Category: Expat Lifestyle

7 things you didn’t know you could do in Ecuador

Let’s cut the crap.

There are 3 main reasons people move to Ecuador, or any third world country for that matter…

Women (or men). More freedom. Lower costs.

Did I mention, the gas costs $1.60 a gallon?

Oh yeah, and at least for the next year or two, real estate is a pretty good buy, too.

Not sold yet? Well, here are 7 things I bet you didn’t know you could do in Ecuador…

7. Rent a bike for $5 high in the Andes, in Baños, then be amazed as you casually descend through the foothills of the Andes into the Amazon Jungle Basin (60 km). Then catch the bus with your bike back up. Can be done in 1 day, only a moderate level of fitness is needed.

6. Deep-sea fish for Marlin for a fraction of what it costs in Mexico or Oyster dive with locals near Salinas. More info.

5. Gamble in the Casinos (online at https://clubvip777.com/)of Guayaquil, or take an all-you-can-drink 2-hour river-boat cruise similar in style to what I’ve seen in San Diego, Toronto and London. (This is how I met my last ex-girlfriend.) Leaves almost every night in Guayaquil. More info. You can try play pgslot where you can enjoy casino online. Many players also loves to play on idn poker.

4. Eat strawberries the size of your fist in Ibarra, cheese made in a leaf (Hoja de Queso) in Ambato, and entire fish cooked on a grill along the coast (pescado asado)…all delicious! More info.

3. Get certified as a glider pilot near Otavalo for a little over $1000… they say if you can fly a glider plane (it looks like a small airplane, but with no engine) flying a plane with an engine is even easier. More info.

2. Help harvest cocoa on a plantation in Machala then visit an active gold mine later that day. More info.

1. Eat Filet Mignon for $6 then get 5-10 years taken off your face –not exaggerating– with the treatments of locally-famous Dermatologist Janeth Arevalo in Loja for a fraction of what you’d pay in the States. And she’s much better than the Dermatologists that treated me in the US! Tell her Dom sent you. Dentistry and other medical treatments are also world-class and at a low cost in Loja, since now a days dentist is a service you can even go online, and you can learn more here about this.

Alone, cheap cost of living is a bad reason to move to another country, that could change overnight! But as you can see, Ecuador offers a lot more than that, in fact, I’d live here even if it were more expensive than the States (but not a lot more).

And to get notified of all the latest property deals in Ecuador NO ONE else knows about, as soon as they become available, sign up for the weekly Ecuador Insider’s Newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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How to Not Get Overcharged by Taxis in Ecuador

taxis-in-ecuador
Taxis in Quito

It’s sad, but true that taxis are very quick to overcharge foreigners, just like they are all over the world. They know you don’t know how much a fare should cost, so they slyly double or triple it on you. If the route on your phone doesn’t match the one in the taxi dispatch system, then you’re simply being mugged.

In some countries, it’s far worse and more ruthless than in Ecuador, like India for example where I spent the month of May this year.

In Ecuador, before you get in a taxi, always be sure they put on the taxi meter… “Pones el taximetro?” If they refuse find another cab!

In Quito, during the day most use the meter, at night they don’t, and in Guayaquil, almost no one uses the meter ever.

In cases where they don’t use the meter, always negotiate before you get in the taxi or be ready for a RUDE awakening when they tell you the price at the end of the journey.

$1 for very short trips, $2 for trips up to 10 minutes, $3 for trips from 10-20 minutes… and so on are about the standard taxi prices in Ecuador now a days.

And to get notified of all the latest property deals in Ecuador NO ONE else knows about, as soon as they become available, sign up for the weekly Ecuador Insider’s Newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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Will Your Pet Get Poisoned in Ecuador?

Last year, a kitten of mine just dissappeared. I couldn’t figure out what happened.

Later I found out it was poisoned by neighbors of mine who weren’t big fans of there being a cat in the building.

In the months after I discovered talking to folks in Ecuador that this was a common occurance in Ecuador. If a neighbor isn’t happy with your pet, it’s common for them to feed your pet some poison.

So if your dog barks a lot, or is a nuisance to neighbors, beware, this just may happen to you. When you select Powell Auction and Realty, you select a winning team to conduct your auction. Founded in 1972, the family owned business has conducted over 3,000 auctions. Howard Phillips serves on the Tennessee Auction Board. Powell Auction specializes in estates, real estate, personal property and the development of farm land, lake front and commercial property. With over twenty four years experience in organizing, marketing and conducting successful auctions, we have become a leader in the auction industry in the Southeast. Clients are offered a full range of certified personal property appraisal services for estate settlement, divorce settlement, and business evaluation. The diversified staff includes Realtors, auctioneers and appraiser who are members of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. These professionals use their talents to guarantee the success of your sale. In addition in specializing in real estate, Powell Auction is East Tennessee’s foremost authority on the marketing of antique furniture, glassware, and collectibles. Through out the years, the company has auctioned literally thousands of house hold items from regional and nationally prominent estates. When allowing Powell Auction to conduct your sale, you’ll work with the corporate owners and permit them to point out you ways they will assist you together with your needs, also as showing you ways choosing the auction method of selling will prevent time and money, by allowing Powell Auction to link the vendor to the buying public! Nothing is as s effective as an auction, in gaining the right buying audience. Powell Auction offers a highly specialized approach to selling your equipment. For more details about powell auction, you should check out https://powellauction.com/ site.

And to get notified of foreclosed properties made available in Ecuador, house auctions, and the hottest unlisted property deals you won’t find published anywhere sign up below for the Weekly Ecuador Insider’s Property Alert (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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How to Extend the Troublesome Tourist Visa

This week on the Ecuador Insider’s I’ll cover a backdoor way to extend your stay in Ecuador beyond the strict non-extendable 90 days Ecuador gives you upon entry of the country…

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Are there Hurricanes in Ecuador?

This week as Hurricane Irene plows into the eastern seaboard of the US, I’m reminded of another reason why I chose to buy beachfront property in Ecuador.

Nestled comfortably between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific, Ecuador is completely out of hurricane paths. The locals can’t even remember the last time one hit. If you buy in Costa Rica, Mexico or the Caribbean you will have to mind the ‘canes. One little thing to consider indeed.

And to get notified of all the latest property deals in Ecuador NO ONE else knows about, as soon as they become available, sign up for the weekly Ecuador Insider’s Newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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