Questions About Living At the Ocean -Bahia de Caraquez

Looking to visit/move in Ecuador!
Looking for local and and crafts for my store, any suggestions?
Regards MIKE!

Hi Mike, can you be more specific?

Yes, I'm looking to move there, but first I have to sell my store!
I'm looking for local arts and crafts for inventory(scarves bracelets etc.)
I've heard that there are many local hand made crafts there, these would help me sell my store so I could move there
Will pay fair price as long as it works in my store!
Thanks for your reply!
Regards MIKE

Hi Mike,

Scarves are abundant in Otavalo.

Thanks for answering, do you know how I might buy some scarves, or jewelry?
Regards, MIKE!

Hi Mike, How much are you planning to buy, by the suit case and carried on the plane , or container and have them shipped back home? yes I do know how and where to buy the scarves in Otavelo

Hello everybody!
I was reading your coments about BC and I will like to share our experience in Puerto Lopez, Manabi

We are noticing and learning a new life style here.

This place is so tiny (20k or so souls) that there is only 1 signal light in the entire town, and people respect it even if no one is going in the other direction!!

No cameras in public poles. Only 1 gas station, 1 grocery store, 1 fresh food market, 1 bank branch, 1 health center wich is open 24hrs.

People dont uses the horns, they are not rushing, no taxis, no bus service. There is taxi service like the tuk-tuk in Thailand. A motorbike with a cab where people can sit and ask for a ride for 0.25c

People smiles and they dont yeil. I have not seem drunk teenagers or man on the streets (like I have seem in other city) Children looks happy and men are not rude saying nasty things to the girls.

Something contradictory, I have seem a very young girl carrying a new born baby and I have seem a 14 years old or so already pregnant, she look like 6months pregnant to me.

People is not really worry of robbers or anything like that. They go for lunch and leave the store "home alone"
They leaves the motorcycles runing with the key on while they go talk to someone or buy something. They leave the helmets on it, and no one take them. Im still amazed, they just turn their backs to running bikes and n one take nothing. Im amazed because things happen to us in Cue in only few minutes!

People does not smokes alot. In these days I have seem 1 person smoking in town (was a gringo).

Dogs are very friendly and dont bark at people, the dont growl or try to bite or chase or nothing. They look ok, I mean does not look starving to death like the dogs in Cue.
Toight I saw a little puppy barking at a lady, he run back home like wild kitty when she said: NO!

Is easy to find fish and plantanes like is easy to find cuy or white corn in Cuenca.

Is very common to have sea food all the time and chicken sometimes. Plantanes are very popular, breakfast, lunch, dinner and for snak.

The meat? Umm.. They need to learn more. Even the nice looking hotels has not good dishes with meat.

I mean, not good for the money. We paid $8 for a little piece of fried meat, rice and letucce. The menu said: "Nice meat on the grill with a delicious salad made of the best letucce tomato and houses dresing"
I did eat it, but I thought I can do that by myself in home (notice that I dont know how to cook)

The town is still dusty and people dont do nothing to fix the situation. Wich I can understand. There is many streets that goes up to the hills where is not asfalt, so even if people try to clean the street will be useless, in the same day they will have the dust back.

Anyway I think everybody can help themselves if they keep the dry mod out of the street, the rain season is coming, and if the water from the rain has not place to go, just will sit rigth there.

Hope the gov starts the new malecon very soon. They said they will make a 3km malecon. Hope they put some asfalt on the streets on the hills.

We moved to Puerto Lopez because Cuenca was too busy city for my husbands preferences. So, if he goes somewhere, I go along!

While we build our house (on a hill) we are renting a little apt, ocean front for $250 Could be better, could be worst. Is very basic. No cabinets or closets, for example.

Im using bottle water to wash my hair, twice a week and that solved the problem with my hair for the hard water. I use 1lt for washing and 250ml for rinse it using vinegar and water.

I have notice that my hair is turning nicer here. Also my skin. We dont sweat a lot even if we work outside, wich is very nice.

Kind we like this town. The inocence of people, the relax.

Hey everyone , an update for you on the new Shopping Mall (Paseo) here in Bahia.  It is humming along and should be done by next Summer or so.  Many had asked about it's progress, so here you have it.   Enjoy the wonder of exploring Ecuador!!

