But take the same precautions you usually do and you should be fine. Yes, there are a lot of safety concerns for solo female travelers in Ecuador, but you can avoid these if you keep your wits about you. Garrett and I were enamored within our first week and started making plans to extend our one month stay to almost two months. From the Guayaquil airport, it is approximately a three-hour drive to Oln. It also has a short boardwalk (Malecn) lined up with restaurants and kiosks. He was elected again in 2006, 2011, and most recently last week. After Garrett did some research and stumbled upon our friends blog that mentioned Outdoor Ecuador as a cool place to do surf and Spanish lessons, we just went for it. Montanita Ecuador: 7 Reasons it isn't for the Faint of Heart The key in Ecuador is to travel smart, keep up with local news, and explore in groups or with a tour guide when possible. There are at least twenty cabanas serving food on the beach on weekends, with less during the week. What SCARES us about living in rural Ecuador during a PANDEMIC (Oln It is only 8 minutes far from Montaita, but its environment is totally different. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. There are also options for property owners and investors. Please see myDisclosurefor more details. Is Ecuador SAFE to Visit? (2023 Insider Tips) - The Broke Backpacker Cuenca is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2,560 m above sea level, with an urban population of approximately 329,928 and . This is great because you will hardly ever find it crowded. Besides fish, the harvest may include squid, crabs, or spiny lobster, depending on the seasons and the water temperature. Highs range from 85.3F (29.6C) and 80.3F (26.8C) with colder temperatures in the later months. These help you learn about the local area, see some amazing sights, learn more about Ecuador, and meet some fellow travelers whilst youre at it. Guayaquil is the most dangerous city in Ecuador at the moment. I hope to be seeing more from Brett as he travels around Latin America. Traveling solo means youll be more at risk of, Sometimes its good to take a tour. Be prepared, keep your valuables low-key, and youllmore likely than nothave the same experience. We cooked a lot but we did go out a couple of times a week too, heres what we loved. For example, I purchased an oceanfront lot that was advertised with spray paint on a dilapidated building. Apr 29, 2023 - Rent from people in Olon, Ecuador from $20/night. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. This is truly one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth! AddressCuenca, Azuay, EcuadorTelephone:+593 98 284 9481Email: info@mls-ecuador.com. Keep your belongings close to you, and if youre sitting down at a restaurant or on public transportation, always hold your bag in your lap. It was great to be able to just walk as far as we wanted. This is Olons winter, and it usually rains at night and stops during the day. The asking price is US$65,000. We didnt dare stay out too late because anything after 9 or 10 pm in Montanita is not for us. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available at several markets around town, with plenty of places to buy fresh chicken and pork, sausage and hamburgers. Beachcombers will love the sandy shores of Oln Food is a bargain. However, there are so many places you can visit while being perfectly safe, and the next three are our favorite ones. If you dont feel comfortable with a situation. The unit is 155 square meters (1677 square feet) and has a nice ocean view. If youre looking for the very warmest time to visit Olon, the hottest months are March, April, and then February. But now we are concerned about investing and losing after Ortega takes office. A specialist visit costs about $38, and a hospital stay costs from $110 per night for a suite or from $60 for a standard room. Enjoy your travels! Travel within Ecuador. I was here pretty much every day taking Spanish classes with Manolo or Karen, surfing every day with Luis, and randomly chatting it up with Yvonne with my ever-so-slightly better Spanish than the day before. So with that in mind, weve come up with some handy safety tips to make sure your trip is the best it can be. They pitched their tents on the beach and took up residence (and surfing), and eventually word began to spread. Santa Elena is a coastal town, capital of the province of the same name. Ecuador is an amazing place to visit, and youll get the most out of your trip if you use common sense and take necessary precautions. Click here to see more Ecuador travel mapsorClick here to see more resources on how to prepare your trip. If youre planning to scale one of the countrys many mountains or volcanoes, get your hands on maps that you can access offline, and let people know where youre going and when you plan to return. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Youll be welcomed with open arms. Hotel MAHAI has a garden, shared lounge, a terrace and restaurant in Oln. The way we experience weather isnt all about temperature. The building is just steps from the beach and close to restaurants and stores. Not only is being inebriated dangerous as a traveller, but possession of drugs is a serious crime that can come with jail time in Ecuador. 