Author: Journeyman Jack Ecuador

Proudly serving Ecuador Expats since 2008, My Services, web links, contact info tel. #'s - US, CAN & EC. are all below: Thank You, Jack Abercrombie, Cumbaya, Quito- ECUADOR S.A. [email protected] [email protected] #StrategicRelocationEcuador "May your strategy be as dark as night and as swift as a boulder rolling down a mountain." ~ Sun Tzu "I'd rather prep 10 years too early than 10 minutes too late." Strategic Relocation Ecuador: http://JourneymanJack.com/ Ecuador Real Estate: http://EcuadorRealEstate.org Call Toll free from U.S. & Canada: Mnts: 770-828-7913, & Coast: 770-988-4492, EC. Off: 02-380-4088, Ec. Cel Claro: 098-828-8953, WhatsApp, Zello, Telegram, Viber, Signal, WIRE, Element, Sessions: +593-98-828-8953, For Virtual Real Estate Tours, PreTrip Planning Video Conference via Zoom, jitsi, "skype" user name: "Jack.Abercrombie"- https://join.skype.com/invite/B4plcVLSCGWk Someone once said that Ecuador is a country that is: •EASY to love- •HARD to understand- •Impossible to forget- 'All the Very Best on Your Endeavors in Ecuador-

How to Get a Car Accident Lawyer to assist Your Car Accident Compensation?

According to the research wiped out the USA, a car accident is that the leading explanation for death among people aged between 6 to 25. and therefore the figures still rise annually , not only within the USA but also in most countries within the world. So, if you or your family are involved during a car accident, it’ll be an excellent help for you if you seek legal assistance from a car accident lawyer. For most, car accident case law is complicated and confusing. You need all the help you can get. Through a lawyer, you’ll be ready to understand your legal rights and options for a successful trial.

In recent years, many law firms and lawyers became specialist lawyers in car accidents and offer legal assistance to those involved during a car accident that wasn’t their fault. there’s an excellent potential for claiming insurance for an accident that’s not your fault but led to serious injury to your person or property. A car accident lawyers can assist you easily obtain compensation for all expenses incurred due to an accident, including medical expenses, loss of income, and damage caused by the accident.

If you’re involved during a car accident, there are 2 important belongings you must do so as soon as possible –

a. To hunt medical advice and services of a professional and

b. Experienced with a car accident lawyer.

For each country having different time during which you’ll file a claim for accidents, we must act quickly. Only a lawyer experienced an accident skills much compensation you’re eligible to get . it’ll know the figure after considering all expenses incurred by you due to the accident, including bullying suffered, also as its own expense.

An increasing number of car accidents and lawsuits has been filed, many lawyers’ accident bureau now can give free initial consultation to work out whether an accident victim is eligible to form a claim. Once it’s assured that there are sufficient grounds for a complaint, the lawyers performing on contingency fees, which suggests you simply pay if you receive an allowance. this is often normally one-third of what you ought to get.

The good news, once you finally plan to hire a specialist car accident lawyers is that you simply can find easily and conveniently. you’ll either invite recommendations from friends, colleagues, or other lawyers that you simply have worked within the past.

Remember that, the lawyers usually recommend to other lawyers they trust. Also, once you hook up with the web , you’ll easily find online tons of guidance services which can suggest a licensed representative. The latter is really the foremost convenient thanks to find a lawyer car accident in your region.

The Myth about Ecuador Border Runs: How to stay longer than 90 days in Ecuador as a tourist

Last week, we covered arguably the easiest way to get a residency visa in Ecuador, and how I got one.

The 9-V Professionals Visa, based off your university degree.

No investment, no pension required.

Believe me, compared to most countries in the world, thats easy!

For instance my brother actually married a Thai girl and he still can´t get his Thai perm residency and has to do costly monthly border runs (like a b*tch).

But Ecuador residency does have its pitfalls, like you have to be in-country at least 9 months a year for the first two years or you could lose your visa.

So if a professonal, investor or pensioner permanent resident visa doesn’t work for you the following may be the way to go.

But the wierd thing is even immigration officials in Ecuador will tell you you can’t do it.

But a friend of mine confirmed, in January of 2014, you can.

