The Ecuador Insider

Quito– Taxis are safe and helpful. It is perfectly OK to walk a few blocks or so at night with no problems except for around the tourist zone of the “Mariscal” and in the south of the city (the more ghetto part). In those areas stay in well lit areas and limit walking to a minimum.

Cuenca– This is a safe, small city where I have walked distances at night with no problems or worries at all. The center of the city is quite deserted after dark though, taxis are still a decent and cheap option.

Salinas– This small resort town is perfectly safe, you can walk around at all hours with no problems. Unless you have really bad luck nothing will ever happen to you.

Manta– The center of Manta around the port area and bus terminal are to be avoided on foot at night, but the outer parts are fine for walking, even at night.

Guayaquil– Guayaquil has the worst rep for safety in Ecuador, and with reason. It is not advisable to walk more than a block or two at night…even taxis late at night are not particularly safe (better to call a taxi service to come pick you up than catch a random one in the street). I love Guayaquil: but I’d say about 10% of people love it, 90% hate it, to each his own.

A good taxi service I have used in Guayaquil can be reached locally at: 220-3737

Small towns on the coast– The small towns in Ecuador have, small, pleasant, warm people that are safe and generally try to avoid conflict at all costs. (Some even leave their houses unlocked!)

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I don’t think I have to spell out the enormous benefits of having a bank account in another country. For one, you can take money out of the ATM when in that country without paying fees. Deposit money and pay bills without having to transfer the money into the country every time; and not to mention, tax advantages with regards to your home country.

In Ecuador, you can get that offshore bank account you desire.

The problem is that a foreigner in Ecuador can’t get an account without a local ID card, given out when you are already a resident on one of the resident visas.

I know what you’re thinking…

“OK, but I just arrived, and not on a resident visa but simply a tourist one, so how can I get an account now?”

Here is the trick; avoid the big banks of Ecuador, with the stricter policies, and head for the smaller banks, there are several, preferably the ones whose main colors are green or red…

These smaller banks are much more likely to overlook their normal regulations and give you an account. (Most Ecuadorians view foreigners as high rollers and the banks are no different. Big banks already have their accounts, but the smaller ones are constantly on the lookout!)

If one banker turns you down, try a different branch of the same bank, where you may have more luck.

But, the easiest way to get an account in Ecuador in these smaller banks is to KNOW someone with an account in one.

Word of mouth referrals are king in Latin America, and if they are a current client, they can refer you, and the bank will often overlook their normal restrictions and open an account for you. So ask around and find someone (maybe even your real estate agent could help you out)…

In Latin America, not only the banks value highly word of mouth referrals, but the whole society. Million dollar deals are made daily between people simply based on their spoken word, their reputation and personal recommendations.

…It is easier than you think to meet people your first week down here, go to church, message people on Facebook, take a language class…

Then have them recommend you verbally in their (preferibly smaller, flexible bank) and that’s it, the account is yours.

Remember, it’s not necessary to have a contact, but it certainly helps.

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Internet is readily available and cheap in Ecuador…you have several options…my personal favorites are TELMEX and TVCable…

With TelMex I pay $18 a month for internet with reasonably good speed…i can watch videos and listen to radio online ok…no contract required, no installation fees…you could hire for one month and chao, no strings attached (just like I like it)…

With TVCable they charge $36 a month for Cable TV(41 channels), broadband internet, and a local phone line with 700 minutes included per month (to other land lines)…

If you are really out in the boonies, I would recommend getting a Huawei with Porta…it is one of those USB cards you can plug in to your lap top and connect to the internet anywhere there is cell phone access (which is almost anywhere in Ecuador except maybe the deep amazon jungle)…

…the cost for the huawei is around $80, and then around $30 per month, prepaid, you can also buy day cards for $3 (last I checked)…But caution, this type of connection will be slow!

As for getting free WIFI internet, I usually have luck in Ecuador in the biggest malls in town, the lobbies of up-scale hotels (being a foreigner they probably won’t even ask you if you are a guest).

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One big problem foreigners have when traveling by bus in Ecuador is getting overcharged by the bus drivers for not knowing the actual prices…! Know before you go using this crokis…

Quito- LataCunga $1.70, 1 hr 30 min
Quito – Ambato $2.70, 3 hrs
Quito – Banos $3.70, 4 hrs
Quito – Puyo $5.20 , 5 hrs
Quito – Tena $6, 5 hrs
Quito- Riobamba $3.75, 3 hrs 30 min
Quito – Lago Agrio $7, 7 hrs
Quito – Santo Domingo $2.75, 3 hrs
Quito – Pedernales $6.50, 6 hrs
Quito – Cuenca $10.20, 9 hrs
Quito – Guayaquil $8.25, 9 hrs
Quito – Esmeraldas $7.20, 6 hrs
Quito – Huaquillas (Peru Border) $10.50, 12 hrs
Quito – Loja $14, 13 hrs
Quito – Azogues $9, 8 hrs
Quito – Canar $8, 6 hrs
Quito – Otavalo $2.25, 2 hrs
Quito – Ibarra $3, 3 hrs
Quito – Tulcan (Colombia border) $5, 6 hrs
Quito – Macas $8, 8 hrs

Manta – Montecristi $.50, 30 min
Manta – Puerto Cayo $2.38, 2 hrs
Manta – Machalilla $2.80, 2 hrs 30 min
Manta – Puerto Lopez $3.00, 3 hrs
Manta – Ayampe $3.75, 3 hrs, 30 min
Manta – Crucita $1.50, 1 hr 30 min
Manta – Quito $8, 8 hrs
Manta – Guayaquil $3, 4 hrs

Guayaquil – Salinas $3, 3 hrs
Guayaquil – Playas $2, 1 hr 30 min
Guayaquil – Machala $3, 3 hrs
Guayaquil – Cuenca $4, 3 hrs 30 min
Guayaquil – Montanita $4, 4 hrs
Salinas- Montanita $1.50, 1 hr 30 min
Montanita – Olon $.25, 15 min
Olon – Ayampe $.75, 45 min
Ayampe – Manta $3.75, 3 hrs, 30 min

The Tilapia is a true Ecuadorian delight! The Tilapia is a fish that is often found in fisheries and ponds in the highlands and Amazon regions of Ecuador.

The meat is white and tasty, similar to trout but less “fishy”.

Locals LOVE it.

The best places to try it is in Puyo, Banos, Loja, Zamora and Vilcabamba.