Great Travel Blogs
Here is a listing of our friends and blogs we love. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do.
World Travel Blogs
Andrew & Laura of Adventure Bimbling | Neil & Johnny of AspiringBackpacker.com | Nathan & Sofia of AsWeTravel.com | Ayngelina of BaconisMagic.ca |Amy & Kieron of DontEverLookBack.com | Gary Arndt of Everything-Everywhere.com| Michael of GoSeeWrite.com | John & Andrea of InspiringTravellers.com | Simon & Erin of NeverEndingVoyage.com | NomadicChick of NomadicChick.com | Nomadic Matt of NomadicMatt.com | Stephanie of TheTravelChica.com | Jason & Aracely of TwoBackpackers.com | Keith Savage of Traveling-Savage.com | Marcello of WanderingTrader.com | Jenny of WhereIsJenny.com | Nellie of WildJunket.com| Caz & Craig of yTravelBlog.com
Family World Travel
Gil and Julia of Asia on Strollers | The Vogel Family of FamilyOnBikes.org | Harris Family of Vagabond Kids | Eva Hamori & Family of That’s Hamori
Cuenca Ecuador Retirement Blogs
Mary of SouthofZero (you really only need Marys on this topic – she aggregates all the other Cuenca retirement blogs)
Cuenca Ecuador Services
Andrea and Mario of GringoExpat.com (a relocation service for foreigners) | Collin and Tracy Winn of GoGo-Gringo.com (a budding forum, classifieds and restaurant review section)
Asia Expat Blogs
Jeffrey & Flora of JeffreyandFlora.com | Harris Family of Vagabond Kids
Travel Tools
Are you missing from our list? Do you run a fantastic blog? Then lets us know about in in the comments!
Hi Bryan and Dena
We just recently moved to Leon, Nicaragua in March 2012. We have started a blog about living in Leon as expats. We have enjoyed reading about your experiences – they have held us make the transition to Nicaragua. Thanks for all your info.
Missed identifying my website in my immediately past post. It is as now shows http://www.andrehugosplace.com/
Hola.
You have published my first year’s adventure on your website GringosAbroad.
AndreHugosPlace is a site, which by example and writing aims to inspire, mainly, Boomers to Live Life’s Adventure to the fullest. It is gradually rising in popularity as people discover it. Lately, it has been having between 400 & 750 hits per day. With the infrastructure in place, the aim is to continue to improve the content to give Boomers what they want. Because of the heavy Ecuador adventure content of the writing and photography, you could classify it a Travel Site. It also has a tourism site aimed to professional and avid photographers. Professional photographer / guides have been lined up and this will see more visibility in the fall 2012.
I would appreciate listing on your site.
Thanks
Hi Bryan and Dena,
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us! I’ve really enjoyed your blog and would love to add my own travel blog (Beyond Disney Travel Tips) to your links. It’s pretty new but starting to get some real, live readers! I’ve already added you to my links at http://beyonddisneytraveltips.wordpress.com/travel-tips-from-other-great-blogs/. Please let me know if you have any questions, etc.. Thanks for considering my blog. Happy travels!
Kathy
I just tried to add something to the blog section of this website regarding VISA tips which I wanted to share… I’ve copied the text here:
ECUADOR VISAs – Tourism, Investment, Overstaying, Extensions, Changing Status, Working as a Professional
What follows is a list of information about visas in Ecuador which I wish I had been given – and knew – over a year ago. In short, the visa system in Ecuador is very complex. There are no less than four offices which deal with visas and migration issues in Quito alone; various other offices do many things related to immigration and migration, too. When I asked my friend who is an attorney what is the logic behind it, he said, “There is none.” When I asked him more, he said, “You know, we ‘streamlined’ our system about 8 years ago by turning to a developed country with a model we could copy.” “Really?” I asked, “which country.” “The United States,” he said… So – yes – Ecuador’s immigration system purportedly represents its attempt to emulate the US immigration system!