The prevailing myth regarding Ecuador tourism is you can only be in Ecuador for 3 months a year on the free automatic visa stamp you get when you enter Ecuador.

They tell you you can’t renew your tourist visa.

And that you only have 90 days a year as a tourist in Ecuador, period.

People plan their whole trips (and lives) around this fact. Many people rent tents from https://comfortteltudlejning.dk for trips.

Bull sh*t!

You actually can stay in Ecuador for up to 9 months a year, or even more, heck, you can stay perpetually as a mere passer-byer or ‘tourist’ with the following strategy…

It’s proven, first hand to me by a close Canadian friend of mine, as of January 2014.

Enter the country initially with just your passport (valid for more than 6 months) and get the free 3 month visa stamp.  With at least 2 weeks left on your visa stamp apply for the 6 month 12-9 ‘Acto de Comercio’ temporary visa.  You won’t have to leave the country.

Then at the end of the 9 months you’ll have to make a border run to either Peru or Colombia, you won’t even have to stay the night just walk across the border, eat lunch, and come back over.

And you’ll get an immediate 3 month free stamp once again.

Then at the end of these 3 months you’re best to get a 6 month student visa (the 12-5) or the (12-10) 6 month tourist visa without having to leave the country.

For instance there are langauage schools in Quito that will give you your registration papers (what you need for the student visa) for as little as $300.

Then rinse and repeat.

Yes, even though immigration officials are quick to tell you tourist visas in Ecuador are not renewable and border runs will not work either.

I got sucked into the lie once.

I still remember my face at an immigration outpost in Loja with 2 days left on my visa when I was told that my visa was not renewable and a border run would not work.  I don’t know why they say it like that with just a shrug.

No solutions.

You just can’t get the free 90 day tourist stamp consecutively.  You have to follow the strategy above.

But no one told me.

So I overstayed.

I had no choice.

And it was a huge hassle to get ‘legal’ again.

Don’t do that.  Stay legal so you can come and go from Ecuador freely and not worry about being able to get back in the country when you please!

Now you know what I didn’t.

So if permanent residency isn’t your thing at least now you know you can stay in Ecuador for much longer than 3 months as a mere tourist!

And for the complete breakdown of how I got my Professional Residency Visa subscribe to my weekly Ecuador Insiders Newsletter below, you can unsubscribe at any time:

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Ecuador residency visa: No investment, no pension… no problem

I can’t think of how else to put this.

But sometimes I really think Ecuador is kind of like your friends slutty sister.

She may look good from a distance, but the more you get to know her, the less you trust her and although you may have a casual fling with her, chances of a serious comitment are slim.

It may be funny to hear this from a so-called ‘Ecuador expert’, but the truth is Ecuador is a great place for that exciting high risk-high reward 10% part of your portfolio but its certainly not smart to sell everything and invest it all in Ecuador.

Don’t do that! Seriously.

I’m sorry but while (currently) Ecuador is a great place to casually live, and a great place to generate wealth, its not a good place to store wealth and in fact, like many countries in the world, I’m afraid Ecuadors heading in the wrong direction. A lot of factors there. Just my opinion.

Opps, maybe I spilled the beans on that one.

Ecuador, really not much different from any ‘third-world’ country, is certainly not a smart place to park $25k in a CD for a right to a residency visa. This past year alone one ‘real’ bank failed (Banco Territorial), and one ‘coopera’ or credit union-type-thing failed too.

People lost money. Not everyone got paid back.

And contrary to popular opinion, its also not smart to base your visa off a real estate investment valued over $25k, cause if you sell the investment, you lose your visa, and boy would it stink to get stuck in a bad investment and miss an opportunity just cause your money was tied up for your visa. And even if you plan on staying, in say, Nevada, getting a home warranty in Nevada can be quite challenging, considering a vacillating, perplexed mind.

While many of us, either too young or for whatever reason, don’t count on a steady pension in order to apply for the pensioners visa.

Well, fear not, there’s another little-known option many of us qualify for.

And you don’t have to invest a cent. Nor do you need a pension.

Besides, the only investments you should make are good ones, not ones based on getting a residency visa.

This type of visa is the one I got.

