[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Bill,

There are different types of visas and the requirements for each are different. If you are getting a pensioner’s visa, then no you don’t need to invest an additional $25,000. But for those who don’t have a steady monthly income the investor’s visa is one of the easiest to obtain and this requires a $25,000 investment in vehicles like a bank CD or real estate.

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Technically, yes you are required to have a ticket out of the country within 90 days of arrival unless you already have your residency visa in hand. I’ve never heard of Ecuador refusing entry into the country without it, but some airlines will prevent you from boarding your flight if you don’t have a return ticket. I believe this is because if Ecuador does decide to block your entry the airline is responsible for sending you back home.

Orbitz often has a two-day cancellation policy without charge, so you could book your return flight just before leaving for Ecuador and then cancel once you’ve arrived. American Airlines used to have something similar as well, but I’m not sure if they still do.

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Sadly, homeless dogs are prolific here in Ecuador. But you are correct in that the street dogs are generally well-adjusted and non-problematic. If you’ve ever watched Cesar Milan you’ll understand to some degree why this is. I won’t go into in-depth doggie psychology here, but essentially these dogs are living life on their own and by the rules of other canines. They get plenty of exercise just roaming the towns and finding whatever food they can, so you don’t have that pent up nervous energy that many pets suffer from. They are focused on their next meal, staying safe, and keeping cool (or warm during rainy mountain days). They are well socialized with other dogs and animals because they are around them all the time and any bad behavior will be corrected by other dogs (or by people when it comes to chickens and other livestock).

So yes, while we do see dogs running free here, I’ve never had a reason to fear them and rarely do they even approach people. They’re just off doing their thing and it seems to work out for the most part.

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Wow, that sounds like a busy yet very productive trip you have planned! I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on the places you visit once you return home.

I’m glad you’ll be meeting with Yolanda here in Cotacachi. She is a good person to know and she is a “perfectly lovely and friendly woman.” I’m sure she’ll be a great asset to you in this area.

I’m surprised that Nick Vasey in Vilcabamba hasn’t replied, but perhaps he’s out of town. You could also try Bernie from Huilco Real Estate. His e-mail address is bernie@huilcorealestate.com. I’ve not heard anything about Podocarpus being closed, but you could ask Nick or Bernie about that and see if they have any current info.

I met Darnell from Abundant Living in Loja about a year ago, just as he was getting set to open the business. My take is that he is smart, motivated, and knowledgable, so I think he’ll do a good job for you as well.

Hopefully Edd can help you get in touch with Maribel as she is one of his Cuenca contacts.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Hi Mark,

The first thing I’m going to say is that with your planned route and only 10 days you will spend a lot of time driving. Ecuador is a small country and on a map the distances don’t seem bad, but you’re not going to be driving 60 mph on these roads at all times. Because of the mountainous terrain you’ll often go slower with curves, hills, and slower vehicles in front of you. It’s definitely doable, but I hope you like driving. 🙂

For your questions:

1: Most of the major roads here are well maintained and smooth so unless you plan to be exploring dirt and gravel country roads a small car should be just fine. Of course a larger vehicle gives you more room and storage for luggage and would give you the option to go off the main byways if you so choose.

2: I’ve never rented a car here, so I’ll leave that question to others who have.

3: Take the PanAmerican Highway from Quito to Cuenca. From Cuenca you’ll want to take the Naranjal road to Guayaquil and from there you can head to the coast and follow the Ruta del Sol north. I don’t know how far north you want to go, but if you drive to Pedernales there is a newer highway there that connects to Quito. All of these routes should be in good condition and will be the fastest means of travel.

4: If you have time stop in Baños south of Quito. It’s known for it’s thermal springs and is a tourism hotspot. Along the coast you might want to check out Isla de la Plata near Puerto Lopez. It’s known as the “poor man’s Galapagos” because it is easily accessible from the mainland but has several of the same species you’d find in the Galapagos Islands. You can explore the island and/or snorkel.

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Thanks for the update Gretchen, this is great information. I’m glad everything worked out for you and I hope you enjoy your time in Canoa.