Consequently, I wanted to share what I know under a series of topics to help those who may need to deal with what is most certainly among the most complex in the world — or at least one where attorneys can make a fortune because nobody can make heads or tails out of it.
In terms of background, I originally came to Ecuador as a tourist. I then returned to pursue volunteer work with the international NGO I run. Later, I decided to return to get a “professional” visa. And finally, I decided to invest US$30,000 in Ecuador (in furtherance of some NGO development projects I sought to initiate. I had to extend my visa at least once; I almost overstayed; and I tried to get investment and professional visas (after arriving on a tourist visa).
The Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, DC, gave me information about how to do this; it was incorrect. Representatives of several Ecuadorian consulates gave me advice and information; they, too, were incorrect. Individuals in Quito at different offices gave me different information, depending on the office they worked at. Phones were not answered. E-mails were not answered. Letters were not answered.
What I learned was through a huge amount of trial and error!
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
- Inconsistency. Different websites from different embassies and consulates and Ecuadorian offices will list conflicting information and requirements for the same things. Some will say you need a medical certificate for a certain type of visa; others won’t. Some will say that you need to have a police certificate; others won’t. Some will charge US$220 for a 6-month tourist visa (“12-IX”) (e.g., in the US), while others will charge the equivalent of over US$400 for the same 6-month tourist visa (“12-IX”) (e.g., in Australia).
- Incompatible hard copy lists & patience. You may also find some offices giving you “hard copy” lists listing different sets of requirements from what you will find listed on-line. The only way to confirm which list is correct is to go to the office and confirm what they want. Even then – and even after you may have submitted everything on the list (as I did!) – you may still be rejected and told to give more (as I was!).
- Impossible to follow-up with human beings. It is virtually impossible to get any response to a phone call, letter, or e-mail to any office in Ecuador. So don’t waste your time. You will just have to “hit the streets” and go to the offices. You will note I have listed addresses below for all key offices for this purpose. (Embassies, in contrast, may reply to you; but their information – as I found – was generally all wrong.)
- Incomplete / incorrect information on websites. You will find websites from Ecuadorian government offices – as well as foreign Embassies and Consulates – listing lots of information and contact details for different Ecuadorian offices. Often, these are incorrect, incomplete, or outdated. So you need to be careful. I have listed the current addresses of all the offices below as of the date of this posting.
OVERSTAYING. (i.e., in case you just want to give up after trying to follow the rules!).
- Fines & Penalties.
There are no fines for overstaying; rather, you are barred from re-entering for nine months.
This means – you guessed it: If you’re visiting Ecuador and don’t think you’ll come back for a while, you should just overstay and not waste your time getting any official “extension.”
TOURIST VISA EXTENSIONS.
If you want to follow the rules and not overstay, then…
- Where.
Go to the Ministry of Foreign Relations (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio e Integracion) located at Av.10 de Agosto y Carrión.
- How (Process / Costs / Waiting Time) – For 3 Month “12-X” Extensions.
If you go to the website, you will find the words “En construcción” under lists of requirements for many types of visas with no information whatsoever. If, however, you go to the office they will give you little slips of paper which list the following things for a simple tourist visa “12-X” (3 month) extension:
- Personal letter – in Spanish – addressed to the Senior Economist of the Department of Foreign Relations Ricardo Patino explaining why you need the extension and asking him to help you;
- Visa application form with two color passport photos (with a white background) available at http://www.mmrree.gob.ec/servicios/visas.asp (if the site is working and you can connect; often I couldn’t);
- Passport with a minimum of 6 months left;
- Copy of the Passport;
- Copy of bank statement confirming you have at least US$1,000;
- US$60 for both the (a) application for the visa (US$30) and (b) visa itself (US$30).
It will take a minimum five business days (!) to process the visa.
- How – For 6-Month “12-IX” Extensions.