Still Living It and Loving It here in Bahia, Ecuador
Charlie

Hi Charlie,

We will be there in july. Let's get together for a drink. Love to get your perspectives on life in san Vicente. Thanks, Trent

Trent, So far we are loving this small little town.  Very extremely welcoming and curious people here.  They simply can't figure why anyone would want to leave the US to come here.  Everyone dreams of going to the US as it is in all the movies and so much comes from the US , styles etc.  Many dream of sending their kids to College in the US.  It is very easy to forget about all the world's problems here and just relax!  We tend to ignore or just plain forget about all the stress stuff going on elsewhere.  Have not heard of any major crimes here at all.  Went home to Seattle for 2 months Dec. to Feb.  crimes every day, but a huge area (1.5 million folks in Seattle Metro area)  here maybe 50,000 in the whole area. Well gotta run, my hammock is calling me.  Take care and enjoy learning about and exploring Beautiful Ecuador.

Still Living It and Loving It here near Bahia , Ecuador
Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Do you have any insight into the Las Olas Development south of Bahia?

Glemai, Hello , I have enjoyed Edmonton in 1993 on a trip to visit friends in Red Deer, we visited Calgary and Edmonton as well.  Gees 21 years ago already, how time flies. We have greatly enjoyed visiting Canada  as we are from Seattle.

As far as the Las Olas Development, I have not been out to see it since last August when it was mostly earth being moved out there.  We know Kim and David who are building it.  I know they have been very busy as we have seen them with their Crews in Bahia on several occasions, coming in or heading out there.  Have observed them in many meetings in Bahia as well with their employees.   From what I can see they have an extremely well thought out and very well planned Development going in at the Ocean south of Bahia.  It will feature a Golf Course which will be the only one in this immediate area.   I also know they have many homes pre-sold out there.  Full Disclosure, we are working on a new Development as well North of Canoa.   Not ready to advertise yet.  Canoa is about 20 minutes north of Bahia.  If you require more information please PM me as we are not allowed to do advertising on the Forums.  I can see why you want to be here as it was freezing in Edmonton as opposed to here 85' to 90' Fahrenheit daily.  And then there is the Beach Lifestyle.................What can I say?   

Still Living It and Loving It Here Near Bahia Ecuador,
Charlie

Charlie, thanks for your reply. Many people have no idea of Edmonton/Calgary/Red Deer so I tip my hat to you. I have often said that without the minus 40 C winters that we experience, there would be 10 million people living here as it truly is beautiful in the summer. The earth doesn't move here, no wildfires, no mudslides, no hurricanes and very few tornadoes. However as my wife and I are nearing retirement, we have become less and less tolerant of the winter which is why we are entertaining Ecuador as our home.

All of our research has been online so far and our first trip to Ecuador will be this November. As I have been involved in the sport of golf since a child, the Las Olas development is of definite interest to us. Would of liked to of taken advantage of their Founders Club but obviously without ever being there or seeing what we would be purchasing that was not a reality. We have seen entire resorts in Mexico pre sold and then the developers just walk away so your reply is very encouraging. We are coming for 3 weeks and will be concentrating on the Bahia area to find a place.

We will be following your thread so keep on with the updates of your development and your genuine replies to those who write you.

Take Care.

The American dream is still alive and well, but it's in Ecuador coasts instead. Do you know a lot of folks have vacation homes there and leave them there vacant without getting vandalized? Let me know your perspectives. Thanks for your time, Charlie.

Hello again Trent,  Yes it is possible to have a vacation rental and either leave it vacant while gone or have it rented out.  If it is located in a secure gated community, it will be perfectly safe.  Renting it for a fee is an option we will offer our Owners in our new Development.  You can take a look at options for vacation homes while you are here.  Looking forward to your visit.

Still Living It and Loving It Here Near Bahia and Living The (South ) American Dream,
Charlie

I am looking for reasonable spanish lessons....Kim

Most of the schools charge ~$8/hour. I started out taking 15 hours/week at a school in Centro Historico (Quito). Therefore, $120/week. Before making recommendations, where will you be studying?

Hello Wanderingbears!

