Ecuador Water & Food
Mar 20th, 2010 by Gary
Coffee break at Inn Land of the Sun (formerly Meson de las Flores). See Ecuador health issues below.
Here is the question that a reader asked about Ecuador water and food.
OK, so we’re going to travel to Ecuador. Now my husband is dreaming up lots of bad stuff: non-flushing toilets, need for all kinds of vaccinations, fear of altitude sickness (he did suffer from it in Peru years ago, but I feed him better now and think he’ll be OK), water you can’t drink, food you can’t eat unless it’s cooked. He’s been reading a guide book our neighbor brought over that is 30 years old. Surely things are more up to date now, and more sanitary. Where can I get reliable information?
Here is my reply.
First really… a 30 year old book? Please use common sense when you travel.
Up to date guidebooks are better than those 30 years old. Merri’s recommendation is UP TO DATE The New Key to Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Regarding Ecuador water and food.
I often drink water from the tap at our hotel and in many other places and have never been sick. However I do not recommend this because I have been traveling globally for 41 years and have developed a cast iron stomach. In Ecuador there are two types of really great, inexpensive bottled water. The main brands are Guitig (natural gas – ask for aqua con gas) and Tesalia (no gas ask for aqua sin gas).
Regarding vaccinations, very few delegates tell us that they have them. Merri and I sure have not. Only in small bits of the south and Amazon would this be needed. See health warnings for the provinces that are at risk here.
The food in Ecuador is good. We have never had a problem with salads making us sick for example. In fact the healthy, delicious Ecuador food is one great reason to visit and live in Ecuador.
This is for example is a typical coffee break at our hotel. Hand made coconut dipped in organic Ecuador chocolate, gooseberries and strawberries… that actually taste and feel like strawberries. This is a lot better than the donuts and danish you might get at a typical north American hotel.
Meat should always be well cooked anywhere. Rotisserie chicken should be avoided. The center does not get hot enough. Merri and I do enjoy eatng at some of the outdoor stalls, like…
this. However we would…
only have the corn and avoid the meat.
There are many great restaurants with really low prices. Here…
is a restaurant just round the corner from our hotel. A full chicken dinner is $2.30 and we have never had anyone report getting sick there.
Ecuador food can really be healthy. Even…
the welcome cakes our hotel makes for our groups, for example are made with quinoa… a full vegetable protein grain, rather than flower. Here is…
a coconut quinoa flan… little sugar… lots of protein.
We have an organic Swiss cheese factory just down the road from us. Here I am in their caves where the cheese matures.
So there are great choices of cheese… though we like the unfermeneted queso fresco best..
The seafood is wonderful and…
fresh. This is the Ibarra seafood market where the seafood is brought in directly from the sea… just a few hours away.
Meet our chefs Santiago and Alberto. They understand nutrition and style. breakfast looks like…
this and…
Here is a lunch.
Even the ketchup is served with beauty and style.
The hotel makes its own butter and…
ice cream… without sugar… just fresh juice and ice spun in a copper bowl.
During the Easter season a great soup Fanesca is served.
Made from a dozen grains… it is delicious.
Food and water in Canada ad the US are great concerns. Not so much in Ecuador. See more about Ecuador Nutrition here.
There is one important trick about feeling good in the Andes. Eat less at high altitude! Digestion requires oxygen. Ecuador’s food is so good and plentiful (especially at buffets in the big Quito hotels) that it is easy to overeat. High altitudes have less oxygen and we have seen numerous delegates who pig out, in Quito especially, suffer from indigestion… not tourista.
Needless to say the liver uses oxygen to metabolize alcohol so a beer wine or cocktail carries a lot more kick in the mountains. Merri and I do not drink much alcohol anyway… so no problem… but if you do… do less.
For altitude sickness, the indigenous drink cinnamon & brown sugar tea (Canella Panella Te). We have watched this work wonders on delegates who are suffering in the altitude.
When you are in Ecuador we can help and answer just about any question you have as an Ecuador Living subscriber… you’ll have a contact pretty near you wherever you are. We can put you in touch with hotels (many offer subscribers discounts) travel agents, attorneys, doctors, businessmen and are here to make sure that your visit is efficient and safe. Learn how to subscribe here.
Gary
At our recent Super Thinking, Plus Spanish Course…. we included an Ecuador export table set up by Bonnie Keough, our export tour leader.
Here is delegate Barbara Humphrey taking a look.
She found some jewelry she liked!
Bonnie provides a perfect example of the benefits of earning through exports. She enjoys extra income… loves having a chance to travel to new interesting countries and has found that she as a niche market at markets set up by the Cultural Survival Organization.
Her exports help create employment for poor people in Ecuador and…
included jewelry…
handmade soaps and…
food supplements.
Whether you goal is to reduce your cost of living… increase your income… enhance the return on your investments or all, having an international view increases your choices… enhances your opportunity and does the world good.
Learn how to gain freedom at our Ecuador exports course
Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour
Learn how to export Ecuador flowers and much more.
