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General Information
There are some spots where buses dare not venture
and can only be reached by 4-wheel drive, on bicycle
or by foot. Secondly, Ecuadorian roads are undergoing
extreme maintenance nationwide in some instances
increasing the number of lanes from 2 to 8.
In order to legally drive in Ecuador, you need an
international driver’s license which must be used in
conjunction with a driver’s license from your home
country. Passport and credit cards are compulsory. It’s
a good idea to also have comprehensive insurance
coverage. Several car rental companies operate in
Ecuador; all charge in the region of $50 a day.
By Bus
Bus is the most common method of transportation for
Ecuadorians as well as the cheapest, they operate
with great frequency and throughout the entire
country. The best way to get used to these buses
is by reading the major destinations on the placards
on the front window of the bus and by asking the
driver and/or driver's assistant if they will be passing
by your destination. Bus drivers, especially in the
sierra, are fearless and drive very quickly towards
advancing cars. You may not want to sit at the very
front where you can see exactly what the driver is
doing. Sometimes it is better not to know! Most long-
distance buses are equipped with on board TV and
DVD entertainment as you speed around the windy
two-lane mountain roads. Only use the bus if you
cannot afford to travel by plane or to rent a car.
By Train
Despite the construction of a railway from the
Sierra to the coast in 1873 the train is only really
used for tourism. One popular thrill ride is “La Nariz
del Diablo” (the Devil's Nose) a series of switch
back tracks that run from downtown Riobamba to
Alausi where the scenery is stunning. The National
Railroad Company is trying to recover hundreds of
abandoned and unused kilometres.
By Taxi
In Quito and Guayaquil, taxis are fundamental in
getting around. They are relatively cheap, reliable
and safe. However, there are a few rules and tips you
need to familiarize yourself with first. In Quito (but not
in Guayaquil), taxis are required to have a taximetro (
taxi meter) which measures how much the passenger
must pay. Generally, the drivers keep it in the centre
of the dashboard, below the radio. Currently, the
meters start at $0.35 and go up from there. During
the daytime,taxis must use it if the passenger asks.
When dealing with foreigners, some of the more
relaxed drivers will hide it or claim that it doesn't work.
As a rule of thumb: once you flag down a cab, ask to
see the taximeter before you get in. If the driver starts
mumbling something about it being broken, get the
next cab or try to negotiate a good price.
There are some exceptions: taxis at the airport
are not required to use the taximeter and instead
negotiate directly with passengers. Before you get
in the cab, however, you should agree on the price
for your destination. It will go up if you're sitting in
the back seat when you begin to negotiate. From the
airport, expect to pay anything from $5 to the Mariscal
but more for Old Town. After 9 p.m, Quito cabs are
allowed to disconnect their taximeters and bargain
with passengers. Expect to pay about a dollar more
than you would for the same trip in the daytime.
Again, you should negotiate before you get in the
cab: never simply get in and ask how much it was
once you arrive at your destination. The buses stop
running at about 8 p.m and after that it is safer to
travel by taxis, even for very short distances.
Hitchhiking
Although this is not a common method of travel
for businessmen we included it – just in case! In a
country full of pickup trucks, hitchhiking is a fairly
common way to get around, especially in small
towns where there is no established bus system.
Some drivers, especially in larger pickup trucks
with seats and wooden walls to block the wind will
charge a small fee. You should always ask about the
price before hopping in. Although hitchhiking is more
common in Ecuador than in many other countries,
it is still not guaranteed to be safe. Use common
sense, especially if you are a woman or travelling
alone.
FOREIGN EMBASSIEs
Germany
Av. Naciones Unidas E 10-44 y
República de El Salvador,
Edif. Citiplaza, piso 12 - 14, Quito
Tel: 29 70 820 / 099 49 79 67
Fax: 29 70 815 / 29 70 816
PO 17 17 536
Foreign Embassies in Quito