Ecuador Beachfront Property

Crucita Condo Update: The 8th and final story has been poured!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:52:00 +0000

The Crucita condo building, Arena, Sol y Mar II has just had its 8th and final floor poured as of February 4, 2010. Construction on this beachfront property continues to proceed according to budget and is currently ahead of schedule. The completion date of the building is November 2010.

Don't miss out on this spectacular opportunity to own your beachfront condo at a discounted preconstruction price! For all the details, floorplans and photos take a look at our Ecuador Beachfront Condos page.

Average Temperatures of Coastal Ecuador

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Brrr...it sure gets cold on the coast in Ecuador. Just kidding.

The coldest month is August with an average low temperature of 67 degrees F and a high of 77 degrees F. The warmest month is March with a low of 72 and a high of 82. Not bad.

To look at average temperature trends for the city of Manta you can follow this link:

http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayIntlNORMS.asp?CityCode=84117&Units=english

Escape the cold and head to Ecuador!

Visit Bahia and Stay at CasaGrande

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:53:00 +0000

Bahia de Caraquez is a charming place to visit while you are on the Ecuador coast. Known as Ecuador's "Eco-City," Bahia (pronounced "Bah-EE-ah") is the closest major city to Canoa (the location of our beautiful Lots 8 and 9).

Bahia sits on a narrow peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and a large estuarine bay

What to Do in Bahia

Bahia has many diverse attractions, including the city museum containing well-displayed Pre-Incan artifacts that were discovered locally. Museum guides offer tours in both Spanish and English.

Be sure to visit the "Cross", literally a cross-shaped structure with a staircase inside that leads to a fantastic viewing platform offering a 360 degree view of Bahia, the bay, and surrounding landscapes.

Another must-visit is Chirije, an impressive Eco-Lodge and Archaelogical Museum that is set in a breathtaking and tranquil oceanfront location (lots more, including photos on visiting Chirije in the next blog to come).

There are also tours of the nearby mangrove island Isla Corazon that serves as the nesting grounds for thousands of magnificent frigatebirds amongst other charismatic bird species. A must for bird and nature lovers, Tours are guided by knowledgeable local fishermen who practice sustainable fishing techniques that support the long-term survival of this endangered and vital ecosystem.

Male magnificent frigatebird attempting to attract the lady birds with his red neck pouch

There are also 1-3 day tours of the wonderful Rio Muchacho organic farm where you discover how to prepare your own coffee and chocolate straight from the plants! Visit: http://www.riomuchacho.com for more information.

Where to Stay in Bahia

So while you are checking out all that the Bahia area has to offer, we highly recommend you consider staying at CasaGrande. English-speaking Patricio Tamariz and his mother Flor Maria (who incidentally own the Chirije eco-lodge mentioned above and also created the first organic shrimp farm in Ecuador) offer superb accommodations at their lovely little ocean view guest house.

CasaGrande offers six accomodations that vary in cost between $61 and $98 for 2 people (price includes tax). Additional guests cost $20 each. Amenities include pool, private bath with hot water (sometimes hard to find in hotels along the coast!), air-conditioning, Wi-Fi internet, cable t.v., and breakfast. The suite accommodation comes equipped with a jacuzzi.

Beautiful ocean views from CasaGrande

Looking towards the pool at CasaGrande

One of the rooms at CasaGrande

One of the bathrooms at CasaGrande

CasaGrande can help you arrange your Bahia activities:

Tour to Isla Corazon (~$20/person)
Day viisit to Chirije Eco-Lodge and Archaeological Museum, including lunch (~$30/person)
Surf lessons with a bilingual instructor (~$20/person)
Hiking in the Cerro Seco dry forest

For more information and photos, visit CasaGrande online: http://www.casagrandebahia.com/

For reservations and questions, please contact Patricio: tamariz at gmail dot com

Be sure to tell Patricio that you heard about CasaGrande from Ecuador Beachfront Property to receive a 5% discount.

