tmac1949
American expat in Ecuador
Forum posts
34
Contacts
8
About me
American
Lives in Cuenca
Registration: 09 March 2011
The Swing at the End of the World
I have been there, if the weather is clear a great view of the volcano, and if the volcano goes off even better. The volcano is normally clouded in. Well worth the drive up the hill. Another great view is from the cell towers on a mountain across ... Read More
Carrying of passport. by customade
Hello Folks, I had read on some government site that a person should always have your passport with you. What happens in Ecuador? Is this rule applied? The same rule for Russia, Ukraine and China, but nobody does.
I have lived in ec for 3 years been through countless traffic stops, have never been asked once for a passport. Might be good to have a copy with you incase you tip over or get run over, they can figure out who you are and contact someone, but they ... Read More
motorcycle license by Cold Chill
I am considering buying a new $1500.00 motorcycle when I arive in ecuador.Does anyone out there know cost and procedure for license of bike and myself? thank you for your time.:rolleyes:
Here is the trick, by from a dealer that will pull the plate for you!, Doing it on your own takes an act of god and about 6 months. If your comming to cuenca I can introduce you to a dealer. I bought a chinese 250 dirt bike a year ago, its been ... Read More
We are on our way by Lance & Chon Brown
My wife and I are moving to Cuenca, from Butuan City in the Philippines. I am a retired Americano and my wife Chonita, is a retired master teacher ,and a Filipina. We are looking forward to the move and meeting you all. We have had the pleasure of ...
Riding motorcycles in the Andes is about as good as it gets. If you end up in Cuenca there are a few expats that ride, look us up we are not hard to find. Good luck. T Read More
Beaches by Dana Williams
What are the top 2-3 beach locations with respect to beauty/safety/climate in Ecuador?...can be from small communities/villages to larger towns...Thank You!
If you like poverty, garbage and raw sewage then Ecuador's beaches are for you. There is a reason few gringos live there. Moncora Peru has beautiful beaches, they still have the poverty, but the beaches are clean with out the raw sewage. t Read More
Manta and the coast - real estate by mike adams
Manta and the coast are often overlooked in the Expat.com. More and more tourists, and especially retired expats, arrive by the day. And the coastal region offers a different life style compared to the Sierras. Manta itself is a boom town, with ...
If you like poverty, trash, and raw sewage then ecuador's coast is for you. Don't believe me, see for yourself. If you want pristine beaches take a look at Peru. The prices are higher but worth every penny. t Read More
smallish towns to live in on the coast by judyanna
Hello everyone! I will be retiring to Ecuador within the next five years. I would appreciate any and all advise on smallish towns to live in on the coast. I have always been a beach girl. Do not want to live in a large city, something on the small ...
Mancora Peru has very nice beaches with great weather, without the trash and raw sewage. t Read More
talk to me about Suicide Showers! by dickk
Found two blogs which describe this charming appliance as being pretty ubiquitous all through South America. Instead of the water supply running to your shower from a water heater, the heating element is IN THE SHOWER HEAD! So, I'm in a 36" X 36" ...
You're incorrect, the voltage, in Ec it is 120v. Most apts. and houses don't even have 220. So what's the big deal about a little smoke and sparks. Regarding OSHA they don't need bare wires to have brain freeze. Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
Buyer beware, IL is notorious for under estimating the cost of living in Cuenca. You can live in Cuenca for $600 a month if you want to live under a bridge. Many of the speakers they use have a financial interests in what they are trying to sell to ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
IL will tell you that you can live in Ecuador for $800 a month and you can if you want to live under a bridge. Save you money. tom Read More
Driving license in Ecuador by Armand
Hi all, Can a foreigner take the driving test in Ecuador? What are the formalities to get a drivers licence in Ecuador? Do you need special or extra documents being an expatriate? How much does it cost? Thank you for participating ...
I have been through this. The int. licence is good for up to a year. After that you have to take a 8 day driving class and then take a written state test. Spain is the only country that Ec will exchange licences with. Have fun tom Read More
Recommendation for an attorney
In Cuenca, Grace and Nelson. Do a search for them in Cuenca they will show up. We have used them for all kinds of transactions and have referred them many times. tom Read More
Panama vs Ecuador by katheryn
Hi...I am new to this forum and looking for some insight. My husband and I are planning on a move in the next year or so and are very interested in both Panama and Ecuador. I am finding it difficult to narrow down which of the two places would be ...
I personally have not, but many friends have. Situational awareness is always a must. We live in a condo with a guard that is packen. That solves a lot of problems. The big cities in both countries in my opinion are not livable. I think that ... Read More
Panama vs Ecuador by katheryn
Hi...I am new to this forum and looking for some insight. My husband and I are planning on a move in the next year or so and are very interested in both Panama and Ecuador. I am finding it difficult to narrow down which of the two places would be ...
I have been to both countries many times. The only way to know is to go to each for a few months, you will know. All the rest is speculation. tom Read More
Can someone explain "municiple value" of property? by Eddie54
I'm perfectly willing to slap down $25,000 or over for a home, but I'm told that if it doesn't have a municiple value of $25,000 I'm wasting my time and won't get the resident visa. Can someone explain please? Thanks.
The municipal value is the city appraisal price, which is a fraction of what you will pay for a property. However the municipal value is the basis for your property tax and resident visa. Get a good lawyer. The most dangerous people in Ecuador are ... Read More
Any recommendations on freight shippers?
