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<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5); margin-bottom:12px;">[[Main Page|EcuaWiki]] › Portals › How-to Guides</div>
<div style="font-size:2.4em; font-weight:bold; line-height:1.1; margin-bottom:10px;">How-to <span style="font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; color:#f0c040;">Guides</span></div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.95em; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.72); max-width:620px; margin-bottom:24px; line-height:1.65;">The paperwork, the systems, and the things nobody explains to you when you arrive. These guides cover the Santa Elena Peninsula and the Ruta del Spondylus coast — written by people who figured it out the hard way.</div>
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<div style="font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; color:#f0c040; line-height:1;">📋</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:1.5px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.45); margin-top:2px;">Visas & Documents</div>
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<div style="font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; color:#f0c040; line-height:1;">🏦</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:1.5px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.45); margin-top:2px;">Banking & Finance</div>
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<div style="font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; color:#f0c040; line-height:1;">🏠</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:1.5px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.45); margin-top:2px;">Housing & Real Estate</div>
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<div style="font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; color:#f0c040; line-height:1;">🏥</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:1.5px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.45); margin-top:2px;">Medical & Health</div>
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<div style="font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; color:#f0c040; line-height:1;">🔧</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:1.5px; text-transform:uppercase; color:rgba(255,255,255,0.45); margin-top:2px;">Daily Life & Services</div>
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<div style="font-style:italic; font-size:1.08em; color:#2d2d2d; line-height:1.55; margin-bottom:18px; padding-left:16px; border-left:3px solid #f0c040;">"Ecuador has its own logic. Once you understand it, things move surprisingly well. These guides exist to help you get there faster."</div>
These guides apply to the entire Santa Elena coast — the peninsula cantons ([[Salinas]], [[La Libertad]], [[Santa Elena (City)|Santa Elena]]) and the communities along the [[Portal:Ruta del Spondylus|Ruta del Spondylus]]. Most processes are handled at the provincial level and work the same across the area. Where there are local differences, the guide notes them.
The guides are written for everyone: newcomers arriving for the first time, expats establishing residency, tourists sorting out short-term practicalities, and Ecuadorians relocating from other provinces. If something is wrong or out of date — fix it. That's how a wiki works.
<!-- ══ 1. VISAS & LEGAL STATUS ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">📋 Visas &amp; Legal Status</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Your legal status in Ecuador determines what you can do, what you can access, and what you're required to do. Start here.</div>
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px;"
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.95em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:6px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Tourist & Short-Stay</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Tourist Visa (T-3)|Tourist Visa (T-3)]] — 90 days, extendable<br/>
[[Visa Extension|Extending your stay]] — how to get 90 more days<br/>
[[Visa Runs|Visa runs]] — crossing the border and returning<br/>
[[What you can and can't do on a tourist visa]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.95em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:6px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Residency</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Residency|Types of residency visa]] — rentista, pensionado, work, investment<br/>
[[Temporary Residency|Temporary residency]] — requirements and process<br/>
[[Permanent Residency|Permanent residency]] — when and how to apply<br/>
[[Hiring an Immigration Lawyer|Finding a lawyer]] — who to trust, what to pay
</div>
|-
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.95em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:6px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Cédula</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Cédulas|What is a cédula and do you need one?]]<br/>
[[Getting a Cédula|How to get your cédula]] — step by step<br/>
[[Cédula Renewal|Renewing an expired cédula]]<br/>
[[Using your cédula|What you can access with a cédula]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.95em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:6px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Other Documents</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Drivers Licenses|Driving license]] — converting a foreign license<br/>
[[Customs/Aduana|Customs & aduana]] — importing belongings<br/>
[[RUC & RISE|RUC & RISE]] — tax ID for self-employed and freelancers<br/>
[[Apostilles & Document Legalization|Document legalization & apostilles]]