Crucita Condo Testimonial

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:21:00 +0000

We wanted to share a testimonial we received from Bob Faske who purchased a condo in Crucita in November. Here's what Bob had to say about his experience:

"In October 2009 I was lucky enough to find Tom's website (www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com). I begged a few days leave from work to see Crucita and Arena,Sol y Mar firsthand in early Nov.

The town is well off the "beaten path" but the continual roadwork up the coast from Manta will change this soon. The town is a small fishing village with a wide sweep of beach, and popular with locals on weekends. My large room at Hostal Velodores was clean, convenient and reasonably priced (didn't hurt that it was off-season)with free washer,(fitfull)computer access,and a near-empty courtyard pool.

While exploring the condo site next door,I not only met the friendly yet diligent construction crew, busy forming the 6th-floor columns, but was able to meet the owner/engineer Sr. Raphael Andrade, who was most gracious in explaining the floor plan, construction technique,and purchasing process; we spent several hours together in Portoviejo with the notario completing the promesa de compre vende,securing me a phone chip,and admiring Mercedes engineering. He also contacted me later to note a math error that would give me a slightly lower price!

Sr. Carlos Fuentes, the project's architect is on site daily; Sr. Andrade visits as often as possible (weekly) from his home in Quito--his family will enjoy the top-floor penthouse, a fact that reassures me strongly about the quality of consruction and amenities.

I must commend Sr. Eduardo Iglesias and his wife Paola for their hospitality and knowledge of the area, and thanks to Tom again for long-distance guidance in finding this wonderful spot. I'm looking forward to spending many fine days in Crucita at Arena,Sol Y Mar II!"

Bob Faske
West Palm Beach
bobeff@bellsouth.net

Smaller than Nevada but that's a good thing

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Ecuador is just slightly smaller than the state of Nevada in the US.

This geographic factoid becomes increasingly difficult to believe once you begin to explore the incredible diversity that Ecuador has to offer.

The spectacular Andes mountains run north to south and roughly divide the country into thirds.

In the central Andean region, you will observe towering volcanoes (many still active) and snow and glacier-covered peaks. In the surrounding valleys and foothills are attractive colonial cities, colorful indigenous markets, high elevation lakes and hot springs, and historic haciendas.

On a clear day in Quito, ride up 3,600 feet to a final elevation of over 13,000 ft on the "teleferico" (gondola). From there you will see the vast extent of the highlands, including three very impressive volcanoes (Antisana 18,700 ft; Cayambe 18,725; and Cotopaxi 19,347 ft). If you are an outdoor enthusiast, there are endless activities to keep you busy!

Tom approaching the summit of Cotopaxi

Lynn biking in the Andean foothills

Donkey we befriended along the bike ride

In the eastern third of the country, the "Oriente," you find yourself in the headwaters of the Amazon Basin. This is the land of cloudforests and rainforests teeming with waterfalls and abundant life including jaguar, monkeys, tapir, and dazzling tropical birds. Tom and I actually saw 8 species of monkey in 2 days near Ecuador's border with Peru! Here in these remote areas exist an impressive diversity of indigenous groups, many of whom still maintain their traditional ways of life. There are jungle lodges to visit, white-water rafting trips to take, and more hot springs to soak in.

El Jardin in Puyo

Rafting on the upper Pastaza

Rainforest at Tashapi (near Puyo)

Then of course, heading west you will drop down to the Pacific Ocean. We enjoy travel to the Andes and the Oriente but for living purposes, we absolutely love the coast!

Tom's mom, JoAnn, enjoying a book and a good "hammocking" session at our house in Crucita

Tom, Eduardo, Paola and Red (who purchased a beachfront lot from us last March) making sushi rolls from fresh tuna

The beach in Crucita where we live

The icing on Ecuador's cake of course is the Galapagos Islands, 300 miles off the coast.

Young sea lion

Blue-footed boobie with baby

While Ecuador is not a big country, we hope you're beginning to recognize that there are so many amazing places to visit and explore!

And being small definitely has its benefits! A flight from Quito to Manta is a mere 30 minutes!

