vsimple
Nauruan expat in Ecuador
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About me
Nauruan
Registration: 25 January 2016
The unofficial web page of the greater Cuenca expat community by Nards Barley
I designate this thread as the unofficial web page for the Cuenca Expat community. I also designate myself as the unoffical spokesperson. It is actually a continuation of my [url=https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=224582]non-blog[/url], ...
It changes constantly and rarely does an expat get their destination right the first time. I think there are a multitude of reasons but ultimately a destination is one thing on paper but another in reality. As for Nards, the dude is chilling. Read More
Cost of living 2019 in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, As we usually do each year, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and ...
To determine whether Quito is “overblown”, I think we have to compare it to the competition, namely Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago and other capitals in South America. That’s what I would do and that’s what ... Read More
Non-financial reasons to move to Ecuador by IT1
Some people, like me, have thought of moving to Ecuador for financial reasons. Once I "normalized" or compared what I would have in the US, if I lived an Ecuadorian lifestyle in the US, it didn't really seem cheaper to move there. In ...
1. It’s a challenge and also fun. 2. it’s beautiful, for such a small country. it offers a lot in terms of geography, climate, etc currently i’m at the coast with warm / hot temps with A/C on - yesterday i was in the mountains ... Read More
Speaking Spanish in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Spanish is essential for a successful integration in Ecuador. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Spanish? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend a language ...
Coxhere, did you try the Quito language school that I recommended which provides one-on-one instruction via Skype and free for the first hour? How did that go? You have a resource in that your husband is Ecuadorian. Set some time that is dedicated ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
That is absolutely true and poverty is indeed a culprit in crime. As for the pepper spray, they sell it here. I recently saw them at Autozone displayed on a counter. I know some women carry it, but when I asked a friend if it was legal. He replied ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Cuenca is safer than Quito but it doesn’t mean there’s no crime. I talked to a Canadian that moved there and was robbed by using scopolamine. He said he woke up in the hospital after 4 days of being in a coma, not knowing what had ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Cuenca is without a doubt safer and is one of the reasons why it’s often recommended, especially to solo seniors on this website. It’s safe, has amenities, good health-care facilities, etc. But, if you like Quito, don’t let crime ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
From abroad, you sure know quite a bit about Quito. Yes, in some areas the police rarely patrol, and it’s not limited to areas in south Quito but also some areas in north. Crimes that make the news are almost always about centro-North and ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
I think people should be aware rather than worried. That’s the point of this thread to bring awareness of specific types of crime that we have in Ecuador. Crimes like express kidnappings, scopolamine drugging and modus operandi of sacapintas. Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
The only type of crime on buses that we hear and read about is petty crime. Especially, snatch and run where the thieves would time the “snatch” just as the bus opens it door. Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Yes your own car would be safer. An investigation for instance reported that 70% of express kidnappings occurred in yellow taxis in Quito. The remaining 30% were in private vehicles either the victim's or the criminal's (pirate taxi for ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
That’s good to hear but can only be verified with numbers. In Quito,robberies (person) increased 5.74% from 2017 to 2018. And so far this year assaults and violent robberies have increased 5.59% from the same period in 2018 (Jan and Feb) to ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
I think monitoring the statistical trend in crime is important as it helps us know what is happening. For instance, a decade ago there were many express kidnappings per month. In Quito for instance that number was in the hundreds per year. Then over ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
That’s good to hear but can only be verified with numbers. In Quito,robberies (person) increased 5.74% from 2017 to 2018. And so far this year assaults and violent robberies have increased 5.59% from the same period in 2018 (Jan and Feb) to ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Yes, the resurgence of express kidnappings is quite concerning. Family and friends visit regularly and now I have to give extra attention to their transportation needs while they are here. But your question “What can we do?”, is the ... Read More
Immigrants from Venezuela by mugtech
Just read that the national oil company, PDVSA, did not make an interest payment of over $400,000,000 on 11/22/16,. They do have a 30 day window, and supposedly some debt restructuring will free up more cash for interest payments. Since 95% of ...
Alright guys, here’s an update from Quito on the Venezuelan situation. Everything seems normal, and we’re well into 2019 and it continues to be nothing like last year. I mean last year was horrible, Venezuelans were everywhere, occupying ... Read More
Cost of living 2019 in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, As we usually do each year, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and ...
