Getting Around - Taxi, Car Rental or Trolley - Transportation
Plus, I'm getting used to hopping on buses. They're usually far less crowded than the trolleys. I work on following my own advice: Let the driver know where you want to go to be sure you're in the right bus until you learn the route. Always watch your belongings. I leave the car rentals to the fearless. As of June 14, 2010, there is a high alert in crime and violence from the U.S. Embassy, particularly in Manta, Otavalo, Cuenca and Quito, and, as usual, Guayaquil. In Quito, I haven't noticed. Also, the train offers an exciting option to some destinations in Ecuador. Trolleys, Eco Villa, El Metro Bus or El Trole, operate to get you as close as possible to your destination throughout Quito. Your determination is the limit. Wherever you get off, a taxi drive turns out to be much shorter than from your original place of boarding. Which trolley to take can be determined with a must-have street map. If you're sure you know what you're doing, and horrendous congestion doesn't bother you - with pedestrians jaywalking everywhere - you can try one of several rental car agencies. When I first arrived in Quito, I only rode taxis. Why not? For two dollars or less, I could explore wherever I wanted in my neighborhood and all the way to the shopping malls with a chauffeur even! From the airport to my bed and breakfast cost me $8.00, but a van from the same place picked me up, luggage and all, at no cost... only a $1 tip. Of course, with the congestion worse now, it slows the taxi, but the meter keeps on ticking. From my apartment to the airport costs $8.00 in the wee hours of the morning, but I'd rather pay it to Angel who gives me extra special service, and, of course, he earns a special tip. That price lasts until October 2010 when the new airport outside the city makes its grand entrance. ---It's been postponed to November 2011--Now, it's up in the air!--Pun intended. - I guess after all the political problems are ironed out. But contractors are back to work.--- I quickly discovered that not all taxis render the same service. Radio taxis and/or those with a meter assure safety. A big number must be visible to the outside on the windshield with the company name on the side. Quito boasts over 8,800 registered, licensed taxicab companies competing. Those with no number haven't registered for a license and the meter's missing. Most places I've gone to around the city - and that's a lot of places - cost me under $3.00 before the traffic slowed the taxis down. Ask the driver before you get in. He'll either quote a fare or tell you he goes by the meter. I once hopped into a meter-less cab without thinking. Not only did the jerk drop me off at the wrong address and I had to walk a long way, but I spent more. No number on the windshield can also be dangerous with incidents of robbery highly possible in this scenario. I'm not brave enough, nor do I know the system well enough to drive a rental in the city. Drivers cut in all the time with a mere honk of the horn. I'm told the law always takes the side of the locals. During rush hour in the historic center, traffic barely crawls and walking gets you there faster! The right of way belongs to the vehicles, so pedestrians sometimes express fears of being flattened! Drivers, though, display courtesy as a rule. They'll honk! The Pico y Placa program is working. That's where the driving is designated by license plate numbers for every other day. That's why walking, the bus or the trole seems to me the best way for getting around except that the trole can be packed too tight for comfort, but the short wait for the next one or even the one after the next one takes care of that. I shared a cab with two other people from Otavalo to Quito, and the cost was about $8.00. Taxi Lago on Flores 9-24 y Sanchez y Cifuentes takes you north of the city. You can get to Taxi Lago in a regular city cab. For getting around the countryside, you probably do need a car rental unless, of course, you take a group tour. With so much sightseeing and things to do in Ecuador, it's well worth it. Even renting a car, I strongly stress to opt for group travel. If you choose the bus, watch your belongings carefully. I only ride the bus a short distance inside Quito. Outside of Quito, I take a local friend. But in all fairness, once, when I reached my stop by bus and I walked towards the door to get off, someone pointed out to me that I was forgetting a package. Quito never disappoints me. One time I forgot some important papers in a taxi, and all I remembered was the name on the outside of it. I frantically walked over to someone sitting by the wall and asked if he happened to see the number. He had and remembered it! I quickly called the number of the cab company, and was directed to an address. Then, I took another cab to the address which amounted to a cab parking lot. In approximately 3 hours I received my manilla envelope with my papers intact! Ecuador's statistics show very little violent crime - not so in Guayaquil or the beach areas... although there are now warnings to tourists in Quito in the Mariscal area at night. Also walking away from the teleferico on the trails -- dangerous idea, as is walking up or down El Panecillo or anywhere on the south side. Car rentals online start at $150 a week for manual transmission. If you rent one at the airport, depending on availability, I recommend checking before you leave.
Buses or taxis serve me for transportation in la colonial or for short trips, but outside the city, it's Quinde Adventure tours for getting around, and I leave the driving to the angel of a guide, Angel Rea.
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