So imagine leaving your home on a cold wintry morning in the US, landing in Quito around 4pm and then arriving to the coast in time to enjoy your seafood dinner at sunset! Yes, this can and does happen! We invite you to give it try!

January 2010 Condo Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Construction of the beautiful beachfront condos in Crucita progresses according to schedule. Rafael, the lead engineer just informed us that the 7th floor was poured this month. The 8th and final floor will be laid during the beginning of February.

The amenities for the condos are impressive:

Pool and jacuzzi
Elevator
Private, gated parking
Exercise room and game room
Restaurant/bar
On-site guardian and maintenance person, available 24 hours
Walkway access to the terrace of the adjacent condo where folks get together to grill, sun-bathe, sip a cocktail as they marvel at another beautiful sunset.
Back-up generator to keep water flowing and the elevator running in case of a power outage

Maintenance fees for all these services will be $20/mo.

Each condo is 91 square meters or 980 square feet with 2BR/2BA. There are 2 condos per floor, both with expansive ocean views. If you want one large condo, you could buy two adjacent condos and ask Rafael to join them and personalize your floor plan!

As of last week, there is still one condo available on the 5th story, the best view remaining as the 6th story condos have already sold. The 7th story (and uppermost) will be a penthouse suite for Rafael and his family (lucky dogs). For January and February prices and current availability please visit our condo page at: http://www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com/Condos.html

Pre-construction prices continue to increase as the project nears completion so if you are interested, the sooner you act, the more money you will save! Once completed, these will be THE premier condos in Crucita and will make for an excellent investment.

Views of the beach directly in front of the condos

Send us an email with any questions or to reserve your condo! Rafael has completed purchases from the US so you can jump on this deal without having to wait for a trip to Ecuador.

tom at ecuadorbeachfrontproperty dot com

Condo updates - New photos as of Dec 5th, 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Here are the latest photos of the Crucita condominium project taken just 5 days ago as the 6th story floor was poured. Construction progress is marching on at a steady clip and is very much on schedule.

Here are the workers prepping the rebar for the base of the sixth story:

Here is a view of the sixth story from the top of their first condo project:

and here is the view of both projects from below. Interest is building as the project gets closer to completion and so now is the time to get a new condo. See our Condos webpage for more details, photos, and pricing information.

Beachfront Condo in Ecuador for Christmas anyone? Prices start at $57,077!

http://www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com/Condos.html

Condo price and sales update

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Lynn and I took a moment recently to pause for Thanksgiving, visit with family, and get caught up on things. We're in Texas now, after having made our way from Chicago to Mobile, AL on the inland waterway system! It felt great to head south toward warmer climes... but the cold weather lately has us missing Crucita!

We've had continued interest in the Crucita Condos and I've updated the Condos page. The prices have risen a bit as the construction continues and I suggest getting in soon. Three units are sold and two are reserved under contract as I write this on December 1, 2009.

I'm posting the floorplans for the Condos here so you can get an idea of just how much space is available. There is still time to work with the architect to customize these plans if you have a different layout in mind.

Eduardo has been doing a great job showing visitors our available lots and the condos. I also recently updated our Services page with info on staying with Eduardo and Paula while you're in town at their condo. They offer full service dropoff and pickup transportation from the Manta Airport and are happy to show you around Crucita, Portoviejo, and Manta. Get in touch and plan a trip!

Ecuador, Hawkswood, and adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Each of us searching the internet for information on Ecuador is looking for something particular... retirement, ecotopia, adventure, new life experiences, culture, investment, a living solution that provides a high quality of life at a low cost of living... the list goes on.

Lynn and I seem to be drawn from place to place trying to find a healthy mix of science and adventure. We were so happy to find our little niche in Ecuador because it has offered us an amazing beach-base to work from, access to great food and local-living, an amazing country to explore, a beautiful beach to wander on in the evenings, and a paragliding launch just a short hike from our door.