3-Day Tour to Salinas and Montaita from Guayaquil, Tour to La Plata island and whales watching, Snorkeling tour and whales watching - Machalilla National Park, Bike tour of Los Frailes Beach and the Agua Blanca Community, 4-Days Guayaquil - Cuenca - Alaus - Baos de Agua Santa from Guayaquil, Small Group Guayaquil and Cocoa Farm Full-Day Tour, Churute Forests and Cocoa Farm (Private Full Day Tour from Guayaquil), Cloud Forest and waterfalls private Day trip, Bird Watching Tours with Sandra Pla - Manabi, Ecuador, Rainforest Wildlife, Panama Hat makers, Traditional Cuisine. I was surfing green walls of water in no time with his direction. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. RELATED: Your Mini Guide to Ayampe, Ecuador. Ecuadorian food is delicious, but it can also be hard on your stomach. I have worn shorts the entire time except for that one night! Your little ones are going to be great icebreakers and will probably lead you to have truly local experiences that you wouldnt have had otherwise. And if youre hesitant to set off into Ecuadors remote corners on your own, consider joining a tour with an experienced guide. The cloudy days made the occasional sunshine even more enjoyable. Again, thank you! Food is a bargain. While the selection of restaurants is limited, there are plenty of options for those of us who would rather not cook. 7 BEST Places to Live in Ecuador (Updated 2023) - Nomads Nation Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Youre wondering whats so special about this place? arent you? During the summer period (January through May) the days are normally in the eighties, with a bit of cooling at night. (https://mls-ecuador.com/en). Laid-back days taking in the sights and sounds of your surroundings are often just as memorable as those exciting excursions. Oln is situated 90 minutes north of Salinas, and the nearest major airport is in Guayaquil. You can take Spanish and surf lessons year-round here. Rideshare apps are another great option for getting from place to place, and apps like Cabify and Uber are popular in larger cities. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Options! The sandy beaches of Oln stand out compared to the rocky and narrow beaches found in some of the areas closer to Salinas. Solo travel is amazing you get to do things your own way, at your own pace. With that said, Montanita was a cool spot to visit from Olon, to go shopping, have some drinks, and even get some work done. The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Olon. speaking of which, overcast or not, use sunscreen! If a taxi drivers asking if youre married, or anybody seems overly interested in where youre heading next, and it feels sketchy. Before leaving Olon and Outdoor Ecuador, I knew Id be back again one day. A seafood market on the highway offers up the mornings selection of fresh catches from the night before, and small tiendas (corner stores) are scattered everywhere in town, where you can pick up whatever else you might need. Even so, many places in Ecuador can be visited safely, and the US government only recommends against travels to the dangerous areas weve covered. However, the weather will feel warmer between November and April, as sunshine is. Oln, Ecuador, is a special place just like that. The Sea Garden House. 17 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Ecuador. For me, it was an elderly aunt who always made me feel special. I spent two weeks in Oln in October, and the weather was overcast most days. Adventure sports towns like Banos have mountain bikes for rent. Recommended. Amelia and JP VLOG 204: Overall, we feel safe here in Oln Ecuador during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, but we still have a few fears. Cuenca is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2,560 m above sea level, with an urban population of approximately 329,928 and 661,685 inhabitants in the larger metropolitan area. Ecuador has an endless supply of beautiful beaches, stretching all along its coastline, from south to north, and all of them look awfully nice when shopping for a place to hang your hat. There are lots of small towns along La Costa, with sunny beaches and friendly people, but none of them offer the variety of food that Oln and its beach can give you. If your room doesn't have one, often you can use the hotel's - just ask the front desk. Oln fits the bill. Learn more about the world's best places to buy real estate in our free weekly Overseas Property Alert + Ecuador has long been a popular destination for expats seeking their next adventure, and if you are thinking of making the trip to see what this country has to offer, you will first want to read this list in order to plan your move. is great for walking, swimming, surfing, and watching sunsets. Travel safe during COVID-19. Ecuadors terrain is extremely varied, and for many, the change in altitude is no small adjustment. Its also where the main supermarket, Tias, is. I'm Nina, and I've been climbing volcanos, basking on exotic beaches, and dabbling in new cultures since 2011. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. For example, I enjoyed a filling almuerzo (lunch) consisting of a large bowl of soup, a generous portion of chicken, rice, a small salad, and a drink for three dollars.