Cuenca Questions and Answers

Pilates Studio in Cuenca?  Hi. I am interested in teaching Pilates in Cuenca. Are there existing studios?

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Hi Lesli.

Good question! There are no Pilates studios, per ...

Are There Recreational Facilities in Cuenca?  Are there any martial arts studios, gyms, squash courts, yoga studios, football pitches in Cuenca?

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Hi Peter.

Thanks for your question.

For ...

Cuenca Wedding Venues  Thank you so much for creating this wonderful website! Can you please recommend some beautiful indoor and outdoor wedding venues in and around Cuenca? Thank ...

About the LGBT Community?  How are the LGBT community received/accepted in Ecuador? I have heard horror stories about some South American places due to the "macho" culture. I am ...

What To Bring When I Move to Cuenca  I am packing for my my move and have read that certain things are a must to bring with me. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am traveling with suitcases ...

Where is the non-Catholic Christian church?  Where is the non-Catholic Christian church?

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There are dozens of non-Catholic churches in Cuenca. There are Baptist, Lutheran and evangelical ...

Crime in Cuenca  Cuenca is developing a stronger crime reputation. How bad is the crime?

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Peter, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that Cuenca has a crime ...

Noise Levels  Are the noise levels around Cuenca as high as we have heard they are in Cuenca itself. Barking dogs, crowing roosters and car alarms are things we have ...

Ecuador Residency Visa Information  I am retiring the end of December 2011 and planning my move to Cuenca in April. I would like to take my son and his fiancee with me, as the economic situation ...

Trying Not To Stand Out as a Gringa  Can you tell me anything about how local young women dress in Cuenca and other parts of Ecuador, e.g., Quito, Baños?

I don't want to stand out as an ...

I Need the Best and Inexpensive Way To Call the U.S.  I will be spending two months in Cuenca soon and would like to get phone service to be able to call the U.S. I have a U.S. cell phone
(t-mobile) but ...

Athletics and Hiking In and Around Cuenca  Two questions, related to exercise and mountains.

1. Is there a safe place - park, track, etc. - for females to work out, i.e., run?

2. Which tour ...

Buying a Business?  I am retired and with a small pension. I have always wanted to own a cafe/bar with living quarters. I like the idea of being in the downtwn area as I don'...

Contact Lenses  Hi, I was searching for contact lens solution, for gas permeable/hard lenses, and I am having difficulty finding it.

Do you by any chance know where ...

Getting Taxi from Cuenca Airport in the evening to the downtown.  Hello Guys.

My name is Vivian and I and my husband are going to Ecuador for one week I-cannot-wait holiday.

We are getting in Cuenca on May 16th ...

Christian Church Services  Are there any English speaking Christian Church services anywhere in or around Cuenca? ***** We haven't come across any English services. There are a few ...

Ecuador Times  I cannot get ecuadortimes.net to unsubscribe as they send 10-15 daily emails. They won't even respond when requested. Has anyone else had this annoyance?...

How Affordable Is It?  Hi there,
I've always wanted to move to another country and learn about a culture that was different from my own. I have served in foreign countries while ...

Rentals in Cuenca  Jeff,

We will be arriving in Cuenca on March 11, 2011. I would like to have your wife's assistance in our relocation as previously discussed.

I do ...

Internet Cafe  Hi Jeff,
Are there any internet cafes?

I don't want to lug my Mac Book Pro around if I don't have to.

Would prefer to travel light and just use ...

Relocation 
1-In Cuenca can I buy:
A) flannel sheets
B) air purifier
C) stainless steel pan

2- What items would you bring to Cuenca?

3- Sources or ...

Travelers Checks  I expect to travel to Cuenca, Ecuador, within the next few days. If I purchase American Express checks here in USA, can they be easily cashed in a major ...

Which English Channels Does DirecTV Broadcast?  Which stations are transmitted by DirecTV in English other than sports channels? ***** Many of the channels are in English, because most of them are specialty ...

Are US Sports Available in Cuenca?  Can I get US sports television, professional and/or college, from any company there? Which company offers the highest speed and reliable internet? ***** Thanks ...

