Besides a roof and a bed the most important commodity we all need is of course food. Since most of us are by no mean self-sufficient, this means "tienda" (grocery store), market or supermarket.

Here in Ecuador, especially in small places like Vilcabamba, it is the local people's custom to do their shopping as close as possible from their home. Call it lazyness or superior intelligence. This is why we usually find a small grocery store at every corner.

The expats and travelers don't operate the same way at all. They know what they are after and go where they can find it. One important factor to consider is that what they want is often not what the locals normally want nor are used to shop for, e.g. raw honey, organic cacao powder or tumeric.

In Loja

The "Supermercado Galtor" in the street 18 de Noviembre almost facing the entrance of the "centro comercial" is a small supermarket where most can be found at an attractive price. The service is first class, the employees always courteous and ready to help.

Many expats go to Supermaxi it is true. It is more convenient to park the car but the prices can be much higher, e.g. extra virgin olive oil: Supermaxi $12.9, Galtor $9 for exactly the same bottle.

BIOregenereC - Organic Supplies - Neural Therapy - Vitamin C

To buy organic products there is a nice place in Loja close to SuperMaxi called BIOregenereC. It is a center run by an Ecuadorian couple, Daniel and Claudia. She is odontologist by the way. They offers things like tumeric, amaranth, quinoa, sea salt, quinoa pasta and much much more. Learn more about them in our review here or watch the video (in Spanish).

Article...

Mega Frigorifico del SUR

Productos de calidad y servicio personalizado Carnes, Embutidos, Lacteos, Bocaditos y Mas

Somos una empresa, dedicada a la venta de productos de consumo masivo, en especial carnes de res, cerdo y pollo, con cortes especiales que ofrecen la posibilidad de preparlas de manera facil y en poco tiempo.

Nos diferenciamos de los demás negocios porque atendemos a nuestros dintinguidos clientes de forma personalizada, prestamos atención a sus necesidades y sugerencias; además les ofrecemos ayuda con recetas para preparar sus alimentos.

En nuestro local también encontrará mariscos ( tilapia, camarón pelado y desvenado, corvina, trompeta), derivados lácteos ( leches, yogures, quesos), salchichas, mortadelas, jamones, productos ahumados (pollo, chuletas, alas, salamis, costilla) bocaditos de sal y dulce, bebidas (aguas, gaseosas, vinos) y otros productos para preparar las carnes.

Entregamos su compra en su domicilio sin recargo alguno. Llámenos con gusto le atenderemos. 07 2561432 / 0996600998

Link

En Vilcabamba

One benefit of the concentration of tourists and expats in Vilcabamba is the avalability of a large selection of food that would normally not be found in such a small place.

Supermercado Marisol - Organic products in Vilcabamba

The "Supermercado Marisol" is an extremely popular place among the expat community and tourists alike. Many locals also shop there regularly. The place always feels like a beehive. Why is that? Simple. Because she has it all and at the best price. You want tumeric, she has it, organic cacao powder, ditto, several brands of beer, a large selection of organic fruit and veges, wholemeal flower, maca, you name it... And if she does not have it, she will find it for ya.
Cool!

Learn more about Supermercado Marisol in our article and review. Article...

2016 – Wave of violent crime in Vilcabamba Ecuador

The text below is a copy of Jim Braman's and Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert's post in the Vilcabamba Bulletin Facebook Group.

Because they have done such tremendous work and because this post is so comprehensive and contains phone numbers, names and other pieces of information that might be useful in the future (I hope not !), we re-publish it here in seekvilcabamba.com, a more permanent and better searchable place than Facebook

Laundry

Laundry service is called "lavanderia". You drop your washing off and they wash and dry it for you. It is ready the next day. Price is generally $1 per kilo.

This is the laundry service that we use. All of our clothes have come back (nothing has gone missing, not even one sock). The service is open every day. Nothing has come back a different color. They have even been able to get stains out of my clothes that I couldn't get out! The service is open every day.

HOSPITAL (Kakichi Otani Area 12 Vilcabamba)

The hospital in Vilcabamba is located on the main road (On your right heading out of Vilcabamba to Loja). After 4pm you need to ring the number(s) below and enter extension 111. The hospital has ambulances and an emergency department. How well equipped they are I do not know. They have the following services/facilities:

X-ray, laboratory (laboratorio), pharmacy (farmacia), emergencies (emergencia), dentistry (odontologia), echo sound(eco sonografia), hospitalization, intermediate care room (sala de cuidados intermedias),

I have heard that the food they serve in the hospital is very good. They only speak Spanish, so if you need medical care you will need to have a translator.

