Wandering With Bill

Head to Ecuador for a wonderful and incredibly family-friendly holiday which in a relatively small area offers a whole diversity of experiences from rainforest to riding among volcanoes, kayaking into mangroves, and snorkelling with sea lions.

Ecuador’s temperate highlands make the perfect starting point for your family adventure as you can reach some truly spectacular rural locations in the shadow of beautiful volcanic peaks within an hour or so from the airport to get your holiday off to a relaxing beginning, even when travelling with smaller children. You can arrange a bespoke itinerary that combines some fantastic horse-riding for all levels, whether for several days or just for a few hours, from a gorgeous family-run traditional working farm or hacienda with a whole host of other activities from colourful Indian markets, walks, cycling, and checking out what’s going on at the farm.

The perennial fascination of exotic creatures big and small from insects to snakes and monkeys does not fail to engage children of all ages, whether you head to the cooler cloud forest with your little ones only a short drive from Quito or whether you venture with your teenagers deeper into Amazon basin rainforest to spend a few incredible and illuminating days with local tribes in the heart of their ancestral home. Family-friendly riverside jungle lodges can offer specially designed forest walks with great guides as well as lots of fun activities from making animal models and pictures to learning the essential skills on how to become a forest naturalist, such as recognising animal calls and spotting minute insects! Swim in waterfalls, go fishing for piranha, and get face-painting with natural dye, known as achiote!

When you are ready for some time to relax by the coast after all that exploration and active adventure, then why not try the less-developed villages and towns around Machalilla National Park. Kayak along the coast looking out for dolphins, check out the Panama hat weavers at Montecristi or try your hand at making jewellery and local handicrafts. June to November sees a migration of humpback whales offshore for some amazing close encounters en-route to a ‘mini-Galapagos’ at Isla de la Plata, the only other place in the world where you can see waved albatross and also blue-footed boobies, sealions, and frigate birds. This coast is wonderful for even younger children reached by an easy road journey from Guayaquil via a chocolate factory or a short scenic flight to Manta.

Alternatively of course, you can combine the beautiful highlands and rainforest with the stunning Galapagos Islands on a fabulous experience of a lifetime aboard a beautiful cruise vessel. If you have a larger family or want to take the grandparents too, then talk to us about private yacht charter. If your children love making new friends, then we can recommend some wonderful cruises with special family departures, designed to keep all ages happy on-board and onshore!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Anne_Mumford

Frugal retirement is easy to obtain for an American if he or she goes overseas. Why? It simply costs less to live in certain countries, Mexico especially. One million Americans have retired to Mexico, this makes Mexico having by far the largest concentration of US retirees.

The low cost of living is the main attractor. $1500 to $2000 a month will yield a standard of living in Mexico not attainable in the US. Ladies that figure also covers domestic help…retire to Mexico; you may have washed your last window.

Folks who have chosen to retire overseas have overcome some common objections to living overseas. One of the most common objections is that it is not safe, but statistics show otherwise. In fact, you are three times more likely to be a victim of violent crime in the US compared to Mexico.

There is on caveat…border towns. These are not retirement havens and they do have a fair bit of crime due to the efforts of smugglers importing drugs into the US. Once you get into the interior of Mexico it is like stepping back in time…or the US like it was 30 to 40 years ago.

The Mexican people are very family oriented and the pace of life is much slower here than in the US. Lingering over a meal, visiting with good friends is how the locals spend their quality time. You will too as a retiree.

You will find young women walking to the town square at sunset without fear in the towns most attractive to US retirees. You did not lock the door of your apartment…not to worry your neighbors doors are unlocked as well.

Mexico is not the only country south of the border that offers frugal retirement living. Ecuador, Panama and many others offer cheap living for retirees.

If your fear of personal safety is holding you back from exploring retiring overseas…think again. One million of your compatriots have discovered the benefits of spending less and being secure in their foreign and frugal retirement in Mexico. You can too.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Pierce

When you visit any foreign country on your holidays, you would want to make the most out of your time out there. If you do not plan things well, then local transportation, or moving in and out of airports, will drain a lot of your valuable time. Now, you can handle things smartly by booking your cabs in advance online. You could do so by visiting the websites of companies offering airport transport services.

