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I don’t live in Cuenca, but I’m nearly certain that residents there can get internet without a landline. I think they would only need a landline if they were getting DSL internet through the local phone company. But there should be other options for sure. Maybe someone who lives there can chime in.

I can’t see how health insurance would require a landline phone number at all. The insurance company or IESS might require that you have a phone number, but it wouldn’t need to be a landline. I know a lot of insured folks here who don’t have landlines.

I’m thinking perhaps your friend misunderstood?

And our website here is run out of Ireland, so I believe the time stamp is Ireland time. 🙂

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I’ve been in Ecuador for six years and in my experience, crime in Ecuador is not worse than most areas of the U.S. – it’s just different. I travel alone (as a woman) often throughout the country and I have never felt unsafe while doing so. But, just like I would back in the U.S., I use common sense and don’t put myself in vulnerable positions.

Now, I’ve never been concerned about a mass shooting here in Ecuador – it just doesn’t happen. Back in the U.S. – it’s a real concern.

But petty theft is a semi-common occurrence in this country and something you learn to safeguard against. My doors are locked at night and all of my valuables are either indoors or locked up. The thought among some less scrupulous locals is that if you don’t care enough about your things to secure them, you must not mind if someone else avails themselves of them. The good news is that thieves usually want an easy target where they can grab and go with little risk. If you make it difficult for them to take your things, they will likely move on.

IMO, keeping yourself (or more likely your valuables) safe here can seem more complex because the area is new to us. For example, I grew up in Alaska. From a young age I learned about looking both ways before crossing the street, situational awareness in busy city areas, the proper way to handle a firearm, what to do if I encountered a bear, and my best bet for avoiding an angry mama moose. Your average Ecuadorian would probably think that Alaska is far more dangerous than their home country because they have never encountered many of the dangers that Alaska brings. But here in Ecuador, the locals all know how to keep their belongings safe and how to navigate the touristy areas where pickpockets might lurk. For those of us who didn’t grow up with such issues, it seems more problematic. But really I’m just trading my moose and bears for some opportunists.

As far as carrying your passport – there is a new law that states you must have your passport on you for ID purposes when out and about in Ecuador. So take it with you. Just keep it in a secure place in your backpack or your wife’s purse and then make sure you keep that bag on you and in sight always. It’s highly unlikely that someone will rip your belongings from your hands, but don’t hang bags on the back of chairs in restaurants or put them on the floor on the bus. Again, common sense stuff.

And we do try to be honest about the level of safety within the country, though it’s not the focus of the magazine, so is often just a sentence or two in an article here and there. Just as Arizona Highways doesn’t focus on vehicle accidents, and Modern Bride isn’t going to post divorce statistics, crime isn’t our beat. However, we would never want to recommend an unsafe area to our readers. I don’t know any of the writers for IL who would write about a place that we don’t feel is reasonably safe (unfortunately no place is crime free). If we visit a town (or even country) and wouldn’t be comfortable with our mother or best friend living there, it doesn’t make it into the magazine.

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Unless you plan to visit the deep Amazon, typhoid, yellow fever, and malaria are not diseases you’ll need to worry about. The only reason you might consider a yellow fever vaccination is if you will be traveling directly FROM Ecuador to Costa Rica, Panama, or Bolivia. Those countries do require proof of yellow fever vaccination for travelers coming from certain countries including Ecuador (however, Panama and Bolivia have never asked to see my proof of vaccination).

I would suggest that you strongly consider getting your Hepatitis A vaccination. I believe it’s a series of shots, so you’ll want to start soon so you’re finished before you come to Ecuador. I had Hepatitis A several years ago and while the disease itself is not life threatening and does not do lasting damage, I would rather have had a vaccination than the illness. It exhausts you for about 6 weeks and the first few days feel like having a severe case of the flu.

Having said that, many expats here have never received the vaccination and have never contracted Hep A. But I’m proof that it is possible to get it here and I’d urge erring on the side of caution.

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Many people choose to stay at the Quito Airport Suites which is about 15 minutes from the airport. Their website says they have 24/hr pick up and drop off from the airport, though I’m not sure if you have to pay extra for that or if it’s included in your room fee.

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Hi Shaun,

Rules and regulations in Ecuador tend to change frequently, so I would check the aduana website (www.aduana.gob.ec) and/or call your local consulate to get the most up-to-date information. But I did find a helpful site with pretty recent info on what you can bring back on a plane. Here’s the regs from October of 2016 and here’s an update from May of 2017.

To the best of my knowledge, these are still accurate, but like I said it would be wise to check with a higher authority before bringing your goods into the country.

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I just searched the website of a large chain pharmacy here in Ecuador (Fybeca) and I can’t find any results for Humira. I also searched its generic name of adalimumab and came up empty. You might want to check with your current physician and ask if there is another medication that would work for you and that is also available here in Ecuador. You can check the Fybeca website yourself to see if other specific medications are sold here – just be sure to check the generic name or any other brand names that it may go by.

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Hi Charles,

I don’t know of any agencies doing this kind of thing in Cuenca, but you might check with Ecuadorable Homes (ecuadorablehomes.com) about checking out rentals. They might be willing to throw in a city tour and introduce you to expats if you ask for that. Otherwise, I saw there is a new tour agency that just opened which might be willing to do a custom-type tour for you. I don’t really know much about them, but sometimes new businesses are more likely to be flexible in their offerings. They are called We Travel and you can contact them at wetravelagencyecu@gmail.com.