You can get a six-month “12-IX” extension to a “12-IX” 6-month tourist visa if you have one already which you obtained from abroad. In this case, you need to provide more documents, including a police clearance certificate which you ALSO had to present when you obtained the visa initially. (Why do you need to show it again when you showed it already to get the visa you have? Well, it makes no sense, really, but that’s what they want!)
You will also need to pay US$230 — the same price of the visa in the U.S. (though note that it is the equivalent of over US$400 in Australia!).
- How – For Working Visas and other “more complex” types.
If you want to go down this route, more power to you! I met no less than three foreigners when I visited the office all of whom were trying to obtain more “complex” visa types. And they had some amazing stories to tell. One woman from the Netherlands had to return to the office eight times – each time for a minimum of 8 hours each (and she still didn’t have any visa in hand!). A man from the UK shared that he was there one day when the computers went down and everybody was sent home after waiting over six hours. An Ecuadorian attorney I know shared that it took him over 2.5 years to get the office to process a spousal visa (it was for a same-sex couple and apparently the office reps did not want to follow Ecuador’s law re: gay couples).
When I was there, it took me about 5 hours to finally see a woman who, after 5 minutes, told me that she could not help me, didn’t want to help me, and sent me away quite quickly before taking a coffee break. I surmised she might have just been having a bad day, but after the stories I head about the office and the people who work there, it seems that quite a lot of people at this office seem to have a LOT of bad days…every day…
CHANGING VISA TYPES & RESIDENCY – e.g., Investment visas
- Where.
Unlike the visas above, a different office deals with Investment & Residency visas: The Office for Foreigners. (i.e., Dirección General de Extranjería) located at Av. 10 de Deciembre (Building No. N26-05), Between Avenidas Colon y La Nina in Quito.
- What You Need.
Depending on the type of visa, you will need to show a bunch of documents – mostly superfluous, illogical, or just plain bureaucratic, depending on the type of visa you want. For the SIMPLEST of visa types — a CD minimum US$25,000 investment — you will need to show the following:
(1) ORIGINAL PASSPORT & VISA stamp. You can have ANY type of visa now to apply for an investment visa or to change your visa status (note that this was NOT the case in 2011 where you needed a minimum of a 6-month “12-IX” visa);
(2) ORIGINAL Certificate Confirming Your Investment. You should be given this by the bank where you made the investment.
(3) NOTARIZED COPIES of the Passport ID page, visa stamp, and Investment Certificate noted above. You can get documents notarized just a few blocks from the Foreigners Office at:
Dr. Alfonso Freire Zapata
La Nina N26-169 y Av. 6 de Deciembre
Floor no. 11 — Office no. 1103
Tel. 2543-939; E-mail: notariadecimocuarta@yahoo.com
Each “certified” page will cost US$2.25 and you may need to come back the next day to get them.
(4) APOSTILLED Police Certificate from where you have spent the most time the last five years ISSUED NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS before you submit your application forms. As it often takes a long time both to get the basic certificates – not to mention getting them Apostilled (or Certified by the Ecuadorian Embassy in your country if your country did not sign the Hague Convention) – this is tricky! You need to time things right! And there is rhyme or reason to what different countries do… In Australia, the whole process takes about 4-5 WEEKS; in Canada, upwards of 2-3 MONTHS (!); and in Ecuador (amazingly enough!) just 10-15 MINUTES while you wait
Note that if you have a visa which you required you to ALREADY submit a police certificate (e.g., “12-IX” 6-month tourist visa issued in the U.S.), it doesn’t matter: you STILL need to get ANOTHER certificate. This of course makes no sense whatsoever, but… well… this is the rule! So you would be advised to get MORE THAN ONE COPY of every certificate you get just to play it safely…!
Also, if you have been in Ecuador a while (or even if you haven’t), you should ALSO probably get a police certificate from Ecuador to ensure “all your ducks are in a row.” You can get this “Certificado de Antecedentes Personales” at:
Police Archive Registry
Av. Amazonas N21-175 y Rosa
Edificio Rio Amazonas
It costs US$5 and you get it on the 2nd floor – - take the stairs to the left as you enter the front door. It’s the one thing you can find which is issued very efficiently – only 10-15 minutes. So go get it!
