Best Rental Options in Quito Ecuador Today!

Rentals in Quito Ecuador!

3/2 beautiful Quito Apartment (120M) located in North Quito.  The master has a jacuzzi tub and there is a parking garage for your car with electric door, plus a terraza! The apartment has pretty curtains throughout the whole apartment. Asking $400. Remember, all prices are negotiable. And if you want, we'll do the negotiating, translating, and we'll even make sure all the ducks are in a perfect row with the contract.

Nice 3/3 (Estranar Casa) in gated community with pool. This home with nice American style finishes is located in Los Chillos, a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Quito proper. The home boasts 3 bedrooms plus a studio. (125M) All 3 bedrooms have their own bath. Kitchen has a little breakfast nook for eating. There is also a social bath. Home has Living, dining room, and an area outside for BBQing.  Asking $500 but it is NEGOTIABLE.

We have already scouted for the best rental options today in Quito and here they are.  

We scout and negotiate, working to find you the best rental deals in Ecuador. Sign up (top right) to receive some of our latest good deal rentals in Ecuador available now!
Priceless protection for your smooth transition abroad from Gringo Good Samaritans. http://www.gringogoodsamaritans.com

About Taking a Taxi in Manta, Salinas, or Bahia de Caraquez Ecuador

Bahia de Caraquez

Bahia is the type of town that you will not need to take a taxi because everything is within walking distance, however when the new Paseo Shopping Mall is ready for customers, you may want to take a taxi there because it is further up the main highway, which would be a short ride and cheap fare. 

Walking to the new mall is also a viable and beautiful walk along the boardwalk that one can do if they so choose. Bahia has the tricycle rider that seats two people in the back that takes tourists to and from their hotel, restaurants and shopping within the town. They will most-likely be for hire to take folks to and from the new Paseo Mall as well.
 

Salinas

Salinas is sort of laid out the same way as Bahia with most things within walking distance, however to get to Paseo Shopping Mall where the bigger, better priced grocery store is you will need to either take the bus or a taxi as it is located in La Libertad about four miles from the Malecon tourist area. 

FYI: We have never heard of anyone getting robbed or kidnapped taking a taxi in either Salinas or Bahia, however that does not mean it will not happen either. Make sure the taxi is legit by always calling a radio cab or asking the locals for a secure and safe taxi.
 

Manta

Taking a taxi in Manta is safe if you take a taxi from designated taxi areas such as in front of the main beach (Murcielago) located off the Malecon. There are always numerous taxis right there to take tourists around Manta.  Or call a RADIO TAXI from someone you know, have used and trust. Remember that no fare should be more than $3 dollars in and around the city, with many fares only $1.50 -$2.00.

***2015 UPDATE*** Say:  TaxiMetro with the accent on the i. and then check to see if he has a meter on the passenger visor spot and turns it on.  No meter, don’t get in. Ok?
 

We walked up to the long row of taxis in this section of Manta as we wanted to go look at the airport.  The first taxi asked me $5.  So I shook my head and walked very slowly to the car behind him.  He asks me $4.  I shook my head and walked very slowly to the car behind him.  He asks me $3 bucks, or maybe that’s what I offered him, and we struck a deal.  He took us to the Eloy Alfaro Airport for $3.  On the way back I offered him $2 for the return, for a total of $5, for the round trip, hehe.  See the section about Manta in this coastal travel guide for more detail on safety when ‘taking a taxi’ in Manta.
 

It is not recommended to hail a taxi off the street in Manta. Follow the taxi guidelines in this guide and you’ll be fine, however, it is always best to stay in the tourist zones, and especially if you have an apparent vulnerability. 



This article post is taken from our DIY Ecuador Coast Travel Guide book which is packed with invaluable Ecuador coast information covering over 270 pages. To find out more about safety, where to stay, where to eat, best beaches, safest beaches along the Ecuador coastline, and much much more, see the DIY Coast Travel Guide.
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

7 Cultural Behaviors You'll Want to Know If You Move to a Latin American Country

1. Greetings in the bigger cities is formal. When walking into a service, business, or home, it is considered respectful to say “good morning”, “good afternoon” or “good evening” to the people in the room. If you happen to forget to greet when entering a building or business, you may receive the cold shoulder and then you really will not get anything done.

2. Latin American people love music and some of them will blast it outside of their shops to being people into their business. Does it really work? Yes, it gets passer-bys attention and if they like what they are hearing they might just enter the store and become a customer. You'll also hear Latin music on most of the public buses in (some) Latin countries

 

3. Latin Americans frown on the wearing of shorts on the streets and in their businesses even in hot, humid countries. Don’t fret though; wearing shorts is perfectly fine at the beach and in your hotel resort compound. Many of the government offices will not allow you to enter the premises if you are wearing shorts; ironically, miniskirts seem to be ok, based on observation. 
 

