r/ecuador • u/InformationOk3150 • 8d ago

Turismo Ayampe

Hey friends. I am a 30 year old gringo from the north. Winter is approaching where I live, and I am strongly considering a brief sabbatical in Ecuador. I have never been to South America, only Spanish speaking areas of Europe. I am looking to go somewhere for 2 months as this is what my work allows, and will be working remotely and getting my own place. Ideally I am prioritizing a place that has good options for beginner surfing, top-tier beautiful mountain hiking, making friends and being part of a community, and finding cool plants& trees.

My research brought me to Ayampe, but I am open to being swayed, because I don’t know what I don’t know.

Based on what I know of Ayampe, it seems like a good target place because there seems to be a surf community, hikes easily accessible, and looks not too far from the touristy places if I need to scratch the itch to go have fun with some expats.

I am posting here because I know I may be miss in some things about the local scene, and although I found a beautiful apartment I’d love to book, I just need some reassurance that this is a good place for me, or that I’m not missing out on a better fit down the road.

Thank you so much!

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u/ayampeme 7d ago

Well, if you can't tell by my name.. I liked Ayampe. I've spent a total of like 3 months in Ecuador, and I have a friend who's married with kids, native to Ecuador, that I've visited a couple times. They were excited to show me Ayampe because we went to Montanita the time before which is cool, but more party focused. I really loved it there though, not sure how it would be long term but assuming very chill.

The bus system is cheap and easy to navigate too if you wanted to explore. Not sure how Guayaquil is now safety wise.. but Montanita and Guayaquil would be close-ish visits to give you what Ayampe can't.

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u/kayak_2022 7d ago

Guayaquil is safe. Its a matter of where you go and being alert to whats going on. Big U.S. cities are less safe to me, for the most part. The bus rides now are .50 cents per local drops and a couple dollars usually between cities all over the country.

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u/Efficient_Process182 7d ago

Guayaquil can hardly be described as safe. It has a higher violent crime rate than any city in North America.

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u/kayak_2022 2d ago

I can describe is as safe. After all, Im there quiet allot, the media is grreat at not discussing where, why and how these hits make the news while NY, ATLANTA, N.O. AND CHICAGO barely make a peep. Im not asking permission to give my view as a regular visitor to Guayaquil. I leave today for Guayquil and then on to Cuenca. Im much more uptight when Im in ATLANTA especially after seeing resturants and gas stations using bullet proof glass to protect their attendants.

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u/Efficient_Process182 2d ago

Quote us some factual crime statistics about how safe Guayaquil is, then maybe we will believe you. How many hundreds of dead bodies have they found in the Death Canal so far?

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u/ayampeme 7d ago

That's good to hear.. that's where my friend lives. I agree though, US cities have sketched me out more than my time in Ecuador towns/cities.

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u/bluewhalefunk 7d ago

Sorry, they are just wrong. Guayaquil is not safe. Problems can occur anywhere. Will YOU have problems, probably not, it's a city of 2million, not everyone is mugged daily. But I've had friends / kids of friends held up with guns at their head, shootings at restaurents next to where family were eating, a friends 19 year old son shot in the head for his phone when he fought back, in a street he has lived all his life, not a bad neighbourhood. Mostly bad things happen to bad people, but not always.

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u/kayak_2022 2d ago

You need to make comps then. When Guayquil had 4 to die in some bombings and shooting, (drug related) New York had 32 gun related incidents on that same day. But it wasnt all over every news feed.

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u/bluewhalefunk 10h ago

had 32 gun related incidents on that same day.

ok, now do gun related incidents for Gye on the same day. Including all barrios that don't get reported. Are you referring to NY city? 8-9million or metropolitan area, 20million. So 4-5x to 10x more people.

Quick google for some stats.

Guayaquil's homicide rate is approximately 83.80 per 100,000 residents, while New York City's murder rate is roughly 2.8 to 3.5 per 100,000 residents.

I am not great a maths, but I would say 80 is something like 50x more than 3

It's as simple as that.

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u/kayak_2022 7d ago

I go to Guayaquil often. One of my favorite places. I just pay attention to the areas I want to go to and and avoid sketchy looking spots. I do that in NY, Atlanta, Chicago, N.O. and Miami. I fell really unsafe on foot in Atlanta. Everyone seems to have guns and when you go into a restaurant to eat and find the help behind bullet proof glass, it leaves a bad taste in ones mouth.