(5) TRANSLATIONS of anything not in Spanish. This must be done by someone who does not have a “personal interest” in your case – and folks at language schools may be able to help you. I went to a language school where a friend-of-a-friend had taken some classes and I paid the director US$20 to come with me to the Notary Above for about 45 minutes as he simply signed MY OWN translations. What you ultimately need to present is (a) the ORIGINAL documents (in the foreign language); (b) the TRANSLATIONS (signed by the “translator”), and (c) additional forms which the translator will sign (and the notary will give you) stating that the translator can attest that the translations are… well… translations!
EACH translated “confirmation” page from the Notary is a whopping US$22.
(6) MOVIEMENTO MIGRATORIO Document. This basically says when you have entered and left Ecuador. Is this information in your passport? Sure. Is there any logic as to why you need this? Nope. But you need it and can get it at:
Migration Police Office
On Av. Rio Amazonas southwest of the intersection of Av. Rio Amazonas & Av. Republica (near the southwest corner of Parque Carolina)
It costs US$5 and you need to present your passport; depending on the queues, you can probably get it in 20-30 minutes.
- Making your Investment in Ecuador.
You would think this would be simple: You go to a bank, wire the money, and open your CD at a bank
Not so in Ecuador
In Ecuador, only those with permanent visas and Cedulas (i.e., National IDs) can open accounts and get account numbers; however, you may need an account to get your CD; and you will also need the CD to get your permanent visa…. (You can see that this ends up sending you in a permanent circle!)
There are two solutions:
(1) Wire the funds to an Ecuadorian friend’s account and withdraw the funds IN CASH. If you bring the cash to BANCO PICHINCHA, they will give you a CD. You will, of course, need to say how you got the cash, but they will do it! (I carried a bag with US$30,000 in it (in $10 bills) which I had obtained after sending the money to my friend’s account at PRODUBANCO. While PRODUBANCO would not give me a CD, BANCO PICHINCHA would… Go figure!)
(2) Visit BANCO TERRITORIAL at Av. 12 de Octubre N24-774 y Coruna Edificio Urban Plaza, Piso 15 and ask to see Maria Fernando Naranjo. I have been told that she will open up accounts for foreigners (even though nobody else anywhere else can…and everybody else says that this is illegal. Why Maria can do it and nobody else can is anybody’s guess; but why question something which works? Maria can be reached at: mnaranjo@grupozunino.com
WORKING AS A PROFESSIONAL – Obtaining a “Professional” visa
The Office for Foreigners will process these visas. However, you need to first get your degrees from abroad certified in Ecuador. You can do this by authoring petitions to the Director at the SENESCYT Office located at:
Dr. René Ramírez
Secretario Nacional de Educación Superior Ciencia, Tecnología, e Innovación (SENESCYT)
Av. 9 de Octubre 624 y Carrión
Quito, Ecuador
A few points are worth highlighting regarding this process:
- EACH degree you want certified will require a SEPARATE cover letter addressed to Dr. Ramirez – along with a fee of US$50;
- EACH needs to be certified and APOSTILLED (or certified by an Ecuadorian Embassy) in the COUNTRY of ORIGIN where it was issued.
- The man who is the “gate keeper” on the ground floor of SENESCYT’s office will do everything he humanly can to try to AVOID helping you and finding excuses why SENESCYT cannot help you. (I saw him turn away nine people in a row — before he then turned me away — when I first visited
- You CANNO T get SENESCYT to confirm any degree with a “tourist” visa of any sort; thus, if you want to change from a tourist visa to a professional visa, you basically… well… can’t do it. Note that (a) the Foreigners Office will tell you that it IS possible and send you to SENESCYT; then (b) SENESCYT will then send you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to change your visa type to anything non-tourist related; and (c) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send you BACK to the Foreigners Office or SENESCYT saying the Ministry cannot help you because you want a permanent visa which the Ministry cannot give you! (Again, you’ll be going around in circles – LOL!)