4. The people of Latin cultures are non-confrontational. For the most part they would rather not say anything rather than cause a fuss or start an argument.  We shouldn’t take advantage of these good natured folks but rather find ways to not annoy them by behaving respectful of their culture and ways. 

5.  What happens when you put Latin Americans behind the wheel of an automobile? They transform from panda bears to rhinos; often times they become assertively aggressive and impatiently honk their horns at one another and even at pedestrians. Ironically the traffic in these countries seems disorderly and dangerous but we seldom see fender benders in Latin countries like we used to in the states. Be careful when crossing the street; some drivers feel they have the right of way even when they should not.
 

6. Latin folks are very helpful people and want to please you. This means they will go out of their way to be helpful.  We have found that many will not accept a tip.  They want you to know they helped you as a friend, not for the tip.

7. Latin American folks, especially the younger crowd are late night folks. Many times you will find them out and about enjoying meals with friends and family at 10:00pm. Even if they are in their homes they stay up late visiting with family, listening to music or watching television. On the weekends the public parks fill up, restaurants and shopping stores become packed and you will almost always see a soccer game going on.  

Latin countries also have numerous holiday events throughout the year that they enjoy with their families, which means government offices are closed as well.



If you have observed any other behaviors that we foreigners should be made aware of, feel free to list them below. Thank you and have a wonderful time in South America.



We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

The Ecuador Beach May 2015

We're enjoying our stay on the Ecuador coast, relaxing and getting plenty of sunshine. The coast is great this time of year and the weather is excellent; not too hot or cold; it's perfect. 

               

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Santa Elena Coastal Province May 2015 - Sunset in Anconcito

We've captured an amazing sunset and some beautiful beach in Santa Elena Coastal Province.

                              
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Amazing Ecuador May 2015: Cuenca, Guayaquil, Salinas, Punta Carnero & Anconcito

Frank and Angie are at the beach, again! we just can't stay away from the beautiful sunnier weather in Santa Elena Coastal Province. We like the diversity of Ecuador's climate and Santa Elena is great.

                            
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

More GREAT RENTAL FINDS in Ecuador! Available Now!

These rental finds are available now; we have the contact information; if you want, we can call them for you; we can negotiate for you; and we'll make sure that you are getting a fair rental deal with no gouging just because you are a gringo/foreigner! Today we're focusing on Quito!

Quito Ecuador: 4 bedroom (150M) apartment on the way to Los Chillos in Quito; this apartment is not located in the hustle bustle of the city, yet still near to shopping and buses.  the walls are painted light tan and white with nice trimming, plus there is a fireplace. Bright and airy. asking price $350. 

North Quito (good area) Ecuador: 3 bedroom 2 full baths (150M) apartment in a tower building. asking $400 AND this PRICE inlcudes the monthly maintenance fee and water!! However, we never take the asking price... you know (wink, wink)

People always say to us that Quito is expensive. Yes, it can be expensive when you go to the gringo portals to look for the rental deals! We wade through all the over-priced tourist stuff.

next...

Quito by the NEW Airport: 2/1 nice detached house with amazing green areas (450M) for playing. American kitchen. BBQ area (see photo) and just 4 minutes to the new Quito airport. Asking $400. This seems a bit high. Want help negotiating a good rental deal? You know how to get a hold of us. 

We scout and negotiate, working to find you the best rental deals in Ecuador. Sign up (top right) to receive some of our latest good deal rentals in Ecuador available now!

Priceless protection for your smooth transition abroad from Gringo Good Samaritans. http://www.gringogoodsamaritans.com

Brandon Explains Basics of Using the Calefron "On Demand Water Heater" in Ecuador

Most homes in Ecuador as well as many other countries use the portable water heaters called the Calefon for showering, cooking, and anything else that requires hot water. These portable units can be fussy. Brandon talks about some of those quirks and how to assemble the gas propane cylinders. (no tools required, usually).

                   
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Vilcabamba Ecuador 2015: Town Square, Waterfalls and Pretty Spiders

Here's some more photos of Vilcabamba that Brandon took on his adventures in Vilcabamba / Loja. Brandon really liked Loja a lot and said he would move there. Loja is just a smaller version of Cuenca. If you haven't seen the interview with Brandon about his few days in Loja, here it is.  Brandon did mention to us that while he was in Vilcabamba he saw more gringos (at least in the centro area) than Ecuadorians. So if you want a strong expat community, there it is.

                             


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

How I Quit the Controlling and Disgusting Habit of Smoking Cigarettes!

I grew up actually thinking that smoking was a cool thing to do and so, like most of my friends, I smoked. Not only did most of my friends smoke but both of my parents smoked. Smoking cigarettes seemed like the normal thing to do back in the 70’s and 80’s. 



