Social ConventionsCasual wear is widely acceptable, other than for business. It is important to be punctual when arriving for meetings. Smart clothes are often required when visiting hotel dining rooms and better restaurants. Revealing clothes should not be worn in towns.
Photography: A tip may be requested if you wish to take someone’s photograph and it is better to seek permission first.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe main airlines are
TAME (EQ) (website:
www.tame.com.ec) and
LANEcuador (XL)
(website:
www.lanecuador.net).
Air Passesoneworld Visit South America Pass: valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines are
Aer Lingus (EI),
American Airlines (AA),
British Airways (BA),
Cathay Pacific (CX),
Finnair (AY),
Iberia (IB),
LAN (LA) and
Qantas (QF). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to 34 cities. A minimum of three flights must be booked, with a maximum of 20; prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.
Departure TaxUS$25.
Main AirportsQuito (UIO) (Mariscal Sucre) (website:
www.quitoairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) from the city center.
To/from the airport: Buses and shuttles operate frequently (journey time – 20-30 minutes). Return is from Avenida 10 de Agosto. Taxis are also available.
Facilities: Tourist information, VIP lounge, public telephones, medical service, bars, car hire, duty-free shops, banks/currency exchanges and restaurants.
Guayaquil (GYE) (Simón Bolívar) (website:
www.tagsa.aero) is 5km (3 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: There are bus and taxi services into the city.
Facilities: Banks/currency exchanges, postal service, VIP lounge, duty-free shops and restaurants.
Getting There by WaterMain port: Guayaquil is the main port in Ecuador for both passengers and freight (website:
www.puertodeguayaquil.com). There are
passenger/cargo services from Europe, which take around 20 to 22 days, and from the USA.
Getting There by RoadThe Pan-American Highway bisects the country. It begins at the Colombian border in the Carchi province and runs south on to Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca, Loja and ending at Macará near the border with Peru. Part of the highway is toll-administered and the condition of the road is mostly quite good. However, it mainly goes through mountains, making it fairly dangerous to drive.
Bus: Panamericana Internacional operates direct services to Venezuela, and connections to Colombia, Perú, Chile and Argentina (tel: (2) 250 1585).
Rutas de América operates direct services once or twice a week to Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, with connections to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile (tel: (2) 254 8142). Visitors should remember to carry their passports at all times as there may be frequent checks, both within Ecuador and at border crossings.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Ecuador without incurring customs duty:
300 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200g of tobacco;
1l of alcohol;
a reasonable amount of perfume;
gifts and personal effects up to US$200 (for stays of up to seven days) or US$300 (for stays of eight days up to six months).
a) Prior permission is required for the import of fresh or dry meat, uncanned meat products and all plants and vegetables. b) The export of gold bars or antiques is prohibited.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThe national airline,
TAME (EQ) (website:
www.tame.com.ec), flies frequently between Guayaquil, Quito and other destinations throughout the country. A number of small airlines serve the coast and eastern part of the country. Flying is the usual mode of transport for intercity travel. Other airports include
Coca,
Cuenca,
Esmeraldas,
Lago Agrio and
Manta.
Galápagos Islands There are daily flights to the Galápagos Islands on national airlines from both Quito and Guayaquil; note that there is a national park admission charge, payable in cash only. The main airports in the Galápagos are
Baltra and
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Getting Around by WaterEcuador’s rocky coastline makes coast-hopping an inefficient and even dangerous means of transport for visitors. Several navigable rivers flow eastwards into the Amazon basin. Dugout canoes, which carry up to about 25 people, are widely used as a means of transport in roadless areas, particularly in the Oriente jungles and in the northwest coastal regions. Tourist boats, luxury cruisers, converted fishing boats and hired yachts can all be used to travel between the Galápagos Islands.
Getting Around by RailFrequent landslides and lack of funding are some of the causes of the railway system becoming almost completely redundant. The only service run by the
Empresa de Nacional Ferrocarriles del Estado (Ecuador State Railways) to remain is the famous
Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose), which makes a spectacular mountain descent on its route between Riobamba (train station tel: (03) 961 909) and Sibambe.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. An extensive network of roads spreads out from the main north–south axis of the
Panamericana (Pan-American Highway). Roads can have variable conditions, particularly in the highlands, due to the terrain and weather; potholes and cracks in the road are sometimes sizeable.
Bus: Long-distance buses leave from the
terminal terrestre (central bus station). Tickets are inexpensive and should be bought in advance to secure a seat. Long-distance coaches can be very comfortable and air-conditioned. Other modes include
busetas (minibuses that travel long distances quickly) and converted pick-up trucks. The standards of buses decrease in rural areas. Travelers are advised to keep their passports with them at all times as police checks are common. Keep luggage within sight. It is not recommended to travel at night.
Taxis: These are widely available, particularly in larger cities and towns. Fares tend to be low but should be negotiated in advance. Taxis are metered in Quito, but rarely elsewhere. Taxis may be hired for a whole day. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Car hire: International and local car hire companies operate in Ecuador. 4-wheel drive is necessary for some areas. Drivers need to be at least 25 years old and have a major credit card for the deposit. There is a lack of road markings and signage, so driving at night is particularly best avoided.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 100kph (63mph) on highways and around 50kph (30mph) in urban areas, unless otherwise indicated. There are strong penalties for even the most minor driving offences.
Documentation: An international driving license is not required, insurance is.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesGuayaquil and Quito have bus and minibus services operating at flat fares. Buses usually have a board in the window displaying their route.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Quito to other major cities and towns in Ecuador.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Guayaquil | 0.50 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
| Cuenca | 1.30 | 9.30 | - |
| Esmeraldas | 1.00 | 7.00 | - |
| Puerto Ayora | 2.30 | - | - |
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