But don't be mistaken... we've always had a traveling itch that needs scratching and can't help but keep moving around. To that end we have created a small network of good folks to help us sell and maintain our properties and get new folks introduced to the region so the gears can keep turning even while we're away.

Right now, Lynn and I are doing some foreign traveling... strangely enough... in the US! If you read our little "about us" blurb you'll see that we have a dream of doing scientific work while traveling around the world on our sailboat - Hawkswood... As we were formerly based in Chicago the first step is removing our boat from land-locked status... and we're working on that right now!

I'm writing from a dock in Peoria, IL as the waves lap up against the side of Hawkswood... we're headed down the inland waterway system to the Gulf of Mexico and then to Florida... That's right... from Chicago to the Gulf via rivers and waterways. Our travel plans are still open after that but after the few weeks we've spent in the cold so far... southern latitudes are screaming our names! If you'd like to follow us, please take a look at our other blog! The photo below is Hawkswood at anchor near Buffalo Rock State Park in Illinois.

Eduardo and Paola are happily showing lots in Ecuador and helping both new and old investors get acquainted with the area. Lynn and I generally have good access to email to help answer any questions. If our planned river route (Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Tenn-Tombigbee) passes through your neighborhood please do get in touch. Maybe we can meet up to talk all things Ecuador! Of course, when lots do sell we'll gladly be making the trip to Ecuador to help go through the paperwork process in person. We should be back early next year when it's time to take a break from the first of our sailing adventures.

Please do get in touch if we're coming through your neighborhood or planning a trip to Ecuador soon!

Condo update - one more floor poured and ready!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Progress continues at a rapid pace on the Crucita Condos we highlight on our website! Click here for the webpage.

Here is the fourth story being poured two days ago.

Here is the finished product the next day with workers already going on the columns for the fifth floor!

This is the view from the top of the freshly poured floor...

and one from the second story with the palm trees in the foreground.

Here are my parents enjoying the beach... we stayed in one of the finished condos for a month to get a feel for them. We had numerous breakfasts on the balcony overlooking the ocean and many walks up and down the beach. See a few posts back to get a feel for the beautiful undeveloped beaches to the south.

Check out the Condos page.

Prices lowered on lots 5 and 6!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:05:00 +0000

We are now offering the lowest prices we've seen near Crucita for beachfront property. Lot's 5 and 6 just dropped in price to $19,000 each! Each lot is 587 square meters and located on an excellent stretch of beach. Check out lots 5 and 6 on our properties page!

Major price reduction on Lot 7! Price lowered by $5000!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:12:00 +0000

We've done some soul searching and decided that we'd rather turn over our properties quickly rather than sit on them until the market appreciates to our asking price. We want to keep things moving!

We've therefore decided to lower our asking price on Lot 7 from $30,000 to $25,000! Lot 7 has been the hottest lot on our website and we've received a number of interested calls and emails, but no sale. So here it is... $5000 off. Be the one to get this great lot where beachfront lots are hard to find. This is a solid investment that will appreciate in the future and a great place to build your own beach escape. Take another look at Lot 7 and get in touch now!

A great house in Cuenca anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:40:00 +0000

A paragliding friend of mine asked that I help get the word out regarding his apartment for sale in Cuenca. I said that our readers are mostly looking for coastal properties... then he showed me photos and I agreed. The place is quite impressive, extremely high quality, in a great neighborhood and comes completely furnished and ready to go. A great option for someone ready to have a landing pad ready and waiting for their arrival to Ecuador... though I'm still partial to the coast!

Here are some photos:

This is the building. He owns 1/2 of the second story (on the right hand side of the photo).

The building is in a great neighborhood and has river frontage and a small park.

Here's a bedroom

the kitchen

hallway

The apartment is 120 square meters (1290 square feet) in an exclusive area of Cuenca. The park in front of the Yanungay River is relaxed and safe. There are 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. The master bedroom has a large closet and hydrospa. The hall, living room, and bedrooms are completely furnished with high quality products. There is a washing machine and washing station, garage access, and storage room. Furniture includes 3 beds ranginf froma queen to a twin, bedside tables, a dresser with mirror, one sleeper sofa, a desk, bookshelves, complete livingroom furniture set, complete kitchen set, refridgerator, oven/stove, microwave, blender, washer/dryer, 2 29" Sony televisions, 1 DVD player and surround sound.

