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| My-Quito.com : Travel
Tips |
- Travel in Ecuador:
Most visitors arrive
by air. On a clear day the arrival into Quito is spectacular
with the tops of the great volcanos rising above the clouds followed
by the descent into the city flying almost between the tower
blocks. This will change in the future with plans to build a
new modern airport on the outskirts. Unless you are being picked
up at the airport, you will have to take your chances with an
expensive airport taxi to take you to your final destination.
Taxis generally are inexpensive. As elsewhere, do ask if they
have a working meter. If not you should agree the fare in advance,
but you will probably pay over the odds. We have found that you
can travel most places around the new part of town for a couple
of dollars or so (unless you get stuck in a traffic jam), and
you can practice your Spanish with the driver!
Buses are incredibly cheap and on the routes served by the eco-bus
are the fastest way of getting around too. The eco-bus runs in
designated bus lanes down the centre of major arteries through
the city. Buy your ticket in advance for around 25c. They can
get crowded but are by far the most interesting way to move around.
Long distance buses can provide tedium and excitement in equal
measure -they can be slow, have noisy stereos and tend not to
slow down for bends on mountain roads.
Driving in Quito for the first time is not for the faint-hearted.
It can be great when you get out of town on the quieter roads
though. A couple of basic rules -roads running on the north-south
axis have right of way, and always do as directed by the traffic
police, unless you want an on-the-spot fine.
Hire cars are readily available, although can be expensive (cars
are expensive to buy in Ecuador). Make sure you know exactly
what insurance is being offered. If you plan to go off-road or
into remoter areas, remember that the terrain can be punishing
to both vehicles and occupants.
- Useful Links
- Flights
and airlines -information
on Quito airport and airlines serving Ecuador.
- Car
hire -where to hire everything
from a four wheel drive to a Mercedes in Quito.
- Bus
and trains -using the
public transport systems.
- Yachts
and Cruises -charter
yachts and cruisers in the Galapagos.
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- Avenue
of the Volcanos
- The peaks of the great volcanoes
including Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Tunguruhua, Sangay and the Illinizas
can be seen in the distance as you fly into Quito.
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- Books online:
- The Rough Guide to Ecuador
- Edition 3
- Harry Ades and Melissa Graham
- Paperback - 25 Jan 2007
- Price in UK pounds
- Price in US dollars
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The books featured on this page are a few of
the available titles with
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