Diversity, Development, and Sustainability in the Andes

Quito, Ecuador

Monday, July 23, 2012

Bus Transportation in Quito - Ecovia, Terminal Terreste, and Other Options

ECOVIA

Each evening, I take the Ecovia from my internship to my hostel near la Mariscal.  The bus travels along Avenida 6 de Deciembre from La Marin to Rio Coca.  For more information about the various stops, see the route map below.  Also, for a brief YouTube video of the Ecovia in action, visit: Ecovia in Action (Set to Music).


The Ecovia has its advantages and disadvantages.  On the positive side, at 25¢ per ride, it is very inexpensive!  Wondering if you need to have exact change?  The answer is yes and no.  The turnstile only accepts quarters but an on-site staffer will exchange your nickels, dimes, and 50¢ pieces for quarters.  I would not, however, recommend asking the staffer to break bills for you as, again, they are primarily dealing with nickels and dimes.


On the negative side, the buses get extremely crowded!  There have been several occasions where I thought there was no way even one more person could fit and, to my surprise, another six or seven people would hop aboard!  Also, the buses are prone to frequent and sudden stops so, if you are not holding on the handrails, you could fall forwards or backwards and knock down several people - picture dominoes falling.  In addition, exiting the bus can be challenge because you must push through the crowd and break through before the door closes.


You may notice that most people keep close watch over their belongings.  For example, many people wear their backpacks in front of them.  Certainly a prudent practice for all public transportation excursions!  All and all, however, the Ecovia (and other similar buses) provides an opportunity to travel great distances within the city of Quito at a low cost seven days a week. For route information about other similar buses, visit: http://www.getquitoecuador.com/quito-map-center/index.html.
Screen shot from http://www.getquitoecuador.com/quito-map-center/ecovia-quito-map.html


















READY TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF QUITO?

This past weekend, I visited a fellow AU Study Abroad adventurer staying in Cuenca, a city 8-10 hours away from Quito by bus.  Although it is also possible to fly to Cuenca, I decided to go with the cheaper route and take a Greyhound-style overnight bus for about $25 roundtrip.


Terminal Terreste - Quitumbe y Carcelén

There are two major terminal terreste, or ground transportation terminals, with buses traveling to and from Quito.
  1. Quitumbe
    • Routes that travel to southern, coastal, and Amazonian regions
    • Located at Avenida Condor Nan and Avenida Quitumbe
  2. Carcelén
    • Routes that travel north to Otavalo, Ibarra, and the Colombian border
    • Located at Avenida Eloy Alfaro near the Pan American Highway
For information about bus lines and departure times from each of these stations, visit: http://www.quito-turismo.gob.ec.  Another site with information about Quito bus terminals is http://www.volunteeringecuador.info/about-ecuador/busterminals-in-quito.html.


Flota Imbabura


For my trip, at the recommendation of a friend from Cuenca, I bought a bus ticket with a private company - Flota Imbabura.  The Flota Imbabura station is located at the corner of  Portoviejo and Manuel Larrea (about a 20-min walk or 10-min cab ride from the heart of La Mariscal).  In addition to traveling to and from Cuenca, Flota Imbabura had buses traveling to Guayaquil, Ibarra, and other cities.

I highly recommend buying your ticket at least one or two days ahead of time because, if you try and purchase a ticket on the day of, you may have to wait in line 1-2 hours to buy your ticket and many of the departure times are already booked up.  Another thing to keep in mind is that the temperatures on the buses were a bit extreme.  On the way to Cuenca, the heat was quite high but, on the way back, there was no heat and the ride was freezing!  If you have a blanket, it might be a good idea to bring it in case you experience the latter.  Overall, the bus experience was comparable to long distance buses in the U.S.  With that in mind, you can draw your own conclusions about whether or not taking a bus is the right choice for you.  Personally, if an opportunity presents itself, I will definitely take advantage of this inexpensive mode of travel in the future!


OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND?

Sure!  This post is just meant to get you started!  There are many bus lines that travel to and from Quito.  There are also taxis and private vans.  Once you start looking around, you will likely find many options!

6 comments:

  1. Today, there are two million people living in a Quito. I think, it is best to see Quito urban bus service because it is more than our expectation. We can easily get the bus transportation service in a Quito.
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