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Country Expert Jim Santos
ParticipantHi Steve –
This is one of those issues that everyone approaches a little differently. I know several expats who moved here with just suitcases, and either rent or purchased units that were full or partially furnished (you can find both here). Others have moved into empty places and furnished locally, and some have shipped containers. And of course, you might end up doing a little bit of each.
When looking at the cost of shipping, you have to also consider the cost of buying those goods in Ecuador. While services, fresh produce, many meats, seafood, etc. are all much cheaper here, things like electronics, major appliances, cookware, kitchen appliances – basically anything that must be imported – can be very expensive.
We purchased an empty condo, and shipped a ten-foot container. We also bought some things (hand made furniture and appliances) here. Before we shipped, we spent some time in Ecuador visiting malls and stores and taking note of the prices. Although it did cost us almost $14,000 to ship our goods, it would have cost us maybe $40,000 to buy it all here – if we could have found it all, that is.
The other consideration, is if there is anything you own that you can’t live without. For example, my wife wanted to have some chairs that belonged to her mother, a top-line vacuum cleaner, and quality sheets and towels. I have a collection of musical instruments and a lot of computer equipment. So for us, it made sense.
The other thing to keep in mind is “muling”. Whenever we visit the states, we take empty suitcases, which we load up to bring goodies back home to Ecuador.
I wrote about this in more detail in an Ecuador Insiders report, link here: https://members.internationalliving.com/august-2016-2/
Feel free to ask me any other questions, either in the forum or at salinas@internationalliving.com
-jim
ParticipantHi Richard –
My wife and I have lived in Salinas for 3+ years, and i DO NOT recommend drinking the water. Some building have their own filtration systems, but still we prefer to buy bottled water. You can get 6-liter jugs for just over $1, or big 10-liter containers (like for water coolers) for between $1-$1.50
We do use tap water for cooking when we are going to be boiling for a while, but if I’m making soups, I still use bottled water (for the taste).
Feel free to ask me any other questions either in the forum, or at salinas@internationalliving.com
-jim
ParticipantLawrence,
My two cents – my wife and I stayed at La Cuadra, and we thought it was wonderful. When we return to Cotacachi this June, we will stay there again.
-jim
ParticipantLawrence,
I’m not aware of a car rental agency in Cotacachi. We rented a car at the Quito airport. Most major chains can include GPS, you would have to check with them about language. We used our smart phones and GPS apps, but I should mention it can still be tricky as the maps don’t seem to be updated as often as in North America. If you are traveling on a tourist visa, you will need a valid passport, valid US drivers license, and proof of insurance. We have been able to rent for an average of about $45 a day, but of course that will vary with the rental agency, type of car, etc. You should also know that some rental agencies will want to put a $5,000 charge on a credit card against possible damages, returned when you return the car in good condition.
I have more information about renting cars and the roads in Ecuador at http://jimsantosblog.com/2016/05/17/tips-for-driving-in-ecuador/
Suzan has some info on car costs and drivers in the Cotacachi area at https://internationalliving.com/2016/08/august-2016-2/
-jim
ParticipantI have heard many expats say good things about Sebastian Cordero as an attorney, he is at scordero@rcpabogados.com . Also, another shipper that many have used is Paul Wilches at paulw@relocationservicesofecuador.net
-jim
ParticipantHi Ray, and congratulations on your decision to investigate Ecuador. Pre-move visits are always a good idea. My personal view is that the more, the better – especially visiting during different times of the year. It all comes down to logistics, how often you can get away, how much time and money you can spend exploring, etc. My wife and I made our preliminary visit in January of 2013, and by March that same year we had purchased a condo on the Pacific coast in Salinas. By November, we had our residency visas and cedulas, and by January 2014, we had made the move. If you have not settled on an area yet, it would be a very good idea to start looking as soon as you can. Ecuador has a variety of beautiful places in a range of climate choices from which to choose.
You may want to look at https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/ecuador/travel-itineraries/ for suggested itineraries, and if you have more specific questions, feel free to ask them here, or contact me directly at salinas@internationalliving.com
Saludos!
-jim
ParticipantThat area is next on our list of places to visit in Ecuador, so I have no specific recommendation either. We have had good luck using booking.com in our road trips around the country, even in smaller towns like Piñas or Puerto Cayo. One word of advice – even when you book online and they ask for a credit card to reserve, don’t assume that the hotel will accept plastic. We have found that many of the smaller hotels are only setup to take cash.
ParticipantWe will most likely be in Salinas when your are in Puerto Lopez, but that’s about 2+ hours away from us by bus or car. Remind me when it gets closer, as we may make a hiking trip to Ayampe, which is only about 20 minutes away. You can also email me at salinas@internationalliving.com
ParticipantHi Steve – I agree with Wendy. Here on the coast, if it weren’t for the signs you would not even know an election had taken place. I saw a small rally passing through Guayaquil the other day, and for the most part, it is only in the largest cities, like Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, or possibly Cuenca, where you will even see that. For most Ecuadorians and expats, life goes on regardless of the party in charge. Another point to remember – one of the few things that all of the candidates agree on is the importance of tourism to bring more American dollars in Ecuador.
