Portal:How-to Guides

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How-to Guides

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.

📋 Visas & Documents

🏦 Banking & Finance

🏠 Housing & Real Estate

🏥 Medical & Health

🔧 Daily Life & Services

"Ecuador has its own logic. Once you understand it, things move surprisingly well. These guides exist to help you get there faster." These guides apply to the entire Santa Elena coast — the peninsula cantons (Salinas, La Libertad, Santa Elena) and the communities along the 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 If something is wrong or out of date — fix it.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. 📋 Visas & Legal Status Your legal status in Ecuador determines what you can do, what you can access, and what you're required to do. Start here. Tourist & Short-Stay Tourist Visa (T-3) — 90 days, extendable Extending your stay — how to get 90 more days Visa runs — crossing the border and returning What you can and can't do on a tourist visa Residency Types of residency visa — rentista, pensionado, work, investment Temporary residency — requirements and process Permanent residency — when and how to apply Finding a lawyer — who to trust, what to pay Cédula What is a cédula and do you need one? How to get your cédula — step by step Renewing an expired cédula What you can access with a cédula Other Documents Driving license — converting a foreign license Customs & aduana — importing belongings RUC & RISE — tax ID for self-employed and freelancers Document legalization & apostilles 🏦 Banking & Finance Ecuador uses the US Dollar. Cash is still king in most of the coast. These guides explain how money actually works here. ATMs & Cash ATM locations — which ones work with foreign cards Fees, limits & tricks When to use cash vs card ATM safety tips Bank Accounts Opening an account — what you need Banks on the peninsula — Banco Pichincha, Produbanco, Banco del Pacífico Cooperativas — local credit unions Online & mobile banking Money & Taxes Receiving international transfers Taxes in Ecuador — what expats and residents owe RUC & RISE — invoicing and self-employment Finding a contador (accountant) 🏠 Housing & Real Estate Renting is straightforward. Buying has layers. Both are possible and increasingly common for foreigners on this coast. Renting How to find a rental — where to look, what to ask What to expect to pay — by town and type Understanding your contract Tenant rights Short-term and Airbnb options Buying Can foreigners buy property? — yes, with caveats The buying process — step by step Property taxes and fees Finding a trustworthy agent Coastal zone restrictions — the 50-metre rule 🏥 Medical & Health Healthcare on the peninsula is functional and improving. Knowing the system before you need it makes a significant difference. Finding Care Hospitals & clinics — full directory Finding a doctor — specialists, GPs, and how appointments work Dentists Vets Farmacias de turno — after-hours pharmacies System & Insurance IESS public health system — who qualifies, how to register Private health insurance — options and costs IESS vs private — what the difference means in practice Medical evacuation coverage Staying Healthy Tap water — don't drink it, here's what to do instead Food safety — what to watch out for Sun & heat — acclimatizing to the coast Recommended vaccinations Finding medications — what's available, what isn't 🔌 Utilities & Internet Getting connected and keeping the lights on. More complicated than it should be, less complicated than people fear. Internet ISPs on the coast — CNT, Netlife, Claro, Fastnet Installation — process, wait times, what to expect Mobile data — best SIM cards and plans WiFi hotspots — free access across the peninsula Electricity & Water Paying your electricity bill — CNEL, online and in person Power cuts — how frequent, what to do Water supply — EPASEP, pressure issues, cisterns Gas (GLP) — cylinders, delivery, and safety Phone & Post Phone plans — prepaid vs contract Calling from abroad Receiving packages — couriers, customs, and what to expect Correos del Ecuador — the national post, its limitations 🚗 Transport & Driving Getting around the coast without a car is genuinely possible. With one, there are rules to know. Public Transport Buses on the peninsula — routes, fares, Terminal Sumpa Buses along the Spondylus — E-15 service, flagging down Taxis & apps — fair prices, which apps work Getting to Guayaquil — bus companies and times Getting to Quito — overnight buses and flights Driving Driving license — converting a foreign license Rules of the road — what's different Vehicle insurance — SOAT and third-party Buying a car — process and pitfalls Matriculación — annual vehicle inspection and registration 📁 Paperwork & Documents Ecuador runs on paperwork. Knowing which office does what — and what to bring — saves hours. Government Offices Key government offices — what each one does Registro Civil — births, marriages, name changes Notarías (notary offices) — what needs notarizing Cancillería — passports, foreign affairs SRI (tax authority) — tax registration and filings Legal Services Finding a lawyer on the coast Property law basics Employment law — hiring and being hired Small claims — resolving disputes Legal aid — free or low-cost options Document Tips Master document checklist — keep copies of everything Apostilles & legalization — for foreign documents Certified translation services Lost documents — what to do, in what order 🛒 Daily Life & Services The practical fabric of living on the coast — shopping, shipping, schooling, and everything in between. Shopping Supermarkets — where to buy what Local food & markets Importing & receiving packages Hardware & building supplies Finding imported goods on the coast Schooling & Work Schools — public, private, and bilingual options UPSE university — Santa Elena's public university Working legally — employment vs freelance Starting a business — what it actually takes Spanish classes Community Churches & congregations Expat communities — groups, meetups, Facebook groups Bringing or adopting pets Vets on the coast Safety — realistic overview for residents

✅ Newcomer Checklist A rough order for getting settled. Do these first. 1. Confirm your visa status 2. Get your cédula 3. Find housing 4. Open a bank account 5. Get internet set up 6. Register for utilities 7. Find a doctor or clinic 8. Learn the bus routes ⚡ Quick Answers Can foreigners buy property? Yes. Same rights as citizens, with some coastal zone restrictions. → Property Laws Do I need a cédula as a tourist? No, but it opens many doors. Passport works for most things. → Cédulas Is tap water safe to drink? No. Buy bottled or filter. → Water Safety Ecuador Which ATMs work with foreign cards? Banco Pichincha and Banco del Pacífico are most reliable. → ATM & Banking How long can I stay on a tourist visa? 90 days, extendable to 180 per year. → Tourist Visa (T-3) Can I drive with my foreign license? Yes, for up to 90 days. After that, convert it. → Drivers Licenses 🚑 Emergency General: 911 Hospitals & Clinics Police & Security Farmacias de Turno Full directory → 🗺️ Explore the Coast These guides cover the whole coast. For location-specific information: 🌊 Peninsula Portal → 🏄 Ruta del Spondylus → 🏗️ Help Build This Portal 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 registration guide Coastal Zone Restrictions Where to Find Imports Expat Communities on the Peninsula How to contribute →