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SUZAN HASKINS
ParticipantHi Martha, if Any and Gerardo can’t help you, contact info@pathfinderinternational.net to learn about upcoming tours.
ParticipantHi Ann, yes Quito is high… about 9300 ft. Cuenca is a bit lower at about 8300 ft. and Vilcabamba lower yet at about 4500 ft. Have you looked at all the information available on this website? Each are should be fully described, with elevations. Another place you might look is Banos — it’s about 2.5 hours south of Quito, not to be confused with another town named Banos near Cuenca…
ParticipantYou are welcome.
ParticipantDon, who is paying a maid $60 a day? I pay mine $10 for about three hours of work (we have a very small condo) — but I think that ($10) is the going rate per job.
ParticipantHi Stephen, I do not think you can buy health insurance in Ecuador unless you have a resident visa. There may be some health insurance providers, though, who will now you to apply to their systems up through age 70. You might want to contact a health insurance specialist here in Ecuador to learn more. One is Olga: olga.terneus@prodeseg.com. And/or, contact Sarah Dettman who may be able to put you in contact with additional resources: s.dettman@yahoo.com.
Participant1. No
2. None that I know of.
3. NO
4. You will need to undergo a psychological test and register with the local police authorities.ParticipantHi Mark, it’s tough to get a legit “job” anywhere overseas… you really need to be on the ground, as you would at home. Do you have a TESL certificate or teaching degree? If so, you might check with some of the private secondary schools in Quito or Guayaquil. Find a list of those at http://www.ibo.org.
In my experience, most people who need to work overseas have enough of a nest egg to support themselves for a year or more, until they find an income-producing niche.
You can start here, though, getting some ideas, by subscribing to this free e-letter from IL: https://internationalliving.com/fund-your-life/
ParticipantPamela, to get from Manta to Puerto Cayo you can take a taxi or bus or rent a car. You won’t find much decent accommodation in Puerto Cayo, but Los Suenos del Mar hotel there is the #1 rated in Puerto Cayo on TripAdvisor — and it doesn’t get great reviews. Instead, you might want to stay in Puerto Lopez or even in Manta and make a day trip to Puerto Cayo.
ParticipantHi Jon, security is one of those things that you have to take personal responsibility for in Ecuador. That’s why I suggest you observe how the locals live. Apartment buildings have security entrances or doormen (mostly in Quito) and homes are usually walled and with barbed wire or broken glass on top to deter anyone from crawling over the walls. There are security bars on doors and windows and alarm systems in place. I don’t know that crime here is more of an issue than anywhere else, but there’s really no such thing as emergency police response. And yes, the disparity between rich and poor is great. We foreigners have to learn to not flaunt our “things” and not be so trusting with people (i.e. workers) coming into our homes. (If you live in Ecuador, for instance, don’t draw attention to yourself by wearing expensive clothes and jewelry. Don’t tell everyone… at the local tienda or in social settings or even on Facebook… that you’ll be gone for a couple of weeks — especially if you’ve just had a crew in your kitchen doing renovations and bought brand-new appliances or just installed big screen TVs in the living room.)
Overall, it’s best to be prepared and smart about your own security. There are some places along the coast where you might feel safe outside a gated community, but in my opinion, you’d best have a very trustworthy caretaker living onsite and and/or take lots of security precautions and not fill your home with tempting electronics (especially if you will only live there part-time.) I’d personally rather have the security and neighbors that a gated community offers. Also note that a gated community in Ecuador isn’t always what you’d… they may be as small as five or six homes.
Like I say, we’ve never had any problems, but we’ve been living in Latin America for 12 years and we’re very careful and aware at all times. That’s smart anywhere in the world these days, I’d guess.
ParticipantHi Bob, I just saw a beautiful golf course outside Guayaquil where you can buy a lot and build a home, and a big golf course community is now being built in Montecristi, adjacent to Manta. I don’t have my notes with me right now, but when I do, I will post. And for better details about the Guayaquil course, contact real estate agent Mike Sager: redwulf3@juno.com. For Montecristi, contact agent Maria Fernanda Carrasco Cordero: fernandacar8@hotmail.com. Just to be clear, I am not, nor is IL, endorsing these (or any) real estate agent or developer — you need to do your own due diligence.
ParticipantPopulation of the town of Cotacachi is about 8,000, but it is also the capital of the ‘canton’ — like a county, and there are many other towns in the canton. Rainy season varies by what part of the country you are in. In Cotacachi, it can rain any time, but the rainy ‘season’ is typically Nov. or Dec. through March or April.
ParticipantMichael, I just saw this online:
Bedrooms for rent in the best neighborhood in Cuenca, close to Yanuncay River in
Primero de Mayo, a few blocks from the Mall del Rio, pharmacys, bakerys, good restaurants,
etc. The house is very nice. In the first floor you have the living room, dining
room and the kitchen privileges. In the second floor are located the bedrooms.
The bedrooms are warm and cclean,have a closet, double bed, good mattress.
Every bedroom has a private bathroom with tub. We have weekly and monthly rate. We don’t asking for deposit security!!!
In the price is included electricity, water and WiFi connection. You will share
the house with my family. For more information, please contact Pily Porras: pilarporras50@hotmail.com.ParticipantKaren, you can get Amazon deliveries through clubcorreos, etc. And most people get a P.O. box in whatever Ecuador town they live in… and have mail sent there. Or you can get a service like EarthClassMail.com that will scan your mail if you like and send it to you electronically… then you can decide if you need it physically or not…
ParticipantI’m sure Edd will jump in here, but what is reasonable to you, Michael, and what kind of amenities do you need? You might check out TripAdvisor for some input, or AirBnB.com
ParticipantGood to hear, Thomas. Do not even think that crime doesn’t happen in Ecuador, because it does. But it happens everywhere. My advice when you are looking at homes and apartments is to look at the security of said abode. Doors, windows, fences, etc. We’ve never had a problem… but I would not want to live out in the middle of nowhere….
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