Learn more about site authors: Dena Haines, Bryan Haines, Drew Haines, and Diane Diegor.
Hello! Welcome to Storyteller Travel
Here at Storyteller Travel, we cover food, animals, and destinations from around the world. We love to travel and have covered much of our adventures. Of course, we have lots more planned.
What We Cover
This site is divided into the following sections:
- Nova Scotia Travel: We cover the best attractions in Nova Scotia with photos, maps and videos. These include lighthouses, beaches, and waterfalls. We were both born here – and love exploring our province.
- Africa Travel: This including wildlife, gorilla treks, and food. Learn about safari photography, wildlife binoculars, and other safari gear.
- Living Abroad: After being expats for six years, it kinda makes sense that we cover expat topics.
- Animals: We are both fascinated by the absurd world of animals. We cover the animals we've seen in the wild – and that are on our list of what we want to see.
- Gear: Good gear makes travel easier – and more fun. Some of our most popular posts include the best travel cameras, binoculars, and portable water filters.
About Bryan and Dena
Storyteller Travel is run by Bryan and Dena Haines.
We’ve been travel bloggers for many years. And we and love it!
When we moved to South America in 2009, we created GringosAbroad – which has since been merged into this site. It was the largest (most read) site about Ecuador travel. We also run ClickLikeThis, a photography tutorial site. Learn more about our company: Storyteller Media
Here's how to contact us
Connect with Bryan: Twitter | LinkedIn
Connect with Dena: Twitter | LinkedIn
About Ecuador with GringosAbroad
From November 2009 to March 2021, GringosAbroad covered Ecuador travel and expat stories, tips and tutorials.
Now you can find all this content here on Storyteller Travel. We cover Ecuador living, travel, real estate, Cuenca, and Ecuador expat interviews.
We also cover all the expat stuff that you need to know. Stuff like how to eat a mango, buy travel insurance, learn Spanish.
About Bryan, Dena, and Drew
Bryan and Dena Haines
In 2009, we moved from Canada to Ecuador. Learn more about our Ecuador adventures and why we decided to move to Cuenca (sort of our back-story). In April 2015, we moved back to Canada. Here's why.
We also write about GoPro photography, camping, and coffee.
See recent posts by Bryan and Dena
Drew Haines
Drew Haines is an animal enthusiast, travel writer, and content marketer. She loves to share her passion through her writing.
She is the founder and owner of Everywhere Wild Media, Everywhere Wild, and founder and owner of JustBirding.
She lived in Ecuador for 6 years and explored the Galapagos Islands. Currently based in N.S., Canada.
When we first moved our young family to Cuenca we spoke no Spanish and had no income. Life was interesting. We write about Ecuador food, things to do, cities, expat life, real estate, animals, plants and Ecuador news. Some of our favorite areas include Cuenca, Quito, Salinas, and the Galapagos Islands.
Here are some of the things that we've been up to…
More Reading:
Here are the other sites we produce.
- ClickLikeThis: We blog about GoPro photography – settings, mounts, and video creation. We've covered editing software, half-underwater photography, GoPro settings and time lapse creation.
- GudGear: Outdoor tutorials and reviews for your next adventure.
- EnjoyJava: Coffee is awesome and deserves its own site. This is one we've talked about for a long time – and now we're building it.
Gissela
Wednesday 1st of November 2017
Buenos días por favor necesito contactarme con ustedes, por favor me pueden enviar un número telefónico o su correo electrónico? Gracias, Gissela
Bryan Haines
Wednesday 1st of November 2017
Buenos días Gissela, puede contactarnos aquí https://storyteller.travel/contact/
Neil
Tuesday 26th of September 2017
Hi Bryan and Dena, I am an American anthropologist that has been living in Brasil for ten years. So, I am very familiar and adjusted to Latin American culture in general. As you probably know, over the past five years, Brasil has really fallen apart as a country and I am thinking of moving to Ecuador. I speak a little Spanish but am fluent in Portuguese and since the two languages are very similar, I think I would be able to tweak my Portuguese and speak Spanish fluently in a relatively short period of time. Already, I have been following your blog for about a year now and conducting much research about Ecuador. For me, I'm interested in the beach towns as I have been living in a beach city in Brasil during my entire stay here. In terms of finances, I more than meet the official requirements for retirement in Ecuador. However, one thing still confuses me considerably - that is - the requirement for insurance and exactly how that works. Could you please explain further how this new law impacts expats - the particulars, pros and cons of it? Thank you.
Daniel
Saturday 11th of November 2017
Niel: My wife and I just signed up for insurance. For the two of us it was $85.00/month. It will draw from our credit card. We used a private company Belgenica. The agent we used in Cuenca also arranged to have our certificate filed with immigration for a small fee. It would be slighly less for a one person plan. Belgenica only covers 80%, other companies such as Salud offers better coverage plans but they cost close to $140/month .... we are in our 50’s and 40’s. In the end we decided the extra cost for more coverage just wasn’t worth it. Health costs are reasonable here. I don’t think we have spent more that a few hundred on medical costs in the two years we have been here, Hope this helps.
Chris Bushman
Thursday 1st of June 2017
What things about US tourists annoy Ecuadorians most? How can we make the best impression?
Rebecca Garn
Tuesday 29th of November 2016
Hi, I am moving to ecuador for 5 months with 2 friends and 11 children. We are looking at a house in Pallatanga,Chimborazo. Do you know anything about this area? Will we be able to find schools and sports for the kids there? How is transportation there? Any info you have will be very helpful. Thanks!
Stewart
Tuesday 6th of December 2016
Hi Rebecca, Question. Are you planning on doing missionary work in Pallatanga? Will you be home schooling? These are the questions that come to mind. It´s a small town in a rural area very much off the beaten path. Ok. yes there must be very nice properties with very nice houses, but the majority of the population are poor. Don´t expect to send your kids to a public school. That is not a good option in Quito (the capital of Ecuador) much less a small town that´s about 1-1/2 hours from Riobamba (the closest city). We traveled by car last month from Quito to Cuenca via highway 35 and stopped in Riobamba and spent the night at a nice hotel called Hosteria La Andaluza that took in our labrador. Beautiful view of Chimborazo in the morning. That´s the closest I´ve been to Pallatanga. My advise is find some place closer to a city . . . unless you´re doing missionary work. Good luck and God Bless.
Daniela Ayala
Thursday 1st of September 2016
Dear friends I got new stock of this wondefull Coconut oil, got a 260ml for $10 728ml $20 and a gallon $80. You cand contact me at my work place wendsday till friday from 12am till 8pm and saturday and sunday from 11am till 8pm. And i make delivery monday and tuesday. Coffee shop MELATTE Presidente Borrero y Presidente Cordoba Contact me to tell me what kind of presentation would you like to buy. Every monday i get new stock!! Coconut Oil Ecuador AYAMCOCO coconut oil is extra virgin olive oil pressed cold , so it keeps all its natural properties . Coconut oil is the only oil which, being a saturated fat , not rust when heated, therefore it is the healthiest when frying and cooking option . It contains large amounts of lauric acid and other beneficial fatty acids , which makes it an antibacterial , antiviral, antioxidant and antifungal naturally powerful. Raises the immune system, improves digestion , regulates blood pressure , stabilizes the levels of blood sugar , reduce cholesterol and accelerates the metabolism , so your body will burn more calories a day, which translates into a loss of weight and increased energy and vitality.