Cut Down on your Travel Expenses

Before planning for a vacation with your family or friends, you could check out the websites of local car rental services to know more about the running costs, and about the types of vehicles they provide. That way you will know how to manage your travel budget efficiently.

The best thing about hiring chauffeured vehicles is that you will not have to get into arguments with the local taxi drivers. They generally try to charge you more by taking you through longer routes. Some may even go in circles before taking you on the right route to the place you want to visit. Hence, you will end up paying more than what is needed, depending on the high meter reading.

Comforts of Transport Facility

Car rental services usually are in constant battle with their rivals to get more business. In order to attract more customers, they offer well maintained luxurious rides, such as limousines and SUVs for comparatively cheaper prices. You can hire multiple cars or go for minibuses, as per the size of your group.

There are many benefits you can get from rental services. You need not keep a track of time, or worry about missing the last bus or train to return to your hotel. Your family and friends can take all the time they need to explore the places you visit, whether it is during the day or late in the evenings. Not just that, the hired chauffers may also suggest you some places to visit that only the locals know about.

Worth Paying For

Hiring airport transfers service is the best option, as many local companies are tied up with different hotels, bread and breakfast, restaurants, and so on. By renting their vehicles, you can avail all the required information about that particular area, and also enjoy some great deals on hiring a vehicle. They might also suggest luxurious and safe accommodation options in the area for cheaper costs.

What to look for While Hiring Airport Rental Services

There are some things to consider before hiring any limo rental service:

Availability of vehicle fleet – A thorough background check will help you learn more about the rental car service that you want to opt for. You would want to do business with a company that has a fleet big enough to accommodate your group, whenever you need.

Reputation – Reputation of a service provider matters a lot while hiring vehicles. Hence, make sure that you do your homework right by checking the user reviews online, from their previous and existing customer.

Services Offered – The limo rental service provider that you choose must understand what you need. In fact, they must customize their packages as per your personalized needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alok_Jaiswal

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most fascinating places on earth. Most people know of them vaguely as a place with rare animals, including the famous and very large and long-lived Galapagos turtles. Because the area is so unique, beautiful and enthralling, Galapagos tours are easy to find and can be found at an affordable price, too.

Let’s start with the basics. The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador, though most people think of them as being their own country. However, they do belong politically to Ecuador and are located a little over 600 miles from the Ecuadorian coast.

Each island is actually a volcano that has risen out of the ocean. In fact, the Galapagos Islands are thought to be one of the most volcanically active places on the planet. This no doubt has played a part in the unique development of the area. The oldest island shows it has been above water for 4 million years. However, the area is still volcanically active and smaller islands continue to rise slowly.

The Galapagos Islands were first included on a map way back in 1570. They were named the Galapagos Islands even back them, in honor of the notably large tortoises that are native there. This was back when the ocean was a wilder place. In fact, English pirates are said to have used to grouping of islands to hide the Spanish ships that they stole!

In the 1700s, however, permanent residents came to the islands. These were whalers and other hunters. They massacred significant numbers of turtles, seals and whales. Some varieties of these species were actually wiped out during all this and have been marked extinct.

Charles Darwin brought the Galapagos Islands fame in the 1800s when he was greatly inspired by the unique animal and plant life present. Islands in general present interesting and unique examples of life on earth, but the Galapagos Islands are possibly the densest collection of unique species that are found no where else on earth.

In the 20th century, the Ecuadorian government realized these amazing islands needed protection from humans. Today it is a National Park. However, it is also home to 15,000 people whereas it was discovered uninhabited. Conservancy continues to be an ongoing struggle as the natural animals and plants suffer from sharing space with humans.

If you decide to fly to this exotic and naturally unique location, you will not be disappointed. When booking Galapagos tours, though, only attend events that are respectful of the natural living things. Otherwise, the beauty of the Islands may be killed off completely.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Woode

Ecuador is cheap, no doubt about it.

Those who think life in Ecuador costs about the same as other Latin American destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, or the Dominican Republic are mistaken.

