Getting Around Ecuador

Road Network and Traffic

As in many regions, while Ecuador’s road network is far from fully paved, it has been steadily improving for several years. The Pan-American Highway crossing the country and the routes between major cities are in fairly good condition (and locally tolled, though not excessively), even if maintenance can sometimes be lacking.

Elsewhere, in rural areas, roads are naturally less well-maintained and may require a four-wheel-drive vehicle at times. Additionally, during the rainy season, some secondary routes can be cut off due to flooding or landslides. As is often the case on the continent, road rules and signage in Ecuador can be somewhat unpredictable. Outside urban areas, it’s best to avoid driving at night.

Car Rental

While not essential for exploring the country, renting a vehicle is an option some choose when traveling in a group or seeking total freedom. You can rent a car with or without a driver, provided you’re at least 25 years old. With various international and local companies available, there’s some competition on prices, though you should also pay close attention to additional insurance, its coverage, and deductibles, which can make a big difference in case of an issue. In short, expect around $40 USD per day for a basic vehicle and at least double that for a four-wheel-drive, which is primarily useful if you plan to venture off the beaten path.

For safety, it’s highly recommended to avoid driving at night and necessary to use guarded parking lots without leaving anything inside. As for crossing borders with a rental vehicle, very few companies allow it, and in such cases, it’s best to request written confirmation from the agency permitting it. Lastly, road checks are quite frequent and often strict in Ecuador.

Beyond traditional car rental, there’s also the alternative of hiring a taxi or any other vehicle with a driver for the day as needed. In any case, this makes life easier compared to a "traditional" rental (driving, deposit, handling issues, etc.) and won’t end up being excessively expensive. After all, you’ll only pay for the days you actually need a vehicle.

Buses and Shared Vehicles

Buses

Buses remain an excellent way to explore Ecuador, which is a small country by South American standards. The network is well-developed, with numerous competing companies and routes covering almost everywhere. Additionally, frequencies are high, so you generally won’t have to wait long before departure. Except for Quito, which has two (Quitumbe in the south and Carcelen in the north), cities have at most a single bus terminal.

In practice, you’ll find a choice of basic buses/minibuses (the most common), which are a bit slow and crowded, and others that are more upscale ("Ejecutivo"), ideal for overnight trips or long journeys. In any case, fares remain very affordable, roughly $2–3 USD for every 100 km at the cheapest. On the road, keep an eye on your luggage and don’t let go of your valuables. As for "equipment" to bring, always pack at least a light layer for the air conditioning (if available) and especially the altitude, as well as an eye mask and earplugs for overnight trips.

Note that in terms of vehicle variations, you’ll also find, mainly in rural areas, trucks or pickups converted into buses (the rancheras), as well as the famous chivas, colorful minibuses typical of Colombia and Ecuador. However, these are tending to disappear—or serve as tourist transport—in favor of more "classic" and modern vehicles.

Trucks

As in other Andean countries, trucks can sometimes serve as an alternative to buses. It’s more or less paid (cheaper than the bus), and you travel depending on the space, either in the cabin or in the back. For tourists, it’s more of an "experience" or a solution to compensate for a lack of other transport options than a mode of travel to consider for getting around the country.

Cycling

As in other Andean countries in the region, cycling is far from ideal for traveling, given the elevation, altitude, climate, traffic, and other inconveniences. That’s why this mode of transport is primarily for the most motivated or for very local rides.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is practiced in areas poorly or inadequately served by transport (sometimes for a fee), particularly with trucks. So, there’s nothing stopping you from trying it occasionally, though the very low cost of transport doesn’t require traveling this way in the country.

Trains

While at one time there was still some hope for trains as a mode of transport in the country, things have since changed. With the disappearance of the national company Ferrocarriles del Ecuador in 2020, the entire public network and imagined projects came to an end.

