So, my first topic of great importance!
I have searched the web long and hard on this topic. Google spits out results, repeated everywhere, that roaches do not live above 2000m (6,500 ft). I searched a lot of English speaking sites and this info is parroted everywhere.
Cool, I thought! I'll live in the Andes (Quito, Cuenca, Loja, etc..) and never have to see another one again!! Where I live along the southern coast of the US, these bastards we fight constantly and I'm sick of that so good riddance!!
Except...
Fumigaciones, Deinstectacion - I see numerous business listed in Quito, Cuenca and Loja and they literally have roaches on their advertising materials. You don't have a business to get rid of things that don't exist there.
What is the honest truth on how bad it is there? I'm coming from a 1st world country and expecting to have less problems with this than in a third world country. Am I delusional in that?
Are restaurants, mercados, etc, infested? Hotels? What are locals general views on this?
From what I've read, Ecuadorian building standards are lower there than in the US, so seals on doors and windows are quite poor if even installed in many places.
What is the general story on this?
It's not the deciding factor, but I do want to know the real situation as I make my plans.