How do you get around this? Well, I just gave up and went for another visa type…
Hope all this information helps those trying to navigate the Ecuadorian VISA system. I guess two words really are in order at the end of the day:
GOOD LUCK!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like you had a complicated time.
Something we’ve learned these past few years, is that there are almost as many exceptions as there are rules. For example, we were able to setup our Ecuador bank account and an investment with just our passport. Was actually quite simple.
Hey Bryan, my wife and I and our two sons will be arriving in Ecuador on 11/25. We’ll be starting out in Cotacachi, but not sure exactly where we’ll end up. We need to get some income coming in with a small business or rental property. Maybe we’ll meet up sometime.
I found it quite odd that you didn’t respond to negative posts about where you live.
Also, that you neglected to mention the turmoil between the police and the military.
And if it’s only possible to locate reasonably priced housing (given third world status) via “driving around and searching” — how would this be accomplished if you didn’t already live there?
Appreciate that you admit that you’ve moved five? times in three years due to extreme conditions.
Yep. Sounds like paradise.
Hi Madison – thanks for voicing your concerns.
Not sure what you mean about not responding to negative posts – which ones are you referring to? We make a point to respond to all comments.
If you are referring to this police/military turmoil, then it was well covered:
Riots, Coups and National Strikes – A Busy Day in Ecuador
Whats Really Going On in Ecuador?
Current Situation in Ecuador – October 1, 2010
Current Situation in Ecuador – October 2, 2010
Current Situation in Ecuador – October 5, 2010
About finding housing, I guess if you weren’t going to live here, you wouldn’t need to find housing. Most people come and rent a temporary place for a while and then look around and choose an area that they like. I think this is common when moving to any foreign country – not just “third world” ones. In fact, the limitations are more based on language. If you are fluent in Spanish, then you’ll have no trouble finding a great place to live.
In your final comment about moving five times – you’ve confused us with a contributor. No one has ever stated that there are extreme conditions, here on GringosAbroad. I think you might be confusing our site with another one. I know that you’ll find less than perfect conditions in Ecuador – they exist in every country – even “first world” ones. But why would you choose to live in sub-standard housing?
Thanks!
Hello!
Feeling happy to view your travel website:) It is really really a fantastic one.
I am also having a travel website at lamoillehouse.com which is of pr3.
I am requesting you to add my site in your blogroll (links section) and inform me. i will also add you
Thanks,
The Traveller
Hi Bryan and Dena, great work on your site, I have a blog dedicated to foreign investors in Ecuador I’d love to submit for consideration to be included on your link page. I update daily and try to include only the most important info any investor should know before investing or living in Ecuador.
http://www.EcuadorRealEstate.org
Also, do you offer guest posting opportunities? I could write a unique article specifically for your site or vice versa if you’d like to write for mine (with a link in the byline). Thanks for the response, Domenick
Hi Domenick – thanks for the comment. Email me directly and we’ll chat. Would be interested in a guest post from you. Let me know the angle and I’m sure we can work something out.
Thanks!
Bryan
Dear Bryan and Dina, Thank you for your website, I am a British Wildlife Biologist, Ecologist that just arrived in Cuenca, I have lived in Guatemala for four years before here running projects teaching mayan children ecology, we also have projects in the Oriente but I have chosen Cuenca as my first base while I wait for my immigration papers. My husband is from the USA but he is not hear till next summer. Please could you tell me whom is this Lawyer you see in Cuenca? I would like to get in touch with them, I was recomended Gabriella Espinoso in Quito but she seems over run with clients. Apparently over 20,000 people are applying to live here each year. My visa purpose is for my rainforest conservation projects. I am also an artist, qigong and tai chi practitioner and hypnotherapist. So hoping this will be good for Cuenca! Hope to meet you soon
Hi Carlita – sorry for my slow response. We’ve been traveling – and are behind on comments.