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The red tape, expense, and restrictions involved in bringing a car to Ecuador make if fairly prohibitive and I don’t know of anyone who has done it. The last I heard it WAS possible, but your vehicle had to be a current year or next year model and the shipping costs were quite high. Vehicles here tend to be fairly expensive and used ones hold their value pretty well so it’s not easy to find a quality used vehicle at a low price. That said I do know a few expats who have bought older sturdy Nissan Patrols and Jeeps, but they’ve had to put some work into them to get them into good operating condition. I believe the one couple bought theirs for $7,000 and have put an additional $4,000 into parts and labor.

As for the Isle of Bolivar – I’ve not heard of it. Maybe Suzan or Edd will have some insight?

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I believe there are 3 public and 2 private schools right in Cotacachi. There are also smaller schools in some of the nearby communities. I do not know the exact count of 1st graders, but my best guess is 40 to 50 in each public school. Probably around 20 in the private schools.

And there are a few expat kids that go to one of the private schools here – I’m not aware of any that attend a public school.

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Hi Mark,

That’s really thoughtful of you to want to bring supplies with you. I know that many of the schools (especially rural ones) are always happy to receive supplies for the classroom. Pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, markers, etc. are small and often cheaper in the U.S. so that’s something you could easily bring.

Preschools (again especially in small communities) are often lacking books in Spanish for the kids. Story books and educational books for preschool ages are appreciated. And many of these children come from low-income families so clothing is always nice to have too and the teachers will distribute clothes to the kids at the school if you bring some.

Us expats are all different in what we find important enough to really want from back home, but food items are usually at the top of the list. Spice and seasoning mixes are hard to come by here so things like Old Bay, Jerk Seasoning, and Maple Syrup are usually bought up quickly from anyone who brings some down. Personally I’d give my firstborn for a block of Tillamook aged white Irish cheddar, but that’s not an easy thing to mule down, so I’d stick with small non-perishable items. (And that’s a joke about giving away my son, should anyone take that literally…)

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

Unfortunately none of us can say for sure what might happen with Cotopaxi. I believe the experts expect the volcano to be settled down by the end of the year, but of course no one can say for certain. So far Cotopaxi has not been interfering with international flights in and out of Quito so I wouldn’t worry too much about your flight right now.

As for El Nino we are expected to have heavier than normal rains this year and the coast is likely to get the worst of it. I would leave an option open to bypass the coast if flooding is a problem at the time you’re here and spend more time in the Sierras.

As you said no one can predict the future, so if possible I would try to leave my trip as flexible as possible just in case. Though in all likelihood your plans will work out just fine as is.

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Kristin,

You don’t actually need to establish an account here in Ecuador to gain your pensioner’s visa. You simply need to prove that you have a certain amount of money coming to you every month – they don’t care if it is deposited in the U.S., Ecuador, or anywhere else.

As for FATCA paperwork, it’s really not very difficult. We simply have to fill out an online form every year letting the gov’t know that we have out-of-country bank accounts. Pretty easy.

Writing a check from your U.S. bank account to someone here is not going to work. You’ll need an international check if you’re writing it to someone in another country and you’ll need to check with your U.S. bank to see if they can issue those without you being there in person. Honestly, I find wire transfers to be not much more expensive and quick and easy.

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Hi Mark,

That development is actually a mile or so outside of Cotacachi. It is in the village of El Batan to the west of town. The streets out there do not have official names so it’s tough to give you good directions for finding it on a map.

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Hi Michael,

Suzan covered this subject fairly thoroughly but your title suggests you’d like to buy a condo here in which case you’ll need funds within Ecuador. I don’t know if this is the “best” way, but wiring money has been simple and worked well for me. You might want to shop around with banks within the U.S. to find what they charge for international wire fees and to see if they can initiate a wire without you being physically present at the bank. Luckily with Ecuador using the U.S. dollar there is no conversion fee.

I have a bank account at Banco Pichincha which is one of the country’s largest and more reliable banks. I know many other expats and Ecuadoreans use Banco de Guayaquil and are happy there. Just keep in mind that no bank (in any country) is failproof.

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I’ve never heard of anyone buying one in Ecuador, but it’s possible they are for sale somewhere. If it’s very important for you to have one I would definitely buy one now and bring it down when you move.

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

I’ve never heard anyone in Cotacachi mention that they are members of Eckankar, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Not everyone tells me what religion they are and I certainly don’t know all of the expats here. I’d suggest getting in contact with the center in Quito and asking if they have any contacts in this area. I bet they would know if there is an active group in or around Cotacachi.

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