Job Discussion Forums

[pixiepixie]

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry if I am repeating a previous post - I have been reading past posts but I wanted specific information about life in Guayaquil...

What is Guayaquil like as a city? Is there a lot of things to do (e.g. Dance classes - I love to dance!)? I've been told that it's not the best Ecuadorian city but I understand that everyone is different! I speak Spanish and am the type of person that enjoys interacting with the locals, getting stuck into the experience, culture, voluntary aid...so in that sense, does Guayaquil have a lot to offer?

What are the best areas to live in Guayaquil? Do you think that $800 per month is enough to live on (I'm not a big spender)? What is the transport system like (is it anything like the combis of Peru)? And, how safe would you deem Guayaquil?

It'd be great to know how your experience has been in Guayaquil!

Thank you, in advance, for any info you can give me!

Pixie

[Swing59]

I've never lived in Guayaquil, but I've been through there many times. I'm sure someone on this forum will be able to give you a more complete answer. My impressions are as follows:

Negatives

1. Hot and humid
2. Aesthetically less charming than the Andean cities in Ecuador.
3. Fairly dangerous

Positives

1. Decent sized city with nightlife
2. Close(ish) to the beach
3. Good people (All of the Guyaquile�os that I came to know were living in other cities at the time, but were good, fun loving folks nonetheless)

I'm sure someone who has actually lived there will swoop in and give you some more enlightening info.

[Swing59]

I've never lived in Guayaquil, but I've been through there many times. I'm sure someone on this forum will be able to give you a more complete answer. My impressions are as follows:

Negatives

1. Hot and humid
2. Aesthetically less charming than the Andean cities in Ecuador.
3. Fairly dangerous

Positives

1. Decent sized city with nightlife
2. Close(ish) to the beach
3. Good people (All of the Guyaquile�os that I came to know were living in other cities at the time, but were good, fun loving folks nonetheless)

I'm sure someone who has actually lived there will swoop in and give you some more enlightening info.

[pixiepixie]

Hiya Swing59!

Thank you - it's still helpful to have your input! From the research I've done, the Guayaquile�os have a very friendly reputation which is great!

[just_a_mirage]

I've been teaching here in Guayaquil for about eight years. I really like it. There are lots of available jobs if you have a visa allowing you to work. Its a port city, so there is a lot of import/export business which means a lot of different nationalities. It is very hot and humid, and lots of mosquitoes. As I write this I'm recovering from my second bout of dengue in 14 months. The biggest issue is crime. I take buses to work. I've been on buses that were robbed 5 times-3 times at gunpoint. I've been robbed on the street several times as well. Housing here is not cheap. A decent furnished apartment will cost at least $300-$400. Most landlords require two months security deposit. The north part of the city is generally safer. Buses are 25 cents as is the Metro Via. The beach is less than two hours away. Cuenca is 3.5 hours and Quito 8 hours. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[pixiepixie]

Hiya Just a mirage!

Your information was really helpful, thank you! That's quite worrying about the gunpoint robberies - how did you handle them? Have you heard of the areas La Alborada / Kennedy Vieja? If so, do you know whether they are decent areas to live? Are they in the north? I've been told that a decent fully furnished apartments are about $250, so different to what you stated...do you think that it is possible to get a decent one for $250? Is it normal for the fully furnished apartments to have washing machines / dryers or would I have to go to a launders? How do you handle the mosquitoes? Are there mosquito nets/ plugs etc? Would you recommend bringing lots of long sleeved clothing? Also, how is the rainy season? Is it difficult to get around? Is there very heavy rain?

My main worries are safety - it sounds like Guayaquil isn't as safe as I thought it was! And health problems - how good are the doctors?

Thank you so much for your help!

Pixie

[just_a_mirage]

It isn't easy to find furnished apartments here but you can do it. I did just have one friend who found one for $260 but she was very lucky. It is small and she had to paint it. A
lborada is nice and both Kennedy areas are too. They are in the north. Alborada is close to the only two laundromats that I know of in the city. Most people drop off their clothes at local lavandarias to be washed and dried for a small fee. I stopped doing that after losing too many items of clothing. As far as robberies go, its a fact of life. They always want cellphones. So I carry a cheap one to hand over during robberies and hide my real one. You have to just hand over what they want. But you should never wear any jewelry or shoes or anything of value on the bus or the street. I would love to take my laptop to work but its too dangerous to take it on the bus. The transportation is good, but its like riding an old school busn and lots of the buses have roaches. They come every few minutes and cost .25. Taxis are anywhere between $1 and $7 depending on where you want to go. But you have to be careful of taxi secuestras which are kidnappings in which a couple of the drivers "friends" jump in the cab on either side of you with guns. They drive you from ATM to ATM withdrawing money from your accounts. its best to find a taxi amigo, or private taxi driver that you trust and can call to take you where you want to go. The mosquito problem generally lasts from January to April during rainy season. The rest of the year there is no rain or mosquitoes. Guayaquil is verry hot and humid most off the year. Women here generally wear jeans and sleeveless or short sleeved shirts. They generally don't wear shorts when they are out and about in public, although that's starting to change.

[SUZUKI]

Don't wear shoes on the bus? Been on a bus that was robbed five times? A person who is teaching English to others might be reasonably expected to know how to write the latter in such a way that it doesn't say that the same bus was robbed five times during one journey.

[just_a_mirage]

I'm so sorry that my writing didn't meet your high standards. But I think that perhaps your reading might not be perfect either. If you re-read my post, you will see that I was recovering from dengue. It took me months. I am still suffering some side-affects. I merely wanted to help someone. I guess I will limit my future posts to those days when I am feeling 100 percent.

[Xie Lin]

[SUZUKI]

Sorry.

[SUZUKI]

Absolutely right about Just_a_mirage's posts. Again, I'm sorry about my unnecessary comment.

[Xie Lin]

[misteradventure]

We ESL types should be able to figure out that "things of value" pretty much covered the "shoes" issue. There is a subtle (but important) difference between $5 shoes and your $150 leather Name Brand Here sports footwear.

Personally, I'm thinking of going "Rich Gringo" and getting $10 flip-flops. "Tommy", no less!

[just_a_mirage]

I thank you too Suzuki. It takes a big person to apologize. I appreciate it and I thank you. And I apologize to you as well for my snarky reply.