Cost of living April 2019, Quito Salmon fillet, $22.65 kilogram, the fillets in bags, absolutely delicious and well preserved, try the garlic honey recipe. (Supermaxi) 1 whole chicken 1.5 kilogram, $6 Tilapia fillet 454 grams (1lb) $6.29 Fresh ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Ok, the numbers are coming in and so far it’s not good. We know that violent robberies and assaults were higher in 2018 than it was in 2017. The statistics for January and February are indicating that 2019 will be worse than 2018. This is how ... Read More
Shopping online within Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
It’s 2019, and what is the current situation with online buying within Ecuador? Since 2015, not much has changed unfortunately. What has changed is that some companies like Kissu, Novicompu, CompraEcuador, etc have increased their online ...
For shoes, a good brand is also important for the technology that makes life easier whether it's running or walking long distances. I pointed this out to a friend who buys fake $25 shoes but she couldn’t care less. And as for buying ... Read More
Shopping online within Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
It’s 2019, and what is the current situation with online buying within Ecuador? Since 2015, not much has changed unfortunately. What has changed is that some companies like Kissu, Novicompu, CompraEcuador, etc have increased their online ...
Also with online shopping one has to be wary of fakes. Especially footwear, cologne and perfume. A few days ago I was shopping online for sneakers, either Nike, Adidas or Reebok and I found Adidas Fashion Air Max. :lol: Air Max is a Nike product, ... Read More
Ecuador "in the news" around the world by Molari
[color=#3928D7]I thought it would be good to share a daily or weekly update of Ecuadaor in the news around the world. If anyone would like to help out, most welcome to. :) Here is this weeks news:[/color] [quote][color=#757D8A][b]70-year-old ...
His hacking buddies cyber-attacked some websites in Ecuador. It's rather pathetic especially because a website associated with education was hacked. Although my credit card didn't go through in one transaction, today, but it's ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Adjusting to new climatic conditions is key in any expatriation process. Moving to Ecuador is no exception. What are the climate characteristics of Ecuador? How does the local weather impact your daily life, mood or ...
Five straight days of sunshine. What this means is that the rainy season is most likely over, at least in the capital. I'm not sure what the final damage toll is but hundreds of houses were destroyed this past season. A lot of damage occurred, ... Read More
Speaking Spanish in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Spanish is essential for a successful integration in Ecuador. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Spanish? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend a language ...
I miss this thread. It symbolizes a struggle, a beautiful struggle to learning Spanish. 2016, 2017, 2018 were beautiful years. I miss the first grammar book step-by-step, you never forget your first, that book is awesome BTW. Yes, I miss the ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
Good info Lebowski. :top: Cleared up questions I had. Yup, Youtube premium sounds like a winner. As for Youtube Music app working, I use it all the time in the car and using it right now on playstation, this is assuming it’s the same app ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
I'd like to elaborate on how great Youtube is now. Check this out so I'm listening to M83 Midnight City, then I Follow Rivers and then Youtube takes me to Gorillaz, one of my favorite bands. Nice! But wait, not just Gorillaz, but Gorillaz ... Read More
Finally coming to Cuenca
Ok, to answer question #1 Quito has a few, and Cuenca probably does too by doing a quick search on Google. Just search: go-carts Cuenca, karting Cuenca and you should get some hits and determine for yourself. I said probably because things change, ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
Youtube has definitely changed their algorithm and it's much better now. I think the new algorithm roll-out for Ecuador was recent. But, it's a much more pleasant experience. The music Youtube selects is much better IMO and they probably ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
There isn't a formula to develop a mutual trusting relationship. For me, before I owned my own ride it just happened, there was one driver that i felt comfortable with for several reasons including him owning his own car. This is important ... Read More
Breathe Easier: Ecuador Cutting Bus & Truck Fuel Pollution By 84 % ! by cccmedia
This is some of the best news to be announced by Ecuador's government in years. The low-grade diesel fuel that has constituted the biggest and baddest pollution menace in the cities of La República has been undergoing a major ...