We are a Canadian/British family of 3 (we have an 11 year old son) currently living in Belize. We are in the process of learning Spanish as we are interested in relocation to Bahia in the summer.

We would like to position ourselves near the school that our son would attend, but are unable to locate much information regarding schools. I assume our search would be easier if we were fluent in Spanish. We are learning Spanish now, but recognize that it will come quicker when immersed.

Are you able/willing to help us identify and locate suitable school choices for us?

We look forward to your reply!

Best Regards,
Jordan, Kae, & Connor Burke
jkburke.com

Bahía Fun Facts....

1. The population of Bahía de Caráquez is 20,000.

2.  The bridge linking Bahía to San Vicente, Ecuador, opened in 2010.

3.  Besides tourism and construction, a main industry is the breeding and fattening of shrimp in captivity.

4.  Over the past 20 years, Bahía has become a weekend and vacation destination for residents of Quito and Guayaquil.

5.  The city's name is a challenging one to pronounce for Expats due to the silent H in the first word and the accented second syllable in the last one....

    bah-EE-ah day kah-RAH-kez

Source for Fun Facts 1-4:  Wikipedia

-- cccmedia in Quito

The  schools called colegio  eloy  alfaro, its  free new and  nice  right  on  the  ocean

JK Burke wrote:

We are a Canadian/British family of 3 currently living in Belize. We are in the process of learning Spanish as we are interested in relocation to Bahia... but recognize that it will come quicker when immersed.

Are you able/willing to help us identify and locate suitable school choices for us?

Dear Burke Family,

Welcome to the Ecuador forum.

Please keep in mind that if you plan to live in Ecuador year-round, you will need a residency-visa strategy.

The most popular one for pre-retirement Expat families arriving without a job or Spanish-language skills is the investor visa.  A family can qualify for this by investing $25,000 in an Ecuadorian certificate of deposit for the primary visa applicant plus a few hundred more to cover the rest of the family.

A person or family can live in Ecuador up to nine months a year based on the customarily-granted free tourist-stamp plus an extension visa obtained in-country.

cccmedia in Quito

Hi
Yes. I'm planning to move there April /May. What are rents like there for a single guy wanting a small 2 bed furnished house living with the locals. limited espanol but willing to learn.?? How far does $800 per mo. go ?
Any and all info is appreciated.
note. Lived in Merida Yucatan 5.5 months last year
Bill
Also: Is your area curently affected by the volcanos near Banos.

Lonecowboy wrote:

I'm planning to move there April / May. What are rents like there for a single guy wanting a small 2 bed furnished house living with the locals.... How far does $800 per mo. go ?
....Is your area currently affected by the volcanos near Banos.

Dear Cowboy -- or as we say it here, Vaquero ...

Since this is a coastal thread, we're assuming you're planning to live in Bahía or another coastal community.

For $800 -- which is a real low-end budget for an Expat -- you won't be able to afford a furnished house real close to the shore.  However, if by a "house living with the locals," you mean a private bedroom with otherwise shared facilities in a house, you might make it through the month at $800.  Figure $150-175 per month in rent for such an arrangement in a non-Gringo-influenced neighborhood some blocks away from the shore.  The tradeoff to getting such a rent is that you might lose some of the ocean breeze that makes Pacific Coast living enjoyable in some of the EC micro-climates there.

You'd be mostly cooking at home or enjoying $2.50 almuerzo meals at modest restaurants .. looking at $73-a-month government health care .. riding the bus for transportation .. staying out of hostess bars .. and postponing out-of-country travel until your ship comes in.

For more information, use the search function on this forum for cost of living or visit www.numbeo.com for COL data. The search function is available at most pages headlined "forum," probably including your expat.com welcome page.

