• May 13, 2013
• Best Shopping, Business, Family Friendly, Relocation
• Jackie

Expats living in Loja get the best of both worlds. If you’re one of them, then you already know how great it is to enjoy the abundance of fresh local produce and meats from the farmer’s markets while also having modern superstores available to satisfy any craving your heart may have. There’s even a health food store for hard-to-find organic items. If you weren’t aware of the ease of weekly grocery shopping in Loja, then you’re in for a real treat.

The modern supermarkets of Loja are conveniently located throughout the city in different shopping plazas. On 18 de noviembre (This is a street not just a national holiday.) you’ll see the Centro Comercial La Pradera, and here is where Read more

• May 2, 2013
• Uncategorized
• Jackie

The cost of living in Ecuador not only varies from person to person, but from family to family. For a look at some of the basic numbers, try this resource from Numbeo.com:

 Cost of Living In Ecuador

Read more

• April 18, 2013
• Flights, Travel Ecuador
• Jackie

The best way to get to Ecuador is by air. The most common flights arrive in Quito or in Guayaquil. If you want to come to Cuenca you can take a domestic flight from either of these major cities, or travel by bus.

U.S. and Latin American airlines that fly into Ecuador are:

American Airlines
Avianca
United
COPA
Delta Airlines
LAN
TACA

European carriers that fly daily to Quito and Guayaquil are:

Iberia
KLM
Air Madrid
Air Europa

For flights between all major cities in Ecuador, Ecuador’s national airline, TAME, is the way to go. Daily flights are available between Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil, as well as the Galapagos Islands.

Other national airlines that service several cities along the Coast, Read more

• April 11, 2013
• Travel Ecuador, Travel Tips
• Jackie

What is the climate in Ecuador? Ecuador is divided into four different regions with distinct climates. They are:

The Amazon. The Amazon region is generally warm and humid, as you would expect from the jungle. Most of the year the region gets a lot of rain and mild temperatures, between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During the dry season, which runs from October through December temperatures can get into the upper 80′s.

The Andes. The climate in the Andes depends greatly on your altitude, but most agree it is the most moderate, sub-tropical climate in the country. This makes the mountains a popular place for expats who want to escape cold winters, but aren’t interested in the extreme heat of the Read more

• April 4, 2013
• Places to Stay, Travel Tips
• Jackie

Ready to come check out Cuenca? You’ll find this beautiful town has a variety of accommodations to fit every type of traveler and budget. Many Cuenca hostels and  hotels are in refurbished colonial houses. The boutique hotels don’t have the same amenities as larger hotels, many don’t even have an elevator. They are comfortable and full of character.

Popular Cuenca Hostels

Hostal Casa de Barranco is a nice, fairly recently renovated, family-run establishment. It is located on Calle Larga 8-41. Rooms start at $30 for a single, and $44 for a double occupancy.  The Web site relates:

Located in the historic center of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador Along the Barranco del Rio Tomebamba fifteen minutes from Mariscal Lamar Airport and 400 meters from the Cathedral Read more

• March 27, 2013
• Ecuador Life
• Jackie

If you’ve been trying to get anything done in Ecuador this week, you’ve likely found it quite difficult. Why? It is Semana Santa, one of the biggest holidays in Ecuador, and perhaps all of Latin America. But just what is Semana Santa?

What is Semana Santa?

Semana Santa translates to Holy Week, and it is a week-long celebration in Latin America. It is celebrated the week leading up to Easter Sunday on the Catholic calendar. The week is set aside to commemorate the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, starting with his arrival in Jerusalem. This is celebrated the Sunday before Easter and is known as Palm Sunday for the palm fronds laid down on the road as Jesus Read more

• March 21, 2013
• Business, Relocation, Travel Tips
• Jackie

Ecuador has long been one of the most popular places for expats to retire, and with good reasons. It is one of the few countries in the world that lets you stay with an automatic 90 day visa and lets you extend that 90 more days with a 12-IX Tourist Visa. The Senior Citizen Benefits Ecuador has to offer are also an attractive draw for many retirees.

To get the senior citizens benefit Ecuador has established for retirees you must be a legal resident of Ecuador over 65. To read about obtaining the 9-I Pensioner visa, and other Ecuador visa options, check out this article.

(If you want to live in Cuenca, you’ll be happy to know you can Read more

• March 18, 2013
• Business, Currency, Travel Tips
• Jackie

How to handle banking in Cuenca is a concern for many persons considering a move abroad. However, in Ecuador you can usually find the same range of services as you can in your home country. And, for U.S. residents considering a move, Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency. In addition, with a large number of expats in the city, institutions of banking in Cuenca are used to dealing with foreigners.

To open an account in Cuenca you will need identification. Bring with you your passport, driver’s license, your address of residence in Cuenca, and a utility bill just in case.

Banking in Cuenca – What are my options?

Banks in Cuenca offer savings and checking accounts, CDs and Read more

• February 28, 2013
• Best Shopping, Business, Ecuador Life, Must See or Do, Travel Tips
• Jackie

There are a great variety of grocery stores in Cuenca Ecuador and shopping can be as North American or as Ecuadorian as you want it to be. Cuenca has a variety of U.S. style supermarkets for those looking for an experience typical to the States or Canada. It also has a number of mercados, shopping centers comprised of individual vendors selling goods from their own stalls and organic markets.

Grocery Stores in Cuenca Ecuador

As far as supermarkets go, the most popular among expats is SuperMaxi. There are actually three locations in Cuenca. One is in Miraflores near the airport, another is at ElVergel near the football stadium and the third is on Av. Las Americas news the Las Americas Read more

• February 21, 2013
• Ecuador Life, Travel Tips
• Jackie

About one in five people who travel to altitudes between 7,000 and 9,000 feet experience some degree of high altitude sickness. With Cuenca being located at 8,200 feet above sea level visitors are susceptible to coming down with it if they do not first acclimatize. So yes, you can get altitude sickness in Cuenca.

What is altitude sickness? It is the term used to describe two conditions that commonly affect people making quick ascents: acute mountain sickness, or cerebral edema, and high-altitude pulmonary edema, an acute build-up of fluid in the lungs. Both sicknesses can be fatal.

Symptoms of cerebral edema, or brain swelling, are headache, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness and fatigue, loss or appetite, nausea and vomiting. Pulmonary edema results Read more