The price is set at $89,000 and there is a $49.25 monthly maintenance fee. He is moving up to a larger apartment that is currently under construction and would be happy to rent the place from the new owner (potential $300/month income) until December of 2011.

Feel free to write me with any questions: tom@ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com

Condo construction update! Impressive work in 2 weeks.

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:05:00 +0000

It's been two about two weeks since I put up the condo page and I've already received much interest. The builders are excited and the construction is moving ahead at full steam. The floor that was poured on July 29th has dried and the rebar structure and molds are about ready to pour the next floor. They are moving at a rate of over one floor per month. Quite impressive.

Here's a shot from the beach.

And a close-up

and a very close-up.

Check out our CONDOS page for pricing and payment information. This area is appreciating quickly and I strongly feel that a %50 down-payment (~$28,000) would be a great way to lock in a price. When the building is completed, there will be a chance to get a direct return as property values will have risen... or just have your own nice condo with the best views and in the best location in Crucita.

El Pajonal, Chirije, Bahia de Caraquez and Isla del Corazon - another great day

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:15:00 +0000

In an effort to introduce my folks and cousin to more coastal towns and the to-do's along the province of Manabi's coastline, last week we headed northward on an excellent daytrip with Eduardo. First we buzzed by our properties in San Jacinto... plenty of photos of those on our website. Then we drove further north toward Bahia. The road is in great shape and about halfway there we spun off toward the coast... through a valley call the Pajonal and onto a gorgeous untouched coastline!

Here we are with Eduardo. We had the whole place to ourselves.

Then we travelled on to Bahia de Caraquez and went up to the "Cruz", a huge cross that you can climb to the top of for excellent views up and down the coast and over Bahia's bay that is full of sailboats.

Next we crossed the bay on a small ferry boat that leaves about every 5 minutes (30 cents) and grabbed a cab to catch the Isla del Corazon boat tour.

The tour consists of an intro video and guided tour through the mangrove ecosystems that keep the bay alive and act as it nursery for fish and bird species.

My mom got a photo op with the local legend, the dwarf of the Isla del Corazon... watchout ladies...

We also saw a ton of frigate birds (with their huge red neck pouches puffed out for mating season). Then it was back to the mainland for a quick trip to Canoa and northern coast.

Condos price fixed and webpage update

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:48:00 +0000

FYI - I just updated our Condos webpage with more detail and negotiated a set price table. Only a 50% down payement is required to lock-in an excellent price. Click here for more info.

Crucita beach hiking, past civilizations and natural beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Last Sunday we went for a great walk on the beach with the family... about 4 miles along an amazing untouched coastline. We left from our house in Crucita on foot and made our way south along the coast. There are no roads and we didn's see a single other person on the beach. Here's my cousin, mom, and Lynn chatting it up on the way.

We planned the hike during low tide so we had plenty of beach to work with...

Here is one of the critters we met along the way. This fellow was quite huge and relatively passive... I was within centimeters of him when I took this photo.

Then things started to get even more interesting! We started finding all kinds of interesting things on the beach...

Including pottery shards from past civilizations. Coastal Ecuador is known for its archaeological history and on this untouched stretch of beach we ran into the remnants everywhere!

and the wildlife kept things interesting...

We found amazing shells, including the famous spondylus that used to be used for money...

and then things really got crazy when my mom came across a figurine!! We were completely blown away that this was just sitting at the base of an eroding beach terrace!

Here you can see the pot shards eroding down the hillside toward the beach!

and we saw the clear sign of Ecuador's volcanic history. The thick white layer in this photo is an ash deposit from a past volcanic eruption hundreds of miles away near Quito.

When we arrived in Jaramijo, our destination for the day and the next town south of Crucita we were welcomed by friendly faces who served up cold drinks and brought out extra chairs for us to take a break and enjoy the shade!

