How Can I Find a Good Rental in Cuenca Ecuador? Long & Short Term UPDATED 2016

Things have certainly changed in the last 4.5 years of first writing this article on December 20, 2011. You can still find good, inexpensive rentals in Cuenca when you are not in a hurry and when you know where to look, even though prices have jumped up. All new updates in red text.




Reader asks: Will be arriving in Cuenca and staying for 10 days and would like a nice safe place to stay. A hostel is ok, as long as it has a private bath and kitchen in the hostel. Any contacts or numbers you can give us would be a blessing, thanks. 



Update 2016 - It is an unfortunate fact of life that within any industry there are some that don't have any scruples and will charge whatever they can get away with, even if its overcharging, price gouging, unfair and/or illegal practices etc.  And the real estate industry in Cuenca Ecuador is no different.  



Unfortunately again, the gringo is generally at a disadvantage since he doesn't know the market, doesn't know the language, doesn't know fair practices, etc. etc. so you see, it takes two to tango and if you'll do your part then you can help keep everyone honest.

How can you find a good rental property in Cuenca?

Update 2016 - Our educational website material,including the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide, will give you the knowledge you need to be an informed and wise consumer here.  And that can only mean good things for you.  Whether you’re going to stay 10-days or 10 months or years you’'re sure to benefit one way or another.  



We list several hostels (good for short stays) in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide that we checked out personally and we list the top five resources for finding a good rental in Cuenca. Knowing basic Spanish would be a plus here because obviously it is how people get the best rental deals. 

  

Below is a sneak peek into our eBook/book written for the do-it-yourselfer who does not want to over-pay or be gringo-targeted on their first time visit to Cuenca to see if they like it for a future retirement home.

Hostels

Hostels are a big deal here in Cuenca and there is a lot of them to choose from. When most people think of hostel living they automatically think, “shared rooms” and “shared bathrooms”. The truth is a hostel can be those things and so much more.

The hostels we list in our DIY Cuenca guidebook have private baths, free wifi and other such amenities, just like a hotel!  They are all nice, comfortable and clean and will not break your travel budget. However, some can be noisy if they are in the heart of Calle Larga, especially on the weekends.

Most people when they first come to Cuenca end up throwing hard-earned dollars down the drain because they don’t know where to stay, or they stay in a hotel or hostel that is too expensive because they were in a hurry.

This is what Frank did when he first arrived because we booked a hostel online that was $50 a night!The Internet is not always the best place to look for places to stay.

Now $50 dollars may not seem like a lot of money, but we have to compare apples to oranges here. This was a $50 a night hostel, not a luxury hotel, and this is Ecuador, not Europe!   

For $15 to $25 dollar a night hostel you can have the same amenities and comforts as the $50 a night hostel. We know this for a fact because we’ve been INSIDE the hostels we list in our DIY Cuenca guidebook—we’ve talked with the owners and looked inside each room! We even have pictures of the hostels we list in the DIY Cuenca Guidebook.

Long Term Apartment, Condo, or House Rentals

Reader Asks: We’re coming to Cuenca in March 2012 and were wondering if you know of any good apartment or house rentals? We prefer a furnished 2 bedroom with washer and dryer, and security, but do not want to pay more than $500. If you have any information please let us know.

We have a lot of information for you. We list in our DIY Cuenca guidebook, the best of the best resources for finding good long term rentals. Needing a rental is your top priority of needs.



Update 2016 -  Gringo Good Samaritans Website is a ministry designed to protect expats from unfair and/or illegal dealings, overcharging and price gouging, and any other issue that may crop up from time to time to take advantage of your foreignness.  These practices crop up more often than one might expect.  



Since you don't know the language, don't know the practices, don't know the law, don't know the prices, and don't know your way around, among other things, who do you think is taking advantage of whom?

For short term stays, we suggest that you make your first five days stress free and book yourself into one of the many hostels we offer in the Cuenca guidebook, and during that time look for a longer term rental by looking though the excellent resources we have laid out for you in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide Book. 