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 2. BANKING & FINANCE ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🏦 Banking &amp; Finance</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Ecuador uses the US Dollar. Cash is still king in most of the coast. These guides explain how money actually works here.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">ATMs & Cash</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[ATM & Banking|ATM locations]] — which ones work with foreign cards<br/>
[[ATM Fees and Limits|Fees, limits & tricks]]<br/>
[[Cash vs Card on the Coast|When to use cash vs card]]<br/>
[[ATM Safety|ATM safety tips]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Bank Accounts</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Opening a Bank Account|Opening an account]] — what you need<br/>
[[Banks on the Peninsula|Banks on the peninsula]] — Banco Pichincha, Produbanco, Banco del Pacífico<br/>
[[Cooperative Banks|Cooperativas]] — local credit unions<br/>
[[Online Banking Ecuador|Online & mobile banking]]
</div>
| style="width:33%; border:1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius:5px; padding:14px 16px; vertical-align:top; background:#ffffff;" |
<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Money & Taxes</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Sending Money to Ecuador|Receiving international transfers]]<br/>
[[Taxes|Taxes in Ecuador]] — what expats and residents owe<br/>
[[RUC & RISE|RUC & RISE]] — invoicing and self-employment<br/>
[[Tax Services|Finding a contador (accountant)]]
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 3. HOUSING & REAL ESTATE ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🏠 Housing &amp; Real Estate</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Renting is straightforward. Buying has layers. Both are possible and increasingly common for foreigners on this coast.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Renting</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Rental Housing Guide|How to find a rental]] — where to look, what to ask<br/>
[[Rental Prices on the Peninsula|What to expect to pay]] — by town and type<br/>
[[Rental Contracts Ecuador|Understanding your contract]]<br/>
[[Tenant Rights Ecuador|Tenant rights]]<br/>
[[Short-Term Rentals|Short-term and Airbnb options]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Buying</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Property Laws|Can foreigners buy property?]] — yes, with caveats<br/>
[[Buying Process Ecuador|The buying process]] — step by step<br/>
[[Property Taxes Ecuador|Property taxes and fees]]<br/>
[[Real Estate Agents on the Peninsula|Finding a trustworthy agent]]<br/>
[[Coastal Zone Restrictions|Coastal zone restrictions]] — the 50-metre rule
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 4. MEDICAL & HEALTH ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🏥 Medical &amp; Health</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Healthcare on the peninsula is functional and improving. Knowing the system before you need it makes a significant difference.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Finding Care</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Medical Services|Hospitals & clinics]] — full directory<br/>
[[Finding a Doctor on the Peninsula|Finding a doctor]] — specialists, GPs, and how appointments work<br/>
[[Dentists on the Peninsula|Dentists]]<br/>
[[Veterinary Services|Vets]]<br/>
[[Pharmacies on Duty|Farmacias de turno]] — after-hours pharmacies
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">System & Insurance</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[IESS|IESS public health system]] — who qualifies, how to register<br/>
[[Private Health Insurance Ecuador|Private health insurance]] — options and costs<br/>
[[IESS vs Private|IESS vs private]] — what the difference means in practice<br/>
[[Medical Evacuation|Medical evacuation coverage]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Staying Healthy</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Water Safety Ecuador|Tap water]] — don't drink it, here's what to do instead<br/>
[[Food Safety on the Coast|Food safety]] — what to watch out for<br/>
[[Sun and Heat on the Peninsula|Sun & heat]] — acclimatizing to the coast<br/>
[[Vaccinations for Ecuador|Recommended vaccinations]]<br/>
[[Medications in Ecuador|Finding medications]] — what's available, what isn't
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 5. UTILITIES & INTERNET ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🔌 Utilities &amp; Internet</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Getting connected and keeping the lights on. More complicated than it should be, less complicated than people fear.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Internet</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Internet Service Providers|ISPs on the coast]] — CNT, Netlife, Claro, Fastnet<br/>
[[Getting Internet Installed|Installation]] — process, wait times, what to expect<br/>
[[Mobile Data Ecuador|Mobile data]] — best SIM cards and plans<br/>
[[WiFi Hotspots|WiFi hotspots]] — free access across the peninsula
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Electricity & Water</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Paying Utilities|Paying your electricity bill]] — CNEL, online and in person<br/>
[[Power Cuts Ecuador|Power cuts]] — how frequent, what to do<br/>
[[Water Supply Peninsula|Water supply]] — EPASEP, pressure issues, cisterns<br/>
[[Gas Supply Ecuador|Gas (GLP)]] — cylinders, delivery, and safety
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Phone & Post</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Mobile Phone Plans Ecuador|Phone plans]] — prepaid vs contract<br/>
[[Calling Ecuador from Abroad|Calling from abroad]]<br/>
