Hello Social Entrepreneur Corps Team!
I hope that your preparations and packing are going well.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 28th and 29th, our team will be tracking your flights to make sure that we are aware of any delays/cancellations. Once your plane lands in Guayaquil, Ecuador, you will need to go through Immigration. In the plane you will receive 2 forms to fill out, one for immigration and one for customs. For immigration, pick TOURISM as reason of visit and place information are: Cuenca, Fundación Amauta. Hermano Miguel. After you pass immigration, pick up your luggage and pass through customs, follow the signs to exit the airport. Once outside, there will be two members of the Social Entrepreneur Corps staff waiting for you holding a sign that reads “Social Entrepreneur Corps 2011.”
From the airport you will be taken directly to your hotel in Guayaquil via private transportation . You will be receiving a cell phone and an envelope containing important safety information. At the hotel, there will be some food for you, in case you are hungry and water.
The following day, we will be leaving Guayaquil, via private transportation, at 8:30 a.m., to Cuenca, where you will be taken to the hotel for that night. We will share lunch together, while introducing ourselves. That afternoon, you will be receiving a three ring binder containing the orientation schedule, important safety information, a map of Cuenca and a profile of your homestay family.
The cell phone will be yours for the duration of your time in Ecuador. It can make and receive international as well as local calls. Incoming calls are free for you and outgoing calls are $0.26 for national/local calls and $0.50 for calls made to the USA. The cell phones will have $3.00 worth of minutes on it. Once the initial minutes run out, you can purchase new calling cards at virtually any “Tienda” in Ecuador. Your company is CLARO.
You will not need to change money in Ecuador, since the local currency is the USD. You can buy traveler’s checks in the States or Europe and exchange them again at most banks in Ecuador. Finally you can take Dollars out at local ATM machines in country using your Credit Card or Debit/Check Card. If you choose this option, MAKE SURE to CALL YOUR BANK to let them know you will be using the card in Ecuador and to find out their policies etc. Please note that most places in Ecuador, especially in the more rural areas, only accept cash.
Below (and attached) is a list of staff contact information and the address of our office in Cuenca, Ecuador. PLEASE PRINT THIS LIST AND CARRY WITH YOU ON SUNDAY!
If inside the USA, you must dial 011 59te to call me at (011 593) 90 742370 if you run into any traveling snags on Sunday.
As always, please feel free to email me with any questions you may have. I look forward to meeting you all.
Safe Travels!
Maria Luz
Click for the list of Emergency Contacts: Ecuador Emergency Contacts