Gringo Prices  If Cuenca is a city of +\- 500,000 and the Gringo contingent numbers in the 5,000 range and even if it increases by 5 fold, what's the big reason for escalating ...

Is a Cédula Needed for a Multicines Tarjeta?  May a visitor (without a Cédula) get a Multicines Tarjeta? ***** Thanks for the question. The Multicines website doesn't say one way or the other. I'll ...

Any decent job opportunities for IT guys in Cuenca?  I hear that you're a programmer, Jeff. I am too, but mostly IBM mainframe work. Any decent job opportunities for IT guys in Cuenca, or should I just gracefully ...

Spanish Lessons in the US or Ecuador?  I realize that if I am to get a rental and spend some extended time in Ecuador, I really ought to brush up my Spanish. Would you recommend doing this in ...

Any Doctors Doing Hormone Replacement Therapy?  Do you know if any doctors in Cuenca do hormone replacement therapy?

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Interesting question, Ken.

If there are any doctors, they're doing ...

Senior Discounts in Ecuador?  Does Ecuador have a senior (over 65) 50% discount program including transportation, tickets, electric and water bills below certain usage levels, free ...

Visa 10-V Professional  Please explain to me about the professional visa 10-V. I have seen a lot of information about retirees and investment visa. However not much about this ...

Is There a Good Gym Here in Cuenca?  We are looking for a good gym in Cuenca.

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Well, it all depends on your definition of "good gym."

If you're expecting one like you'll find ...

Home of Panama Hat?  I think you'll find that history will bear out that Monticristi down on the coast is THE home of the Panama Hat, dating back to the first recorded use ...

I have 2 questions and thank you for this wonderful website  I have been watching the weather for months and it seems Cuenca has LOTS of rain. How much sunshine does Cuenca get?

I understand there is pollution ...

Can I Work in Cuenca?  Can I work in Cuenca?

I'm Peruvian but also I have American citizenship. My family and I (husband and two kids) are planing to move to Cuenca.

We ...

What About Dogs?  Is it difficult to rent houses that allow pets?

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Hi Ken.

That's a good question, and one we have experience dealing with.

Yes, it can ...

Phone Number for Tiestos  Do you have a phone number for Tiestos Cafe? We would like to go again but understand you need to make reservations.

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Yes, reservations are ...

Supermaxi Operating Days and Hours in Cuenca   What are the store hours, and days of operation of Supermaxi in Cuenca.

Thanks.

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Hi Sy.

Supermaxi is open 7 days a week, all year (even ...

From China to Ecuador?  I am 67 and married to a 34 year old Chinese woman. She does speak English fairly well. I am an American and wondering if there is a way to go from China ...

Looking for School for My Daughters, 16 and 12  We are planing to go to Cuenca for good. I am having a hard time to pick the best school for them.

They speak some Spanish. What do you think could ...

Interim Lodgings  Where is a good place to stay while one is looking for permanent residence? I will be arriving on Sept. 12, in a few days. I will be lugging 3 or 4 bags ...

Car Rentals in Cuenca  We are travelling at the end of January. Are there any car rentals that allow unlimited km. for pick up in Cuenca and drop off in Guayaquil for a week....

EC Bank Account   As a tourist, can I open a bank account in Cuenca? If yes, what documents do I need?

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Sherril, thanks for your questions.

It's very difficult ...

How Many Expats Live in Cuenca?  I am wondering about how many expats are living in Cuenca. Also, are there many single ladies of retirement age living there?

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Hi Kathy.

I ...

Medical Insurance/Coverage for over the age of 60  I may want to retire in Cuenca. What are the Medical Insurance/Coverage prices that we would pay per month?

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Hi Sharon.

Coverage prices are ...

Visa, and Details About Living in Cuenca  I am collecting the required info for retirement visa and will be arriving in Cuenca in mid-Sept. 2011. Upon arriving, I will be attending Spanish language ...

Ecuador Times Publication  How can I stop ecuadortimes.net from sending 5-10 emails daily? I have emailed them many times to unsubscribe in both Spanish and English to no avail. They ...

Investments  I wish to know the best term deposit rates available from the credit union in cuenca. Also, the 3 best performing stocks in Ecuador.

Many thanks. Bob
...