So here's the situation with buses that are diesel and gas powered. They will live out their lifespan and then be replaced by electric buses. That's basically the plan, and most of the current buses are already 15 years old with 20 years ... Read More
Breathe Easier: Ecuador Cutting Bus & Truck Fuel Pollution By 84 % ! by cccmedia
This is some of the best news to be announced by Ecuador's government in years. The low-grade diesel fuel that has constituted the biggest and baddest pollution menace in the cities of La República has been undergoing a major ...
More good news for residents in Ecuador and the world as a whole. Ecuador will reduce harmful gases by 20.9% from now until 2025. The reduction will be in the energy, industrial, waste (assuming collection and disposal) and agriculture sectors. ... Read More
Food Discoveries at your local Mercado (or at Megamaxi/Comsariato) by lebowski888
So I found this treat at Megamaxi: [b]Del Mar's Filete de Trucha Ahumado Al Caliente[/b] (Hot Smoked Trout) Fantastic!! Hardwood smoked just with salt. Naturally high in Omega 3s. I think it was about $4.50 for 150g. Will become a weekly ...
Morocho, this is a local dessert that is a little bit similar to rice pudding. But, it's made from corn rather than rice. Other ingredients are milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Some place get a little fancy and add raisins and thin slices of coconut. ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
Here's an update on Glovo which I reviewed briefly earlier on this thread. It is awful because the drivers are dishonest. You have to hand it to them though, they always come up with ways to increase the bill. One example is picking up food ... Read More
Immigrants from Venezuela by mugtech
Just read that the national oil company, PDVSA, did not make an interest payment of over $400,000,000 on 11/22/16,. They do have a 30 day window, and supposedly some debt restructuring will free up more cash for interest payments. Since 95% of ...
There’s a little confusion at the moment. The constitutional court has suspended the “restrictions” that are currently in place for Venezuelans, for example apostilled police certificates that state whether or not a person has a ... Read More
Shopping online within Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
It’s 2019, and what is the current situation with online buying within Ecuador? Since 2015, not much has changed unfortunately. What has changed is that some companies like Kissu, Novicompu, CompraEcuador, etc have increased their online ...
Change is obviously on the horizon but how long that'll be is another matter. Read More
Finally coming to Cuenca by shift_happens
After a few years and reading as much as I could I'm finally visiting Cuenca for 2 weeks 13-26 June with my university student son. As my son is planning his new future in Hospitality management when he graduates I would like to see if Cuenca ...
An FYI about taxis. In Quito taxis use meters before 10 PM. So, don't even get in a taxi if the driver refuses to use one because that would be an exception. Also, at Quito's airport the fares are fixed and vary by zones passengers go to. ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
Here's my review of Condor Stout (by Camino Del Sol ). I'm not a connoisseur like the dudes on beer forums but I'll try my best. 296 ml bottle ABV 5.4% Price: on sale for $1.59 and reason why I bought a few of these. Poured ... Read More
Shopping online within Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
It’s 2019, and what is the current situation with online buying within Ecuador? Since 2015, not much has changed unfortunately. What has changed is that some companies like Kissu, Novicompu, CompraEcuador, etc have increased their online ...
Hopefully, someone will give us an update on buying things from places like Amazon. Maybe, things have improved in that regard but I doubt it. What I do with stuff that I buy from Amazon is bring it in luggage when I travel abroad and back or have ... Read More
Shopping online within Ecuador 2019
It’s 2019, and what is the current situation with online buying within Ecuador? Since 2015, not much has changed unfortunately. What has changed is that some companies like Kissu, Novicompu, CompraEcuador, etc have increased their online ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Here is a positive update on that corner (portugal and 6 de diciembre) that I posted about. I went by there the other day and noticed a police tent with two motorcycle units. I don’t know how long it’s been there, but it’s located ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Adjusting to new climatic conditions is key in any expatriation process. Moving to Ecuador is no exception. What are the climate characteristics of Ecuador? How does the local weather impact your daily life, mood or ...
