These tips come from Mike at NaturalNews.com. If anyone is an advocate for the benefits of living in Vilcabamba, it’s him, and not without good reason.

Here are just a few of Vilcabamba’s pluses; the cost of living is low, the weather is great, there is abundant water and sunshine and the locals are friendly. Praised for its many health benefits, Vilcabamba has long been thought of as an ideal place to live.

So then what do you need to watch out for? The mosquitos, for one. Also, you have to be ready to live without all the amenities you find back home, or in a larger city. It is definitely the kind of place you would want to visit for an extended time period, say several weeks or a month, before making the move.

Without further ado, here are Mike’s tips. (Check out more from Mike on NaturalNews.com)

• Do NOT get in a taxi that’s yellow with a horizontal blue stripe along the edge. These taxis belong to a company of suicidal drivers who seem to be on kamikazee missions. Opt for a white truck taxi instead of the yellow / blue taxis. (Trust me on this…)

• DO strap all your important stuff to your body. There’s not much violent crime in Ecuador, but there are a lot of pickpockets. You can pretty much kiss goodbye to anything that’s not physically strapped to your body (including your purse, cell phone, backpack, etc.) If you wear a backpack, wear it in FRONT.

• DO practice some Spanish before you get here. You’ll need the basics. The very best course I’ve ever found is Pimsleur Spanish, levels 1, 2 and 3. If you get through just level one, you’ll do fine here. (It’s an audio course.) I studies 3 levels for a couple of months and I can get by here with everything I need: Taxis, buying things, asking for directions, making reservations, etc.

• DO bring long pants. Don’t run around in shorts all the time, especially at night, or you’ll get sandfly bites on your ankles. They’re not harmful, but they itch like a bitch.

• DO bring your own toilet paper. Why? Because all the TP here is loaded with fragrance chemicals. Seriously. Load up your suitcase with TP. It’s not even very heavy.

• DO contact Joe or Yadira at San Joaquin before you visit, as they can help you arrange your trip. The local hotel will cost you about $20 / night.

• DO bring lots of $1 and $5 bills. Locals don’t accept $10 and $20 bills, and don’t even think about bringing a fifty. Load up with $1 bills like a crack dealer and just bring those bills with you! Ecuador uses U.S. currency, so you don’t need to exchange anything. Cool, huh?

• DO bring your own natural soap, shampoo and feminine hygiene products. You won’t be able to find “natural” brands here.

Now obviously the natural products and the toilet paper might not be a necessity for all, but it is a good idea to bring any products you feel you can’t live without.

Mike mentioned Joe and Yadira at San Joaquin… more about them and what they have there about to come.