We use Grace and Nelson in Cuenca. They are exceptional and specialize in immigration.
Welcome to Cuenca!
Bryan
would appreciate a lovely little link to our expat blog.
We are friends of Grace and Nelson at Cuenca Law Office. Would you consider listing our website?
Gracias!
Dave & Mimi
ps: We have really enjoyed your site – it’s been very helpful to us. Thanks
Please see my website for details. I would like to be listed under Cuenca Ecuador Services.
Thank You
Noshy
We are an adventure family from Canada that leave in 29 days to move to France, buy a B&B and start living our life’s dream!
It’s wonderful to find other adventurous families, that brave travel and take a leap of faith and start to really enjoy the life we were given.
Nice to find you
eva
Hello Eva (and family), congratulations on the big dream – and to almost reaching it!
Once you get settled, please take a minute to share your expat story: http://www.gringosabroad.com/share-your-story/ Its good blog promotion too – especially if you are running a B&B.
I’ve added you to our favorite blogs page. Would love to be included in yours!
All the best on your plans.
Bryan
Hi Bryan and Dena,
I am the creator/editor of GoGo-Gringo.com, a local website for expats, travelers and local Cuencanos. I really enjoy your site and have found it of great use for various issues that have come up while living here. I was hoping you could give my site a little love, especially my Classifieds section, which to my knowledge, is the only modern and user-friendly Classifieds section available in English in these parts. Additionally, we do our best to post local events (nightlife and cultural), with an aim to be a “one-stop site” for all things fun and interesting here in Cuenca. We also have a wealth of restaurant reviews. We could hit you back with some love on our site, if you’re interested.
Thanks for the all the work guys, and I look forward to your reply.
Cheers,
Collin
Hey Collin, just added you. A classifieds section has been missing for a long time. You’ve got a great looking site. Keep in touch as your site develops – I’m sure that there will be opportunities to share content and cross promote.
Thanks for reaching out!
Bryan
Hi Bryan and Dena,
We have been enjoying your blog and all the tips. We were wondering if you could help out with some information…we would gladly hire you or someone else to get it for us. My husband, myself and our 4 year old son would like to come for a 3 month stay Dec-Feb.2012–we live in Ontario and would like to move to Ecuador in 2012. We need some information on Kidney dialysis clinics–if I could get a spot, how much it would cost per treatment–if you know someone we could contact to hire to help us get this information we would appreciate it.
Thanks, Nicole Manley
Hi Nicole,
It’s good to hear that you are enjoying the blog. I’m sorry to say that we can’t help with this right now, our work load is too heavy at the moment.
Thanks
Hello fellow Canadians! We are an older couple (53 and 63) hoping to move to the Apuela/Otavolo area. Almost everyone we read about lives in the Cuenca or Cotacochi areas and we're having trouble finding anything out about the more rural living ins and outs. For example, grocery stores are available in the cities, but what about the smaller towns? Also, I am disabled and though I can walk very short distances, I require the use of a wheelchair/powerchair to go to the market for example. How difficult will it be for me to get around?? Is this something we should even be considering with my disability? For example, to get to Apuela from the Quito airport is a 60 mile drive, that takes as much as 6 hrs by bus!! That in itself is daunting! What can you suggest for we old folk!?!?!
Thanks so much!
Deb
Southern Ontario
Hi Bryan & Dena,
I just stumbled upon your website while doing some research on living in Ecuador. I will be moving there in just about two months maybe a little less. I had a question that I have been desperately trying to find the answer to. If you guys don't know it maybe you have a contact that does, I would be very appreciative. I am bringing my cat with me when I relocate. I have looked up as much as I can on what to do when I bring an animal into the country, however I can't seem to find any information on what happens when we get off the plane into the airport in Ecuador. I am bringing him as a carry on and I am trying to figure out will they take him once I get there? Will they quarantine him? I have looked on the Embassy website for America and it only gives information if you are shipping your pet. If you have any type of information regarding this I would be very thankful. You have a wonderful website and keep up the great work.
