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Tel: (593) 99-581-219 |
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Vilcabamba Office: VISA legal assistance available
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I had heard that things are safer in Ecuador… Very much, but then again it is all relative. Out of everyone that has visited us, one person was robbed by force. He decided to go in the evening, alone, flashing a video camera in old downtown Quito right across the main prostitution street. He was unharmed. They just showed him a knife; he actually put up resistance but finally gave the camera away. It is and has been the only case we know of. May 2003. Once in a while we do hear of some lady who a gold chain is taken from; do not go wear flashy easy to take gold chains in the market area. We were victims of petty theft when we first got here back in 1999, since then we have not had any more problems; that’s what we have the dogs for. Given the opportunity, I believe most poor people, who are the majority, would steal small items if left unattended and that, unfortunately, is much more common than it should be, but true. Again it was the legacy left by the Spaniard conquistadores when they came to steal, rape and kill in the new continent. So we have adapted to it and have learned our lessons. As all over the world, the countryside is different, people are different. Small villages have old traditions; it is another ball game always in the countryside. Rain season how serious it is (SHOULD I STAY INDOORS THE WHOOLE DAY)? Not at all, a few years ago we had a lot of rain, but now the weather has changed and there is little rain, even when it did rain a lot, it usually was only for a few hours at a time.
Do you have snakes, spiders, rats and etc. Very few snakes, you may see one or two a year, same with spiders and rats. If you keep your home clean you should not have a problem. Do expect to run into all sorts of bugs, insects etc. from time to time.
Are there any Spanish language school nearby (Vilcabamba or Loja) to study there one-two months? Yes there are. Also private teachers are available.
Be sure to see our Photo Album of Loja, Vilcabamba and Malacatos
Click here for more links to Ecuador www.uevn.org\Ecuador\index_files\EcuadorLinks.html
Also visit www.LosVisionarios.org Article and Why Ecuador section
A few more items to consider when choosing a property to buy and live, especially if you are considering a very remote area:
Driving distance to the city. I for one have not been able to reduce it any further than at least once a week, usually twice a week. After a while long drives may wear you down. BTW: from 12pm to 3pm expect to accomplish nothing in the city. Businesses get going after 9am and close at 5-6pm. And do not forget about the FOG, it some areas it gets quite thick, adding hours to your trip.
Source of drinking water. When buying, take into account the cost of a filter system, pipes, pumps and long-term maintenance. And if concerned about bacteria, you will need Ozone and/or an UV system, which will require some electricity. Most places offer what is called here “tubed water (agua entubada)” which means it is full of dirt. At the very least you will need a filter to take out the chorine.
Electric service. How far are the power lines for electricity? This can add quite a bit to your overall cost. Do ask how much power is available; many places offer electricity for just a few light bulbs. Do not assume because you see a transformer that you can connect to it, often transformers are privately owned.
Do not assume solar energy will work for you, many places do not have enough sun light for it and it is quite expensive.
Material transportation. Distance to transport materials, and road condition for a truck to drive.
Road conditions. Keep in mind that roads deteriorate very quickly in the rainy season. Who is going to pay for cleanups? And is there local equipment available to do it.
Weather. Keep in mind that many beautiful places have real poor weather condition, be sure to ask, how is the weather in the rainy season? Especially after 2 pm. And do not forget to ask about the temperature, many places like Quito, the temperature drops quite a bit. If you are accustomed to cold climates it will be just fine for you, if you are from a hot coastal area it will be cold for you.
Rivers do rise quite a bit every 5-10 years. Do ask… Do not assume you will not be flooded.
Workers. In some remote areas it is very hard to find local workers. You may need to house, transport and feed them, be sure to plan on having a separate house, kitchen, showers, bathrooms, etc. for them.
Irrigation. If you depend on an irrigation canal, be sure to at least meet the president of the canal. Be sure to ask plenty of questions… Best to attend one of the meetings, prior to buying. You may be surprised to find out that it does not run all the time. Be sure to walk it all the way to the source, you may be surprise to find it in poor conditions. Same with any water source you may depend on, do visit the source, check the pipes, tanks, filters, etc.