Of course, how much you spend greatly depends on your personal spending habits, and a little on the area of the city in which you live.

But Ecuador is a land where a dollar still goes a long way, and people still cherish their pennies.

Food, transport, medical and housing costs are all considerably lower than in most of the western hemisphere.

Food:

A 3-course plate lunch in a local restaurant in the street costs around $2. Many small, local families do all their grocery shopping for the month for under $150-200. (Of course, knowing how to shop, finding the deals, and shopping a lot in local markets.)

Even the international fast food chains have adapted to Ecuadorian prices. For example, in Pizza Hut, you can buy a personal pan pizza for $1.50, and in KFC you can get a plate lunch with rice, beans and chicken for $1.75.

Transport:

Thankfully, with plentiful taxis and public transport, Ecuador is one of those countries where you truly don’t need a car. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus in the street, nor has it took me longer than 6 minutes to flag down a taxi.

This automatically eliminates the costs you incur for car insurance, repairs and parking.

A city bus costs a whopping $.25 cents and inter-city buses cost around $1 per hour traveled. So, in other words, you can go from one end (Colombian border) of Ecuador to the other (Peruvian border) for around $17.

Taxis within one of the major cities usually costs around $2-3 for a short 10-15 minute ride.

Medical:

The level of care is surprisingly very high in Ecuador, and particularly within the private clinics, hygiene is placed at an even higher premium than in some clinics I have visited in the US.

A standard doctor consultation costs around $25. A teeth cleaning starts around $40, and to fill a cavity starts around $20.

Full coverage medical plans for seniors start around $87-180 dollars a month (depending on personal circumstances).

Housing:

Both costs to purchase and rent are relatively low in Ecuador. To rent a small, 1 bedroom apartment in one of the major cities starts around $150-200 a month. To rent a luxury, furnished one bedroom suite-apartment in a nice area of Quito (for instance) is starting around $400 (and up).

Purchase prices greatly depend on the area and property type, but you could find a small apartment, already-built starting around $30,000 almost everywhere in Ecuador.

Oh yea, and did I mention that in Ecuador you also never have to worry about exchange fees, because Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency.

So hop that 4 hour flight from Miami, Ecuador awaits you.

Domenick_Buonamici

In 2009 I lived in the Dominican Republic, a small nation in the Caribbean, for 6 months. But since 2005 I have been living on and off in Ecuador.

I love both places, but even though they may seem similar on the surface, they are very different. Both with their pros and cons, you just have to pick your poison, like picking between a blond and brunette.

Here they are, compared:

Costs: Ecuador wins. Ecuador food, housing, public transport, healthcare and real estate are all cheaper. The only thing that is cheaper in the Dominican are the flights from the US.

Food: Ecuador wins. Dominican food tends to be greasy, fatty and lacks much variety. Ecuador food is a delicious mix of seafoods, local fruits and veggies, soups and more. All natural.

Weather: The Dominican wins. In the Dominican Republic, the weather is hotter, but not so humid, 82-90 F year round. On the Ecuador coast it is a little cooler (72-82 F) and more cloudy. If you want year round skin torching sun, the Dominican is for you.

Beaches: The Dominican wins. The Dominican has some picture perfect, turquoise water, snow-white sand beaches typical to any Caribbean postcard you may have seen. Ecuador has more California style beaches with cliffs, golden sand and darker, murkier water.

People: Ecuador wins. Ecuadorian people love foreigners (especially ones from Europe, Australia and the USA) and treat them very well. In the Dominican, sadly due to the rampit sex industry, many western men have the rep of being sex predators. Which can make it difficult for the local gals to take you seriously sometimes.

Attractiveness of the Women (and men): The Dominican wins. Both the men and women of the Dominican are hot. But Ecuador women are under-rated; many who come are pleasantly surprised. And they are more laid back and easy going than from many other Latin countries.

Real Estate: Ecuador wins. Dominican real estate is already discovered and bubbled as the US property boomed from 2003-2006. Ecuador just recently is starting to get discovered, but is still much cheaper and still high quality.