I became addicted to cigarettes. It was only after I had a family of my own did it dawn on me, the utter control that smoking had over me. I allowed cigarettes to control what I did and how and when I did it. If you were once a smoker and have quit then you know what I’m talking about. But if you are a smoker and have never tried to quit, then you might not understand how cigarettes control a person’s behavior and how they live their life.
 

Cigarettes are not mind-altering in the same sense that other street drugs and certain prescription medications are, but they do control a person in many ways. Smoking is a nasty, controlling, addictive habit that has led many lives to an early death. Cigarettes are so addicting I’ve seen people smoking who were on oxygen tanks.
 

People are psychological creatures, meaning the power of our mind can helps us quit something such as a bad habit, or it can help us continue doing a bad habit, such as smoking cigarettes. Most folks when they try to quit an addictive habit such as smoking and drinking will relapse the first couple of tries because they don’t know themselves yet and what works for them.
 

First Try to Quit Smoking
 

The first time I tried to quit smoking I quit for my husband. However, no one can be totally healed of an addiction if they quit for someone else. If the addicted person does not have the willingness to quit for themselves they will remain addicted in some way, whether it's emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and or physically. There are many alcoholics roaming the streets that don't drink, yet they aren't totally healed because they still exhibit signs of the condition in how they behave and live their life. That's another blog post, however.



Addiction to a substance can be very powerful, not just in the physical sense but in the psychological sense too. For the physical addiction to cigarettes I used the nicotine gum. Chewing the gum gives you a dose of nicotine that your body craves, but it doesn’t take away the psychological side of addiction like the feeling you just lost your best friend; or the needing to have something in your hands. I became saddened and almost depressed every time I tried to quit smoking.
 

So after about three days of not smoking I began to smoke, again.  I had my friend back and I was happy once more.
 

Second Try to Quit Smoking
 

The second time I tried to quit I had this idea that I could just smoke a little less each day until I was only smoking one or two cigarettes. Then my thinking was, it will be easier to just quit cold turkey.  I even bought some fake cigarettes that when you puff on them give off a mint flavor, which I used when I wasn’t smoking the real thing. After several months of this I realized “trying to cut down” does not work, at least not for me.
 

Third Try to Quit Smoking
 

The saying, “the third time is the charm” proved to be incorrect assumption for me. Several years had gone by since my last attempt at quitting and my cigarette cough was only getting worse; I was only in my early forties but I was dying, literally to a slow death. I wanted to quit and the willingness was there health-wise but psychologically I still wanted to smoke; after all it was my best friend.
 

The third time I quit smoking I actually went a full 6 weeks without smoking and I thought I was doing pretty well.  I went abroad to Dominican Republic with my smoking mother in law. The very first day, smelling the second hand smoke had made my cravings even worse and I started smoking again.
 

How Smoking Controlled My Life
 

I never smoked inside the house, so I had to get up in the middle of movies and go outside and smoke, which made everyone in the house have to wait on me while I puffed my cigarettes. I didn’t smoke in the car so when we took long road trips I had to make Frank pull over so I could smoke. I had to leave in the middle of functions and events because I would have nicotine fits, I kept the fact that I smoked from certain acquaintances because I was afraid of what they would think of me. I was a mess. Cigarettes were controlling my life!!
 

Sometimes I had to go to the store late at night because I ran out of cigarettes and I had to go buy more. A couple of times when I ran out of cigarettes I got so edgy that in desperation I gathered up, out of the garbage can, all of my cigarette butts and smoked them one after another. Once, I almost smoked in the airplane bathroom because I was having a nicotine fit. They’ll put you on the “no fly list” for that, btw.
 

I seriously was not ready to give up my best friend in the physical or emotional sense. I cannot stress enough how hard it is to quit smoking but many people do it every day and is very much possible when your mind is made up and ready to do it.



I wanted to keep my best friend so much that I actually justified in my mind that maybe “if I grew my own tobacco” it will be better for me, you know healthier. And so that is what I did. I had a wonderful tobacco harvest.  I bought cigarette rolling paraphernalia and everything. I became an expert at rolling my own cigarettes and then I’d pop on a filter; otherwise it would be way too strong. I’ll tell you this much, tobacco grows real well in the southeast U.S and mine was organic.
 

Because it was organic it was better for me than the cigarettes you buy in the store, however you are still inhaling a harsh and toxic substance that causes many health issues. I think I smoked for about another year or so before I tried to quit the fourth time.
(Note) The last year or so, when I still smoked, I started telling myself I was going to quit soon, but I was going to do it my way, not the traditional way that most people quit an addictive bad habit. I still had several bags full of dried tobacco leaves from my tobacco harvest, which I gave away to a smoker.
 