[[Shipping & Couriers|Receiving packages]] — couriers, customs, and what to expect<br/>
[[Correos del Ecuador|Correos del Ecuador]] — the national post, its limitations
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 6. TRANSPORT & DRIVING ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🚗 Transport &amp; Driving</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Getting around the coast without a car is genuinely possible. With one, there are rules to know.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Public Transport</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Understanding Public Transportation in La Peninsula|Buses on the peninsula]] — routes, fares, Terminal Sumpa<br/>
[[Buses Along the Ruta del Spondylus|Buses along the Spondylus]] — E-15 service, flagging down<br/>
[[Taxis and Taxi Apps|Taxis & apps]] — fair prices, which apps work<br/>
[[Getting to Guayaquil|Getting to Guayaquil]] — bus companies and times<br/>
[[Getting to Quito|Getting to Quito]] — overnight buses and flights
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Driving</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Drivers Licenses|Driving license]] — converting a foreign license<br/>
[[Driving in Ecuador|Rules of the road]] — what's different<br/>
[[Car Insurance Ecuador|Vehicle insurance]] — SOAT and third-party<br/>
[[Buying a Car in Ecuador|Buying a car]] — process and pitfalls<br/>
[[Vehicle Inspections Ecuador|Matriculación]] — annual vehicle inspection and registration
</div>
|}
<!-- ══ 7. PAPERWORK & DOCUMENTS ══ -->
<div style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin:36px 0 14px;">
<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">📁 Paperwork &amp; Documents</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">Ecuador runs on paperwork. Knowing which office does what — and what to bring — saves hours.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Government Offices</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Government Entities|Key government offices]] — what each one does<br/>
[[Registro Civil|Registro Civil]] — births, marriages, name changes<br/>
[[Notarías|Notarías (notary offices)]] — what needs notarizing<br/>
[[Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores|Cancillería]] — passports, foreign affairs<br/>
[[SRI Ecuador|SRI (tax authority)]] — tax registration and filings
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Legal Services</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Legal Services|Finding a lawyer on the coast]]<br/>
[[Property Laws|Property law basics]]<br/>
[[Employment Law Ecuador|Employment law]] — hiring and being hired<br/>
[[Small Claims Ecuador|Small claims]] — resolving disputes<br/>
[[Legal Aid Ecuador|Legal aid]] — free or low-cost options
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Document Tips</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Document Checklist Ecuador|Master document checklist]] — keep copies of everything<br/>
[[Apostilles & Document Legalization|Apostilles & legalization]] — for foreign documents<br/>
[[Translation Services Peninsula|Certified translation services]]<br/>
[[Losing Documents in Ecuador|Lost documents]] — what to do, in what order
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<!-- ══ 8. DAILY LIFE & SERVICES ══ -->
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<span style="font-size:1.25em; font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d; white-space:nowrap;">🛒 Daily Life &amp; Services</span>
<span style="flex:1; height:1px; background:#e0e0e0; display:block;"></span>
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<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#7a7a7a; margin-bottom:14px;">The practical fabric of living on the coast — shopping, shipping, schooling, and everything in between.</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Shopping</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Supermarkets|Supermarkets]] — where to buy what<br/>
[[Local Gastronomy|Local food & markets]]<br/>
[[Shipping & Couriers|Importing & receiving packages]]<br/>
[[Hardware & Building Supplies|Hardware & building supplies]]<br/>
[[Where to Find Imports|Finding imported goods on the coast]]
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Schooling & Work</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Schools on the Peninsula|Schools]] — public, private, and bilingual options<br/>
[[UPSE|UPSE university]] — Santa Elena's public university<br/>
[[Working in Ecuador|Working legally]] — employment vs freelance<br/>
[[Starting a Business Ecuador|Starting a business]] — what it actually takes<br/>
[[Spanish Classes on the Coast|Spanish classes]]
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.92em; color:#2d2d2d; margin-bottom:8px; padding-bottom:5px; border-bottom:2px solid #f0c040;">Community</div>
<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.85em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:2;">
[[Religious and Spiritual Organizations|Churches & congregations]]<br/>
[[Expat Communities on the Peninsula|Expat communities]] — groups, meetups, Facebook groups<br/>
[[Pets in Ecuador|Bringing or adopting pets]]<br/>
[[Veterinary Services|Vets on the coast]]<br/>
[[Security and Safety on the Peninsula|Safety]] — realistic overview for residents
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<!-- SIDEBAR: NEWCOMER CHECKLIST -->
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<div style="background:#2d2d2d; color:#ffffff; padding:9px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;">✅ Newcomer Checklist</div>
<div style="padding:12px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.86em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:1.7;">
A rough order for getting settled. Do these first.