ParticipantHi Jeanne. Rita and I have lived in Salinas on the coast for three years now, and we have spent some time traveling both up and down the coast, and into the interior of the country. We have seen a lot of great places, and we look forward to discovering more. Wherever you may choose to settle, remember this is a relatively small country, so it is easy to visit the mountains and live on the coast, or vice-versa.
You may want to check out the Travel Itineraries section of the site at https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/ecuador/travel-itineraries/ for some options.
If I can answer any specific questions, feel free to ask here or email me directly at salinas@internationalliving.com
Buen viaje!
-jim
ParticipantHi David, glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, we’ve lived in Salinas for 3 years now, and have travelled the coast between Playas to the south and Canoa to the north, so we have a pretty good feel for the climate.
For Salinas, in our time here we have never seen it get colder than 66F, or hotter than 98F – and those were both extremes. Generally, we have two seasons. From late December until May is our sunnier and warmer season. Typically, we have days in the mid-to-upper 80’s, nights in the mid-70’s, with the daytime highs peaking in the low 90’s around late February/early March. Then June to December is generally cloudier and cooler, days in the upper 70’s or hitting 80, nights in the low 70’s.
Paradoxically, our sunniest time of the year (Jan-March) is also our “wet” season. I put that in quotes, because our annual rainfall is about the same as Las Vegas – less than 5″ a year. When it does rain, it is usually a light mist you barely notice.
Our cloudy season is also not totally cloudy, all the time. Usually we have mostly cloudy days, with some sun for a few hours at some point in the day. We actually prefer that time of year. It is comfortably warm out, cool breeze, and lower crowds.
Since we are basically a desert area, the humidity is nowhere near as bad as in the Caribbean, or the Baltimore/DC suburbs, for that matter. Generally it is in the 60% range, can peak around 80% – but even then, since we are on a peninsula we almost always have a nice breeze.
As you head north up the coast, you get areas with more precipitation, probably peaking around Ayampe, where there is very lush vegetation – a cloud forest, really. Then it gets gradually drier again as you head toward Manta, which has weather very similar to ours – perhaps a bit warmer.
We find that we do not run the A/C at all between about late May-late November, and for a few months before and after that period, we just run one or two during the day. January-April, they pretty much run all day – but there are still days once the sun is on the other side of the building when we turn them off and open all of the windows for some fresh, cool air.
Hope that helps, feel free to ask any other questions about Salinas or the coast either here, or emailing me at salinas@internationalliving.com
-jim
ParticipantHi Randy,
The San Clemente/San Jacinto area you visited is very nice. People I’ve talked to there like that it is fairly small and family-oriented, but less than an hour from the conveniences of Manta. Crucita is another interesting spot, for much the same reasons. Anytime you are by the ocean, there are going to be times when there are tourists, but those are fairly quiet most of the time.
Once you get south of Manta, there are some very quiet villages, but of course the smaller and more remote you get, the farther you may have t travel for services. Ayampe for example is perfect for a simple life on or near the beach, but about 30 minutes from Puerto Lopez (about 16,000 people), and almost 3 hours from Salinas or Manta.
I’m working on an article now that should be out in March’s IL about three of these smaller villages, Ayampe, Olon and San Clemente/San Jacinto. Also, there is an article and short video on 7 beaches (Ayangue is one, it may also fit your needs) at https://internationalliving.com/2016/11/tour-ecuadors-southern-coast/ and some more details at https://internationalliving.com/2016/10/7-great-beach-towns-ecuador/ . Feel free to email me any questions directly at salinas@internationalliving.com
-jim
ParticipantHi Bob – the weather in Machala is comparable to Guayaquil, but a little cooler. So that means their humidity can get a little high sometimes, and they do get enough rain for lush vegetation.
ParticipantHi Gretchen – let first say that everyone is different, and you should check with your doctor before taking any new medication. That said, my wife and I do take a 6-month preventative for parasites. It is a two-day treatment, one pill the first day, and two of a different type the second day. Has it helped? Well, it’s one of those things where you can’t prove a negative – we have not been bothered by parasites in the three years we have lived in Salinas, but I cannot say it is because of the medication. For example, we also take the precaution of drinking bottled water, and washing our fresh fruits and vegetables in an mild antibiotic solution.
ParticipantHi Larry,
In Quito and Cuenca, the water supplies should be fine. However, as someone who has traveled a lot, I have to say that I ALWAYS drink bottled water if I am on a 2-4 week trip, and avoid drinks with ice unless I’m sure of the source. To me, it is just a minor precaution to take to make sure you enjoy the trip. I always wash my fruits and vegetables from the local mercado in an anti-biotic wash – again, maybe not strictly necessary, just a precaution.
That said, I have visited all of the cities you listed (except Mindo), and I’ve had fruits, salads, etc. at many restaurants without any problems. For example, I remember “La Esquina” in Vilcabamba in particular as being a small, local restaurant with excellent food. The only thing I’d suggest you avoid as a “newbie” are the carts you may see, street vendors cooking or making juice somewhere without running water or refrigeration.
Those are beautiful areas, and you should have a great time and find some new and interesting dishes! Enjoy!
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