Friday, July 18, 2014

Donation at " Caminitos a la Libertad " Nursery School

Caminitos a la libertad is a social project that we as a committed organization sponsor. We have been doing changes at the places since 2012, when we decided to help needy people around Ecuador and we chose Caminitos a la Libertad in the outskirts of Quito city.  


Around Ecuador , we sponsor some other centers with the same poverty conditions, but We really put our best effort to this one in Quito because, those children belong from poor families who had migrated to Quito from the countryside , looking for better job opportunities, so before this center was opened, their parents  had to leave the children at home alone all they long, becoming a huge problem and putting on risk their lives.  


Gladly there are many people willing to help us on this huge project, this last time of help we had changed completely the atmosphere in the center because, We paint , fix the entire playground and the classrooms.


Helped by the Center Staff , we accomplished our mission...but this won´t be the end..


There is still some work to be done out this place  but we have realized that the Center infrastructure  is  75 %  better that it was before, so they just need few more. Our commitment with us right now is to look for partners who can donate for food basically making sure that children will be feed healthy. It could take time to find someone but if you dear reader like this idea , the center needs around USD 300 monthly for this purpose. 


we invite you to experience and be part of our social projects while you are visiting Ecuador...
for more information please contact us at:





Thursday, July 10, 2014

Ecuador’s Social Security health Service - IESS



IESS FOR FOREIGNERS..
This topic is the one that make our expats feel unsecured because there is not much information about it ( in English) but it is very important to know if you are thinking to live in Ecuador for a long therm.
Recently the Ecuadorian government eliminate age limits to join it and medical exams for people who wants to join to this service.
The possibilities for you to be part of the Social Security Health Service in Ecuador are real and with a good advise , it could be simple.
BUT HOW DOES IT WORKS FOR FOREIGNERS ?

  • First you need to get the cedula ( Ecuador´s  ID) 
  • If you work part time or full time somewhere in Ecuador you need to get the RUC ( Business number) 
  • Then enter to this following link: http://www.iess.gob.ec/  to sett up your own owner account. and follow the next step to access to your portal.
  • After this you have chose the salary rank, this is necessary and it will determine your monthly quote to pay.
  • The minimum wage in Ecuador is USD 340 so I can recommend to select this amount in therms of not paying much every month. As an example you have to pay like 20 % out of the salary registered , it means that you will pay approx USD 68 ( I took USD 340 as a reference )
WHAT DOES IESS DO FOR ME ?


  • Full Health Coverage after 3 months of your registration ( Hospitals, Clinics, Health Centers part of IESS)
  • Full Health Coverage immediate when is an emergency case such as: car accident or any type of accident occur within Ecuador. 
  • Retirement Pension after 10, 20, or 30 years ( it depends of your age and how many quotes you pay after this time)
  • After 3 years, you can access to get a credit from Biess ( IESS bank) and buy a new property somewhere in Ecuador.
  • If you already have a catastrophic or chronic decease  the limit age to access to this social service is 60 years old.











Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Why is Cuenca a major destination for expats in Ecuador?

There are many reasons live in Cuenca -Ecuador . We have tried to put it together and explain our readers why many Americans are choosing this city as a main destination to retire in Ecuador

Cuenca’s three major pros are as follows:









1. Cuenca’s Old World Character and Ideal Climate

When more and more American cities and suburbs look like they were designed at corporate, Cuenca looks like something out of Europe with its gorgeous architecture, historic buildings, scenic public squares and parks, and tons of authentic character.
As for nature lovers, Cuenca sits at the cross-roads, so to speak of four major rivers and is surrounded by mountains, as it lies on the Ande’s mountain range. Most state parks are less beautiful than the cities average walking trail.
And outdoor beauty is important because the weather will make you want to be outside — with year round temperatures averaging in the mid-70s Fahrenheit, getting just cool enough in the evenings for a light sweater or jacket.

And all this in a city of only 500,000 people — about 100,000 people smaller than Portland, Oregon.



2. Cuenca As a Welcoming, American-Friendly, Metropolitan City

As mentioned earlier, many Ecuadorians who have spent some time working, studying or living in the US, settle back in Cuenca when they come back to Ecuador.

That means the people in Cuenca like and is welcoming of Americans and happy to help make them part of the community. Many are fluent in English and the city has plenty of English-language bookstores, store owners, and people willing to accommodate non-Spanish speaking travelers and expats.

Overall Cuenca has a very metropolitan feel, alive with talents, dollars, and a taste for life that these well-traveled and well-educated Ecuadorians and expats bring to it, and all of that rolled into a place that’s very reasonable and affordable to live.


3. Low Cost of Living Coupled with Excellent Schools, Food, and Health Care

 We’ve already mentioned housing costs in Cuenca — they are affordably low, with luxury, furnished rentals running around $650 a month.

Factor in utilities, condo fees, cable, and everything else and you’re looking in the neighborhood of $900 a month — again for a furnished, luxury apartment in a desirable location.  And the same goes for most anything else — eating out at a first-rate restaurant for two runs about $30.  Buying groceries with plenty of grass-fed beef, fresh seafood and veggies will run you about $250 a month — or about $60 a trip to the market.

