There are three routes that run north-south through the city: the Trolebus (running along 10 de agosto street in the north and Maldonado in the south), the Ecovía (on 6 de diciembre), and the Metro (Avenida América). Recently, the three lines have come together to form an integrated system collectively known as Metrobus, although locals still refer to each line by their original names.
Trolebus
The Trolebus (el trole) was the first line to open in this sysem, and has been operating since 1995. These buses are actually trolleys that run on electric cables suspended in the air (similar to those found in Athens, Greece). The northernmost station is called “La Y” and starts at the Plaza de Toros, while the southernmost station is at Quitumbe. This line continues to be extended in the south of the city.
Ecovía
The second part of the project was implemented with the Ecovía, a trolley system consisting of large red buses that run off of diesel, thus eliminating the unsightly electric cables of the Trolebus line. The Ecovía also saved space and money when building the stations: both north-south and south-north lines are serviced by the same station, which is located within a middle lane where only Ecovía buses can run. The line starts at the Río Coca station and runs south until La Marín.
Metrobus
The last line to be integrated into the system is the Metrobus. These yellow buses serve the western side of the city and connect the stadium of popular soccer team Liga Deportiva Universitaria (LDU) with Universidad Central, the oldest university in the Americas.
Costs and Transfers
The cost of a one-way ticket on any of these three lines is $0.25 USD. Transfers can be taken at any of the stations in order to reach destinations to the north or south that are not serviced by the trolleys themselves. Buses going east-west can also be had at the stations. Transfers are not valid once you get out of the system.
Tips
- It is often easier to get a seat at any of the stations, since you can wait in a line until a bus opens up. Even so, women with children or who are pregnant, along with the elderly, should be given priority seating.
- If you must get on a crowded bus, keep personal belongings tight against your body in front of you and do not let yourself get easily distracted. Pickpockets often work in pairs or groups to distract foreigners and tourists.
- During peak hours (7-9 am and 5-7:30 pm) the buses can be extremely crowded.
- Buses run daily every 2 to 10 minutes.
- Service runs daily from about 5 am to 11 pm. (Subject to change – always check at a station before planning your route.)