Update 2016 - We do want to add however, if the hostel is on Calle Larga then it is more geared to the younger crowd of people because in that area of the city, it can be noisy on the weekends. But they are located in a great area, walking to night life, restaurants, shopping, museums, parks, etc. 



The other two hostels we list in the guide are not located in noisy areas and have more comfort amenities that us older folks prefer.  LOL.  We do not receive any money from these hostels. 

We recommend staying in a hostel when you first arrive, this way you will not be rushed into renting something that was actually not right for you. We know this happens. When people are in a hurry they end up over-paying and really not liking the place they have just signed a 6-month lease on.  Don’t let this happen to you.

So it is important to take your time while looking for a longer term rental that meets your budget and personal preferences.



In two weeks time, with the DIY Cuenca guidebook in your hand, you’ll be sharing what you know and have learned with other newcomers to Cuenca! We know you’re going to appreciate all of the useful and practical information the DIY Cuenca guidebook has to offer. 

Here is what we cover in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide. 

Clear Instructions and maps to:

• Where to stay short term and long term

• Pictures, names, numbers to recommended hostels

• Walking distances (addresses) to almost everything

• Pictures so you’ll recognize where you’re at

• Our personal experiences and recommendations

• Rechargeable cell phones and Internet access

• Maps and directions to museums, Mercado’s and more

• Where to meet up with other expats

• What stores to shop at within walking distance of your hostel

•  Immigration offices – Visa Renewal

• Everything you need at your fingertips, plus free email support!

We Talk About…

• Gringo Targeting

•  How to negotiate with the produce vendors at the Mercado’s

• Weather – what to bring with you

• Staying safe throughout your visit

• Check list for when renting long term and how to negotiate on the rental price

• Recommended restaurants and other neat hang outs

• Post office -- Sending and receiving packages

• Gringo hang outs; names and directions, all walking distance to your hostel

• Locations of Coral and Supermaxi

• We got you covered

• We don’t think we left anything out

• But if we did, please tell us so we can include it in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide

This eBook will be published mid January and available for instant download.

We want to ask our readers what they think they would like to see in this Cuenca guidebook that we have not covered. Your feedback is valuable to us and helps us to help you and all others who will be coming to Cuenca in the future.

UPDATE 2016 *** The DIY Cuenca Landing Guide was first published in March of 2012 and four years later it still is out on top of the top ten travel books on LULU.com!

  

Here is the latest 'Eighth Edition' of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.

 

Until next time we think you might want to read these related articles about renting in Cuenca Ecuador.

• What's It Like Dealing with Unscrupulous Rental Agents

• Is the Rent REALLY Negotiable or Is It a BAIT & SWITCH?

• 7 Tips to Look out for BEFORE Renting in Cuenca Ecuador 

• Gringos Renting a Home in Cuenca Ecuador Should Be All about Value

We're
an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We
live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a
chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five
weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

How Do the Locals Feel about Gringos Moving to Cuenca Ecuador? UPDATE 2016

Four plus years ago and after only seven weeks of living in Cuenca we wrote this article about how Ecuadorians feel about having all of the gringos in their city. And we think it is time to dissect this subject a little bit. All new updates are in red text.



How do the locals feel about the gringos moving to Cuenca?



We have lived here going on seven weeks and everyone that we have met is very kind and helpful in our quest to live here. Ecuadorians are obliging people and will go out of their way to help you, if they can.



Fortunately Frank speaks enough Spanish to get by and also understands it, and we have not had any problems with meshing into the culture. We do not live gringo style, we live Ecuadorian style. We do not live in a gringo gated community we live in a nice and quiet neighborhood where only Ecuadorians live and we feel comfortable living where we do. 



Update 2016 - We still live in the same neighborhood, same house, same rent as in 2011.