Alex
Hi Alex, great questions. I checked with our lawyer here in Cuenca (more to follow on them) and here's what they said:
Ecuador does not quarantine domestic animals that are hand carried on the plane as long as the papers are in order i.e. the certification by a Vet showing the animal is up to date with all the required vaccinations and is in good health. A good website to check for requirements is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/a…
Hope this helps.
Bryan
Hi Bryan, New subscriber probably coming to Cuenca June/July. A few questions if I may.
We don't receive minimum required .(CPP plus military pension only) for pensionado yet but will in 3 years however with my online teaching English we are well over minimum. No other assets. Have been living in Mexico for 5 years but want to make Ecuador our retirement home.
Here are my questions:
Can we get 90 day extensions to tourist visa by leaving and returning to somewhere like Peru ?
Is it possible to get a one year extension as a tourist in-country (websites are contradictory) ?
How easy is it to rent a furnished place if we don't have permanent status ?
If we are able to rent somewhere about how many weeks before internet hook-up ?
Is it possible to open a bank account given our situation?
Hi Colin,
Great questions. I’m going to have our lawyer answer some of these. They are in the process of putting together a set of articles – on immigration and all the visas.
Furnished places exist, but are more expensive. And honestly, they aren’t that common.
About bank accounts, I know that temporary residents have opened accounts – because they are allow to purchase real estate. But the bank wants to know that you have a home here – they require a copy of your power/water bill at your place of residence – not from your hotel. Because we aren’t on a tourist visa, I’m not exactly sure how to answer the question. It is done, but not sure how.
But really, you don’t need a bank account. We just opened one last month, and we’ve been here almost 1 1/2 years. A US debit card works in all the machines here – and all the large stores accept credit cards. Its not that crucial to have a local bank account.
I’ll post the responses to the other questions when I get them back from our lawyer.
Hope this helps.
Bryan
Hi Colin, just got this reply back from our lawyer (more on them in the future). Here is their response:
1. Can we get 90 day extensions to tourist visa by leaving and returning to somewhere like Peru ? No. In the past this was possible. That is why many websites and chat rooms say you can go to Peru or Columbia and reenter Ecuador and receive 90 days. This is no longer permitted.
2. Is it possible to get a one year extension as a tourist in-country (websites are contradictory) ? No. Other visas are available in country such as a Student’s Visa or Missionary’s Visa. The tourist visas are one per year and the only exception is when applying for residency.
Hope this helps.
Bryan
Hi Bryan & Dena,
Just signed up for your newsletter. Have been reading your blog and website. Very enjoyable. Of course I have a high degree of interest in Ecuador. My fiancee, Jennifer, and I are planning an exploratory trip to Ecuador (Quito & Cuenca) in February. We attended the IL conference in Las Vegas a few months ago and are intrigued about living abroad for a large portion of the year.
We do a fair bit of traveling now (about 6 to 7 months a year). We have been blessed with an on-line travel club & business we work part time that enables us a fair degree of freedom. Jennifer is an outstanding photographer & writer as well. She speakes spanish and I am in the learning stage (I speak French enough to get by).
Would love to learn more about day to day life in Ecuador and specifically Cuenca. It sounds like the perfect city/location/weather/activities/cafes/lifestyle to us. We love the water/ocean but only to visit it for short get-aways. Living near it has never been a high priority for us.
Have a great day !
Rob
Hey Rob – sounds like you've got your plans in order.
We were the same as you – we love the ocean, but only for vacations. The climate and lifestyle in Cuenca fits us much better.
All the best on your plans – and thanks for the comment.
Bryan
Great list, we follow every one of these bloggers already!
We run a pretty kickass blog as well (no bias in that statement at all!)…
Hey Guys – Welcome to the list! Thanks for the comment. I would love if you would share your traveler story. http://www.gringosabroad.com/share-your-story/sha… (its a good way to promote your blog too)
Happy travels!
Bryan