How To Travel Around Ecuador (Without Renting a Car!)
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WONDERING HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND ECUADOR WITHOUT A CAR?
If you’re wondering how to navigate Ecuador, this post is for you. Before backpacking Ecuador for two months in 2024, I had no idea what to expect from public transportation. However, when I got there, I was pleasantly surprised that you can go almost anywhere you want without a rental car! Let’s dive in.
How To Travel Ecuador Without a Rental Car: An Overview
The public transportation options in Ecuador are honestly impressive, but maybe that’s just the American in me speaking (they’re pretty limited in the US). Dylan and I backpacked throughout central Ecuador for two months and never needed a rental car. We traveled between five cities, took plenty of day trips, and got along just fine. Here are the transportation options we’ll cover today:
How To Travel Ecuador Without a Rental Car
Dylan and I are budget travelers, so we wanted to get around Ecuador as cheaply as possible. Whether you relate to that or are just curious about what transportation options there are in the country, here’s a quick breakdown: you can travel via plane (obviously), buses, taxis, tour buses, and Uber (yay!). We’ll dive deeper into the specifics of each, including some cost-saving tips and our preferred booking platforms, below!
In a Hurry? Here’s What We Recommend…
Plane
Air travel is the most obvious way to get to Ecuador and other large city hubs. The most common places (and the cheapest) to fly into Ecuador are Guayaquil and Quito. If you want to explore Ecuador’s coastline or the Galapagos, Guayaquil is a great place to fly into. However, as of 2024, Ecuador’s coastline was considered one of the more “dangerous” parts of the country, so do your research before deciding.
Dylan and I flew into Quito and would recommend the capital as a starting point for anybody unsure. It’s located in the central northern part of the country, so you can easily travel to the rainforest, mountains, or coastline from there if you desire. Of the places we visited in Ecuador, I highly recommend a trip to Quito – it’s well worth it.
Several domestic airlines operate within Ecuador, including LATAM (one of the bigger airlines), Avianca Ecuador, Equair, Ecuador Plus, and more.
Insider’s Tip: Dylan and I scored tickets to Quito from the US for less than $294 each! Our advice? Book through Expedia for the cheapest prices and book 6-8 months beforehand. If you can, book a multi-city trip for more affordable prices (we flew from Minneapolis to North Carolina before Quito!)
Buses
Buses are the most common, convenient, and cheapest way to travel around Ecuador. Buses operate in the city, regionally, and internationally by crossing the border. Each city will have different bus companies operating with different schedules, but I found, for the most part, that you can find all that information easily online. Here’s more information:
Inner City Buses
While Dylan and I never took inner city buses (we walked or Ubered everywhere), we constantly saw them operating. You can generally expect to pay about a quarter ($0.25) for a bus trip, depending on what city you’re in and where you’re going. You can pay cash once you get on or off the buses.
We were warned not to take these as tourists, as you can be seen as a target for theft, though we got that warning for every form of transportation, and we never had any issues. If you take inner-city buses, have your phone in your front pocket, be aware, and use good judgment.
Regional Buses
When traveling between cities, regional buses were our best friends. There are Terminal Terrestres (main bus terminals) in every town in Ecuador, where you can find bus tickets to other larger cities. There is really no need to book in advance. Once you are at the terminal, ticket operators will call out their destinations to sell you their seats.
One thing I will warn you about regional buses is taking them during the rainy season. We had a bus going from Tena to Baños one rainy afternoon/evening, and when we went on a mountainous road, we got stuck between two landslides overnight. It was a scary situation, so I’d recommend booking your bus tickets on sunnier days during the rainy season if possible, especially if you’ll be driving through mountainous territory!
Insider Tip: I always looked at Rome2Rio to find bus schedules. Even if Rome2Rio doesn’t show you the exact schedule, it’ll give you bus company names (which I then searched for on Facebook). I could usually find the schedules there. If I really wanted to book in advance, I used BusBud.
International Buses
Ecuador borders two countries: Peru and Colombia. If you’re wondering if you can cross the border by bus, the answer depends on which country you’re going to. You can take a bus directly across the border into Peru, but for Colombia, it’ll be a combination of buses and taxis.
We crossed the border from Ecuador into Peru, and it was a simple and easy border-crossing experience. We entered via La Balsa (from Vilcabamba), but there are other border crossings like Huaquillas-Aguas Verdes (from Guayaquil) and La Tina-Macará (from Macará). To cross into Colombia, you can take a bus to the border town of Rumichacha, take a taxi to the immigration office, and then proceed to Ipiales, where you can take your next bus to whatever destination you choose.
Taxis
When in doubt, you can always take a taxi. However, this isn’t the first option I would choose if you’re on a budget, but if you’re running short on time or need a direct route somewhere, there are taxis in every major city in Ecuador. Before you get into the taxi, ask if they operate via meter or by set price.