Today, only two tourist lines remain: the Tren Tayta Imbabura, which offers a short tourist route in the north (around Ibarra) to discover the local heritage, and the famous Nariz del Diablo. This "Devil’s Nose" is the legendary line between Alausi and Sibambe, zigzagging through the mountains, with two weekly departures, 2.5 to 3 hours of travel, and around $30 USD for a full-price ticket. In short, trains in Ecuador are purely for tourism and not for getting around.

Boats

The Amazon

As in all countries with a portion of Amazon Rainforest, boats or more simply canoes are ubiquitous in this part of Ecuadorian territory where roads are rare. In fact, they’re often the only means of transport between villages, aside from small planes at times.

In practice, these boats operate much like buses, with (more or less) set schedules and routes, or they can be chartered on demand. In any case, or at least for the smallest boats or canoes, bring something to protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes, as well as to wrap your belongings. Note that from Ecuador, you can reach the Iquitos region in Peru via the various rivers in 8 days, then continue down the Amazon River to its mouth in Brazil.

The Coast

Along the Pacific coast, there are also plenty of opportunities to travel along the shoreline or on rivers. Here too, the landscape sometimes means there are no roads, or that river/sea access remains the fastest option.

The Galapagos

While the Galapagos are explored by water, you can only reach them by air for public transport. There is no ferry between the archipelago and the mainland, and cargo ships that regularly supply the islands are not allowed to take passengers.

However, sailors are permitted to visit the Galapagos with their yachts. Nevertheless, be aware that maritime access and movement within the marine park are highly regulated. It’s therefore essential to research thoroughly beforehand, starting with the official Galapagos Park website.

Once there, transport options on the water are plentiful. Between the inhabited islands, you’ll find public shuttles, and for the others, visits are regulated and require booking organized boat tours. So, the transport issue during these doesn’t arise.

Domestic Flights

In addition to numerous local airfields, Ecuador has around twenty airports with at least one regular connection, usually to Quito and/or Guayaquil, operated by a local airline. As a result, to travel between two "secondary" cities, you’ll most often need to connect. That said, except for going to the Galapagos or traveling from Loja (in the south) to Quito, flying isn’t necessarily essential given the relatively short distances between cities. At most, it’s a great way to admire the stunning Andean landscapes from the sky.

In terms of prices, domestic flights aren’t expensive. Most often, a flight from the capital to any other city will cost around $100 USD one way. The only exception—and a major one—is access to the Galapagos, which is quite expensive for foreign visitors, who pay a surcharge compared to nationals. For this route, expect between $250 and $500 USD for a round trip, depending on the season, and don’t hesitate to book early, especially since local travel agencies regularly block seat allocations for their clients, making it difficult for individual travelers to get good prices.

Local Airlines

These are the only ones offering domestic flights.

• Avianca Ecuador: This is a subsidiary of the Colombian airline Avianca. It serves around ten Ecuadorian cities on its domestic routes.

• Emetebe: This very small airline only operates three or four internal routes within the Galapagos.

• LATAM Ecuador: The local subsidiary of LATAM limits its domestic services to the essentials: Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Cuenca, and the Galapagos.

Taxis in Cities

Yellow taxis are quite numerous in cities and generally have working meters in Quito and Guayaquil; otherwise, you’ll need to negotiate the fare beforehand. In general, prices aren’t excessive, and you can expect to pay between $2 USD (short trip) and $5–6 USD (long trip) for a daytime urban ride. As in many countries, taxis can also be hired by the hour or day for sightseeing; in the end, this usually costs less than renting a car, with the added bonus of fewer "hassles."

What to Choose for Getting Around?

While the bus is the most practical way to get around, other modes also offer some advantages, like flying for those stunning views of the Andes (worth trying at least once) and boats in the Amazon region, where there aren’t many other options.

In short, you can mostly travel by bus while treating yourself to a flight or occasionally hiring a vehicle for off-the-beaten-path visits. But given the country’s small size, travel times between places will never be very long, nor will the costs be too high.

Distances Between Cities

Distances (km) between the main cities in the country: