General Info as Below

by Allan
(Toronto)

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 and medical services like? Are perscription drugs readily available.

Expected rent for six month stay modest accommodation for 2. Any places best to avoid?

Are there any all inclusive resorts in Ecuador?

How is the city bus service?

Other than Spanish, what are the major differences with Toronto? Are there any customs people from Toronto should know about?

Your site is very helpful compared to what I have found before.

*****

Yes, the water is drinkable, and probably tastes better than Toronto's. I know it tastes better than Burlington's (I grew up there).

I've never been sick from eating salad here. Medical services are cheap, and at least as good or better than Ontario's. Doctors make housecalls here. A visit to the doctor will likely run you $20.

Prescription drugs are available. Not all of them, and many will be generic, and at a small fraction of the cost in Canda.

If you do so legwork, or hire someone here, you can find a furnished apartment for $500, perhaps as low as $450 (the lower you want, the harder it will be to find one).

The northeast of Cuenca is a good place to avoid, between downtown and the airport.

I've never heard of any all inclusive resorts in Ecuador.

The bus service is great. See our two articles in the Getting Around Cuenca section for details about buses to and from Cuenca, and the transit system inside Cuenca.

Shops close anywhere from noon until 3. People are friendlier. They're not as concerned with making money, so you won't usually have good service.