In larger cities, they usually operate by meter, but I’ve had bunkmates say they’ve gotten ripped off because non-city taxis charged them a fixed rate. In smaller cities, taxis usually operate at a fixed price (as we found in Mindo, Ecuador). Always make sure they have a taxi license plate before you get into the vehicle, or when in doubt, ask your hotel/hostel to call you a reputable taxi to ensure you’ll get a fair price.
Uber’s
I’d recommend Ubering in Ecuador if you have the chance versus getting a taxi. To my surprise, Uber was usually cheaper than taxis and, in my opinion, safer. If you’re splitting the price with a few people, it’s also worth it to get an Uber. The only difference between Uber in the US and Ecuador is that you’ll receive a 4-digit code that you’ll need to give the driver to verify it’s you – a great addition for extra security, in my opinion!
Metro & Metrovía
The Metro is a great way to get around if you’re looking for an affordable transportation option in Quito. It operates the same way as any metro or bus station. As of 2024, only one line (Line 1) will take you from north to south, but there are plans to expand the system. Hopefully, more lines will be available in the future! There are fifteen stops, and it costs about $0.45 per ride (you don’t even need a card!).
Guayaquil doesn’t currently have a metro system, but they do have the Metrovía, a rapid bus transit system. There are seventeen different routes, 355 stops, and four main terminals: Río Daule, El Guasmo, Bastión Popular, and Av. 25 de Julio. The use of the metrovía card is mandatory in some stations. You can purchase a card for $2. A one-way trip will cost you around $0.25.
Tours
If you want to book a tour to a certain destination, tour companies will almost always include transportation in the cost. Tour buses are usually vans that can transport around 6 to 15 people. If you want to visit a destination and prefer direct transportation and a guide, booking a tour is the best route.
Insider Tip: You can usually get a better price by booking a tour through your hostel/hotel, but if you want to book a tour in advance, our favorite booking platforms are Viator and GetYourGuide. While GetYourGuide is great, Viator typically has more options and cheaper prices.
Walking
One of the cheapest ways to explore a city? Walking! Ecuador is a very walkable country, especially in small towns and larger cities. You’ll want to be careful in larger cities because the sidewalks and roads are pretty narrow, so you’ll need to be spatially aware of the buses and cars on the road (and the people coming your way!). Make sure you’re looking out for uneven sidewalks and potholes, too! You’d be surprised by how many times I tripped simply walking.
Hitchhiking
While Dylan and I didn’t hitchhike a ton in Ecuador, it’s a fairly common practice to hop in the bed of someone’s pick-up truck to catch a ride. We did this in Mindo while catching a ride from the Tarabita Cable Car! I’ve heard it’s pretty easy to hitchhike, and locals are friendly to those looking for a ride. However, I don’t have much experience in this department, so make sure you exercise caution if you opt to go this route!
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FAQs: How To Travel Ecuador Without a Car
Great! Now that we’ve covered some ways to get around Ecuador without a rental car (buses, planes, metros, walking, hitchhiking, and tours), I’ll answer some commonly asked questions – in case yours haven’t been answered yet.
Do you need a car in Ecuador?
While you most certainly can rent a car in Ecuador (our favorite booking platform is Rentalcars.com), you definitely don’t need to. Ecuador has a vast amount of public transportation options available at your fingertips, and it’s very easy to get around the country using them.
Is it safe to self-drive in Ecuador?
While Dylan and I never drove in Ecuador, we met travelers who did, and they didn’t seem to have any troubles. It’s generally safe to drive in Ecuador, other than the typical potholes and speedy drivers. However, I will warn travelers to avoid mountainous routes during the rainy season due to the threat of landslides, if possible.
How do people travel from one place to another in Ecuador?
There are many ways to travel from one place to another in Ecuador, including planes, buses, tours, metros, walking, hitchhiking, and renting a car. While renting a car can give you freedom, Dylan and I found that it wasn’t entirely necessary because public transportation options are vast and flexible in Ecuador.
Still Thinking About a Rental Car? Check Prices at Rentalcars.com Here!
Wrapping Up: How To Travel Ecuador Without a Rental Car
There you have it – all the ways you can travel within Ecuador without a rental car. Ecuador is a country with a ton of fantastic public transportation options. These include planes, buses, Uber and taxis, tour buses, walking, hitchhiking, metro systems, and more. Every city you visit will have a slightly different system, so do your city-specific research beforehand!
For example, inner-city buses will have different routes and schedules in different places. There are many bus companies for traveling regionally, and taxis will either have metered or fixed prices based on your location. You can use the Metro in Quito or the Metrovía in Guayaquil. No matter where you’re going, you’ll be just fine without a rental car in this amazing South American country.
While a rental car offers flexibility, it’s definitely not necessary and can rack up avoidable costs for your trip. Everyone’s travel style is different, but you can get around Ecuador easily with a little bit of planning and inspiration! Happy travels!