Opening Hours: 8am to 4pm
Address: Corner of Miguel Carpio and Eterra Juventud
Telephone: (07) 2640188 2640128

There is a very good private hospital in Loja called San Agustin on the corner of the 18 de Novembre and Azuay. This facility is used by many of the ex-pats living here in Vilcabamba. My 5 year old daughter has visited the dentist here and had a check up and filling. She felt no pain, was very relaxed and left with a good dental experience. Total cost $25. The dentist facility was very clean, professional and was on a par with dentists in New Zealand.

I have been seen by a specialist of internal organs at San Agustin and I found the doctor to be very professional. I had a physical exam, ultra sound and blood test and received the results and diagnosis all in one day! Unheard of in New Zealand! All for only $75. This level of examination would have taken weeks in NZ and cost upwards of $500+ privately.

San Agustin has an emergency room and is equipped for hospitalization, laboratory, dentistry, x-ray, ultra sound and many other services. They do not speak English only Spanish so if you need medical care you need to have a translator.

VILCA-AGRO (VET)

This is the town vet. They have vaccinations, de-worming medicine, flea control products etc. They are more like a dispensary then a western vet. They are skilled enough to provide follow up consultations after you have seen a vet in Loja (i.e. take stitches out). The service I have received from them has been solely to do with flea and worm control. I have heard of other people where the vet has come to their house and inserted and IV into the dog etc and they have been very happy with the service received. However, quite often the shop is managed by the vet's son and the vet is away. The son is knowledgeable in dispensing medicines and is a very nice person to deal with.

Opening Hours:

Address: On Sucre directly opposite the Square

Telephone: (07) 2640215

Mobile: 093829219

There is another vet in Malacatos who appears to be more 'on site' in their shop.

When my bitch was sick after giving birth she eventually (after seeing the vet in Malacartos) ended up being seen by Scooby, a vet in Loja. Scooby is a very nice vet who is capable of performing operations. The clinic has consultation rooms, nurses etc.. I have heard other good reports about them, and upon visiting then I found the vet to be very pleasant to deal with and efficient. My bitch made a full recovery.

The premises are not that clean which is a concern for me. There is another vet in Loja that I will get around to checking up on as soon as I can plus there are veterinary services offered at the university in Loja but, while their services are cheaper, I have not heard good reports about them.

In general, I found the cost of vet services to be substantially cheaper than those in New Zealand for example.

TRAVEL AGENTS - TAME

Opening Hours:

Address: On the corner of Bolivar and Juan Montalivo

Telephone: +593 (07) 573 030

Post Office

There is no post office as such in Vilcabamba. There is a post collection point however, located in an unmarked shop opposite from the police station.

To receive post in Vilcabamba, have the sender address the mail as follows:

[Your name]
Vilcabamba - Loja
Ecuador 

That’s it!!! Very important: make sure your name is in FULL. 

What happens is when the mail bag comes they write the name of each person who has post for that day on a piece of paper with the date the post was received in Vilcabamba on it and stick it up on the wall. 

Then you come in and read the list and say ‘that’s me’ and then they go get your letter out of the bag of post for that day. So if your name is not in full a) you may not recognize your name or b) if someone else has the same initials and surname as you they may take your mail. 

Another very important note: do not send anything you can’t afford to lose via this post system, as I’ve no idea how reliable it is. Use Fedex or UPS or something similar. Try to use an agency that has offices in Loja and then you can collect your item from Loja. 

To send post in Vilcabamba, go to Rumi Wilco’s shop on Sucre (opposite the JARDIN ESCONDIDO (Hidden Garden). They take the post to the post office in Loja. I do not know how often this is done and have never used this service. They have stamps (but not envelopes).

There is an official post office in Loja. Note: It is expensive to post here.

Translators

Catalina Carrasco

If you are serious about speaking Spanish there is no better person to talk to than Catalina.

She is Ecuadorian, certified teacher from the university of Loja and fluent in English. She will give you a rigorous and structured learning experience and at the same time she will make it relaxed and fun.

You can visit her at her home in Vilcabamba or she can come to yours. For details and prices please contact her directly.