---

No, the coast (and Quito) are unaffected by Tungarahua, the Baños volcano.  Some scientists believe that Baños itself could be destroyed by the volcano if it ever blows. 

cccmedia in Quito

Hi Charlie
I see that your post is several months old. How is the development progressing.? I wondered if any of the new unit owners ever rent out for like 3 month periods while they're back home wherever. I believe I'd like to try 3 months in one place and thrn move on for another 3 month leasein another area of the country until I find my 'Sweet Spot'.
Can you advise ?
Bill
Lonecowboy

I see this thread is over 3 years old. What's the latest update on rentals (furnished 1-2 BR) and cost of living? Would $2100 USD be a reasonable amt for comfortable living there? Are there opportunities to teach English  part-time (I have MA in TESOL with 25 years experience and looking for part-time teaching) and volunteer work at an animal shelter? What's the pollution index like? I don't want to live in an apt in a high rise with barred windows. I would need a patio or balcony to grow plants and flowers and be near neighbors where we could get together. I don't need to be ocean front but would love to be in 2-3 miles jogging distance. When is the best time to explore this area? Thank you everyone for your valuable information. I realize I've presented many questions.  I've purchased the latest Lonely Planet ed. on Ecuador and about to do more research on this region.  Thank you again for any information you may have to update the current living costs/style in 2016.  Regards, PS

peripatetic_soul wrote:

What's the latest update on rentals (furnished 1-2 BR) and cost of living? Would $2100 USD be a reasonable amount for comfortable living there?

Are there opportunities to teach English part-time?...

I don't want to live in an apt in a high rise with barred windows. I would need a patio or balcony to grow plants and flowers....

I don't need to be ocean front but would love to be in 2-3 miles jogging distance.

$2,100 a month:  That's enough to live comfortably with a patio for plants and flowers on the coast or anywhere in Ecuador for a single person.  However, it might not be enough for someone who insisted on a fancy penthouse with a swimming pool and other amenities right near the oceanfront.

Teaching English:  Cuenca and Quito would be better for rounding up clientele due to population size.  Success, even part-time, on the coast would require an intensive enrollment focus.

Don't want an apartment in a high-rise with barred windows:  I'm unfamiliar with such a setup.  Usually, a high-rise residential building doesn't need bars or barbed wire above the second floor, if at all.  In some of the larger, Expat-friendly cities on the coast, you would be significantly limiting your choice of residence if you rule out all high-rise apartment buildings.

Living 2-3 miles from the ocean:  Depending on the community, living up to three miles from the ocean could reduce your home's exposure to cooling ocean breezes so loved by Expats on the coast.  You can be closer to the ocean than that with a view -- but not necessarily direct oceanfront -- and still get preferred rents.

Visiting Craigslist could give you an idea of the high end of current rental rates.  Don't rent over the Internet, however.  Make sure of what you're getting by visiting rental properties in person.  That will aid in getting lower rent as well.  Furnishing your apartment yourself would save you a lot  in rent if you're there longterm.

cccmedia in Quito

peripatetic_soul wrote:

When is the best time to explore this area?

Not right away!  El Niño could keep battering the coast intermittently until some time in April 2016.

After that, the best time might depend on whether you want to visit during high season or not.

On most of the long Ecuadorian coast, December to sometime in May is high season.  In a place such as Salinas, the difference in seasonal population between high and low seasons is stunning.

cccmedia in Quito

Thx so much! I am retirement age so I'm not looking for any full-time university position. Of course, as a single, retired female, safety is a concern. Yes, I have read advice on this forum to never rent online but as you suggested, will have a look at craigslist as a frame of reference.

I suppose you know the US east coast got slammed with snowstorms and blizzard conditions over the past weekend. Here in VA we're just getting our cars dug out of the mounds of packed snow and black ice, with temps now in the high 40s - at last! I believe you said you are from Philadelphia, PA. Aren't you happy to be away from the wintry weather?! Thank you again! Regards, PS

peripatetic_soul wrote:

I believe you said you are from Philadelphia, PA. Aren't you happy to be away from the wintry weather?! Thank you again! Regards, PS

My last U.S. job, ending in 2012, was at Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, north of Philly.

You bet I'm glad not to be dealing with snow anymore !

With regard to snow and cold, the earlier winters I spent in Minnesota and New England were far worse.  One winter in Virginia Beach, VA, we got about three feet of snow in a single storm .. and I couldn't get out of my apartment-complex driveway for the purpose of going to work in Norfolk .. for three days.

cccmedia in Quito

Hello everyone.  We recently returned to the US to pack up and then receive our Container (40') down here.  Then receiving through Customs here and finally unpacking and disbursing here.  Of course then unpacking (Now).  We are setting up Rooms for Daily or longer term rentals now.  Lots to do, so gotta run. Will be posting more soon to bring Y'all up to date.  Still Loving it here, near Bahia. 