If you can’t find someone to do the city tour/expat meeting you can do those on your own fairly easily. Take the double-decker bus tour around Cuenca and you’ll get a decent feel for the city. And you’ll find loads of expats at restaurants and cafes like The Vegetable Bar and San Sebas Cafe.

In Cotacachi, get in touch with Yolanda Santana from ReMax (http://www.remax.com.ec/ysantana). She has rentals available and can easily show you the town and it’s neighborhoods. To find expats here, go to Rio Intag Cafe or Solid Rock restaurant. You should find plenty of people who are happy to speak with you.

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Hi Robert,

You are correct, wine prices here are comparable or even a bit more expensive than prices in the U.S. And again you are correct in guessing that the reason is due to import taxes. The good news, however, is that those taxes on alcohol have dropped considerably recently and prices are a bit more reasonable. I recently bought a bottle of decent Rosé from Chile for $6. I’ve found a few whites and reds in the $6-$8 range that are perfectly acceptable for everyday use, but if you’re looking for something a little more special, expect to pay $10 and up.

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For exploring Ecuador, you might look at journeymanjack.com. This is a relocation and tour service run by Jack Abercrombie who is a long-time expat and has explored most of the country. I’ve heard good things about his services.

Cotacachi is 100 km/60 mi from Quito where the country’s BEST health care can be found. But if we’re talking decent health care, that can be found in nearby Ibarra (30 min. drive from Cotacachi). Ibarra has several private clinics that I’ve been very happy with. I spent the night in one of the hospitals several years back and found the care and facility to be small, but excellent. I’ve taken my son there for x-rays. And my husband has seen cardiologists at two of the different clinic/hospitals in Ibarra. We’ve never been disappointed with the care.

However, these are small clinics so if you have a major medical issue Quito would probably be the best place to go. Anyone with severe health issues or at high risk for major medical problems should probably consider being in a city near major hospitals. But if you’re comfortable having quality smaller health facilities nearby and state-of-the-art facilities 2 hours away, then Cotacachi is worth considering.

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Nothing happens if you don’t pay into IESS. You simply don’t qualify for the benefits. So for health care you’ll need to obtain private health insurance and then use either the private clinics/hospitals or the free government-run facilities (though I don’t recommend those for anything other than minor ailments).

If you do sign up for IESS, then you’ll be required to show proof of income, so they know how much to charge. Otherwise you’re only asked for proof of income when obtaining certain visas that are dependent on you having a stable income to support yourself. But you won’t be charged anything just for getting a visa. You will only be charged the 17.6% if you sign up for IESS.

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First, let me clarify that participation in the IESS system is completely voluntary for residents of Ecuador. IESS is similar to the social security system in the United States – you pay into it and receive funds back when you retire. The difference here is that IESS also provides health care through the government’s IESS clinics and hospitals.

It has always been a requirement for Ecuadorians to pay 17.6% of their income into IESS, but many expats have been claiming the minimum wage as their income and paying a much lower rate. Now IESS is enforcing proof of income to make things fair. To the best of my knowledge, this was not instigated by Moreno, but rather IESS officials. And again, the IESS system is primarily meant to be a retirement savings plan with health care as an additional service.

There are other health insurance options here in Ecuador which may be more cost effective for you. Definitely shop around and see what you can find.

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I’ve not heard anything along those lines. Can I ask where you’ve heard this?

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My attorney here in the Cotacachi/Otavalo area told me that wills from other countries hold no weight here. If you want to dictate how your property in Ecuador will be divided after your death you’ll want an Ecuadorian will.

So, if you would like all of your property to pass to your spouse instead of half going to your children, you can specify that in your will. However, your children would have 3 years to contest the will if they weren’t happy with being left out. In that case, there’s no telling what a court might decide.

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You really can’t compare La Cuadra and La Mirage as they are very different experiences. La Mirage is a luxury resort of sorts with a price to match. If you have the money and don’t mind spending it, you’ll be very comfortable there and feel like royalty. There’s a pool, on-site massage therapists, a great restaurant on the grounds, and a comfy places to relax.

As I mentioned before, La Cuadra has great owners, a good location, and is a comfortable place to stay. It’s what most visitors choose because it has a much more inclusive price point. But you won’t find peacocks roaming the grounds or edible rose petals in your room as at La Mirage.

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Hi Lawrence,

I’m sorry I’m late to the conversation. I live in Cotacachi and agree with Jim that staying in one spot and then taking day trips to other places makes the most sense. If you’re thinking of living in Cotacachi, I would stay there. Most people agree that La Cuadra is the best place in town to stay as they have a great location just off the main plaza, friendly helpful owners, and nice facilities. If you want more of the tourist experience, stay in Otavalo. It’s loaded full of hostals and restaurants and shops.

You can rent a car, but it’s very easy to take buses too. They run every ten minutes and it costs 35 cents per person from Otavalo to Cotacachi. 55 cents from Cotacachi to Ibarra. It’s very affordable and easy to get around. But if you do want to rent a car, you’ll need to do so in Quito as there are no car rentals in this area.

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