I got it, all by myself, with no help from a lawyer (it wasn’t necessary).

Recently too, I got approved last month.

Introducing the 9-V Professionals permanent resident visa.

If you were to read more, you’d know that all you need to qualify is a degree from an accredited university and to have the degree validated by the Ecuadorian institute of higher education (SENESCYT).

Its actually even easier than it sounds.

You see, Ecuador immigration law is actually quite dated. Written several years ago before there was a sizable demand of incoming migrants. And understandly, countries without much incoming demand have more open doors, cause it doesn’t matter, on the flip side, a country like the US has the doors so closed to immigrants they often have to do illegal stuff just to get in and stay in.

Some countries offer a Professional type visa for college grads, like Australia, but only for certain majors, the specialists they need. Which makes more sense than the current Ecuadorian system if you think about it.

You see, if they’ll approve someone from my major, they’ll take, well, anyone.

Why?

Well, my major was .. duh duh …duh duh… Spanish.

Yea. Damn. Think they got enough Spanish speakers in Ecuador?

If anyone were screwed it’d be me right?

Well, I guess not, I guess they needed one more spanish speaker in Ecuador, and one that speaks with a gringo accent.

Cause I got approved.

But anyway, now you see, any major will do as per the current Ecuadorian law.

So why don’t more people go for this permanent resident visa type?

They just don’t know.

But what if you don’t have a university degree from an Ecuadorian recognized institution, nor a pension, nor the money or desire to invest thousands in Ecuador?

You’ve got another option or two we’ll be covering in the next week. So stay tuned.

Now of course, I did run into a few irritating challenges during the visa application process, mainly due to lack of experience, and they almost costed me the visa!

For instance, before you even think about applying for the professional visa subscribe to my weekly Ecuador Insiders Newsletter below, you can unsubscribe at any time:

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Sample itineraries for the coast of Ecuador

 

Here you go, my picks for where to go as you plan your next big trip to the Ecuador coast in 2014.

THE SWIMMERS CIRCUIT: Beaches with flat ocean great for swimming, snorkeling, floating.

Fly into Guayaquil, then take the bus to Salinas.  Spend 2 days , 2 nights in Salinas and enjoy the long beach with water perfect for swimming, the expat bars and local seafood cuisine. Then head up the coast 40 minutes to the lazy cove of Ayangue for 2 nights, also known as lobster bay, also great for snorkeling, scuba, swimming and eating from one of the many fresh seafood stands on the beach.  Then head up the coast to Puerto Lopez, another cove with an ocean good for swimming and a more touristy town to boot.  Then take the 2 hour bus to Manta where you can fly out to Quito to catch your flight home.

SURF PARADISE:  The best surf in Ecuador.

Budget permitting, start your surf trek by taking a flight to San Cristobal in the Galapagos and enjoy empty rides on sapphire blue ocean all day long.  Then once back on the mainland from Guayaquil go to Playas and then the town just west of Playas, Engabao.  Then head up the coast 2 hours to Montanita.   Afer experiencing the hustle and bustle of Montanita head up the coast 40 minutes to completely secluded breaks off Ayampe and the more radical Tunas beaches.  From there, head north to Puerto Cayo, and time permitting further north to Canoa and then Mompiche.

PARTY / SINGLE SCENE:  This is where I’d go if I’m single and ready to jingle.

Start by flying into Quito, then after a short stay in Quito Airport Suites (come on, you know I had to plug it somewhere), fly to Esmeraldas.  Once in Esmeraldas go 20 minutes south to the party town of Atacames.  Try to hit the weekends.  Then head south to Canoa for a hippy, low-key, small town party scene, then head to the city of Manta to wine and dine with folks dressed to impress.  Then head south to the energetic Montanita, then on to the more refined Salinas where you can drink with expats and locals from Guayaquil.  Lastly, don’t forget a stop at Ecuadors largest city, and best for singles, musty Guayaquil.

FOLLOW THE SUN: Many beaches in Ecuador are overcast most the year, only a few aren’t.