Residency options: The Dominican wins. It is EASY to get residency, or even a second citizenship in the Dominican. If you overstay your tourist visa, leave when you want and pay a mere $35 fine. In Ecuador, you pay a $200 fine and are not allowed to re-enter for 9 months. You can get residency in Ecuador as well relatively easy, but not nearly as easy as the Dominican.

Business Opportunities: Ecuador wins. I can only speak from my own personal experiences, and Ecuador has treated me much better economically than the Dominican did.

Healthcare: Ecuador wins. The hospitals and facilities in the Dominican are downright, um, lousy unless you are willing to pay top dollar for the elite places. In Ecuador there are many high-quality, reasonably priced options.

Public Transport: Ecuador wins. In Ecuador buses cost $.25 cents, and they are EVERYWHERE. Taxi fares start at $1. While in the Dominican, you have to CRAM, I mean CRAM into shared taxis for about 50 cents with 6 other people at once, which is simply not possible for many older folk. Not to mention, the taxis in the Dominican are more costly, and the routes of the shared taxis are tough to figure out.

Expat Community: The Dominican wins. There are simply many more expats already in the Dominican than in Ecuador. Ecuador is more of an up-and-coming destination.

Safety: Ecuador wins. In the Dominican, most males over the age of 18 carry a handgun tucked under their shirt or in their glove compartment (I am NOT exaggerating!) In Ecuador, the people are smaller and much more docile than the Dominican. Guns are a rare sight. The most common crimes are petty theft, if a robbery does occur, it is often with a knife not a gun. In both places you should exercise caution when walking in the cities at night, but there were places in the Dominican where I didn’t even feel safe walking during the daytime.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Domenick_Buonamici

There are a multitude of woven products made from various materials such as cotton, wool and other natural fibers that can be found in Otavalo. The Saturday Morning Market is very popular for tourists, but any day is a good day to visit Otavalo to shop for any number of items. While the SMM is well attended, the pace is a little slower during the week, and good bargains still to be had.

Don’t forget to bargain, as you want to be sure and give the vendors a good reason to feel they have made a good deal! They are prepared for it, and to NOT bargain is to deprive them of something that is an integral part of their day.

And you miss the opportunity to save some money, and still get a good deal. By bargaining, you are not going to cause the vendors to go home broke without making any profit. Rest assured, they WILL make profit!

Otavalo is one of the major attractions when visiting Ecuador, and when you go it will be clear as to why. The trip alone offers sights such as Mt. Cayambe, and the Lodges of Lago San Pablo. The scenery along the way will captivate your attention as you see the roads winding down the steep mountainside entering lower altitudes which may be very comfortable for those struggling with the altitude of Quito.

But the scenery is only part of the surprise of Otavalo, as you will find the area is the center of some of the most famous and popular music composed in Ecuador. When going to the Plaza de los Ponchos where the Saturday Morning Market is held, you will find many of the traditional musical instruments on display and for sale. Look for the Rondador, Charango, Bandolin to name a few.

The Rondador is perhaps the instrument most associated with South American music and is certainly well known in Ecuador. They are known to be made from several varieties of bamboo, with different types being selected either for their tone, or because they are less likely to break.

History gives credit to women coming down from the mountains playing the rondador. But since the full scaled instrument was too big for women, it was necessary to carry two in order to have the full scale from A to G. There are many more legends connected to the history of the rondador, and it’s a good bet you can hear about it in Otavalo.

Many of the Hotels and restaurants in the area also offer live entertainment featuring live local groups. Spending a day, or even a weekend as there are great accommodations available, will be well worth the time. You will get to experience what so many leave behind, and that is the laid back life style prevalent outside the “big city” of Quito.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Jarrett

Whether you’re in Ecuador for just a few days or you’re lucky enough to enjoy an extended vacation, knowing what to do before you go can help you determine where to stay. Use this guide to help plan your trip, but leave some time to experience any spur of the moment attractions that you come across. Quito is the capital of this South American city and is one of the most popular tourist destinations so this guide only touches on a small number of the fun things to do in the city.