Drinking water. Potable water in most places has chorine added, do ask… And make sure to find out how much water is available. Many places only allow you to use a small amount for house use only, no washing cars or irrigating with it.
Internet and telephone service. Believe me it is very inconvenient and difficult to live without it. We know, we did not have any phone nor internet service for years, other than our own prohibitively expensive satellite services. For your information you can have internet satellite service for approx. $250/month plus approx: $2,500 in equipment, satellite phone cost $1-1.50 per minute. Fortunately there is now cellular service in even remote areas.
Agriculture. If you plan on doing lots of agriculture, and this is not your forte, I recommend you contact an agricultural engineer before buying. Do not assume you will get good yields everywhere, nor that anything grows anywhere either.
Security. If you choose to live in a remote area, make sure you are prepared to carry a gun and are very proficient with the use of it, and have plenty of dogs, which by the way, you will need to feed... Just read our uevn-announcement yahoo forum, for a story of one fellow who went at it alone in a too remote of an area, it will make you think twice about moving into a remote place all on your own, do not assume the world is a paradise, it is not! Yes crime is very low throughout Loja, but only for those who do not spell out they have lots of $$$. Living remote and driving fancy expensive cars with all sorts of goodies in it, is asking for problems, be sure you know how to deal with it.
Entertainment. After a while you may get a bit bored and want a change of pace. Vilcabamba and Loja offer some entertainment, at least to break the daily routine. Live music, concerts, parades, restaurants, shopping, etc. If you go too far, you may miss these things…
Some of the properties in our area may seem expensive in comparison, but they do provide easy and quick access to the city, soon newly paved road from Vilcabamba to Loja, electricity, potable water system, irrigation canal, cellular phone service, wideband internet service, local workers, contact with others that speak English, like once in a while English live music, and do not forget the clear sky’s most of the year and great weather.
Do add up these seemly unimportant issues, when taking into account your total cost and expected quality of life.
Where do you recommend staying in Loja We recommend Hostal Del Valle, it is a walking distance from the bus terminal. $25 per couple includes a nice breakfast. Private car airport pickup $25 this hostal is on the edge of the city, a bit more quite, good for a long-term stay, ideal for small business meetings. Tel: 593-7-2587-967 or 593-94-425-120 hostal_del_valle@hotmail.com Address: Av. Salvador Bustamante Celi entre Santa Rosa y Oriental de Paso (bus terminal road) walk to Av. Salvador Bustamante or just take a taxi from any where in Loja for just $1 USD
So you are ready to buy, then click below
FAQ part III: The complete legal procedure for buying property in Ecuador.
And as always, Fell free to email us your questions.
NOTE: This is a copy written material and no permission is given for reprint. If you wish to post to other forums please do so only in it entirety or just simply make reference to our website for the complete FAQ about Vilcabamba, Malacatos and Loja, Ecuador. Thank you. |
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FAQ part II for |
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What about crime in general? It is high in Guayaquil and Quito, just like in every big city in the world, though a minute percentage in comparison to the USA. Most crimes in Loja have been committed by Peruvians and Columbians not by the Lojanos. By all means avoid some places in Guayaquil and Quito, especially at night, use common sense and intuition, especially at night you should not go alone. Some of the reasons why crime is lower here than elsewhere are: · There is not enough money in the economy, nor gun shops or weapons for people to have them, so very few in this country have guns. They are simply out of the reach for most people. · Small country, around 10 Million + people so they know each other pretty well. · Ecuadorians honestly lack initiative in many things, including crime. You can see it in the architecture, food, culture, business life, etc. · It is ingrained with their beliefs, religion, ancestry, etc. · In places where Natives live, they have their own very strict laws, and there is zero tolerance for crime.
When you say that Ecuador wants me to make an investment in the country, does that mean give them the money or can I buy land or buy something else? Buy into something or leave money in the bank and they hold the key to it. In order for you to get a permanent visa you must invest in the country. |