Fly into Guayaquil and head immediately to one of the sunniest beaches in Ecuador year round, Playas.  Then head to nearby Salinas which also has a lot of sun.  After, head north to Ayangue, a desert cove which I’ve never seen overcast.  From there, you’ll want to buy more sunscreen and head north to San Clemente, another spot legendary for being consistently sunny, then skip oft overcast Canoa and fly home from Manta.

EXTREME SPORTS/ ACTION PACKED:

For thrill seekers, start the trip by trying your luck marlin fishing in Salinas.  You could also rent 4-wheelers and cruise around the point and the famous “whirlpool”.  Then head to nearby Ayangue where there is one of the few places on the coast to charter an organized scuba dive. Then head north to Puerto Rico where you can try your luck spear-fishing.  From there head north to surreal Santa Marianita a kite-surfing paradise.  From there head a an hour north to Crucita where you can soar with the birds off the cliffs of Crucita while hang-gliding.

AWAY FROM IT ALL / OFF THE BEATEN PATH:  For those of us that prefer ocean, not people.

Fly from Quito to Esmeraldas and head north to Las Penas, you’ll proably be the only foreigner around.  From there head south and skip the hustle of Atacames and insteaod opt for the secluded yet more refined Same, or the raw, gorgeous secluded beaches of Muisne, then hop a motorboat to Cojimes.   From there head south to the secluded, unnamed coves north of Jama and finish off your trip in Santa Marianita just south of Manta.   Then fly back to Quito from Manta.

EXPAT ROW:  The hottest expat destinations on the coast to date.

Fly into Guayaquil and b-line for Salinas.  Then head north to Olon, the beach just north of Montanita.  From lush, green Olon, continue to Manta where if you time it right you can hit an expat night-out.  From there head to the fastly-growing expat populations of Crucita and San Clemente.  From there head to Bahia and the Canoa area.  From Canoa catch one of the new highways back to Quito for your flight back to reality.

LUXURY/SHOPPING:  When ‘roughing it’ is not an option.

Start your trip flying in to Esmeraldas and heading straight for the all-inclusive resort near Mompiche.  Afterward head south to the city of Manta, where you can rent a luxury, oceanview, vacation rental or stay in one of the more luxury hotels on the coast like the Howard Johnson or Oro Verde.  From there head to the Barcelo of Salinas to dine away the rest of your trip.

WILDLIFE

Of course any wildlife lover should start their trip to Ecuador with a week in Galapagos.  Once on the mainland beaches go dolphin watching in Playas, or season permitting whale watching in Salinas.  From there head north to the town of Dos Mangas where you can take a nature hike to waterfalls and get chased down by several different types of Monkeys.  From there head to Puerto Lopez where you can take a tour to Isla de la Plata and bird watch.  There you can observe many of the species found on the Galapagos like the blue-footed boobies.

VACANT LAND HUNTERS: A lot of places on the Ecuador coast are already built up or are pricey, others are not.

To start fly into Manta and head south to the areas of Santa Marianita, San Lorenzo and then Puerto Cayo.  This stretch of coast still has some larger vacant lots available at reasonable prices as well as smaller lots as well whereas on the southern coast from Puerto Lopez on south where you’ll find little to no reasonably priced inventory.  Then head north to the area between San Vicente and Canoa to find deals on both larger and smaller beachfront lots.  From there, if you prefer an even bigger, remote lot try north of Canoa on that stretch of coastline all the way to Cojimes and Muisne.

OCEANVIEW CONDO HUNTERS

There’s only a few places to find oceanview condos on the rural coast of Ecuador.  Start in Salinas, then try Manta, Bahia and lastly Tonsupa in the north. That’s it.