We then grabbed a 35 cent bus to Manta, had a great lunch in front of the ocean, and split the $15 cab ride back to Crucita. So many smiles with a such a small price tag. The next day we headed into Bahia for business and so my folks and cousin could go on a tour... and stopped by the archaeological museum to bring them the figurine (we couldn't leave it to the waves...). I'll post that story tomorrow! By the way, Lot 7 is one of the closest lots to this undeveloped beach!

Fast forward to present: Family flying day

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:25:00 +0000

From mid-July until just a few days ago was a real pain! I spent 4 days in a local clinic, which was actually very high quality, getting blood tests and with a severe fever. It turned out that I had been bitten by a mosquito carrying malaria parasites while travelling to far off places in the rainforest on the other side of the country. After we had the malaria diagnosis I was quickly treated with the appropriate medicine and have been building my strength back-up. A hammock with wireless seemed quite the ideal healing location for me!

My cousin Monica came to visit so we had to start taking in the local sights and experiences... First up was a tandem paragliding flight for my dad (74) and Monica in the skies over Crucita. We were treated to perfect weather and a mild breeze... Here's my Dad getting ready for action

and Monica getting ready...

With my family in the air I couldn't help but join them... Here's my launch... It's remarkably easy to heave 10lbs of fabric up into the air and fly off along the hillside!

and here is Monica and Raul (her tandem pilot) buzzing the tower!

It was quite an experience to see my Dad and cousin floating alongside me here in Crucita. My dad and I got quite high up further down the way and waved at eachother while taking in the incredible views and peaceful sounds while high above the Ecuadorian Coast. You never quite know what experiences life will bring your way next! After the malaria experience... this was bliss!

Retroblog 3 - Puerto Lopez, Isla de la Plata, and whale watching (July 14-16)

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:06:00 +0000

After finishing up in Guayaquil we took off using the regional busses to get to Puerto Lopez. We had a one hour traffic jam on the road so we arrived in about 5 hours. Here's my folks getting situated for the ride. They had front row seats which gave my Dad plenty of legroom (nice) and gave my Mom a clear view out the front window (a bit more excitement than she was after!). After our one-hour delay, our driver tried to make up time which made for some exciting twists and turns. Local transportation takes some getting used to but adds some extra flavor to the trip!

The next day we left at a reasonable 9AM and spent the day on the water and on Isla de la Plata. Within just a few minutes of departing from Puerto Lopez we saw a pod of humpback whales!

Magnificent creatures! One the one hour trip out to the island we saw at least two other pods.

We went for a three hour hike at Isla de la Plata along the Putna Machete trail. The nesting blue-footed boobies barely flinch when your 3 feet away. We also saw Nazca boobies, pelicans, and frigate birds in droves.

The views on the island are enchanting and and very reminiscent of the Galapagos Islands.

After the hike we took the boat to the shoreline of Isla de la Plata for lunch and some snorkeling.

After the boat ride back we spent one more night in Puerto Lopez (At a great place called Hostal Mandala) then packed up, hopped (all four of us plus bags) on a mototaxi and headed for the bus station and eventually on to Crucita.

Retroblog 2 - Parents, dentists, and immunizations oh my! (July 13)

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:49:00 +0000

The day after my folks arrived we headed out on the town in Guayaquil. The first stop was the iguana park. We of course didn't mention the iguanas to my folks and let them discover them on their own. First one ran across the path, then the next, another scampered up a tree, then you see them everywhere! Here's a great shot of my folks with one of the critters in the background.

After a great breakfast we headed out to take care of the days business. First we headed to a dentist that our friend Paola went to dental school with. I had a couple fillings and my mom had her crown recemented and got a pesky chip fixed. His office was clean, he used modern equipment, and 3M filling material. His prices were very reasonable (I believe I payed $15 for the each filling). Lynn will be posting the dental info on our forum website: www.ecuadorshare.com soon. Here's a shot of mom getting her work done. The dentist (Boris Farfan) also has a handy dental video camera so he can easily show you what needs to be done. He also takes before and after photos and prints them out for you when you leave! Better service than I've received in the US.