Fourth Try to Quit Smoking and Mission Succeeded
 

One day Angelo, my middle child, out of the blue said, “Mom, you’re going to be like that lady we saw with the oxygen tank. You’re going to be wheeling around an oxygen tank and still smoking”.   Thinking about this and knowing my son was worried about my health as much as I was, I decided to quit smoking. Hey, what a novel idea, uh? I was 43 years old and smoked for 26 years!
 

This Time It Was Different – Fourth Time is the Charm
 

This time I did not tell anyone in my family that I was quitting. For the first four or five days no one knew I had even quit. I don’t know what it was, but I could tell in my heart and mind that this time I was prepared to quit this nasty, controlling habit and obliterate it out of my life for good!  I finally talked myself into it, and that my friend is what it takes, besides some good ole “divine intervention”.  God helps those who are also ready to help themselves.
 

Another thing that worked for me, which might not work for everyone is I also kept a pack of cigarettes in my closet knowing if I really wanted one it was there; it's a psychological thing. I’m very happy to say the cigarettes remained untouched, even though I thought about them up there for the first six months after quitting.  



Cigarettes are so addicting that I had cigarette cravings every now and then for about two years after I quit. I have been smoke free going on 11 years now!  Thanks to the cleansing nature of our lifestyles, I have not craved cigarettes like most people. Thank God.

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Good Samaritans Showing (Some) AVAILABLE Rentals NOW in Ecuador!!

These are just samples of rentals that are available now in select locations in Ecuador. We have many others rentals that we would love to send your way on a daily basis to assist you in finding the perfect place for you in Ecuador or wherever you happen to want to move to abroad.  Choose one of our low-priced packages and get real service and real protection when procuring a rental. 
 
Available Rentals in Loja, Ecuador

3/2 apartment in Loja, living, dining, plus office or study for $280

Big 4/2 living, dining room and study detached house, with nice terraza, pets okay asking price $320

Views, Views, and more Views in this 2/2 apartment overlooking the city of Loja asking price $250

A Sample of what’s Out There in Salinas, Ecuador!
 
3/3 Furnished in Puerto Lucia (Salinas) 2 blocks to the beach!! asking price $480 PER MONTH
 
3/2 apartment with huge balcony, 150M (1,600ft) asking price $400 and wants a one year lease at this price.  

Sample of what’s out there in Cuenca, Ecuador today!

3/3 bath corner detached house with 200M terreno. Large master bedroom. Hosue has living and dining room, plus real hardwoods. The house has one flight of stairs. Asking $260, minimum one year lease at this price! 

160M - 5 bedroom 3 bathroom house. The house is on the second and third floors of a three floored building, on the first floor is a business. The house is a corner house in an excellent location of Cuenca. Bright and airy master bedroom. Here's a photo of the master bedroom - Asking $400 

Remember, with our services we send you the best rental options available right now when you choose one of our packages. Take a look at the low-priced services we offer that will assist you in your rental hunting search and protect you from rental fraud and gouging!!

Priceless protection for your smooth transition abroad from Gringo Good Samaritans. http://www.gringogoodsamaritans.com

Monte Suenos UNIQUE Guest Houses in Vilcabamba Ecuador

These quaint guest houses are custom-built and each one has unique tile designs and custom finishes. It's up in the mountains of Vilcabamba with some amazing views. 

                 
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Happy Cuenca Campers! Expat Protection That Matters!

Video testimony from an expat couple who recently moved to Cuenca Ecuador.  See our new mission for expats at: http://www.GringoGoodSamaritans.com

                     






We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Welcome to Gringo Good Samaritans - Expat Protection You Can Trust

We are now offering 3 rental assistance packages designed to advise and protect expats and help make their transition smoother and painless. **NEW** Expanded geographical area. Sign up to the website to see new rental listings!
 
                         Packages In a Nutshell
Good Help
I want rental options! 
Click for more info
 
Better Help 
I want rental options, plus contract protection! 
Click for more info
 
Best Help
I want rental options, plus contract protection, plus negotiation help and more! 
Click for more info

Priceless protection for your smooth transition abroad from http://www.gringogoodsamaritans.com

5 Retirement Abroad Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make and 4 Certainties You Do

1. You do not want to uproot your life to go to a place you have only read about.  Reading is not the same thing as experiencing.  Please, do come visit.
 

2.  You don’t want to believe everything you read because it is other people’s experiences, not yours.  My favorite food is spicy Mexican but other people will not taste the flavor of spicy enchiladas in the same way I do...and they may even hate spicy Mexican food!
 

3. Have realistic expectations: Don’t think that moving abroad is going to make your life easier, better or happier.
 

4. Do NOT be too trusting: You do not want to make the mistake of being too trusting with anyone, anywhere you live in the world. Just as you would behave in North America or Europe, do your diligence when making business transactions and making friends and trusting people abroad.
 