Members who have been watching the news know that mother nature has been wreaking havoc on Ecuador the past couple of weeks. Reports are that 8 of the 24 provinces have been affected by significant rainfall. And it appears in all zones of the ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Ok, I understand. The middle class is whatever you say it is and the wealthy class are whatever you say they are and you can't or don't want to specifically define either group. In other words, it's all your feelings, and so ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Your question is weird. You know my point: A wealthy class of Ecuadorians exists and by comparison the vast majority of expats incomes are middle class. Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
I know all to well about expenses. Some, owners have taxis as investments and rent the taxi to the cooperativa for $2000 a month similar to NNN.Ok, wasn't trying to impute your knowledge. Merely the example you chose for a "wealthy" ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Not sure if you know, but income for any business (which would include owner-operator taxis) is revenues - expenses. So first you would need to subtract gas and vehicle maintenance then the cost of any licensing/memberships and/or loans. Since I ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
BTW guys, the taxi drivers who earn more than $2000 a month are the ones in the Quito airport cooperativa. They make 3-4 trips each day at $25 per. Next time anyone visits Quito and takes an airport taxi, tell them that some foreigners think they ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Dude, please lets not get personal. This topic is not about me. You started an interesting topic, one that I like and engaged in. Your point is that relative to most Ecuadorians then expats are wealthy. My point is that expats relative to the ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Your claim was that the “vast majority of N.Americans would be considered wealthy.” My point is that is a fallacy because claiming such would be blind to the fact that an Ecuadorian wealthy class exists. The vast majority of expats ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Relative to wealthy Ecuadorians, every income category is middle class there. The first two categories ($800-$2000) are what some taxi drivers who own their own cars earn each month in Quito. (BTW 30k-75k investment) The $2k-$3k is what managers ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
I would say skewed is an understatement, at best, and your statistics are probably unreliable considering that Ecuador is a cash society. Restaurants, convenience stores, hair saloons, mechanics, clothing stores, taxi drivers, landlords, etc ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
The fact of the matter is that Ecuadorians abroad send a lot of money to relatives in Ecuador. For 2017, the remittances were nearly $3 billion dollars. Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
Absolutely. And as I pointed out in my post, I rent whereas the wealthy own million dollar homes. A quick look at OLX will reveal there are over 150 listings for houses that cost $1 Million or more. That's just on OLX. Also we have to keep in ... Read More
Car Detailing in Ecuador
One of my favorite hobbies is car detailing, and this thread is to share information on car care products in Ecuador. Tips are also welcome. Alright, for people who know a little about car detailing, then you’ll know two of the most popular ... Read More
Poverty, Wealth and Expats by antialiased
This topic has come up a number of times yet I (usually) only rely on personal observations to make the case that the vast majority of N. American expats would be considered wealthy. However, today I decided to actually collect statistics/data. ...
I’m in the top 1% for Ecuador, but I certainly do not consider myself wealthy. Why? Because by comparison I know a wealthy class exists here whose wealth is considerably more. If by wealthy we’re talking about income, properties, and ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
BTW guys, Uber in Ecuador has been dethroned. The most popular transportation App now is inDriver. With inDriver, customers can set the price of the fare. So, for instance you want to go from Quito to Cumbayá, well you (customer) sets the ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
An important observation that I have experienced and would like to share. My cell phone provider is Claro, and the internet in my ride is also Claro. I didn't know about the latter until recently. Anyhow, here's what happened. Claro was down ... Read More
Rating the Fast-Food Outlets of Ecuador by cccmedia
As my choice for Best Fast Food in Quito .. I'm going with a place I frequent at the QuiCentro Shopping Mall's extensive [i]patio de comidas[/i] (food court) on Avenida Naciones Unidas... [b]Cajun Exotic[/b] The [i]platos fuertes[/i] ...
You're hungry and want something quick and healthy. Where do you go to get that in the capital? The obvious choices are Go Green and Freshii. I'll review Go Green in this post. They sell all sorts of healthy food from wraps to lettuce ... Read More
Cost of living 2019 in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, As we usually do each year, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and ...
The following vegetables are all organic. So, those interested in organic produce will have a good idea of prices. Quito, March 2018 Carrots 350 grams $1.70 Spinach 250g $1.25 Tomatoes 1.275 kilogram $3.52 Kale 85g $1.69 Zucchini 325g ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
I also enjoy the night but as one mayoral candidate, Paola Vintimilla, said, “Quito is like a cemetery after 2 AM.” She wants to make Quito open 24/7 by adding more cops and making public transport 24/7. Considering that, I regularly ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
I posted about this murder in my first post. It happened around 8 PM, in a shady staircase area just outside of centro histórico in La Tola. Tenants were quoted in newspaper articles as stating that screams of help were common from those ... Read More
Breathe Easier: Ecuador Cutting Bus & Truck Fuel Pollution By 84 % ! by cccmedia
This is some of the best news to be announced by Ecuador's government in years. The low-grade diesel fuel that has constituted the biggest and baddest pollution menace in the cities of La República has been undergoing a major ...