Along with the lower cost of living comes the higher quality of life for families and retirees.  Not only does Cuenca have an abundance of Universities, including University courses in spanish for expats, but the local schools are excellent and the community places a very high value on education in general.

Many people who move to Cuenca retire there, but if you’re moving your family there, you can rest assured that your kids will receive a first-class education without worry of payment for private schools.

And this low-cost for premium living extends right through to inexpensive, high quality health care, available at 18 hospitals and medical centers in the city, many of which are home to a large number of English-speaking doctors — something extremely important to both retirees and families!

for more information please visit the following link:





Ecuador Real Estate Tours

Whether you want to relocate to Ecuador, GUIDESTINATIONS can assist you…We have Private Tour Guides in Ecuador specialized in Real Estate and Relocation Tours who can take you to numerous locations around Ecuador so that you can determine the one that’s right for you. Once you determine the area in which you wish to relocate in Ecuador, our Private Tour Guides can set up inspections of homes, apartments, and condominiums. We can also assist you in finding an attorney to help with all legal needs, a permanent visa, a bank account, purchasing a vehicle, renting or purchasing a home, and acquainting you with the area in which you are going to locate.Our Private Tour Guides will help with all your moving needs. All you have to do is ask…Simply give us a call to easily and effortlessly restructure this tour in whatever ways you desire so that you may accomplish your relocation needs. Travel to Ecuador, Peru or Brazil for Relocation with the experts.. call us now !


 


 




TOUR DATES ARE COMPLETELY OPEN


The Program Includes:

  • 8,10,13.17 Days / 7,9,12,16 Nights hotel accommodations (tourist superior rooms)
  • Welcome to Ecuador lunch
  • Breakfast every day of the tour
  • Transfers and transportation provided by private transports
  • Airfare between Quito and Guayaquil
  • Private Spanish/English speaking guide
  • Entrance fees according to itinerary
  • Assistance with legal issues, such as permanent visas
  • Assistance with renting/purchasing home, car, insurance, furniture, appliances, etc.
  • Assistance in locating English-speaking medical professionals
  • Bon voyage dinner
 

Not Included in the Program:

  • International airfare
  • Meals not specified in itinerary
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls

Monday, June 23, 2014

ECUADOR JUNGLE TOUR DESTINATION

Retire in Ecuador / Relocate to Ecuador

Ecuador Real Estate Tours

HOW CAN I GET A PERMANENT VISA IN ECUADOR?

Definitely It is important to have a good advise before you move to Ecuador. Besides buying a property, there are other real estate options to live in Ecuador as foreigner, you also get a permanent Visa  without buying a property for example a very nice beachfront house or oceanfront apartment for a long term period rent ( from weeks to years). 
This way can give you an option to live in different locations within the same period you decided to be in Ecuador ( on this case you avoid paying taxes every year).  



All Paper work in Ecuador could become a nightmare  without a good advice and it can make you waste your precious time, we are specialized on this field and we work with one of the most expert attorneys  in Quito and Guayaquil, this make the stage very simple.



Those items , explains how do the relocation stages must be fulfill  , it goes as follows:

1.       Visa process ; you as visitor have 90 days legal staying in Ecuador, within those days is time enough to legalize your other visa. There are many Visa´s options but ,we  recommend :  9I Foreign Pension ,9II Trust Visa Cash Deposit or 9III Investor in Real Estate , see on this link differences http://cancilleria.gob.ec/visas-inmigrante/?lang=en

( this is what it makes a lot of foreigners give up with their relocation to Ecuador because while they here , they prefer to do it by themselves)

2.       Customized tour around the most visited places in Ecuador ( this could be done at the same time we start the process for your new visa ) or look for you what are the best real estate options at the coast.

3.       Attorneys appointment ( it goes together with item 1 )

4.       Introduction tour  to get used to several useful places such as; Supermarkets, Hospital , Doctors ( Vets too) , Airport, Banks, Languages Schools , Shopping areas, etc.

5.       Shipping your values from the US to Ecuador. ( it is a very important item and normally we ask the same attorney for the process)

6.       Bringing money ,  Bank Account opening ( it can be difficult to do it before the visa process,)

7.       Enjoy you new,  quiet , easy and life in this paradise named Ecuador.



Important to know :  Actually you can look by yourself properties in Ecuador on line and proceed with transactions in the same way, but  what most of the people don´t realized is that in Ecuador, there are many documents , you must sing in person to legalize the purchase, especially with Properties if eventually you cannot be here it takes sometimes years to accomplish this process.

We are not a Real Estate Company , we are specialized to arrange everything for your relocation , so we don´t work for any property commission, for is important to make our expats  feel as home.
Our job don´t finish when you move to Ecuador , we continue giving  to you advises and travel ideas for Ecuador or anywhere else in south America because where a Travel Company too.

I hope all this new information will be useful to clarified how  easy is to Retire in Ecuador !!!!.