5. Don’t sign away your rental rights on leases. BTW, do not sign any legal agreements you do not know what they say!
 

BONUS 6.  Don’t move abroad thinking you will be able to get a job, or make a better living there than where you are at now. You will need to bring your own finances. It has been said in the blogosphere: if you can’t afford to come for a visit then you can’t afford to live here. We agree.
 

4 Retirement Abroad Certainties You Do Want to Make
 

1. Due diligent research: You do want to do extensive research to the city you are considering and then use that research as a supplement to you going there and visiting.
 

2. Experience locally: You do want to realize that visiting a city for only a few weeks to 3 months is like taking a vacation and so you will want to spend the available time you have truly experiencing the culture, people, customs, traditions, environment and climate, language and infrastructures thoroughly. 



Then, be honest with yourself about whether or not you will like living there permanently. It took Frank and I several Ecuador coast trips to realize that we wouldn’t want to live there on a permanent basis; we do prefer Cuenca for permanent living.
 

3. Make sure you bring your own finances, whether it is a pension, social security or other ongoing monthly earnings. Moving to so called “cheap paradises” without money already coming in is not a good idea. The hype that you can live cheaply is not something that very many people can do or are willing to do.  In other words, what you read is not what it really is!
 

4. Do come with an open mind. Those folks who come to Cuenca Ecuador with ideas of how they think it is going to be will be sorely disappointed. However, we regularly hear from expats and gringos to Cuenca that tell us our information was “spot on” for them and were prepared from much of what we said.
 

We like to hear positive comments from folks because we like to help people make a more informed decision when moving abroad. However we also know that our experiences will not be your experiences and as long as you know that too, you’ll probably love Cuenca and have a great time! See ya when you get here!



We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Let's Go to Vilcabamba & Loja Ecuador!

Brandon our oldest son spent a few days in Loja and Vilcabamba and came back with a bunch of photos and I'm just now putting them up on the blog. Stay tuned for a beautiful and peaceful hideaway (guest houses) nestled in the mountains of Vilcabamba. We also have more photos of the Podocarpus Parque and the water falls. So stay with us! If you want to see more video of Loja, go up to the top of the blog and hover your mouse over "Ecuador Cities", then "Click" Loja.

                   


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

8 Ways to Get Oriented and Stay Safe When Visiting Ecuador Beach Towns

It can be overwhelming when folks first arrive in a new place because well, you do not know where anything is located, who to trust, and where the bad areas are. It can be frustrating and a bit intimidating, at first.
 

Here is a good checklist to carry out when first arriving into a new beach town in Ecuador. These things are what we have become accustomed to doing while traveling anywhere in Ecuador. We do them and we recommend you do them too.
 

1.  Always ask various locals about the crime and types of crimes in a new town you are investigating for permanent living.
 

2. Some locals will minimize crime in their city, so you will have to get several opinions, not just one. However, it is good to ask various people to get a balanced view; ask families, business owners, young people, etc.
 

3.  Ask workers at the local tourist office, in the bigger towns, which neighborhoods to stay out of. Have them mark the areas on your personal map. We asked them to do this for us when in Manta and the nice service oriented young gal did it for us.
 

4.  Heed the warnings of other expats and what they have experienced. Learn from their mistakes.
 

5.  When in a new town, always do a walk-around (during the day) of the area to get oriented. This helped us quite a bit because on a different day, when we hired a motor-trike to take us to the terminal terrestre, we knew the driver was not going the direct way (probably to overcharge us) and we corrected him right away, and then simply handed him the correct fare of .50 cents.
 

BTW, some taxi drivers in Cuenca do the same thing to get a bigger fare from passengers.  They take the long way, going around the whole outskirts of the city which takes twice as long and costs twice as much.
 

6. Always look at online maps before going somewhere just to get a mental picture of how the town is laid out; this helps us to figure out where we’ll be when we land at the bus station in a new town. The online maps usually show where the TIA Grocery Mart is located, the tourist office, some of the hostels and restaurants, and the main road into and out of town, etc.
 

7.  Have a place of reference to go to when you’re headed into a new town; we almost always have an address and a name of a hostel, and a phone number.etc. This way you can just hand the moto-trike or taxi driver the name on an index card, if you do not speak Spanish. 



Note: We list 22 comfortable places to stay, starting from Playas to Atacames in the DIY Coastal Guide with photos, amenities, and rates!!  As you know we are on the ground checking out all the lodgings (in detail) that we list for our readers and you will get the best value for the buck in our guide books!!
 

8. Do not act disoriented, even If you lose track of where you are. And by all means, don’t open your map out in public if you can help it. Go into a coffee shop and sit down and then look at your map.  We stop and look around often just to help us get a mental picture of where we started so we can easily return. Stay aware of everything around you. Find things that stand out to you and use them as landmarks for later reference.
 

On another note, when we were in Manta, we found out that it is dangerous to be out after 8pm even in areas that during the day are ok, which was fine (for us) since we don't go out after dark anyway.