Where To Stay In Quito

If you’re like most travelers, where you stay is one of the first decisions you make. Though the city has a long list of chain hotels, many visitors choose to stay in the locally owned boutique hotels. One is the Boutique Hotel Mansion del Angel. This is a converted colonial home, complete with historic touches throughout. The hotel is not new, but many guests find that this adds to the charm.

If you have the chance to splurge while on vacation, consider a night or two in the Hotel Plaza Grande. Rooms will cost you around $550 USD a night, but this price tag comes with some serious amenities. Many rooms look out over the city center and the service known to be the best in the city.

Things To Do While In Quito

A trip to Quito isn’t complete without a visit to ‘Old Town.’ This historic part of the city is full of colonial buildings, tiny sidewalks and ancient churches. The area is full of bustling activity and street vendors frequently shout out advertisements for their wares. Many travelers report that they could spend an entire day or two in the area, so provide yourself at least an entire afternoon.

Although it’s a bit outside the city, visitors should not miss a trip to the Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve. It’s about 30 miles away, but the difference between the bustling city and the serene rainforest is striking. You’ll be able to see exquisite species of birds (including toucans) and butterflies. It’s a unique experience that’s not found elsewhere.

Where To Eat

One of the best parts of experiencing other parts of the world is getting to enjoy local cuisine. Ecuador offers a number of different types of food, including ceviche, plantains and hornado. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, consider trying cuy, which is guinea pig.

Quito boasts a number of different restaurants, but some of the favorites are Zazu, where guests can choose from an extensive wine list and menu. Menu favorites are the ceviche and other seafood dishes, including crab cakes and salmon miso. The menu has a slight Japanese influence, which means guests can choose from a number of different options. If you’re visiting on a weekend night, make sure to call ahead for reservations to cut your wait time short.

Another popular restaurant is Café Dios No Muere. It’s a small café with Ecuadorean sandwiches, soups and coffee. Popular dishes are the quinoa soup, bolon de verde and parrillada. The café also has a number of foods with a decidedly Cajun influence, since the owner comes from Louisiana.

A vacation to Ecuador, and Quito in particular, is one that likely won’t be duplicated so take the time to do it right. Whether you’re just visiting Ecuador or your time there is a part of a larger South American tour, give yourself the chance to get everything possible out of the vacation.

LAN Airlines offers visitors to Ecuador the chance to travel easily between South American destinations. Vacations from LAN Airlines give tourists the change to experience Ecuador for themselves. To book a vacation to Ecuador, visit its site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heidi_T_Creighton

Before coming to Ecuador, I equated the equator with the tropics. Now, 3,000 meters in the Andes, I am coming to realize how misguided I was.
Ecuador is a country of immense diversity – both ethnically and biologically. Though Ecuador is only the size of the UK or Colorado, it is home to 17 nationalities, 25,000 species of plants and nearly double the number of birds as the US and Canada combined. As a visitor, the first decision and hardest decision is which region to visit: the Galapagos, the Amazon, the coast or the Andes. We chose the latter.

Quito: The World’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site
Everything began in Quito, the capital of Ecuador and our base for the week’s excursions. Quito is a remarkably long city, spilling through the basin of a high Andean valley for nearly 55km. We began our stay at the Hotel Finlandia in the modern financial district before moving to the Hotel Patio Andaluz in the historic quarter.

Quito’s historic quarter is one of the best preserved colonial cities in the Americas and was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. Although the Spanish left an indelible impact on the city, Quito was established long before the arrival of the Spanish or the Inca when it was the seat of the Kingdom of Quito.

Hanging in Haciendas
After soaking up Quito, we spent our time exploring the hacienda culture of the Ecuadorean highlands. Originally established by Jesuit missionaries, haciendas were large ranch properties that grew prosperous during the Colonial Era through agriculture and livestock. Today, many have been converted into upscale hotels and launching pads for highland activities.

Chagras, Toros and Volcanoes
Most of the haciendas we visited were along the Avenue of Volcanos, which made for excellent backdrops for our excursions. First we experienced cabalgatas (horse rides with Andean cowboys, called chagras) at Hacienda Porvenir. Then we met up with Tierra del Volcan and rode mountain bikes down Cotopaxi volcano, the highest active volcano on earth before heading over to Hacienda Hato Verde to learn the basics of bullfighting in a custom-built bullring. Thankfully for us, they threw us in the ring with a relatively small cow instead of a 500kg bull, but we both found the art beyond our ken.

