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Questions about Loja province

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LeapFrog
  11/22/2020 23:10 EST

A new thread so as not to derail the health insurance thread. George, your info was much appreciated.

I'm looking mostly at Vilcabamba, Catamayo, Malacatos. Two main concerns - how is the internet? What is the government response to covid - i.e. any special restrictions in place at any time since March?

Malacatos weather is similar to Catamayo? i.e. average high of high 70s to low 80s? Vilcabamba is the coolest weather of the 3?

user001
  11/23/2020 08:55 EST

Internet in malacatos top tier would be about 80mb (8mb download speeds) for about $50 a month with a years. Similar for Vilca, don't know Catamayo. I imagine similar, but guaranteed it will be sufficient for your needs unless you are a video editor uploading and downloading gbs daily

weather wise, Malacatos is similar to Vilc. They both border the podocarpus, both face onto valleys that can roll the cooler weather down. Catamayo is the warmer of the three, it's a bit lower, more desert like, less rain, less cloud, more sun.

Vilc / Mala days are nice (if the sun out) and cool nights. Catamaya will be hot days if sun out (usual) haven't spent the night there, the wife has and said the kids were out in the swimming pool til after dark, which I would want to do in Vilca / Malacatos

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LeapFrog
  11/23/2020 13:48 EST

Thank you, this is helpful.

Can someone comment on Covid restrictions? I am hoping that since these areas are fairly isolated and Ecuador seems like one of the more relaxed governments, that it is not as crazy as it is getting here in Canada and the U.S.

Are there mask mandates, mandatory shutdowns / curfews etc. or other restrictions in these areas like has been happening here? From the 2020 response so far - what are your expectations on this for the new year?

icemeister
  11/23/2020 15:26 EST

Ecuador declared a State of Emergency on March 17th which lasted until September 15th. During that time we had all those restrictions you mention and then some. After that it was left up to local governments to deal with the pandemic in their areas a needed, so most maintained restrictions which have gradually eased up as new cases and deaths dropped.

I'm sure if we see a huge rise like in the US currently, we will be ordered to stay at home once again.

We certainly are not a relaxed country when it comes to this pandemic. I have been impressed how well we've done considering the country is broke.

I live outside of Guayaquil and when you go out here everyone still wears a mask. You're even required to wear a mask when driving.

Charlie B

JoatMon
  1/3/2021 11:00 EST

As for the covid restrictions what was mentioned above is about right. What is not mentioned is the amount of adherence to those restrictions. I would say that the Ecuadorians in Vilca, Malacatos, Catamayo and Loja adhere pretty well. Loja these days much better than they were. Where you will find nearly no expat wearing a face mask, social distancing or adhering to other health protocols is in Vilcabamba. The word has gotten out again of the holier than thou expats who rule that valley. Its really sad. Hospitals are filling up again. The restrictions I think haven't been targeting the right areas, but no it hasn't been as crazy as the US or Canada. I guess I would wonder on which side of the crazy coin your referring to as the negative side. The conspiracy theorists darken every doorway and have made living in and visiting this small tourist town a challenge. So, I suppose if you are like minded, it is a great place to hang your hat. Living outside of the town is fine though, if one doesn't want to deal with the crazy on a daily basis, that is the only way to go. Malacatos is becoming quite a good place to hang out for sure. You can get all sorts of packages of internet service, Fibre Optic included depending on area, for anywhere from $10 to hundreds per month. How many ISPs are servicing areas can range from 1 - 5 different ones so that is one of the best questions to ask right up front when looking at properties to either rent or buy. You can get far better and faster information if you ask questions on the many facebook groups.

LeapFrog
  1/7/2021 20:40 EST

Thank you JoatMon for answering questions in several threads.

The covid question is really more about oppressive government over reach. There have been some crazy episodes with police in some western nations and I am trying to gauge what to expect there.

If they are able to flaunt the rules in Vilca without being gang tackled and put in prison, then I think that answers my question.

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user001
  1/10/2021 09:18 EST

> If they are able to flaunt the rules in Vilca without being gang tackled and put in prison, then I think that answers my question.

early in the pandemic, there was a lot of animosity building from the local populations towards foreigners thinking they can ignore the rules put in place to protect the eldery and infirm local populations.


There is talk about another full on lockdown, stay at home order, everything shut down and this time I fear will be much much harder. Before, people might have had some supplies: a bag of rice for example or something in the bank, but now the people are running on empty. Another lockdown and foreigners skipping around with a "rules for thee not for me" might not go down so well.

So if you are planning on coming to the country and expecting it to lord it over the locals, then don't bother coming. You will not be welcome

tiredofsnow
  1/12/2021 21:56 EST

I agree.but hopefully there is not one brush painting all expats where we live there are hard feelings over people coming from other countries and bringing thier culture to canada and trying to force it down our throats so i do understand.if a person goes to another country it should be to have a better life in some way if where you came from was so great that you try to inforce it apon your new home perhaps you should have stayed home.that goes for my wife and I also and everyone els starting a new life abroad.dont bring the troubles you are leaving with you.We had first thought of panama to relocate to but we did find a undercurrent from locals that the expats had made thier country so expencive they couldnt afford to live there any more.I see that starting in Ecuador i watched a fello on youtube advertising land he wanted to sell parcels to people for people to live off grid under 3 acres for 70 thousand.Thats U.S pricing.and a great way to ruin a great place for everybody.

desertcogo
  1/13/2021 05:20 EST

I have been in Ecuador for a little over two years, having moved here from the United States in December, 2018. I moved here to be with my Ecuadorian wife who I married 18 months previous. I have fully embraced my new life in my new country but many expats have not. I tend not to hang out with other expats because of the whining they do about things not being like they were in their former country. I've also seen the greed many of them exhibit and selling 3 acres of land for $70,000 is the perfect example. I saw one of my favorite little Mexican seaside towns ruined by greedy U. S. developers years ago and I would hate to see the same thing happen here.

user001
  1/13/2021 15:15 EST

> and I would hate to see the same thing happen here.

Has been for a while tbh. Not quite on Mexico / certain central American levels perhaps but definitely has been

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