Note: Our packages are completely  open in prices, availabilities, sightseeing’s, etc. So we can work according your to travel idea.


Thursday, June 19, 2014

Donate to Ecuador


ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A DONATION PROJECT IN ECUADOR??


Donate or support Social Projects in Ecuador could be difficult and risky at the moment to decide which one is the most convenient to accomplish your aim of helping needy people, because on line , there are thousands of advertising about donation to Ecuador and in majority of cases are foreigner organizations not very involve and related to the country problematic. 
We are a travel company making more children happy around Ecuador every year, we look forward to contribute in social programs trough incomes provided by our own customers,in most of the cases we make them involve becoming it a real experience.
We never request money to our tour groups directly, instead we like to tell them about priorities that the  supported nurseries have , on this way our clients decide in what field they will help. 




" The best way to compensate our contributions to society are children smiling  and their hugs, It´s impossible to save the world but we can always help needy people, that for some reason, they give us a lesson of life every day... "


Those supplies usually come from people who are willing to help us with this project., we always destine 10 %  from all our incomes to support this project and we are thinking to cover in the future more other ones..


There are many needs that we can´t accomplish because it is expensive, even that The Ministry of Social Inclusion of Ecuador sponsor the nursery, there is still a lot to do within the country  and they can´t be only focused in one project. This is why we as an Ecuadorian Travel Organization decided to support  certain areas where poor people live.


Caminitos a la Libertad public nursery is located outside Quito, in an area where safety and public services are the major problems. it is difficult to believe that near by this location there are many exclusive neighborhoods , that consider 


Families that migrate to Quito city from the countryside , are thinking to improve their quality of life and usually it becomes a problem because they have to work harder than before to supply all their needs.
This fact affects directly their children because their parents can´t pay for any nursery place to take them, instead and before the Public nursery appeared, they had to leave their children alone at home all day long. 


We never request money to our tour groups directly, instead we like to tell them about priorities that the  supported nurseries have , on this way our clients decide in what field they will help. 



Currently, there are 45 children in this project , their ages are between 1 to 4 years old, it number could change if we find more incomes to help. 


Their parents have to pay a monthly amount of USD 10 per child but , at least 30 % of them are living on the very poor range, that can´t afford pay it. Even this problematic, this center allow them to leave the children  for free.


 Games outside are part of their learning at the nursery


We believe there are many people around the world, willing to help social works , but they don´t know how. Our project fits all those facts to consider the possibility of joining this in the future, if you would like to know more about our nurseries or tours, we invite you to visit our facebook page as : Guidestinations Cia ltda
or please write us on this blog.




you are always welcome to be part our project , donating to support children life´s...


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Expats in Ecuador

One of American concerns after retirement is to save money and have a relaxed and uncomplicated life. 
In the last 5 years more than 100,000 Americans have moved to Ecuador for three main  reasons : The cost of living, quality of life and climate. 
Overall Ecuador offers all facilities for foreigners who are thinking to live well and spending half that they would spend in the United Estates. 
It's a great opportunity to learn Spanish or just work teaching English. 
While in Ecuador ,you could live with less than USD 1000 per month, this includes; rent, food, transportation and travel within the country. 
Many retirees consider the possibility of work teaching English and make at least USD 450 a month or be involve with any Ecuador Charity Foundation to help needy people. 
Those possibilities are perfect for expats and it is attracting more people every year.






We have Private Tour Guides in Ecuador specialized in Real State and Relocation Tours who can take you to numerous locations around Ecuador so that you can determine the one that’s right for you.




                                                                  Expats-in-Ecuador


Once you determine the area in which you wish to relocate in Ecuador, our Private Tour Guides can set up inspections of homes, apartments, and condominiums. 



                                                               
                                                                   Expats-in-Ecuador

We can also assist you in finding an attorney to help with all legal needs, a permanent visa, a bank account, purchasing a vehicle, renting or purchasing a home, and acquainting you with the area in which you are going to locate.




Our Private Tour Guides will help with all your moving needs. All you have to do is ask…
Simply give us a call to easily and effortlessly restructure this tour in whatever ways you desire so that you may accomplish your relocation needs. Travel in Ecuador with the expats experts..





The tour described below has been designed to assist you in ‘exploring’ what Ecuador has to offer, so that if you wish to relocate and/or retire in Ecuador, you will have a much better understanding of the country.

Ecuador Retirement
Overview: Tour includes 2 major cities (Guayaquil & Quito), the most sought after city for Americans to relocate (Cuenca), the world´s least expensive beach resort (Salinas), the volcanoes of Cotacachi & Cotopaxi, and a medium-sized town (Riobamba).  This tour includes seminars which will discuss moving to Ecuador, VISAs, legal issues, and much more.
10 DAYS TOUR
Year-round availability for private tours or choose from the following dates to travel with a group:
6 – 15 July
5 – 14 October         
20 – 29 July
19 – 28 October
3 – 12 August
9 – 18 November
15 – 24 August                     
23 November – 2 December
7 – 16 September
7 – 14 December
21 – 30 September
14 – 23 December

Price per person:  $1750