Showers! by dickk
Found two blogs which describe this charming appliance as being pretty ubiquitous all through South America. Instead of the water supply running to your shower from a water heater, the heating element is IN THE SHOWER HEAD! So, I'm in a 36" X 36" ...
Just a comment or two... Suicide showers do give hot water but the flow does have to be lower than you might like for it to be really hot. And best to make it short. Have heard of a few people that had "incidents", some fatal. Truth or fiction??? ... Read More
5 good reasons for living in Ecuador by Julien
Hi, if someone asks you the best reasons for making the choice to live and stay in Ecuador, what would be your top 5? Thanks in advance for participating, Julien
1. The weather: except for the rainy season 2. The beaches: no exceptions 3. The mountains: except for the roads, but, Oh, those views! 4. The food: fish, shrimp, lobster, crabs, beef, bread, vegetables and fruit. The variety and the cost. 5. The ... Read More
60ish single female by getting there
Hi what sort of advice would you give a 60 ish single woman moving to Equador? I am thinking of Cuenca but would there be a better place to go?
Recent Post: "I'm a recently retired university professor who is thinking of moving to Cuenca from the US in 2012." I am not yet in Ecuador but have spoken to the folks at the embassy in Newark. No extra visa is needed for 90 days. To stay ... Read More
$1100US/Month --- Possible to live-on in Ecuador ??? by tfreddie
I've got $1100/month (total) Social Security ... Possible to live on that in Ecuador? Thinking Quito but also the coast. Am i dreaming???
Will find out in 6 months Read More
Any suggestion on how we get started to visit Ecuador by Sue Salyers
There is so much we know we do not know or understand. My husband and I are wanting to visit Ecuador this summer and are considering it a possible retirement place in the near future. (we are both in our 60's and work for the school system) ...
Lots of good thought went into your post. My wife and i are going through the same process. We went to Ecuador last November to see for ourselves. Mixed results in getting answers. Best was from someone we met in the airport. He had nothing to ... Read More
$1100US/Month --- Possible to live-on in Ecuador ??? by tfreddie
I've got $1100/month (total) Social Security ... Possible to live on that in Ecuador? Thinking Quito but also the coast. Am i dreaming???
To RicFitch: Living in Philadelphia, you have access to Trumark Credit Union and they are part of a CU network that has free access to ATM's in Ecuador (mostly Quito, Cuenca and Quayaquil) to do your banking with no charges. There may be other CU' ... Read More
$1100US/Month --- Possible to live-on in Ecuador ??? by tfreddie
I've got $1100/month (total) Social Security ... Possible to live on that in Ecuador? Thinking Quito but also the coast. Am i dreaming???
Thanks for the reply. We had just visited the coast in November. Unfortunately, we did not interact with a great deal of the natives but those we met seemed friendly and helpful. In the city, they seemed more like the people in any large city, ... Read More
$1100US/Month --- Possible to live-on in Ecuador ??? by tfreddie
I've got $1100/month (total) Social Security ... Possible to live on that in Ecuador? Thinking Quito but also the coast. Am i dreaming???
We are also looking into retiring in Ecuador but prefer the coast. Living at 9000 feet altitude does not appeal to us. Does anyone have any realistic info on the coastal area around Manta. We were just there in November and were impressed with ... Read More