What we’ve noticed since being here is that most gringos keep to their local hangouts while enjoying much more for the dollar (Ecuador uses the dollar here). But we are told that many of the gringos don’t speak Spanish and don’t care to learn it. This is one reason why gringos get an English speaking real estate agency to help them find a rental or condo to buy and they pay other gringos to help them go grocery shopping, open a mailing box, get their internet connected, and to open a bank account, and so on and so forth. And because they live in condos with other English speaking people, it makes it much more difficult to learn the local language.



So how do the locals feel about this? To answer this question you have to put yourself in their shoes. Perhaps they feel that the gringos don’t respect them or their country because they simply do not care to learn the language. Perhaps they feel that the gringos think they are too good to live in a house in an Ecuadorian neighborhood? This is all stipulation, mind you.



Update 2016 - We have observed that most gringos socialize only with each other but some gringos, usually the younger ones do make friendships with the Ecuadorian people and are trying to speak the language, and do speak the language. What does this do? Well, it shows respect and gratitude towards the country you moved to.  



When more and more foreigners move here and continue to hang out only with each other it can cause feeling of resentment with the locals and makes it more difficult to build local friendships and understanding what this new country is all about, except through what bloggers write about and Ecuador news that is translated in English for the gringo population.  



UPDATE: 2014- Gringos now live everywhere in Cuenca and even houses with no problems or fear.  



Update 2016 - Although, we do recommended to have electric fencing around the perimeter of your home and a house alarm for when you leave your home, even if you're only going shopping for a few hours.



We have only been treated with kindness from the locals since living here. The only negative thing I have heard from the locals about the gringos moving here is some of them aren’t willing to learn Spanish.



Update 2016 - Sometimes we'll get into a taxi and the driver will ask us, "Why are all the foreigners moving here for?". We always say the same things, "They like the mild weather, healthcare, and it's cheaper than USA".  Then they tell us about the higher rents and now since the meters they don't make as much money...we always let them know we rent for $250 a month.  Yes, we're proud of that.

 



We’ve noticed the younger gringo generation is more apt to mesh in with the local culture than the older folks. This is just a perception that anyone will notice if they are aware of their surroundings. And this is probably because the younger generation is on a tighter budget than the ones who receive some kind of monthly pension. The younger people stay in the hostels managed and owned by Ecuadorians or they live in the downtown apartments owned by Ecuadorians, and they eat in the traditional Ecuadorian restaurants because they are much cheaper than the gringo restaurants. What this does is it allows for them to have to hear Spanish from the locals and have to learn Spanish to take care of their daily living needs, which makes them have to learn Spanish. 



Update 2016 - The only real way to learn to speak Spanish is by getting out there and doing it...hands on. Taking Spanish lessons should only be a supplement to the hands on experience of day to day living in a Spanish speaking country. 



So basically, if you come here and live in the gringo condos, only eat in the gringo restaurants, and have an English speaking gringo or bilingual help you get settled, you won’t have to know or learn Spanish, but this will keep you disconnected from the locals and the culture. So you see, learning the language is a win-win solution for everyone involved. They do have Spanish classes here at a reasonable price.

Update 2016 - And it's not just about not learning the language either; there are different economic types of Ecuadorians that have something to say about the foreigners moving to their city. In a nutshell, here's what's happening.



There is the business owners, real estate agents, tourist service operators, medical tourism doctors and dentists and returning Ecuadorians (gringos too) that love all the gringos moving to Ecuador. In fact, if it were up to them, they'd welcome all of North Americans to move to their city.



Then there is the Ecuadorian worker or small business owner, which is the majority and they are concerned about prices rising so fast that they will not be able to eke out a living in their own city. Gone is the $180 3 bedroom and $250 4 bedroom. Just get on OLX or other online portal to see that they are getting priced out of their own market.  How does this happen?  Mostly its the Ecuadorian real estate agents and home owners that work together to price their homes to the gringo market!  Some call this "demand" however this demand is artificially created by very astute retire abroad marketers, etc.



UPDATE: June 2014 --- almost 3 years later and many, many more gringos moving to Cuenca, there is some local resentment towards the expats about the higher prices on rentals and goods and services going up.  Some of them come here with an attitude and don't want to learn the language. We have witnessed this first hand on several occasions and through other expats that have told us about witnessing it themselves. 