Yes, I read about that, and actually 40 of the buses have already arrived in Ecuador where apparently they will be assembled locally. These BYD electric buses will also have wifi on board. Being electric and having free wifi is yet another ... Read More
Immigrants from Venezuela by mugtech
Just read that the national oil company, PDVSA, did not make an interest payment of over $400,000,000 on 11/22/16,. They do have a 30 day window, and supposedly some debt restructuring will free up more cash for interest payments. Since 95% of ...
Ecuador has suspended its membership in UNASUR (similar to EU but without common currency) today. All matters regarding the union are suspended and formal steps to leave it were initiated. So why is this news in this thread? The answer, dear ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
Lebowski is quite the connoisseur of Ecuadorian craft beer. :top: I tried the Cherusker Sommer and it was okay. Nothing special, but I’ve heard positive things about their other choices. If a particular beer is real good, point that out so ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Yes Cuenca is much safer than Quito. My reference for centro histórico was also about Quito. When you arrive in Cuenca and start making friends and acquaintances, you'll start to know which areas, streets are best to avoid. Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Definitely not, my post was all about Quito. Cuenca is one of the safest cities in Ecuador. As for using a mobile phone, I have an Iphone and use it freely on public streets with the exception of centro histórico. There i'll use it only at ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Let’s look at some practical ways to help expats avoid being victims of crime. With regards to withdrawing large sums of money 1. Don’t withdraw cash 2. Wire/transfer the money, just fill out a simple form at the bank and you are ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Personally, I love Ecuador despite all its faults. Health wise, it has been nice to me considering I suffered from environmental asthma in previous countries. Social life is nice too and the best part about Ecuador. Then there is the natural beauty, ... Read More
Starting out by Dustee
Hello, My wife and I are doing all of the research into moving to Ecuador in a few years starting with the first exploratory trip this May. I was hoping that we could possibly get in touch with a few people living in different areas of the coast ...
It’s probably helpful to read online info on why some expats left Ecuador. Those reasons may give insight on how to better approach life here. The main reasons often given on why expats leave are: Language difficulty Culture Missing home ... Read More
46 percent of Ecuadorians work informally by vsimple
Between 2017-2018, 46 percent of Ecuadorians worked informally. This is 2 percentage points higher than 2016-2017. In the capital, this increase is easily seen as there are more informal workers on the streets. Exasperating the problem are ...
Alright, if informal workers are on one end of the economic spectrum who is on the other end? The rich, or a class of Ecuadorians that many blogging expats at one point were oblivious about. Because claiming to live upper-class lifestyles on middle ... Read More
46 percent of Ecuadorians work informally by vsimple
Between 2017-2018, 46 percent of Ecuadorians worked informally. This is 2 percentage points higher than 2016-2017. In the capital, this increase is easily seen as there are more informal workers on the streets. Exasperating the problem are ...
I think service Apps like Glovo, Uber eats, domicilio, uber, cabify, easy taxi, etc are increasingly impacting the informal economy. This type of work is probably on the upper echelons of informal works. If for example on the bottom end is selling ... Read More
46 percent of Ecuadorians work informally by vsimple
Between 2017-2018, 46 percent of Ecuadorians worked informally. This is 2 percentage points higher than 2016-2017. In the capital, this increase is easily seen as there are more informal workers on the streets. Exasperating the problem are ...
Ok, good point. The total working age population is 10,681,725. The older group 45-64 comprises 2,835,213, or basically 26.6 percent. The 29.6 percent underemployment rate for that age group is 3 percent higher than % of population (working). ... Read More
46 percent of Ecuadorians work informally
Between 2017-2018, 46 percent of Ecuadorians worked informally. This is 2 percentage points higher than 2016-2017. In the capital, this increase is easily seen as there are more informal workers on the streets. Exasperating the problem are ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
Yes, Ecuador is special and lovely in so many ways. I also enjoyed craft beer on tap tonight, and residents of Ecuador should be more than pleased that this beautiful little country offers us so much of everything, To put it in perspective in terms ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
The Dude was not kidding when he said he liked his beer dark and sweet. :D Yeah, I looked at the numbers for the KIMO cacao nibs stout, and the IBU (International Bitterness Units) number is only 13. That is quite low considering the most popular ... Read More
Crime in Ecuador 2019 by vsimple
A new year, and updated information relating to crime is important. For members who contribute, do state the city and area you are referring to and preferably a source. Here is an Ecuadorian word that all residents should know - [i]sacapintas[/i]. ...