Greetings I used shephen to ship a container, it was done perfectly. I have recemended him to several friends and it has all gone well. Here is his email. Stephen Aron" , Ps. He also answers the phone any time you call! Good Luck. tom Read More
Moving to Ecuador by Ron Voorheis
We, Ron, myself, & my wife Susan Voorheis are planning to move to Ecuador in the near future. We would very much like to be in contact with any & all recent US expats that have made that move to Ecuador. We have many questions about such a move. ...
If you send me an email. I will respond with my magic jack phone #. and we can talk, Too much volume for email. tom Read More
Moving to Ecuador by Ron Voorheis
We, Ron, myself, & my wife Susan Voorheis are planning to move to Ecuador in the near future. We would very much like to be in contact with any & all recent US expats that have made that move to Ecuador. We have many questions about such a move. ...
Ron my wife and I live in cuenca, way too much to cover in email. I would give you my magic jack # if you would like to cover some questions on the phone. A lot of info on this blog is not correct, much written by people not living in ... Read More
Travel and Heights in Cuenca by dreaminnDallas
I'm a little concerned about everyday travel to areas around Cuenca. I did travel to Snowmass, Colorado once and traveling through the mountains did make me very sick. Taking a bus through the montains, Forget About It! lol Please provide me with as ...
There are only two ways into Cuenca, roads which cross high mts. about 12k, or fly in from Guy. or Quito. The flight scedules are not very good for connecting with other flights. Welcome to Ecuador. tom Read More
Moving to Cuenca
I will help if I can. Cuenca is a very large subject, you may want to book an extended stay to get a feel for the place. tom Read More
want to relocate to ecuador by snowflakes
hi i would like to relocate to ecuador from stockton california usa and would like to meet people who live there and tips on finding housing and possible buying a home need more information on the country also need to know if it is safe to ove here ...
Thanks for your realistic responce. I would fully agree with your asessment. I think living in Cuenca may be a bit safer the the big cities, but one must always be careful. tom Read More
want to relocate to ecuador by snowflakes
hi i would like to relocate to ecuador from stockton california usa and would like to meet people who live there and tips on finding housing and possible buying a home need more information on the country also need to know if it is safe to ove here ...
The average Ecuadorian make about $350 a month. The cost of living in Ecuador in grossly underestamated by most blogs and international living mag. It is true you can rent here for $300 a month but no one in their right mind would want to live in ... Read More
Gathering information about Cotacachi by Chickadee4ever
Hello! My husband and I currently live in Myrtle Beach and are considering a move to Ecuador in 2013, when I will be eligible for retirement. I just subscribed to this forum, so I can gather as much information as I can, and maybve make a few ...
Cotacachi is a very beautiful place, but not much to do. You may want to spend a month or so and watch the paint dry. tom Read More
Real Estate Business
You may want to live here for a year or so before commiting sums of money and time. Real estate is run here very differently in Ecuador than in the states. Sellers don't want to pay commissions nor do the buyers. Besides that no one can find the ... Read More
considering moving to ecuador by cadoia
We are a danish/russian couple currently living in Thailand. After many years we are looking for new adventure and feel very attracted to ecuador. Thailand is cheap and we live pretty well on our steady income of 2100usd pr. month. This income we ...
You here all kinds of stuff, who know if any of it is true? I have witnessed several situations with drunk indian that were very dangerous and had a friend robbed late at night,all in Cuenca. Like anywhere you must use some common sence. Overall I ... Read More
considering moving to ecuador by cadoia
We are a danish/russian couple currently living in Thailand. After many years we are looking for new adventure and feel very attracted to ecuador. Thailand is cheap and we live pretty well on our steady income of 2100usd pr. month. This income we ...
all of latin america uses bars on the windows, there is a reason. that being said, i see little difference between here and the us. however one must be carefull. Cuenca highlife and gringo tree is owned by david morrow, who ownes cuenca realestate, ... Read More
considering moving to ecuador by cadoia
We are a danish/russian couple currently living in Thailand. After many years we are looking for new adventure and feel very attracted to ecuador. Thailand is cheap and we live pretty well on our steady income of 2100usd pr. month. This income we ...
there are a few gated communities, with good housing, the good rentals are taken quickly, you may be lucky and get one. You can buy an american style home for 150 - 300k. there are very good deals here but they don't grow on trees. As for as ... Read More
considering moving to ecuador by cadoia
We are a danish/russian couple currently living in Thailand. After many years we are looking for new adventure and feel very attracted to ecuador. Thailand is cheap and we live pretty well on our steady income of 2100usd pr. month. This income we ...
villacamba is pricy if you are buying, renting is not so bad. The reason it is pricy, is how nice it is and the weather is great. Cuenca can be cold. You can rent very cheeply, 200-300 a month, but you will not want to live there. This is a very ... Read More
considering moving to ecuador by cadoia
We are a danish/russian couple currently living in Thailand. After many years we are looking for new adventure and feel very attracted to ecuador. Thailand is cheap and we live pretty well on our steady income of 2100usd pr. month. This income we ...
Greetings from Ecuador 1. $2100 is enough for the two of you to live on in ecuador, once you are settled. You can rent a nice place for $500 - $800 a month, less if it is not furnished. Plan on spending a month or two looking for it. 2. the ... Read More
Newbie Questions by Angeldust
Hey Everybody. I've been reading all the blogs and everything else on this site the past few days and I have a few qustions that I haven't seen covered here yet. Are there any golf courses and if so how much are the green fees? Are there places ...
believe nothing you read about living in ecuador, take it all with a large grain on salt. tom Read More