Note: do not hail taxis off the street, especially in Salinas, Manta, Atacames and Guayaquil; have the motel manager call one for you, even if it is during the day. Most taxis are ok to take, however don't be a part of the statistics of getting in the wrong taxi just because you think it or the driver seems safe.
 

Stay Vigilant
 

Besides our usual safety precautions we share on our blog, the only other safety measures that you will need to be aware of is the occasional scammer and con artist that knows how to rob you without you even knowing it, until it is too late. Sometimes they will make friends with you and make you trust them, other times they are just random acts of tricks and schemes that happen in a period of seconds like the mustard tricks.  



Our best word of advice is to keep your wits about you. Your safety is all up to you and your measure of vigilance. The Ecuador coast can be a fun adventure as long as you remain cautious of what's going on around you in the different environments, day or night.

This article was taken from our DIY Ecuador Coast Travel Guide. The DIY Ecuador Coast Travel Guide is the most detailed and non-hyped book you will read about the Ecuador coast!!



If you liked this article, you might want to give these videos and articles a lookie too.

Travel Safely by Bus to Salinas from Cuenca

for Non Spanish Speakers.

 

First Impressions of Salinas by Frank and Angie

More Ecuador Adventures: We're Taking a Tuk-Tuk
to Crucita Ecuador

Walking off the Beaten Path in Salinas

We have many Ecuador Coast Adventures to share with you in the coastal guide and on this blog! At the top of the Discover Cuenca blog, click "ECUADOR BEACHES" for 22 coastal towns in Ecuador; details, details, and more details!!



We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

April/May 2015 in Cuenca Ecuador

Here's a little bit of what's happening the end of April and beginning of May in 2015 in the wonderful city of Cuenca Ecuador. 

                  


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

20 Fun Things to Do and See in Cuenca Ecuador - This is Chapter 25 from the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide

This chapter of the DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide is devoted to enjoying some of what Cuenca and the surrounding area has to offer. Cuenca is a great place to be if you enjoy sight-seeing, museums, hiking, walking, and the big outdoors...and the milder weather is great for doing all of those things. Click on the links to see the videos of our excursions to these places.
 

1. Paraiso Parque – Paradise Park is the biggest park in Cuenca; it has walking trails, several playgrounds, river walk, and paddle boat rides on the small lake. The park is located off of Avenida Paraiso. 
 

2. Walk Downtown or Uptown along the River – The walk starts on Tres de Noviembre on either end, from downtown or uptown; your starting point depends on where you’re already located. If downtown, start in the downtown area off of Calle Larga by the steps on Av. Tres de Noviembre. If you’re uptown, start off on Avenida de Las Americas on Tres de Noviembre. Enjoyable walk along the Tomebamba River at about 2-miles!  Most of it is paved with walking trail or sidewalk. It is a good way to see more areas of Cuenca. If you keep going you'll run into the Paraiso Park as both the Yanuncay and the Tomebamba converge into this huge, wonderful park.




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3. Mall Del Rio Yanuncay River Walk – This is another wonderful 2-mile walk along the river, starting from Avenida de las Americas, along Av. Primero de Mayo and ending at Mall Del Rio where you can then check out the many restaurants in the food court for lunch. Bring your map, not sure which street we finally cut off onto and then walked two more blocks to the mall.  This walk continues all the way to Paraiso Parque if you are up to it!
 

4. Tutto Freddo’s Ice cream – Ecuador has some of the best tasting ice cream we have ever eaten!  Tutto Freddo’s has continental desserts at Ecuadorian prices.  
 

5. Caja National Parque – This huge park is outside of Cuenca about 45 minutes. We have recently taken the very strenuous hike up into the mountains from this park.  There is a lake, camping, hiking, walking, beautiful scenery, restaurants nearby, etc; there is a wooden walkway going around the whole lake area. Taking the Alto Pista through San Joaquin gets you there; watch for the signs.



6. Banos Mineral Springs and Spa – On the outskirts of Cuenca, about a 15 minute bus ride from Coral Centro that's located on Las Americas, is a quaint little town called Banos. Banos is right below a mountain where natural warm mineral water flows into the valley. They say that natural mineral spring water is very good for your health and bathing in these natural pools are good for joint pain, arthritis, and other physical ailments.



7. Day Trip to Chordeleg – Chordeleg is a quaint, clean, neat little town about 45 minutes outside of Cuenca. There is a good Cuenca bus system that takes you there for about $0.65 cents. What I liked most about Chordeleg…it was about 5 degrees warmer than Cuenca and it was sunny the whole day! There are a lot of silver shops in Chordeleg where they make a lot of their own silver craft items called “pedigree” silver and there are some artisan’s shops as well.
 

8. Tour of 180 Year Old Ecuadorian Casa – All I can say is this tour was amazing! You will definitely enjoy this tour if you like old things and history. And, its only $1 per person. Simply exquisite. 




