intui.travel can be useful for arranging airport transfers in advance, especially after a long travel day or when arriving at an unfamiliar destination. They’re also offering 5% off through the end of September.

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The travels and experiences continue within Latin America. This time around within the country of Ecuador, specifically Cuenca. This was a previously postponed travel due to advisories from my home country’s consulate, but I went ahead and committed to experiencing what the country had to offer this past month of August.

My travels into Ecuador consisted of two long flights and an extended layover at the Quito international airport. I was arriving from the southern cone of South America.

Once arriving to Cuenca, it was considerably apparent that the terrain and atmosphere were a shift from my previous destination.

Immediately upon exiting the terminal upon arrival, you’re able to see the mountains in the far background, along with the deep valley scenery.

The Andean highland environment contributed greatly to the distinct atmosphere. The weather provided a slight cool breeze, but outside still allowed for comfortable short-sleeve and shorts attire.

The arrival to where I would be staying was during night, so food delivery was the best bet. The next days proceeded with the usual situating of a local phone number and any quick item retrievals from the local shop.

This first week in Ecuador was a big shift from my last couple months’ travel pace. It was considerably slower, but the time was taken advantage of.

Work efforts ramped up quite a bit during this downtime week. Vast amounts of time were spent optimizing my online stores, tightening up any loose ends for the newsletter, as well as onboarding new clients for freelance projects.

A successful first week, to say the least.

Ecuador’s main air travel gateways include Guayaquil (GYE), Quito (UIO), and Cuenca (CUE), with Quito and Guayaquil handling most international traffic and Cuenca serving as an important connection point for travelers continuing into the southern Andes.

Quito airport is a well-organized facility with multiple levels of seating and frequent domestic connections to Cuenca. Flight travel between Quito and Cuenca is just under an hour.

There are also plenty of designated ATM options throughout the airports, so withdrawing cash upon arrival is convenient.

If you prefer having ground transportation arranged before arrival, intui.travel offers pre-booked airport transfers and is currently offering 5% off through the end of September. This can be especially useful when arriving late or after a long travel day. Their services are offered in various countries around the globe.

Regarding cellular connection and Wi-Fi strength during time at the airport, it was decent and got the job done for the majority of basic tasks.

The service is free and allows you to replenish time with the click of a button. For anything commanding stronger connectivity, a portable router had to come into play.

Connection at my lodging quarters was decent as well. If needing stronger or more secure Wi-Fi, it’s advisable to use your cellular hotspot or a router you may possess.

Ecuador’s official currency is in fact the U.S. dollar. This was a slight shock when landing, but a well-appreciated adjustment from having to do mental conversion for months at a time.

If you bank with a United States entity, retrieving cash is also seamless, as ATM fees are generally predictable and easy to account for. Ecuador does have Western Union locations, but the dedicated ATMs throughout Cuenca did the job just fine.

The strongest and most reliable food delivery app during the first week was PedidosYa. The platform doesn’t offer many open restaurants after midnight, so Uber Eats was the best backup option for late-night orders. Having both downloaded is a smart move.

Another thing worth mentioning is the electronic invoicing generated for purchases. When completing certain online transactions, you may be prompted to enter an identification number.

If your passport number is not accepted, the generic foreign or final-consumer ID commonly used in Ecuador, 9999999999999, may be accepted instead. You’ll encounter identification requests during some in-person purchases as well.

Regarding rideshare, there are a few apps that offer the service, but the most intuitive was Uber. Driver availability may vary depending on what part of Ecuador you visit, but Cuenca did not pose a supply issue during the first week. Other options include inDrive, Cuenca Taxi, and AzuTaxi. Cash payments are accepted on all of these listed apps.

The cheapest and often most reliable setup when entering a foreign country is to purchase a SIM card upon arrival. It doesn’t necessarily have to be purchased at the airport.

From experience, it’s advisable to locate an established telecommunications retail location to get the best rate.

Claro is a major telecommunications service provider throughout Latin America and offers plans with great value and performance. They’re located in some international airports as well, but local retail locations often give you more options to compare before choosing a plan.

If you’re not familiar, SIM cards are physical chips inserted into a mobile device. You’re usually only prompted to insert one when purchasing your phone, then it’s hardly thought about after the event.

But in the case of crossing borders, or for a digital nomad, it often becomes a routine task whenever landing somewhere new.

Depending on whether you’re visiting for a week, a month, or for a longer duration of time, you’re essentially buying a temporary guest pass to that country’s cellular towers.

When you arrive at the store of your choice, you’ll usually have the option to purchase a prepaid plan expected to last for the duration of your stay, or opt into a pay-as-you-go setup. The former option has been the most convenient and best value from my experience.

The benefits that come with a local number and country-specific SIM card include:

From my experience, the mobile hotspot option from a local SIM has often been stronger and more reliable than provided Wi-Fi connections at accommodations.

In the event there is an important meeting or call that must be taken, the mobile hotspot gets turned on and put to use.

Other connectivity-demanding tasks, such as web development and data analysis, can require a stronger internet connection as well. Having the hotspot available creates another layer of backup when lodging Wi-Fi becomes inconsistent.

Another added benefit of having a local country number is protecting your main number in the event you don’t wish to disclose it. For example, when meeting new individuals or having to contact a newly known entity. These options become more useful over time.

As of September 2026, Ecuador generally allows tourists to remain in the country for up to 90 days within a one-year period, calculated from the date of first entry. Travelers who want additional time can request one extension for up to 90 more days, bringing the potential stay to roughly six months. The extension should generally be requested between days 80 and 90 of the original authorized stay.

The extension fee is equal to one-third of Ecuador’s basic monthly salary. With the 2026 salary set at $482 USD, that puts the extension at approximately $161 USD. South American nationals are treated differently under Ecuadorian rules and may generally remain as tourists for up to 180 days within a year without using this standard extension process

Global Country Reforms & Updates

Dominican Republic: A temporary measure remains in effect through December 31, 2026, allowing citizens of countries including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador to enter for tourism without the usual six-month passport-validity requirement. Their passport only needs to remain valid through the stay and departure. Tourist stays beyond 30 days can also be extended, with 30–90 days costing RD$3,500 and 90–120 days costing RD$5,600.

Source: Dominican Republic Dirección General de Migración.

Jamaica: Visitors can request an extension before their original authorized stay expires. Commonwealth citizens may remain for up to 12 months, while non-Commonwealth visitors are generally limited to a maximum of six months as visitors.

Source: Jamaica Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency.

Bolivia: U.S. citizens and nationals of seven other countries were moved into Bolivia’s visa-exempt Group I, eliminating the previous tourist-visa requirement. Bolivia estimates the broader visa opening could generate approximately $80 million USD in economic activity between 2026 and 2030.

Source: Bolivia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Until next dispatch,
Structured Nomad