Visiting at the End of June  My husband and I will be visiting Cuenca soon. Our flight is to Guayaquil and we would like to know of a reliable car service to drive us from Guayaquil ...

Post Office Box Rental Requirements  What documents are required to rent a post office box?

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You'll need a bill from ETAPA (water, phone, internet), CentroSur (electricity), or ...

Home Heating in Cuenca  What kind of heating do homes have there, and how much do you need to use it? My understanding is that the climate is on the cool side.

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The ...

Which Ecuador Banks Accept Social Security Checks?  What are the banks that will accept deposit of Social Security checks in Ecuador?

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Info from 2009 that I found says that only Produbanco and ...

Is Correa Following Chavez and Morales With His Last Referendum?  I am pained about the referendum recently held because some of the items on it seem to point to a move such as Chavez pulled on Venezuela while he was ...

Recommendations for a Plastic Surgeon in Cuenca  We are currently visiting Cuenca, and I would like to consult a plastic surgeon, any recommendations?

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I've heard good things about Dr. Jose ...

Results of Recent Referendum  As a result of the recent referendums I would be interested in hearing someone's take on how this will affect expats in Ecuador or those interested in ...

Hair Salon for Women!  I am wondering if there is any good or recommendable hair salon for women in Cuenca.

I am from Korea but now I am living in VA, USA and for me it is ...

Tax on Gringos  I read recently about some type of tax on gringos. Do you know if anything is in the works to have a special tax on foreigners or gringos?

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We'...

How cool is the climate? We want a warm city with good infrastructure.  We'll be leaving Seattle soon and hoping to resettle in EC with our school-age sons. Cuenca looks great except it appears to be quite overcast and cool,...

Hidden Valley - I mean the salad dressing!  Do you know if one is allowed to bring unopened food into the country via checked baggage? When we visited we found a lack of some of our fav food items,...

Taxable Income and Double Taxation  I have read that Ecuador taxes the worldwide income of residents. If this is so, this would constitute double taxation since you are required to pay taxes ...

Water and Electric Power  How frequently do you lose electric power and water in the Cuenca and Vilcabamba areas? ***** I can't speak for the Vilcabamba area, as I've never lived ...

Bank Accounts  What are the requirements to open a bank account in Ecuador? Are there any special requirements? ***** Thanks for your questions.

There are no special ...

Questions About Property Searches and Residency  We will be arriving in May for a week to explore properties around Cuenca and Vilcabamba.

If I have several properties we wish to explore, what is the ...

Use of $100 and $50 Bills  In reading the various forums, large bills are not accepted for purchases.

I will be arriving in March and most likely will be spending a large amount ...

Rent a Bike in Cuenca  Hola, Could you advise me on a renting a bike (where/price per day)? Do they have helmets available?

Hope to hear, greeting, Xan **** Hi Xan.

I know ...

Safety  My husband and I would like to drive around - to explore before deciding to retire there. We are mostly interested in the area between Guayaquil and Cuenca....

Do We Need Ecuadorian ID Cards First?  It appears that you need an ID card to open a Bank Account, activate your utilities, even get a cell phone. How does one obtain the ID card if it takes ...

Any market for Pilates in English?  Ideally, I would like to bring my Pilates equipment and open for private one on one sessions. I would also like to teach group Pilates, Pilates-yoga fusion ...

Symphony Orchestra Schedule  My wife and I are visiting Cuenca (11/23 - 12/7).

Any thoughts on finding a directory of concerts or plays?

Thanks! ***** The city web site hasn'...

Comparing Cuenca to Other Ecuador Cities  How does Cuenca compare with other high altitude cities in Ecuador such as Ibarra, Riobamba, Cumbaya, Vilcabamba, and Loja?

Primary considerations are ...

First timer - how to explore? 
First time visitors must fly into Quito, as it is currently the only international airport. If one has NO AGENDA (e.g., ecotours, birding, Galapagos,...

Costs associated for hiring attorney for residency  What is the cost of an attorney to process the paperwork for long term residency through purchasing $25,000+ of Ecuadorian real estate? *** Thanks for ...

General Info as Below  Please comment on the crime and safety issue compared to say Toronto, Canada.

Is the water drinkable and are salads an issue?

What are hospitals ...