Expat Community > Ecuador

jaymo
Joined 2014
Posts: 131

Getting From GYE to Manglar Alto--and BACK

10 years ago

In one month we are taking our first of what we hope will be many visits to Ecuador. The planning for this trip could not be more "seat of the pants" if we tried. We are coming for only one week, spending three nights at an eco-lodge at Manglar Alto (La Factoria) then three nights in Cuenca.

We were supposed to spend this time on vacation with our son and daughter-in-law, but his boss just left the firm and now he cannot go. With strength in numbers (and one fairly fluent Spanish speaker), we were looking forward to spending our arrival night in GYE, then taking a bus up to Manglar Alto, just a few km south of Montanita, for those who might not be familiar.

Now, I have to admit I am at a loss. Our hosts, Mercedes & George, say that with our arrival being Carnaval weekend, the buses will be overcrowded. They say that a car & driver will be about $70 or $80 each way, if we can find one.

Renting a Chevy Spark with insurance will run just over $200, but allow us much more flexibility for those 4 days/3 nights. Getting back to GYE, we plan to take a bus or executive shuttle to Cuenca for the 3 days, 3 nights there.

Please, can someone who lives there advise us on best course of action, or does any one have recommendations?

I have driven in southern Italy and in Mexico in places where there are no road signs, and where maps are little help. So driving along the Costa, even with a poor grasp of Spanish, doesn't scare me as much as perhaps it should.

To me, a nearly perfect solution would be the firm at http://www.montanita.com.ar/; their website says $20.00 from GYE to Montanita.

If this trip doesn't kill us (I AM smiling when I type that) then we plan to come back as often as we can, with an eye to retiring to Cuenca around 2018/2019.

I put part of the difficulties down to letting my grown children plan the itinerary. Next time, we may just head for Salinas and stay put.

Any advice is welcome.

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Getting From GYE to Manglar Alto--and BACK

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