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9. "Traditional” Festival – We believe that to experience Ecuador at its fullest you must try out new things, such as go to one of the many traditional festivals and see and hear all of the traditional music, dances, costumes, and foods of Ecuador.  



10. Cuenca Carnival – Children love rides and cotton candy. Carnivals are fun for the whole family.  It was fun to walk around and see all the booths displaying their crafts and arts, trying out an Ecuadorian coconut milk drink and watching other people ride on the rides! Located off of Avenida Las Americas and Mexico Calle. The carnival comes to Cuenca in the month of November and this year (2015) it was there in April, but I don't recall seeing it there before in April. Uh?
 

11. Celebrate Carnaval – “Canaval” is totally different than “Carnival”.  Carnaval is celebrated in Cuenca with water balloons, squirt guns, and buckets of water…It’s during the month of February, but mostly on the days of the 18th through the 21st. Everyone does it, even the older Ecuadorians. Frank got bombed with water balloons by an elderly Ecuadorian woman. No one is immune, not even expats! Be prepared and have your balloons ready to throw at people for self defense! We mean it—its serious business here in Ecuador; it’s water war!
 

12. Try a Humita – Tasting a humita for the first time is fun in the sense that it is something new. It leaves a strange, but not bad flavor in your mouth. You’re not sure if you’re eating something sweet or not. Humitas, a traditional and very old timey food has been around since the first Ecuadorian civilization. Ya gotta try it, at least once, and well, if you like it, you can always have it again, and if you don’t like it, well, at least you can say you tried it. 
 

13. Cuenca City Tour – this tour is four hours and takes you all over the city of Cuenca. During the tour you’ll learn about the culture, history and architecture of Ecuador. It makes several stops at highlight areas such as the Inca ruins and the Old and New Cathedrals, and Flowers Park. Price is $20 per person for the full tour or $5.00 for half tours.
 

14. Casa de la Mujer – this craft casa has over 100 crafts stalls and makes for several hours of great shopping. So, if you like to shop this is the place to go. Products include knit sweaters from Otavalo, traditional Andean musical instruments, Panama hats, jewelry, ceramics and weavings. Located on General Torres 7-33 and Presidente Cordova.
 

15. Feria Libre Mercado - This market is now called El Arenal – When we first stepped foot in this huge market we couldn’t believe our eyes. The abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables is amazing! This is a must visit Mercado, which doesn’t even come close to any of the other Mercados in size.  Wednesdays are the busiest because on this day they also have many more stalls with vendors selling their crafts, clothing, toys, linens, and house wares. Located off of Avenida las Americas and Remigio Crespo.  But remember, only take the smallest bills, $5 and one dollar coins.  Please read our safety guidelines for entering this Mercado.
 

16. Free Cuenca Symphony – There is always something going on at the concert hall in old town Cuenca; whether it’s a musical, band, orchestra or symphony and they are all FREE concerts. Be sure to get there at least 45-minutes early or you might not get a seat. The free concerts get packed quickly. Many of the Ecuadorians dress in their formals to these concerts. You can watch the video here.
 

17. Plaza Rotary Artisans Market - Plaza rotary is located on one square block in downtown Cuenca, not too far from the hostels on Calle Larga. It’s on Mariscal Lamar & Hermano Miguel. Here you will find all kinds of custom made arts and crafts from the local people of Cuenca. There are beautifully designed rugs, pottery, beaded jewelry, furniture, leather goods, and more. 
 




18. San Francisco Market – This market also has local artisan’s crafts such as handmade scarves, hats, sweaters, blankets made from llama, etc. This market is located one block west and one block south of the Main Cathedral in El Centro.  A gringo had her iPad snatched here during the daylight hours. Don’t bring your valuable electronics.
 

19. Giron (El Chorro Falls) – Giron is about 50 minutes from Cuenca; you can take a bus to Giron and then flag down a taxi to take you up the mountain to the falls. It is gorgeous there.  Watch the Video
 

20. Cuenca (big) Zoo - The Cuenca zoo is about 5 miles north on the PanAm (autopisto) Highway from El Centro. Most taxis should know how to get to the Cuenca zoo. It is a lovely zoo with lots of neat animals, however, the zoo is a continual walk up the hillside; we just want to let people know this ahead of time. If you have trouble walking or climbing stairs this zoo might not be for you. If that's the case, you can view the zoo in both of our videos right here.
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Welcome "Happy Expats", Moving from Las Vegas to Cuenca Ecuador!

Today we're talking with a nice expat couple who just moved to Cuenca. They share a little bit about their first month here. These two are a really happy couple. You can sure tell they are really enjoying their new life in Cuenca.