Some precautions are don’t withdraw large sums of cash like one of the victims did. Large amounts of cash attract attention, and criminals apparently think it’s obvious when people are carrying briefcases and backpacks. The second ... Read More
Cost of living 2019 in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, As we usually do each year, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and ...
Alright lets talk inflation. So far this year things are looking good. The INEC or the National Institute of Statistics and Census released inflation numbers for 9 cities in Ecuador. The annual inflation number stood at 0.16 percent while February ... Read More
Gallon of Super Gas (92 Octane) is now $2.98 by vsimple
This has received a tremendous amount of press and as of today the price of 1 gallon of súper gas is officially $2.98. Before the increase, it was selling between $2.10 - $2.32/ gallon. The increase is result of lifting of subsidies for this ...
Alright, just an update on how the pricing mechanism works regarding Super (92 octane) gasoline per gallon. EP Petroecuador establishes a suggested price for gas stations to follow. This suggested price also informs the public what a the cost should ... Read More
where can i get good cheese? what brands? by lebowski888
So far, I haven't found any good quality cheese in Ecuador. I'm not really thinking about rare, fancy artisanal cheeses. More like above average quality, but mass-market, cheese brands lik Tilamook or Cabot. I'm into aged cheddar, ...
I found good cheese. I repeat I found good cheese. At Megamaxi, on 6 de diciembre. I haven’t been there for a while since I moved a bit more up north. But, they got the good stuff now. I’m talking about genuine savory swiss cheese ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
You’re lucky as you’ll be moving to Ecuador at a time of much improved internet phone connectivity even on the coast. Prices have also improved considerably, compared to a few years ago. If you are a casual Internet user. The CNT, ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
I would just point out that 2.5 million firearms in a country of about 50 million is not that much - that's just one firearm for every 20 people - the USA by comparison has more firearms than ... Read More
The pet culture in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hey everyone, Pets are an integral part of a lot of families. So much so that they would never consider moving abroad without them. Before doing so, it would be important to know the pet culture in Ecuador just to make sure that their little ...
What part do pets play in society in Ecuador? Are they generally accepted in rentals and public spaces more generally? In many newer buildings in Quito, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find rental apartments that allow pets (dogs). Many ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
The beauty with technology is that it is more objective than people. And that was my point with regards to Google Traffic. Any member, at anytime can see for themselves that state of traffic in real-time or view hourly historical data of traffic in ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Nope, I will just restate what I posted earlier for the sake of members who read this board. HGQ2112 posts are biased and quite desperate in an attempt to portray Ecuador negatively. More importantly, HGQ dishonest argument in trying to equate ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
Distribution is problematic for many small companies. IMO, one of main reasons is transportation. Let’s take Quito to Manta as an example, it’s merely a 250 mile/400km trip but it takes as much as 7 or 8 hours because the terrain is ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
bigBrad2008 makes a good point, and considering HGQ2112 represents a company, his/her username HGQ should be open to criticism. However, HGQ is more than just biased, the posts by that so-called “professional” are also quite desperate to ... Read More
Rating the Fast-Food Outlets of Ecuador by cccmedia
As my choice for Best Fast Food in Quito .. I'm going with a place I frequent at the QuiCentro Shopping Mall's extensive [i]patio de comidas[/i] (food court) on Avenida Naciones Unidas... [b]Cajun Exotic[/b] The [i]platos fuertes[/i] ...
We've had El Corral for a while, and I never paid it any mind. There's actually a few of them in the capital. I will try these super burgers that you speak of, and for combos priced between $7-$12, they better be. :D Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Murdered by a Venezuelan citizen. This is why local authorities are demanding police/judicial certificates from Venezuelan citizens in order to enter the country. Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer by vsimple
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ...