Zuleta
However haciendas are not just about activities – they’re much better known for rural relaxation. To unwind from a few days of activities, we stayed a night in Hacienda Zuleta, a beautifully restored property belonging to a former president of Ecuador. After settling into our private rooms along the interior courtyard, we set off to explore what makes Zuleta unique.
Ecuadorian farmer (Mz Destination)

Historically staffed by the indigenous zuleteño people, we learned how the hacienda had donated much of its farmland to its former employees and helped foster the local economy through the promotion of traditional artisan crafts. We visited a textile embroidery workshop (called taller de bordados) before visiting the oldest indigenous legacy on the property – a number of earthen mounds that once formed the foundation of pre-Colombian city.

We wrapped up our time in Zuleta by trying the traditional Andean meal of cuy (roasted guinea pig), attempting to milk cows, visiting Zuleta’s cheese factory, and dropping by their condor rehabilitation center, where they helping save Ecuador’s national bird from extinction.

Train Through the Andes
Ecuadorian woman (Mz Destination)

With our time in the Andes running out, we decided to return to Quito in style – by the Tren de la Libertad, a historic train snaking through one of the most scenic parts of the Andes at only 10 km/hr. From the first-class coach our wide windows offered changing views of Ecuador’s many ecosystems as we worked our way from mountainous Ibarra to the sugar-cane fields of Salinas. There, we were greeted by an Afro-Carribean dance that originated from the slaves brought to work the sugar fields.

Press Conference
We returned to Quito to meet with the press and sum up our experience in Ecuador.  We had only great things to say about what we’d seen and emphasized that we would have to come back to see the other regions.  With invites pouring in to the Amazon and Galapagos, we thanked our host country and settled down to work on our videos and articles.

It had been a great week, but we were ready to come down from the mountains and continue on our journey, so we had one final meal overlooking Quito at Restaurante El Ventanal and headed off to another destination.

Courtesy: Yahoo Travel

Ecuador… on top again!

Is it all that adaptation on the Galapagos Islands that help people adjust so well to Ecuador? Probably not, but the country won top marks in a comprehensive survey that ranks the best and worst countries in the world for expatriates.

The 2014 Expat Insider, run by InterNations, based its report on responses from 14,000 expats in 160 countries. Categories included quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, family life, personal finance, and overall satisfaction living abroad.

Among 61 countries that received enough responses to qualify in the rankings, the U.S. was named the fifth most favorite country among expats, and scored as follows: 16th in general quality of life, fourth in ease of settling in, 20th in working abroad, 12th in family life, 31st in personal finance, and 22nd in cost of living. The top three reasons for moving to the U.S. were for study (16 percent), work (16 percent), and love (12 percent).

Guayaquil Ecuador

Guayaquil, Ecuador (Photo: Thinkstock)

Ecuador ranked high across the board in the survey, with 91 percent of respondents saying they were satisfied with their new lives there. It ranked first in personal finance, as well as for ease in making friends. While 37 percent of expats there said it was difficult to live in Ecuador without speaking Spanish, 30 percent said that learning Spanish is very easy.

Luxembourg ranked second, mainly for short-term employment reasons. Two out of three expats there listed a job as their reason for moving there. Only 28 percent said they wanted to stay in the country for the long run.

Third-place Mexico, however, is more popular as a long-term home – 44 percent of expats said they want to stay there forever. It also earns high marks for ease of settling in, and the country must be romantic for a lot of people, because 19% moved there for love.

Which countries are least popular amount expats? Kuwait brings up the rear in 61st place, with Saudi Arabia and Greece rounding out the bottom three. Economic problems in Greece played a large role, as the country scored very low in the working abroad index. Saudi Arabia took a big hit in the quality of life index, coming in last for leisure activities. Kuwait scored at the bottom for personal happiness and ease of settling in.

As for why people around the world are expatriating, this graphic breaks it down

Courtesy:  Greg Keraghosian