Charlie (Wandering Bear)

Hi Lonecowboy,

You can right me direct as I am living in Bahia de Caraquez and can give you the facts.
800 a month with take you far.

Would like to to 'talk' to you. What's the procedure for writing 'direct'?
Lonecowboy
.

To send a personal message...

1.  Click on the poster's name to the upper-left of his post....

2.  You will arrive at a page where Send a Message (to the poster) is an option.  Click on that option....

3.  You will reach a window where you can send a message.  Start typing the message.

cccmedia in Quito

Hi Everyone
I would like to lay-out my plans here and see what opinions & info I can 'glean' from all you helpful people in & around Manta / Bahia de Caraquez. I plan to leave Canada the first week in March. Fly Quito, Manta. Stay at local B&B. Locate English speaking lawyer and apply for 9.1 Visa (quanto dias ?) then return to Quito and on to house-sit (3 mos.) N.E. of Quito 2.5 hours.
Looking forward to any all advice even tho I know I may not like some of what i hear.
'Constructive criticism' is mostly appreciated !
Lonecowboy

Lonecowboy wrote:

I would like to lay-out my plans here and see what opinions & info I can 'glean' from all you helpful people in & around Manta / Bahia de Caraquez. I plan to leave Canada the first week in March. Fly Quito, Manta. Stay at local B&B. Locate English speaking lawyer and apply for 9.1 Visa then return to Quito and on to house-sit (3 mos.) N.E. of Quito 2.5 hours.

So long as your pension-type income is $900 or more monthly, you and your wife-as-dependent should be able to get this pensioner visa, Cowboy.

There is so much Expat activity on the coast that my Quito-based immigration attorney, Sebastian Cordero, actually has more coastal clients than Quito clients of late.  His email is scordero(at)gcabogados.com ...

Manta is an industrial town in many respects, so you might want to lean toward Bahía for residency.

Keep in mind that El Niño may still be battering the EC coast in March and April (2016).  It might make sense for you to apply for the visa in Quito because of (a) El Niñó and (b) the fact that you'll be house-sitting in an area far from the coast.  Once you have the residency visa -- regardless of which city's immigration office you chose to apply for it -- you may live anywhere in Ecuador.

cccmedia in Quito

Thanks C.C.
My Quito lawyer contact has agreed to be more 'modest' with his legal fees. To simplify matters i now believe Quito and a Quito Visa app along with proximity to lawyer will be a more sensible plan.
appreciate your info and advice
regards
Bill (Lonecowboy)

Hola cccmedia
Do you have info about a Visa requirement to have Canadian documents,'legalized' at an Ecuadorian Consulate in Canada prior to application with-in Ecuador ??
Thanks in advance!
Lonecowboy

Lonecowboy wrote:

Hola cccmedia.
Do you have info about a Visa requirement to have Canadian documents,'legalized' at an Ecuadorian Consulate in Canada prior to application with-in Ecuador ??

I would query both your Quito attorney and the Ecuadorian consulate nearest you about this.

It seems there has been some conflicting information about this on the Internet lately.  The requirements could vary among Ecuador offices that process visas.  There is also some question about possible violation of The Hague Treaty by attempts to impose such requirement, leading to some fascinating attempts at spelling the name Hague .. or The Hague.

cccmedia

I moved to Ecuador from OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada.  My Loja lawyer said to be sure to get all documentation stamped by the Ecuadorian Consulate in Ottawa (it is also the Embassy here).  So I did.  When I arrived in southern Ecuador, my lawyer said that was a good thing, because the requirement to have papers stamped by Consulate in Canada had just been initiated 30 days ago.  I arrived end of Oct. 2015.
HelenPivoine

Bueno dias
Lonecowboy here. Helen that just backs up what I was told recently by my lawyer in Otavalo. We (translater & I ) are preparing documents for Notarization here in Canada and then to be forwarded to Ecuadorian Consulate in either Ottawa or Vancouver. There is a current question about these doc.'s needing to be in triplicate. ?
Hope this helps other 'would be ' Ecuadorians.