With regard to the price being pricey as dumluk put's it, we have to keep in mind that those prices are from one brand, Camino Del So which is mainly sold in higher-end pubs. There are of course cheaper craft beer brands, but for a light beer ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Yeah, I read about the in the local news. 150 Colombian families were displaced from Colombia to Ecuador because of armed violence. The gun violence that plagues Colombia is one of the main reasons why it's much more violent than ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Quito and Guayaquil airports' are often ranked as among the best in South America. I know Quito has won best airport more than once. It's a great airport and in a great location with room to grow. With regards to previous comments about ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Speaking of cafes. There has been a great improvement in this area too. There are so many good ones now, my personal favorite is Sweet & Coffee, an Ecuadorian company. Try their Moccachino with one of their delicious chocolate cakes or for a ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
We strayed quite a bit on this thread. A lot of opinionated info, and a lot of BS. I don’t even know if this thread is salvageable (considering that the topic is “How has Ecuador been improving). The reality is there have been many ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
If we think about it, a bad economy is inconsequential for expat retirees. For example:, in Quito some of the best areas in the city have much cheaper rent compared to the oil boom years. I posted an article stating such somewhere on this forum. An ... Read More
Festivals in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, What are the main festivals in Ecuador? Are there art, food, music, film, or other festivals expats can attend and participate in? When do the festivals take place? How long does each festival usually last? What activities ...
It’s that time of year again, Carnaval. Officially, it’ll be March 4th, and 5th. But, considering that March 2nd, and 3rd fall on a weekend, many people will be celebrating 4 consecutive days. Some in the capital are already heading out ... Read More
How did you select your wireless carrier and your calling plan? by Nards Barley
I don't remember how I chose I chose[url=http://www.movistar.com.ec/]Movistar[/url], but I have always been adverse to the word "plan", so a prepaid chip was my only consideration . I have never really spent any time trying to compare ...
They offer all sorts of mobile phones. But, it will be cheaper to bring an unlocked sim-card ready phone from abroad. Customs allows up-to 2 mobile phones. A new one and a used one. So, not 2 new ones. Read More
How did you select your wireless carrier and your calling plan? by Nards Barley
I don't remember how I chose I chose[url=http://www.movistar.com.ec/]Movistar[/url], but I have always been adverse to the word "plan", so a prepaid chip was my only consideration . I have never really spent any time trying to compare ...
Alright guys, here is some good news. CNT today launched Todos Conectados. This is a prepaid mobile phone plan that costs $7.84 a month. It will include: -2 GB of data usage -Unlimited WhatsApp (within Ecuador) -200 MB Facebook data usuage -50 ... Read More
Ecuadorian Craft Beer
Beer drinkers in Ecuador probably know the industrial variety of beers that are locally sold including the two most popular brands, Pilsener and Club. This thread is to share information about Ecuadorian craft beer. The main difference between ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
Thank you for the much needed dose of reality, from those actually living there. Some would have the gullible believe that Quito is like having the Autobahn to one's self ... nary a wisp of traffic. Smh. Bad enough my career industry perpetuates ... Read More
How has Ecuador been improving? by vsimple
As an expat, one of the things that I look for when living in a country is the direction that it’s going. Simply put, is it becoming better or worse. Living in Ecuador, I can say that things for the most part have been improving and below is a ...
As a Quito resident who took hundreds of taxis, buying an automatic SUV was one of the best decisions that I've made. Driving my own ride has made all aspects related to transportation better. I drive everyday and at all hours, and traffic is ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Ecuador. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
I’ll share my experience, considering I used Glovo over the weekend. I was home and wanted to make a specific dish but lacked some ingredients so I used Glovo to order groceries. Using it is pretty straightforward, you input your data ... Read More
Immigrants from Venezuela by mugtech
Just read that the national oil company, PDVSA, did not make an interest payment of over $400,000,000 on 11/22/16,. They do have a 30 day window, and supposedly some debt restructuring will free up more cash for interest payments. Since 95% of ...
Q: What’s the difference between Venezuelans and Colombians in Quito? A: Aside from being friendlier and harder working, Colombians want to permanently live in Quito/Ecuador. As a matter of fact, almost all of them. 69%(refugees/asylum ... Read More