21 DAY BEST OF THE BEST: Simply the best beaches, but more of them.  This is where I’d go.
Start by flying into Quito and then on to Esmeraldas where you can work from the top down.  Once in the Esmeraldas area be sure to bunk up in nearby Atacames where you’ll find the best and cheapest hotel options in the area.  While sleeping in Atacames be sure to explore nearby Tonsupa, Sua and Same on Tuk Tuk.  After 3 nights in the area, head south to secluded, way off the beaten path Muisne for the largest beach in Ecuador.  From there check out nearby Mompiche, a true hidden palm-laden paradise.  Then eat a seafood lunch on the malecon of Pedernales as you head south to Canoa.   Base yourself in Canoa for 3 nights as you explore and settle into the area.  From Canoa continue south to Bahia to have lunch and look around before continuing to San Clemente.  Rent a condo or house in San Clemente to experience true small town beach life in Ecuador, from there head to Manta where you can buy any modern conveniences you’ve been without the last 2 weeks before heading out to Santa Marianita a true diamond in the rough.  From Santa Marianita continue south through Puerto Cayo for some of the best oceanviews of the coast.  From Cayo, skip Puerto Lopez and istead opt to sleep in more relaxed and picturesque Ayampe or Puerto Rico to the south.  The waves here will impress you.  From Ayampe go south to Olon and eat shrimp on the beach in between horseback rides on the enormous golden beach popular with expats.  From Olon catch a $1.50 cab south to Montanita, a true surf and party mecca on the Ecuadorian coast.  If anything go just to dine and people watch for a day or two.  If youd like to be near Montanita but not sleep in it, try a rental in the small town next door of Manglaralto.   From Manglaralto, head south to Ayangue if scuba is your thing, if not skip it and continue right on to Salinas, a great low-effort place to finish your journey of the coast.

 

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My 2014 Ecuador bucket list: 48 Must dos off the beaten path

Hard to find such variety in a country the size of Nevada.

Yet most travelers to Ecuador get it wrong by going to lame, overpriced places like the Otavalo market.

Below is my personal Ecuador bucket list for 2014.

Things I just got to do just in case this is my last year in Ecuador (not planning on it but you never know).

1. Relax to the core all day in the hot springs in the high Andes town of Papallacta.  Afterward have a trout lunch.

2. Take a bike tour down the slopes of the Chimborazo, one of the worlds highest active volcanos at 6000 meters.

3. Take a bird watching tour in the world-renowned cloud forests of Mindo with over 400 bird species and get engulfed in thousands of Butterflies at one of the butterfly farms in the area.

4. Have a drink with women about half my age on the infamous cocktail alley of Montanita.

5. Explore the Puyango petrified forest, one of the largest in the Americas along the Peruvian border.

6. See the most remote area of Ecuador, the Yasuni, in the Amazon region before they start their planned drilling, besdies its my best chance to see big Amazonian game like jaguars, anacondas and pumas.  Another less intense option would be to fly to the city of Coca and go in canoe alng the Rio Napo to an  Eco-lodge.

7. Take the train through the high Andes from Ibarra to Salinas (a different Salinas than the one on the coast).

8. Hike arguably the most beautiful area of Ecuador from the Lagunas de Atillo to the largest waterfall in Ecuador, the San Rafael Falls and the Volcano Reventador area.

9. Visit the Saquisili (near Latacunga) thursday market for an interesting more authentic (less touristy) look into indigeous highland life.

10. Go silver bargaining along the main plaza in Chordeleg (near Cuenca) where silversmiths flex their creative muscles.

11. Try hand-gliding for the first time of the cliffs of Crucita or Canoa on the coast.

12. Bike down the entire Ecuador coast from Esmeraldas to Salinas.  Hope I get to do this one.

13. Watch the Tungurahua Volcano erupt at night from the look out over Banos.  Tours can be arranged in one of the many agencies in Baños. Cost $20 per person.

14. Observe the amazing Pink river dolphins as they frollic in the unique flooded rainforest of Cuyabeño in northern Ecuador.  Tours can be arranged once on the ground out of Quito or Lago Agrio.  Anacondas, monkeys and sloths are also possible to be seen.  Canoe Tours start from $40 per person.  

15.  Scuba dive in the crystalline waters of Galapagos off Wolfe Island where its common to see schools of hundreds of Hammerheads and dozens of whale sharks.  2 Dives start from around $130.  Best arranged once on the ground in Santa Cruz Island near the port in Puerto Ayora with local dive shops.

16.  Snorkel with the worlds smallest penguin, gigantic manta rays, big marine iguanas and (friendly) reef sharks off las Tintoreras on the picturesque snow-white sands and turqoise waters off Floreana Island in the Galapagos.  Day tours to Isabela arranged in Santa Cruz start around $65/person.

