[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Wayne,

The Ecuadorean postal system works fine for shipping things across the world, though you will need to allow 6 to 8 weeks for most items to arrive. However, be aware that rates have recently been increased and it’s not cheap to ship items through the mail.

If you’re planning to export a number of items at a time I’d suggest heading over to Otavalo where you can find many businesses that specialize in exporting and shipping items from Ecuador to other countries. They’ll have better shipping rates and will be able to help you with all of the legal requirements for exporting items.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Don,

My understanding is that the airport is scheduled to be closed all of August 8th. I would call your airline and ask what they recommend as I’m sure they’ll have up-to-date information on the Cuenca airport. Good luck!

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

With the amount of time that you have I don’t think it would be unreasonable to drive to Cuenca and back if you’re interested in seeing that city. I wouldn’t bother with Guayaquil as it takes more time and isn’t that attractive to most expats. If you do go to Cuenca allow for a full day of driving each way. Or maybe stop in Baños overnight on either the way there or back.

If you just want to do short trips out of Quito I would definitely recommend hitting the Otavalo/Cotacachi area. Saturdays are the big market day in Otavalo and that’s always a fun time so you may want to schedule your trip up there around a weekend. Mindo is in the cloud forest and only a couple of hours from Quito. And I already mentioned Baños which is a few hours south. I definitely think Quito’s valleys are worth exploring too and that can keep you busy for a few days.

I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

A compact car would work fine for that route as all the major highways are in good condition. That’s a pretty ambitious schedule you have for that amount of time though. Even though Ecuador is a small country it takes longer than you might expect to drive from point to point, largely due to the mountainous terrain. The roads curve often and you can’t maintain a speed of 60+ mph on the highways.

You’ll also want sufficient time to spend in each location to really be able to check it out. If I were you, I would look at either flying between the major cities or paring down the itinerary.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Ellen,

Unfortunately most of Ecuador is not very handicapped-friendly. I say most, because there are a few businesses and areas within cities that are making strides to accommodate those in wheelchairs or with other mobility issues. Sadly, most sidewalks, bathrooms, and buildings are not equipped for easy handicapped access. Things are changing and awareness is raising, but I think it will still be some time before I would consider Ecuador a handicapped-friendly country.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Joe,

On our main Ecuador Insider page there is a section called Moving to Ecuador. In there is a whole section on how to bring your pets into the country.

However, if you’re only staying for two months it will probably be easier to find someone to watch your dog back home while you’re away. If you bring him, not only will you need to meet all of Ecuador’s requirements for bringing a dog into the country, but you’ll also need to meet the U.S. requirements for bringing one back. It can be done, but will take some time and effort on your part.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

I’ve never used them personally, but I know several of the business partners and they are long-term Ecuador residents with a wealth of knowledge. Everyone I’ve spoken with who has taken the tour has raved about it and I’ve never heard a negative review.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

My guess is that the driver who is requesting payment has been stood up by too many people and is trying to cover his bases. I understand, but I still would not pay someone in advance for transportation services.

A driver that I know many expats from Cotacachi use and like is Guillermo Buitron Buitron. He speaks English and from everything I’ve heard is reliable and safe. You can e-mail him at fenixturismo1@hotmail.com.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

I’m in Cotacachi and have heard no reports of damage in this area. We did shake and roll a bit, but luckily we were far enough away from the epicenter to have sustained any real destruction. I think a few items may have fallen off shelves or walls, but no injuries have been reported and I’ve not seen any structural damage in the area.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Delayed or no response to e-mails can be normal among Ecuadoreans. For the average Ecuadorean, e-mail has not taken over as the most popular method of communication (they still prefer a more personal means of contact) and so they don’t necessarily check it every day or even every week.

I’ve never heard of drivers asking for payment in advance. Perhaps if you wanted to hire them for a long-distance or multi-day trip they might ask for a deposit, but never the whole amount. I’m curious as to which drivers you contacted and where they were recommended.

Let me know if you’d like suggestions for other drivers in the Cotacachi area and I can give you some names and contact info for the ones who get good reviews from expats.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Oops, I was just informed that as of December you no longer can get residency visas outside of Ecuador. Sorry about the error in my original reply.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

You can actually get your residency visas while in the U.S. if you want. But yes, you’ll need to make at least one (if not more) trips to your nearest Ecuadorean embassy to get everything completed. I’m not sure if you’ll need the original property deed with you or if a copy will suffice to show that you qualify for an investor’s visa, but I’m sure the attorney can answer that.

Another option that I know some folks have used is to ask the shipping company to hold your container until you get your visa and then send it on its way. There will probably be storage fees associated with that though, so ask the shipping company for details before you decide to go that route.

The paperwork requirements can be found on this page. They are under the heading “Requirements for residence.”

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

I don’t order things through the mail either, but I do know several expat who do. It is definitely easier to get packages if you have a PO Box, but I know sometimes the mail service will make an effort to deliver it to you based on a very vague physical address. I believe that iherb.com is a popular choice for folks here who want to order supplements and I’ve heard good things about their packages arriving in a reasonable amount of time. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how much shipping costs, though I would think that their customer service could give you an idea.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Richard,

First, Zika is only a possible concern if you’re planning to travel to the warmer areas where the Aedes mosquitos live. This could include the coast and areas of the Amazon. So if your trip is limited to the highlands you should be fine. It is important to note that it can also be contacted through sexual contact with an infected person, so if your wife traveled to the coast and contracted it she could then infect you.

But the real issue is – is it dangerous? The general thought seems to be that it’s only a serious issue for women who are pregnant. In fact the majority of infected people don’t even have symptoms serious enough to warrant a doctor’s visit and some don’t realize they were even sick at all.

Personally, Zika won’t keep me from traveling to any of the areas where it has been reported, but it’s definitely a personal decision and should be based on your comfort level.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

How exciting to have your own place on the beach! One thing to know when buying furniture and/or appliances is that often the price listed is the cost if you’re doing in-store financing which a lot of Ecuadoreans do. There should be a discount if you pay cash so be sure to ask for the cash price.

Also, it’s always a good idea to speak with local expats if you can. The ones who have been in the area for awhile can give you tips on where to get the cheapest or best quality furnishings. And if you’re looking for something specific they’ll know if it can be found in the area. Salinas has quite a few expats so it shouldn’t be hard to find them at local restaurants or cafes.

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