Guayaquil - Post Report Question and Answers
What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
US baking ingredients like chocolate chips and chopped walnuts, but I can order those or bring them back with me. They do exist in some form but are expensive. - May 2025
If there are American products you cannot live without, bring them, because they are more expensive here. For example, American shampoo like Pantene and repellent with DEET are available but are about twice as expensive here. Bring your own nut butter. - May 2025
Most things are available. - May 2025
We use the pouch for your special items. There was nothing pressing that we really wished we had shipped ahead of time. I do prefer US brown sugar than the version here. Most of the items we buy are unique things not available in Ecuador. - Aug 2022
More cheese, diapers. While cheese is available, there's not a huge variety. Diapers are very expensive. - Jun 2022
It's easy to order stuff via DPO/pouch if you can't get it here or it's too expensive here. - Oct 2020
Almost everything that I use/eat/drink on a daily basis, e.g., toiletries, dish soap, canned goods, bottled goods, spices. If I had to do it again, I'd max out my shipment and treat it as a consumables shipment. - Feb 2019
US soap, different spices, and other pantry products not seen on the supermarket shelves here. More equipment for beach activities. - Jun 2013
Speciality foods, such as Asian sauces, etc. Spices, as there is not much variety here. A treadmill, as it is very hot to exercise outdoors. - May 2013
If you drink, alcohol. The prices are very high for basic liquor, and beer selection is ok but limited. - Jan 2012
Electronics as they are two-three times as expensive. Over the counter medications,specific spices and condiments. Clothes are cut small and lower quality in Ecuador. Good to have UPS (uninterrupted power supply) because there are many short blackouts, especially in the rainy season. - Jan 2012
Mainly baking related, i.e. chocolate chips. - Aug 2011
