From the airport to the city centre Ecuador

There are two international airports in Ecuador: the new Tababela airport in Quito, and José Joaquin de Olmedo in Guayaquil.

If you arrive in Quito. Mariscal Sucre airport, which was located inside the city, closed in early 2013 and was replaced by Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre airport, located east of Quito, in Tababela, 37 km from the city center. Numerous services are available, including ATMs, currency exchange, restaurants, cafés and stores. Free Wi-Fi.

Many international airlines serve this airport: Air France-KLM, American Airlines and Iberia, among others. The journey to the city takes around 1 hour, depending on traffic density and the area you are travelling to. The road to the city center is perfect, which means that traffic flows very smoothly, especially when you arrive early in the morning or late at night.

To reach the historic center, expect to pay around US$25-30 by cab; for the Mariscal, Bellavista, La Carolina or La Floresta districts, expect to pay US$25 (the fare is fixed before departure; at night, expect to pay an extra US$5 for some cabs).

A public bus runs to several stations in the center (Terminal Río Coca, Terminal Quitumbe and Terminal Carcelén). It costs US$2. From there, expect to pay around US$5 to reach the center by cab or VTC. Aeroservicios is a red and white bus, more comfortable than the public bus. It will drop you off at Parque Bicentenario for US$8. Connections approximately every 30 minutes. You can then take a cab to the center of town for less than US$10.

If you arrive in Guayaquil. Guayaquil airport is about 5 km north of the city. Avianca and LATAM operate several daily flights to Quito.

The bus station is close to the airport. Buses serve the country's main cities. From the airport or bus terminal, it will cost you around US$6 to reach the city center by cab in around 15 minutes.

Arrival by train Ecuador

Unfortunately, in 2020, following serious financial problems linked to poor management of the rail network, the state declared the public company Ferrocarril de Ecuador bankrupt and stopped all train operations in the country. It took 3 long years to find private investors interested in taking over part of the network. The six most popular tourist lines are due to resume operation gradually over the course of 2024 and 2025. The first line to reopen is the most famous, linking Alausi to the famous Nariz del Diablo, on which the equipment for the resumption was tested. At the time of writing, however, there is no certainty as to the actual final resumption of operations. Of the almost 1,000 km of existing rail network, only 120 km are in working order. Many rails and accessories have been lost during this long period of non-operation.

Arrival by boat Ecuador

Manta and Guayaquil are two major ports that can be reached by boat. Numerous cruise liners call at these ports, allowing you to get off and visit the surrounding area, or to stay on if you so wish. However, it is impossible to reach the Galapagos by sea, unless you own your own ship.

Within the Galapagos, a number of high-speed motorboat lines take you from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz or Isabela, at the cost of around 3 hours of sometimes harrowing sailing.

Like all Amazonian countries, Ecuador also has a river transport network that is indispensable for visiting this difficult-to-access region. Whether departing from Port Misahualli, Napo or Tena, it's not difficult to find boats that are used here like buses, with regular timetables to reach the most remote communities.

Public transport Ecuador

Ecuador has a well-developednetwork of long-distance buses, making it possible to explore the country at low cost. Every city has its own bus station, and some, like Quito, have several. It's at the bus station that you'll get the most reliable information and be able to buy your tickets without the risk of making a mistake. Some companies have online ticketing services, but they don't always work.

In the city centers , the bus network is reliable, even if the timetables are sometimes fanciful. And beware of pick-pockets. Cabs are very common and fairly cheap. In Guayaquil, the new public transport gondola is worth a mention. It crosses the city and takes you to Duran for a modest price and with an exceptional view of the city from the air.

Bike, scooters & co Ecuador

Cycling is an excellent means of transport in the Galapagos and in small towns like Baños or on the coast. Bicycle rental companies are readily available. In Quito, you can also rent electric bikes, which are very practical in this city surrounded by peaks.

With a driver Ecuador

Today, cabs in major cities are seeing competition from VTC services take a large share of their clientele. Large platforms such as Uber are reliable, and prices are similar to those of yellow cabs (usually between US$1 and US$5 a ride in the city center).

To visit Ecuador, it's sometimes a good idea to be accompanied by a guide with a vehicle. There are many such guides, some of them French-speaking, and you can contact the guides' association or the local agencies listed on our pages.

By car Ecuador

Renting a car is an excellent way to discover the country. The roads are generally in good condition, but as soon as you leave the main roads, things get complicated. A 4X4 vehicle is ideal. The major international brands, as well as a few local car rental companies, which you'll find on our pages, offer a fairly wide choice at prices comparable to those in Europe. Beware, however, of the many speed cameras in Ecuador, so be careful and vigilant to avoid any surprises at the end of your journey! In any case, you'll find it hard to exceed an average speed of 35 km/h as you travel through the country. The roads are in good condition, but there are many trucks slowing down traffic, so there's no point in running!

On Ecuadorian roads, you will often be overtaken by other vehicles as you drive along a white line. Don't be surprised, but don't follow the example - it's just an illegal and dangerous habit.

Accessibility Ecuador

Many of the country's sites are designed to accommodate people with reduced mobility, and hotels of all sizes are required to provide access and accommodation. The law provides for free public transport for people with reduced mobility, but this is rarely applied, and only on certain long-distance routes. On the other hand, disabled people who can justify it are entitled to a 50% discount on domestic flights.