Learn more about Ecuador Roses here
Learn how Fedex delivers Ecuador Easter lilies to your home.
Learn more about our Super Thinking Plus Spanish course here.
You enjoy discounts by attending multiple seminars and tours.
Here are our multi tour adventure discounts.
Two Pack… 2 seminar courses & tours $998 Couple $1,349 Save $149 on couple
Three Pack… 3 seminar courses & tours $1399 Couple $1,899 Save $98 single or $348 on a couple or more
Four Pack… 4 seminar courses & tours $1,699 Couple $2,299 Save $98 single or $697 on a couple or more
Five Pack… 5 seminar courses & tours $1,999 Couple $2,699 Save $496 single or $1,046 on a couple or more
Six Pack… 6 seminars courses & tours $2,199 Couple $3,099 Save $795 single or $1,395 on a couple or more
Here is the real estate tour schedule.
2012 – Ecuador Real Estate – Super Thinking + Spanish – Gary Scott Course Schedule
Last modified on 2012-02-05 12:28:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Feb. 20-21-22 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Feb. 24 – 28, 2012 Ecuador Export Tour
March 2-6, 2012 Amazon Spanish Camp (Teacher Glenn Sterling)
March 8-11, 2012 Mt. Dora Florida (Teacher Gary & Merri Scott)
March 15-16-17 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
March 19-20-21 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Join Gary & Merri Scott at the Lakeside Inn, Mt. Dora Florida, to learn to communicate in Spanish in four days.
Manabi Agricultural Tour March 26, 27, 28 in 2012
Join Ecuador agricultural consultants on 4 wheel drive farm tour (limit 15).
April 17th and 18th morning: Bahia Indoctrination tour (NEW)
April 19-20-21 Coastal Real Estate Tour
April 23-24-25 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
April 27-28 Imbaburra Real Estate Tour
May 15 – 16 morning: Cuenca Indoctrination Seminar (NEW)
May 17-18-19 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
May 21-22-23 Coastal Real Estate Tour
May 25-26 Imbaburra Real Estate Tour
June 17-18-19-20-21 Ecuador Export Tour
June 14-15-16 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
June 18-19-20 Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 16-17-18 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
June 22-23-24 Earning With Quantum Thinking in Investing & Micro Businesses (Gary Scott)
August 28-29-30- 31-Sept. 1 Ecuador Export Tour
Sept 3-4 Imbaburra Real Estate Tour
Sept. 6-7-8 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 10-11-12 Coastal Real Estate Tour
October 5-6-7 Earning With Quantum Thinking in Investing & Micro Businesses (Gary Scott)
Oct. 13-14-15 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Oct. 17-18-19 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct. 21-22 Imbaburra Real Estate Tour
Nov. 11-12-13 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Nov. 15-16-17 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 19-20 Imbaburra Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17-18 2012 Mt. Dora Florida (Teacher Gary & Merri Scott)
Dec. 10-11-12 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
See details about a multi tour discount.
Can’t make this schedule?
See Details about a customized private real estate tour.
Ecuador multi course adventures can help you save.
Normal course and tour fees are to $499 or $749 for a couple. Here are your savings.
to beautiful places from mountains to…
the sea with hidden…
charms like this thermal spa near our hotel in Cotacachi. The people are…
friendly and…
wonderful from many…
cultures. Ecuador real estate is good value.
Condos here in Cuenca for example are just $42,000.
See spectacular beach properties near this beach for as low as low as $6,000.
An extra benefit in these Ecuador real estate tours is that the staff does not sell real estate, and does not allow staff to accept commissions on the sale of real estate.
We ask those whose property we show on the tour to give discounts to our delegates (as we are known to bring many buyers and do not charge commissions).
We make sure that sellers show up. (A bad habit Ecuadorians have is often to not have the property open on time.) We avoid showing property that in our experience is out of line price wise or quality wise. We provide efficiency. There are few road signs in Ecuador… no organized brokers… no multiple listings… not many English speaking. We plan routes so our delegates can see the most in the shortest time and have English speaking staff with the tours. We provide contacts with brokers, attorneys architects etc who have shown to be trustworthy. We share 41 years of experience investing globally and 14 years in Ecuador.
Otherwise chances are you’ll drive around… be lost… see little… and have no basis on which to compare and when and if you plan to buy not know if the people you are dealing with are trustworthy. We feel that our $499 fee is a bargain. If you hire a car with driver for four days… you’ll have spent almost as much just on transportation.
Our Ecuador real estate tours help you learn the ropes in Ecuador.
We also provide a very personal service that helps you save money and makes your trip to Ecuador more comfortable and secure.
We hope to help you in Ecuador soon. See details for each of our Ecuador real estate tours here.
Cotacachi, Otavalo & Ibarra real estate tour
Save with Multi tours. Learn more on how to save with multiple tours to Cotacachi Imbabura, Ecuador’s coast and Cuenca.







