Update 2016 - almost five years later and resentment and animosity is showing in crimes against expats. Unfortunately for the gringos, the crime is happening mainly where many gringos flock together. We've touched on this just recently; you can read about it here.



Until we write again, you might like these articles too.

• Crimes against Expats in Ecuador vs. Panama - Where is most crime and is there a difference?

• Why Homes are Walled and Behind Iron Gates in Cuenca Ecuador

• How to Think Clearly about Retiring and Investing Overseas

We're
an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We
live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a
chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five
weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

What Clothing Should I Bring to Cuenca Ecuador If I Want to Blend-in? Updated March 2016

We are so happy that we're still here after almost five years so we can bring you all the details, changes and updates that have been happening in Cuenca Ecuador!



As far as personal dress goes everything we mentioned in this article still stands true and if there are any changes or updates you will find them in red text.    



This video of El Centro (webcam) will give you a pretty good idea of how Ecuadorians dress in the Andes Mountains of Cuenca.  

                      


How Do Women Dress in Cuenca?



Most Ecuadorian women dress smart and practical in Cuenca. Jeans and or black slacks are popular with women of all ages. The employed women wear nice grey, black, or navy blue two piece pant suits or skirt suits. These suits are matched with a tailored, usually white, tan or blue blouse to match the suit color. They usually wear black sheer nylon stockings with their suits and black pumps.



Most of the younger Ecuadorian women wear tight fitting dark colored jeans (it’s a cultural thing) with a nice sweater or blouse and high heeled shoes. A small percentage wear stretchy pants that also fit quite tight. Some of them wear tennis shoes or boots with their jeans or slacks, probably depends on where they are going and what they are doing. Jeans are always tucked into the boots probably because they do not sell "boot leg" jeans here; I haven't seen them. All the jeans fit tight all the way down to the ankle.



Very seldom will you see an Ecuadorian woman wearing shorts or low cut blouses, but there are a few that do. We’ve seen some women wearing shorts here, but they are usually young gringas—they love to wear short-shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt, even on those chilly 60ish days. 



Update 2016 - Many solo gringa travelers to Latin America are complaining on their blogs about men whistling and cat-calling out at them when they walk down the sidewalk. You will find that there is more of that if the gringa is wearing clothes that are inappropriate. If we want to curb this kind of disrespect from men then we should be more careful about how we dress walking in the streets in the Andes Mountains. After all, its certainly not the beach or hot as the beach, for that matter.  It's not warm enough here for shorts. 



The older Ecuadorian married women dress in slacks and a nice sweater and many of them will have shorter hair than the younger generation. About 70% of the women wear their hair pulled back in a pony tail and they all have long hair. Rarely will you see short hair on the women here. About 5% of the women, usually those who work in the banks, have dyed their hair with blonde highlights, which makes their hair light brown.



March 2016- Most people in Cuenca dress modest, clean and neat. You will not find too much holey jeans here or clothing that looks like it needs to be thrown in the trash. People are very clothes and shoes conscious here and take care of how they look and dress, while nothing looks extravagant or overly done.



The indigenous Ecuadorian women wear traditional suede Ecuadorian skirts (purple, green or red) and sweaters. They wear a wool wrap-around scarf for the chillier days. Simple, black, low heeled pumps are the shoes of choice. They top this ensemble off with a panama style hat made here in Ecuador.



If you want to blend in bring several pairs of dark blue or black jeans and or slacks, and several sweaters. I see a lot of women wear the v-neck solid colored (thin) sweaters with a tank top underneath the sweater. Bring a couple a pairs of good walking shoes, tennis shoes. If high heels is not your thing, no problem, I don’t think you have to wear high-heels to blend in because there are a lot of women here who wear low-heeled boots and tennis shoes.