                    

 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Who Can Please Them All? Differing Comments from Gringos in Cuenca Ecuador

So we walk into a restaurant and a diner recognizes us and says hello with a huge smile, shakes our hand and then proceeds to call his wife on the cell.  Then he hands Frank the phone and says, "Here Frank, my wife wants to talk to you".....watch the video for the rest of the story. 



                         


 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!

Grow a Garden with Limited Space in 7 Easy Steps Anywhere in the World

When we first moved to Cuenca Ecuador we said that we wouldn't need to have a garden anymore since the fruits and vegetables are so abundant and great priced. But we cannot stop growing food because its fun. We always have kale to eat from the gardens and we also like to grow pole beans, herbs like rosemary and basil, beets and radishes, which all grow great here. Frank tried his green thumb with Roma tomatoes but they didn't do well at all because they need warmer weather!  Ouch!

 
small purple podded pole bean bed Cuenca Ecuador

                                         1-1/2 months later the plants are growing nicely



Get a Head Start on Your Garden



It’s that time of year again to start your seedlings indoors to get a head start in the planting season. Almost any location in the u.s it is recommended to start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last danger of frost, and in the southeast that is in Feb/March or March/April. In the north it might be a bit later than that. So if you start your seedlings indoors during these months, it most likely will be safe to put them in the dirt outdoors in April or May. Although it is still possible to get a late frost in mid May in some areas in the north.

                    Zucchini grows only "ok" in Cuenca Ecuador. It really needs warmer weather.



The neat thing about living in Cuenca Ecuador, where the weather is (mostly) constant, you do not need to start your seedlings indoors; instead you can simply bury your seeds outside in the garden bed where you want them to grow. Zuchinni will not grow in the winter months in Cuenca. We grew it during the summer and only got a few zucchini squash from the plants as they need warmer weather.  Click here to see what plants grow well in Cuenca.



When we lived in the southeast of the u.s we used to start most of our vegetable plants indoors during the month of February because it was almost always safe to put the small seedlings outside in the gardens by the end of March or first part of April.
 

Start Your Seeds Indoors In Seven Easy Steps
 

One of the easiest ways to start your seeds indoors is in paper cups because they compost into the soil as the plant grows. This allows for easier transplanting without disturbing the plant. You can also buy the seed starter kit at Wal-Mart for about $8 in the garden center. Well, they were $8 four years ago.
 

What You Will Need
20 paper cups
Potting soil
Spray bottle
Seeds
Plastic covering
 

NOTE: If you live in Ecuador, there’s no need to do any of the head start preparation; instead just plant the seeds in the garden bed. However, if it is during the chillier nights of June, July and August, you will want to cover the baby plants because the lows can get down to almost to freezing, which can put undue stress on the baby plants.
 

7 Steps from Seed To Seedling
 

1. Fill each paper cup 2/3 full with potting soil. Put two or three seeds of your choice into each cup.
 

2. Dampen each seed with a mist of water and cover each seed with ¼ inch of soil. Lightly spray the covered seeds with water.
 

3. Put all of your seed cups in a shallow cardboard box and cover with plastic covering. The box should be about 4-6 inches in height. This method works great; it is like a miniature greenhouse and ensures for excellent germination.
 

4. Put your seed box somewhere where it will not get disturbed for 6 to 10 days. There is no need to water them at this time. Seeds should be kept in a warm room for best germination. Check your seeds after six days to see if they have sprouted. If any seeds have sprouted they will now need light. A window in any room of the home works fine. Always dampen the soil when it feels dry.
 

5. When the seedlings are taller than the box you can quit using the plastic cover. Make sure the soil is always damp so the seedlings do not dry out. Keep them in a lighted window during the day and in a warm 75-degree room at night.
 

6. About one week before transplant time, put the seedlings outdoors in a mostly shaded area for up to two hours a day. This will help the transitioning process and lessen transplant shock. Do not leave them outside in direct sunlight or they will shrivel up and die. Your seeds will do fine with TLC - Tender light, loving water and attentive Care.
 

7. After 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your region, you can transplant your seedlings right into the garden. They should be about 3 to 5 inches in height. You may have 2 to 3 plants in each cup. If that is the case, simply pinch out the runts, leaving only the most robust looking plant in each cup.
 

Raised bed gardens can tolerate a lot of plants growing in a smaller space.  See our 3' by 5' purple pole bean bed and the bowl of green beans we harvested from it. Dig as many holes as you need according to how many seedlings you have, spacing each hole by at least six inches. Put each seedling, still in the paper cup, right down into the holes and cover with soil, leaving about 2 to 3 inches of plant sticking out of the soil. The cup will compost right into the soil. Carefully water each seedling.
 

Okay, you’re all done. Now it’s time to watch what nature does best – your efforts will bloom into beautiful and beneficial vegetable plants. That's the neat thing about gardening watching the plants grow and bring fruit. 



If you liked this article, you might like watching this Video too:

                   
 

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog!