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Kep, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city…most expats are not really interested in big city living and if they are, they prefer a temperate climate. Guayaquil is a river port (not a beach town) and it can be quite hot and humid there. It’s a nice enough city and has all the city amenities but in my opinion, Ecuador has far better options for full-time living.

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hi James, yes it is safe, although I’d take a bus during the day rather than at night. It gets really dark in the Andes at night and that’s when most bus accidents seem to happen. Besides, the scenery during the day is beautiful .

Your fellow Ecuador Insider Wendy DeChambeau says: I took that bus route in July. Same bus precautions as always apply, but I didn’t have any problems or feel one bit unsafe. All our huge backpacks made it in the storage compartment without getting stolen either! Plus the volcanos along the way were outstanding!

Follow up from Suzan: Keep your electronics and valuables on your lap at all times and NEVER let them out of your sight.

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Suzanne, you own property in Ecuador via direct deed, same as in the US. You might check with Farmacia Fybeca (google it) and see about your particular asthma meds…I have always found everything I need but I do not have asthma. You cannot own guns in Ecuador nor can you bring any with you. Ecuador has a sizable Jewish community in larger cities and other than that, I do not know about every religious sect in the country. Kindles work here, yes. As for you December trip, it depends on how serious you are, but I think you can arrange things once you are here. You can apply for citizenship after 3 years here as a permanent resident. I have no idea what you are asking about habeus corpus…but yes contact a local attorney.

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Shaun, re your question about cellphones… it is easy and cheap ($2) to get a new SIM card here to use in an iPhone, however it has to be “unlocked” by your US carrier before you can use the new SIM.

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James, I am from Nebraska. No matter how cold it is in Cuenca in November, it will never be as cold as Nebraska! That said, it will not be t-shirt and shorts weather. Bring sweaters and a jacket…

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James, check out Maribel Crespo at EcuadorableHomes.com

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Shaun, there are a couple ways to do this. 1) sometimes the airline will let you slide if you explain. If not, I’ve heard of people buying a bus ticket to Peru or Colombia (you can do that online) and showing that will suffice. Or they will buy a one-way refundable air ticket and then…refund it when they don’t use it.

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Hi Edward, I know a couple of eye specialists in Quito. My husband suffered retinal detachments and saw a vitrioretinologist there, Dr. Alvira. He partners with another specialist, and they both treat macular degeneration. Contact me for details when you are ready.

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I asked our coastal correspondent Jim Santos to answer Hayden’s question.

Here is his response:

Hi Hayden,
Two places I can think of are on the coast. First is Ayangue, a small fishing community, near a circular harbor formed by bluffs. New contruction homes are available in the “Lobster Bay” community, and it’s less than an hour from Santa Elena peninsula shopping/services.

The second is Crucita, less than an hour from two major cities, Manta and Portoviejo. Temperatures are going to average in the 80s year-round anywhere on the coast, however. But you do have most days and nights in the 70s during low season.

And from Suzan: I’ll add that I particularly like Olon, just north of Montanita… it has a nice expat community and is a quiet little beach town, but if you want/need action, Montanita is 5 minutes away.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Hayden sent in this:
“Suzan…I am interested in 1. San Diego weather 72 year round 2. Ocean front or bluff view of Ocean.. No condos… 3 High end area with amenities near by…4 Not much rain. Does such a place exist ??? What is considered the most desirable place to live…I am not worried about costs”

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I love that Cotacachi is a small town. It is VERY safe and everything I need is within walking distance. I feel like we have the best weather in all of Ecuador. This is an indigenous community and I love that cultural aspect of it. If there are any drawbacks it’s that this is a small town. The sidewalks roll up at 8 PM…it’s hard to find a cocktail. 🙂 And our “high culture” pickings are slim. For some, it can be a drawback that the nearest decent hospital is 40 minutes away. But being a small town has many advantages…and we love it here.

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Here’s one that’s a little personal in nature but I am well-equipped to answer:

Suzan,
Is there a simple reason why you chose Cotacachi over another location (like Cuenca)? Thank you.
Bob

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Hi Gordon,
The sites you’ve mentioned are all great resources and you’re halfway to finding a great location if you’re already checking these regularly. Make sure to e-mail owners with any questions before you lock in your booking. I notice that you didn’t mention Airbnb (www.airbnb.com), which has a huge selection of accommodation in Ecuador with over 300 apartments and homes listed at the moment.
You’ll also find listings for the entire country at https://quito.craigslist.org and through some individual real estate sites such as Ecuadorable Homes in Cuenca: ecuadorablehomes.com

And do a google seeach for specific communities, ie rentals Cuenca or rentals Cotacachi… you’ll find a decent selection that way.

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Gordon also had a question about finding a place to stay.
“What is the best way to go about finding a place (1 b/r, 1 bath furnished apt.) in advance before we arrive there? I have checked out some of the websites – vrbo, homeaway, flipkey, and vivun, as well as some email addresses for “merriscott”, “intheandes”, and “daddiomichael”, although I haven’t conversed with anyone by email yet. I also am getting the daily emails from Gringo Tree and Gringo Post for the Cuenca area.”

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Hi Glen,

Unfortunately, unless you are an Ecuadorian citizen you cannot import a car into Ecuador. And… the roads across the Darien Gap from Panama into South America in Colombia are impassable, so you’d have to ship the car from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador. You may try emailing customs broker Sandy Baquero to see if she has any options for you: sandy.baquero@gmail.com , but unfortunately, I don’t think you can bring your car.

(And, it’s probably not the best vehicle for driving here. Outside the major cities, you’ll find road conditions often require high ground clearance or a four-wheel drive.)

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