Objective

Welcome to our website ! Our vision is to inspire & promote international understanding through education and cultural exchange between South America - Ecuador and the rest of the world. To help people rediscover life with purpose, integrity and compassion, benefit from our experiences, and acquire knowledge for living in harmony in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. To share our "life changing adventure experiences" with family and friends worldwide. We have consolidated a wealth of the best resources on Ecuador, along with travel journals and photos. Our hope is that you will find this a valuable, user friendly resource network, which enriches your life, enables you to learn, challenges your thinking, and empowers you to discover and undertake your own new experiences and adventures.

in all our web pages highlighted underligned colored text represents an active link, and you can enlarge all of our photos by simply clicking your mouse on them.

We welcome your feedback, questions and suggestions and hope that you return often.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Hotel Patricio's - Bahia de Caraquez

Update  June 2016  -  this hotel was severely damaged in the April 2016 earthquake and subsequently demolished.  In loving memory of the owners, a couple who lost their lives in the earthquake.  



On the city streets, and beaches, we are seeing the first visitors of the annual migration of vacationers from the Sierra.  As part of this season " Noches de Verano"  a summer evening festival scheduled for each Saturday night  from August 2 - 30, offering food,  music & fun, activities for our visitors. 


Delightfully adding to the accommodation choices for area visitors, Bahia de Caraquez proudly boasts a brand new luxurious twin tower hotel.


 

Owned and operated by the local Mora family it took 3 years to build.  Hotel Patricio's will provide a new level of comfort and class to domestic and international tourists.

Elisa Mora, Manager of the hotel, had Naomi provide me with a tour of the new hotel facilities. The hotel will facilitate tours of the area, and luggage storage. 

 

The facilities are stylish & modern featuring glass & chrome, an event salon,




restaurant,



bar,

 

 


 outdoor solar heated swimming pool, jacuzzi,

 
 
 sauna,



fitness centre,

 


 turkish bath, and secure free underground parking.



It has 47 well appointed, comfortable, and spacious rooms with keyless "state-of-the-art" entry locks, hot water, air conditioning, satellite tv, balcony, and complimentary wifi / internet.  The hotel employs 22 well trained staff to provide a high level of service to its customers.




The event salon on the 9th floor of the hotel features a 360 degree breathtaking view of the city, the Pacific Ocean, the estuary, and the mountains.








Wooden furniture throughout the hotel has been handmade by local craftsmen, and some fine original wicker pieces were also handwoven in nearby Monticristi.




The inaugural opening was held on April 16th, 2014 coinciding with Easter, and was made with the blessing of Pastor Benjamin Ramos.





It is located on the corner of Salinas and Arenas streets.
To make reservations call  05 269 0046
or  05 269 3383    cellular  0995175052    


Friday, July 18, 2014

El Paseo Shopping - Bahia de Caraquez








The construction of the El Paseo Mall in Bahia de Caraquez is again well underway with an ambitious new target for completion of November 2014. They are starting to recruit staff for service and security positions for 3 days starting July 28 at Hotel Patricio's.



















Several hundred workers can be seen on-site daily engaged in a wide variety of construction activities.









Project owner, El Rosado SA Corp indicates it will be similar design to that in Portoviejo and Manta. Two levels anchored by the Hipermarket Mi Comisariato, ferrisariato, a variety of stores, second floor food court, and theatres. Cost of the mall is in excess of $ 10 million. It is anticipated it will draw significant customer traffic from northern regions of Manabi.




Originally started in 2011 and requiring ten months for completion. The mall's development has been most curious with construction having started several years ago and stopped for several months on different occasions.  In fact at one point the metal frame structure  was being dismantled and rumoured to be going to Chone. In May 2013, the longest lapse in activity, newspapers reported the abruptly suspended construction was subject to much speculation. Indeed rumours were rampant within the community. The municipality was silent although occasionally officials would try to calm the community.  The company making the investment also refused to comment. It was reported to be a very strange situation with work paralyzed on several occasions without any accountability
or explanation to the public.







Located in the old shipyard area between the entrance and off ramps to the new bridge and the estuary its economic impact on the community remains to be seen. A sports complex is adjacent to the mall.

 


While there are over 182 proposed developments on the coast of Ecuador from Manta to Esmeraldas there are very few showing signs of success at this time. Success being defined as having completed significant  infrastructure and having achieved over 30 % project  sales.  Most simply boast an elaborate internet presence.

In Montecristi, Montecristi Golf Club & Villas a 330 hectare resort with hotel, shopping promenade, spas, tennis courts, soccer pitches,  47 acre 18 hole golf course, and residential community of 1,200 homes.  Considered the most important mega project in Manabi it represents over $ 100 million investment and will generate employment for over 3,000 people.

The project is being undertaken by Carlos González Artigas Díaz, who is one of the province's major employers with significant manufacturing operations. He has an excellent well established reputation in the community and this is solidly reflected in sales.  This development is considered number one among all the prime real estate developments in the region. Over 80 % of sales are local buyers and well over 50 % of the first four phases of lots have been sold.   That's an excellent indicator of value and success  not yet present in any other development on the northern coast. 

Already more than $15 million has been invested in Ecuador's ninth golf course ( first for the province of Manabi )  and the first four phases of the project infrastructure. Unlike other speculative developers he is not relying on lot sales to fund the golf course or development infrastructure.

He has described the golf course as his legacy to Manta, his way of appreciating the city that has supported his business since 1937. He wants to make the golf course accessible so that middle-class locals can play and youngsters can learn the sport.   The golf course is being designed by French architect Christian Pensu and there is tremendous interest from U.S. and Canadian athletes using the course when weather prevents them from playing in North America, and for tournaments. 

Plans call for a beach club and marina 15 minutes away, with access to the beach for Montecristi owners. You can enjoy relaxed country living, with access to golf and a beach club only a short drive away.

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Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi, Ecuador