The next order of business was getting my folks their immunizations. As they were starting off on the coast and not too concerned about waiting until they arrived, we suggested they get them taken care of in Guayquil. Also on ecuadorshare.com, Lynn has put up a post that has the immunization types, costs and clinic details. This saved my folks at least a few hundered dollars between them. The clinic is very clean and orderly and the kind nurse even gives you an ice-pack to numb your shoulder slightly before the shot.

Business taken care of... we planned to leave the next day for a bus ride to Puerto Lopez to visit Isla de la Plata and say hello to the migrating humpback whales!

Retroblog 1 - From the Oriente to the Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Here's a bit of retro-blogging (July 8-13th):

We came out of the rainforest and travelled by bus back to Quito. We stopped on the way in Papallacta for our anniversary. The Papallacta hot springs are a "must" on your Ecuador visit list especially if you are flying into or out of Quito (which is recommended so that you can grab an easy 30 minute flight to Portoviejo or Manta, each about 45 minutes driving from Crucita and 50 minutes from San Jacinto). The Hot Springs complex is beautiful and well-maintained. Aftern having spent a month tromping through mud, crossing slippery logs and generally roughing ourselves up a bit, we decided to spoil ourselves with a night at their hotel. Our room included a semi-private hot spring soaking pool... which we had all to ourselves!

We then headed straight for Quito to wrap up office-related loose ends for our water project. Then it was off to Guayaquil to meet my parents! The flight from Quito to the coast is breathtaking on good-weather days. I was pasted to the window watching the volcanic mountain ranges passing underneath then dropping off to the broad coastal plains. Ecuador is truly an incredible and diverse place!

Leaving the "Valley of the Volcanoes" from Quito

A close-up of one of the many volcanic peaks that divide the coast in the west from the Amazon basin in the east.

We landed in Guayaquil in the early afternoon with plenty of time to get set-up in a hotel and get ready to receive my parents, Walter and JoAnn Saunders, at the airport. They are here for their first trip to Ecuador!

An overview of the last two months

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Wow! We've been busy! We sold most of the lots we had available in May and June and Lynn and I spent the rest of June and a chunk of July in remote regions of the Oriente doing some intense water quality work. We picked up my folks in Guayaquil mid-July and after some whale-watching near Isla de la Plata we've been here in Crucita working hard to make more lots available.

I had an interlude with Malaria (picked it up while in the oriente... deep in the rainforest) which I could have done without but now we're picking up speed again!

We've finally got some great beachfront properties back on the market. We've focused a bit closer to home and we're offering lots at the northern (lots 5 and 6) and southern (lot 7) end of Crucita. We think that whomever the new owners will be, they'll be excited about their new investments! Check out http://www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com/Properties.html to see the latest. We also have a rentals webpage up now and have updated our services page.

I'll be doing some regular blogs in the coming months and we should have excellent communication over the next few weeks so now is a great time to get in touch regarding lots or any other burning ecuador-related questions you might have. I'll probably throw in some "retro-blogs" as well to share some of the experiences we've had over the last couple months. I hope you enjoy.

Mom and Dad on the beach

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Beach house for rent

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:47:00 +0000

Bill Gabel, our first customer, just arrived at his renovated beachhouse yesterday. It's now fully furnished with hot water and internet. Bill will be here in Ecuador with his family for the next few weeks and is looking to rent his place once he's gone. Send me an email if you're interested and we can discuss prices. This would be a great place for those wishing to "test the water" before they make any final decisions to live in Ecuador. I'll have more images of the furnished home up as soon as I get back to the coast.

Water sampling - Round 2 - Toward the highlands

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:31:00 +0000

Lynn and I just made it back to Quito after our last water sampling trip in the Oriente. Here's a slideshow of the trip. You can click the slideshow to go to the web album and see larger photos.

Thanks to all those who have been patient with us while we've been in the field!