Update March 2016 -  Guess we're getting used to the weather. Rarely is it actually cold enough for a sweater except for early in the morning and in the evening. Homes stay chilly here in the winter, especially if its a cloudy day, that's when you'll want your sweater.  



Women don’t wear t-shirts as often here as they do in the U.S. Blouses and sweaters are seen being worn a lot here and or simple pullover short sleeve tops. The younger women wear t-shirts but they are seldom tight fitting or white in color.  A few times we have observed a young woman wearing holey jeans. So the holey jean look is not that popular here, nor is tattoos, or nose or lip rings. Most of the Ecuadorian women dress nice and take pride in their appearance.



Update August 2014 - We've seen more of the holey fad style jeans lately. Ecuador must have gotten a new shipment of clothing in from North America's thrift shops. Putting all joking aside, we still see the holey jeans look only occasionally in Cuenca.



You might want to bring a couple of sweaters or long sleeve shirts with you. Believe me when there are four seasons in one day you’ll be glad to have something warm to put on when the wind starts to blow, clouds roll in and it gets chilly. We’ve been out when the day started out at 45 degrees and by noon it was 72, but by 3PM it was 50’s and windy and rainy. So be prepared and dress in layers.  Hoodies are VERY popular with everyone here!!



How Do Men Dress In Ecuador



The employed men wear suits and or slacks with a dress shirt and a sweater over the dress shirt. Clothes are almost always dark colors. You’ll seldom see the Ecuadorian men wear tan or white slacks. They wear nice dark brown or black dress shoes. The younger men wear dark-colored jeans, t-shirts, and pointy toed dress shoes or tennis shoes. The shoes they wear probably depend on what they are doing or where they are going. 



Update 2016- We're seeing more colors in the clothing here as the years progress. Some of the young men wear red pants. The styles have not changed much. 



The men wear lots of black leather jackets. Hoodies (did I spell that right?) of all colors are worn both by women and men. They like to wear the hood often, even when it is sunny out. Most people dress presentable and practical. The only thing that would not be too practical is some of the heels on the ladies shoes might be a bit high for walking around on Cuenca's side walks, but they look nice.



I would have to say that the younger Ecuadorians dress smart, stylish but practical, (four seasons in one day here often) clean and presentable compared to the younger generation in the U.S. They take pride in their clothes and how they look. The men are almost all clean-shaven with short hair. Seldom do the Ecuadorian men have long hair. Jeans do not have holes in the knees or pockets. Most of the men do not wear their jeans tight, but they are not falling off the hips and sagging to the ground either. The men here wear solid colored pullover sweaters and hoodies. 



If you want to blend in bring dark colored (not holey) jeans and pants and dark colored solid t-shirts, collar shirts or dress shirts (short or long sleeved) for every day wear and walking around.



Popular t-shirt and shirt colors are brown, gray, dark blue, and black, and sometimes red. You may want to bring a couple of dark sweaters or long sleeves for the chillier days and a light jacket. Bring a couple pair of good tennis shoes and or other good pair of walking shoes. The men do not wear flowery or vibrant colors here and seldom do they wear white t-shirts.



The bottom line is no matter how we dress we'll never actually blend in because we're a foreigner, but by dressing the way they do we are being respectful; and we will be dressing more practical for Cuenca weather, and we're going to get less gawking at our attire. 



You can come here and wear the touristy Hawaiian shirts and big flared hats and you can wear the short-shorts and flip flops but they don’t dress like that and you will stand out in a crowd. It’s not the beach here in Cuenca, it’s the Andes mountains—big difference.

Watch the video at the beginning of this article.  



Update 2016 - We recommend to bring shoes, jeans or pants because they may not have your style or size here. It's best to have what you need for your visit or extended stay because you may not find what you need in the clothing stores in Ecuador, at least not right away. 

  

Until we write again, you might like to read these articles about Cuenca too. 

• How NOT to Dress Like a Rich American

• Ecuador Family Values and the Wearing of Tight Pants in Cuenca

• Buying Clothes in Cuenca Ecuador

We're
an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We
live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a
chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five
weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!