17.  Eat two buckets of the locally-famous garlic crab at one of the best crabhouses (Manny’s Crangrejal) in Guayaquil, a city known for its numerous crabhouses.  Near San Marino Mall any taxi will know where it is.  $12.

18. Hunt for fossils along the banks of the Nangaritza River, the only river that connects the Amazon to the Pacific Ocean, high in the Condor Mountain Ridge (Cordillera del Condor).  For more try lindoecuadortours.com  $25-50 /person.

19. Deep-sea fish for Marlin and Whale-watch in August off the calm shores of Salinas.  Trips can be arranged in one of the several agencies along the boardwalk.  Cost: Whalewatching from $20 per person, deep sea fishing price varies depending on amount of people.

20. Visit a coffee farm near Ibarra and learn the whole process from harvest to belly.

21.  Hummingbird watch and observe thousands of butterflies in the cloud rainforests of Mindo.  Tours can be arranged once in Mindo. Start from $20/person.

22. Trout fish in one of the surreal apline lakes in the barren Cajas National Park near Cuenca.  Tours can be arranged with Terra Diversa in Cuenca.

23. Go way off the beaten path and discover the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) of Ecuador’s Amazon.  Extreme adventure available through local guides only out of Nangaritza.  Cost: Highly negotiable.

24. Pamper myself with a the natural mud bath in the mud pools in the dry rainforest of Machalilla National Park and spend the night playing volleyball with the local indigenous and later sleeping in one of their tiki huts.  From Puerto Lopez hire a motorcycle taxi and pay a few bucks from them to take you to the indigenous community of Aguas Blancas in the park.  Cost: $10 for the day tour to the mud baths and $10/person for the night.

25. View thousands of Orchid species and hummingbirds along the well-kept trails of the Podocarpus National Park easily reached in a $4 taxi ride from the town of Zamora.  Free entrance to park.

26. Get a taste of ancient Incan life by hiking the 10km trek from El Tambo to Ingapirca, ancient Incan ruins and effectively Ecuador’s own “Machu Picchu”.  You can also take a train, taxi or bus which can be arranged out of Canar.  Ruins Entrance fee $6.

27. Get certified as a glider plane pilot in Ibarra through a one month course with a local flight instructor.  They say if you can fly a plane without an engine you can fly a plane with one.  Course starts around $1300. 2013 prices yet to be released.

28.Learn to kite surf with an instructor against the strangly barren cliff landscapes of Santa Marianita near Manta.  Classes can be arranged on site.  Prices vary.

29. Zip-line through a Banana plantation in Machala and learn all the ins and outs of the interesting business with CristyViajes.  Tours start around $20 per person.

30. Fish for Pirana in Laguna Pañacocha, a beautiful black wáter lake backed by cloud forests.  To get there, hire a local canoe where the Rio Panacayu meets the Rio Napo, to get there you’ll need to take a Nuevo Rocafuerte Canoe hired in the town of Coca.  Price varies depending on season.

31. Soak in the odd street water-wars during Carnaval in February in Cuenca where everyone goes around throwing water balloons and soaking random strangers with water guns.  Free.

32. Hike the Quillotoa Volcano and witness the majestic, stunning turquoise-colored lake in the volcano’s crater.  Can be done solo by taking a bus from Latacunga and getting off near the base.  Cost: $4 bus fare from Latacunga.

33. Mingle with sexy locals dressed to the tilt during the 2 hour river-boat cruise on the all-you-can-drink boat ‘Morgans’ which leaves every night from the boardwalk (Malecon) of Guayaquil. $15 per person includes all you can drink.

34. White-water raft and try kayaking for the first time in the lazy to fierce rivers around the city of Tena where the activities have made the town famous.

35. Explore the rarely-visited beaches north of Esmeraldas while at night dancing salsa to afro-latino beats after eating the local delicacy of Shrimp cooked in spiced coconut milk (encocado de camaron).  I’m sure I’ll feel like I’m in the Caribbean.  Cost: $5-6.

36. Visit the perplexing, friendly afro-ecuadorian community of Chota in the middle of the Andes near Otavalo and have a local Shaman (witch doctor) cleanse away my worries.  Cost: $5 bus fare from Quito.

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