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">1. [[Tourist Visa (T-3)|Confirm your visa status]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">2. [[Getting a Cédula|Get your cédula]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">3. [[Rental Housing Guide|Find housing]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">4. [[Opening a Bank Account|Open a bank account]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">5. [[Internet Service Providers|Get internet set up]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">6. [[Paying Utilities|Register for utilities]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">7. [[Finding a Doctor on the Peninsula|Find a doctor or clinic]]</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0;">8. [[Understanding Public Transportation in La Peninsula|Learn the bus routes]]</div>
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<!-- SIDEBAR: QUICK ANSWERS -->
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<div style="background:#2d2d2d; color:#ffffff; padding:9px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;">⚡ Quick Answers</div>
<div style="padding:12px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.86em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:1.7;">
<div style="padding:6px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;">
<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">Can foreigners buy property?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">Yes. Same rights as citizens, with some coastal zone restrictions. → [[Property Laws]]</div>
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">Do I need a cédula as a tourist?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">No, but it opens many doors. Passport works for most things. → [[Cédulas]]</div>
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">Is tap water safe to drink?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">No. Buy bottled or filter. → [[Water Safety Ecuador]]</div>
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">Which ATMs work with foreign cards?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">Banco Pichincha and Banco del Pacífico are most reliable. → [[ATM & Banking]]</div>
</div>
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<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">How long can I stay on a tourist visa?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">90 days, extendable to 180 per year. → [[Tourist Visa (T-3)]]</div>
</div>
<div style="padding:6px 0;">
<div style="font-weight:bold; color:#2d2d2d;">Can I drive with my foreign license?</div>
<div style="color:#6a6a6a; margin-top:2px;">Yes, for up to 90 days. After that, convert it. → [[Drivers Licenses]]</div>
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</div>
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<!-- SIDEBAR: EMERGENCY -->
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<div style="background:#7a0000; color:#ffffff; padding:9px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;">🚑 Emergency</div>
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<div style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:1.05em; font-weight:bold; color:#7a0000; margin-bottom:8px;">General: 911</div>
* [[Hospitals & Clinics|Hospitals &amp; Clinics]]
* [[Police & Security|Police &amp; Security]]
* [[Pharmacies on Duty|Farmacias de Turno]]
* [[Emergency Contacts|Full directory →]]
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<!-- SIDEBAR: PORTALS -->
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<div style="background:#2d2d2d; color:#ffffff; padding:9px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;">🗺️ Explore the Coast</div>
<div style="padding:12px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.88em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:1.7;">
These guides cover the whole coast. For location-specific information:
<div style="margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:8px;">
<span style="background:#003d5c; color:#ffffff; font-size:0.85em; font-weight:bold; padding:7px 14px; border-radius:3px; display:inline-block; width:100%; text-align:center; box-sizing:border-box;">[[Portal:Peninsula|🌊 Peninsula Portal →]]</span>
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<div>
<span style="background:#0a4a3a; color:#ffffff; font-size:0.85em; font-weight:bold; padding:7px 14px; border-radius:3px; display:inline-block; width:100%; text-align:center; box-sizing:border-box;">[[Portal:Ruta del Spondylus|🏄 Ruta del Spondylus →]]</span>
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</div>
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<!-- SIDEBAR: CONTRIBUTE -->
<div style="border:1px solid #f0c040; border-radius:5px; overflow:hidden; background:#fdfaf0;">
<div style="background:#2d2d2d; color:#ffffff; padding:9px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10px; letter-spacing:2px; text-transform:uppercase; font-weight:bold;">🏗️ Help Build This Portal</div>
<div style="padding:12px 14px; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:0.86em; color:#4a4a4a; line-height:1.65;">
If you've been through a process and know how it actually works — write it up. The wiki most needs:
* [[Rental Prices on the Peninsula]]
* [[IESS|IESS registration guide]]
* [[Coastal Zone Restrictions]]
* [[Where to Find Imports]]
* [[Expat Communities on the Peninsula]]
[[Wiki Guidelines|How to contribute →]]
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[[Category:Portals]]
[[Category:How-to Guides]]

Revision as of 16:17, 31 May 2026

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