Getting Around Quito, Ecuador
Public Transportation is Easy to Come By at the Center of the World
Aug 13, 2008
There are a few transportation options available in Quito. Because the city is so large, public transportation is easy to find. Private transportation is also available, however.
Local Buses
The buses that drive across and around the city are very reasonably priced. One does not have to walk very far along the busy city streets before seeing a bus stopping to pick up or drop off passengers. There are two kinds of local buses.
For only twenty five cents one can get on a bus that travels from one side of the city to the other, making several stops along the way, of course. It is commonly known as the 'trole' or trolley. No matter how far the ride, the small amount of change will pay the passage. This bus cuts across the city in more or less a straight line.
To see more varied parts of the city, a person may need to catch a different kind of bus. Each bus travels to a set destination. They may go to malls, to the downtown area or to the old town. Buses are labeled with the destination areas on their fronts or sides. Carry a map and learn the names of the different areas of the city. If one is not aware of your surroundings and location it can be very easy to get lost. If a person does not pay close attention to the bus's intended destination, he or she could become very lost indeed, or at least end up much farther away intended
Out-of-Town Buses
There are also buses that travel outside of Quito. They make a few stops in town to pick up passengers and then take them to places like the Pacific Coast or to El Mitad del Mundo (the equator). There are also many smaller towns to visit. Guayaquil hosts the very nice Pantanal Zoo, only a short one to two hour bus ride away.
Here are a few bits of information to prepare for a bus trip:
- The buses are almost always crowded. Be ready to sit next to a stranger.
- The buses start and stop abruptly and frequently when picking up and dropping off passengers. Motion sick passengers should be prepared.
- Roads out of town are often narrow and winding. See note above.
- Take heart! The bus drivers are very courteous to foreigners, always ready to offer information and advice.
Taxis
Taxis are also prevalent in Quito. If the bus system should elude a foreigner not accustomed to it, one will not have to wait very long before being able to catch the attention of a taxi driver. Taxi rides are much more expensive than bus rides, (they cost ten times as much or more) but they offer a few benefits:
- Private travel conditions.
- Climate control.
- Cleanliness.
- Point A to point B travel without stops in between.
- Time efficiency.
Taxis are not a practical option for trips to other surrounding cities, but they can be a nice break for local trips.
See the Area on Foot!
For many trips within the city of Quito, a person really should walk. Avoid very poor neighborhoods and walking after dark, but take advantage of foot travel during the day. Find out from the hotel or hostel about things to do and see within walking distance and get ready to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Quito. On the way to the park, for example, there are sure to be bakeries with freshly baked breads and desserts. Other shops offer fresh produce, ready to eat. Don't miss the many marketplaces that are set up for tourists. Handmade souvenirs such as clothing, dishes and jewelry abound.
Whatever method of travel used in Quito, there is much to discover and many people to meet.
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