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Quito – Mindo: 2.5 hours of trip Monday – Friday: 8 am and 3:45 pm Saturday: 7:20 am, 8:20 am, 9:20 am, 4 pm Sunday: 7:20 am, 8:20 am, 9 am, 2 pm, 5 pm The bus trip costs $2.50 Usd and does not take you to Mindo itself. You need to take another vehicle to reach the city, and it costs $0.50 or 3 Usd depending on if you get a pickup ride or taxi shared with other people, Mindo is a 20 minute walk from the Calacali – La Independencia main road. Try to book your return ticket in advance or you may end up staying there an extra day.
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Quito – Cayambe: 1.5 hours Every day, every few minutes from Carcelen – Ofelia Station. Price $0.50 Usd per person, from Cayambe to Otavalo 45 minutes trip, $ 0,35. Buses returning to Quito goall day long until 20h00. Ask the police where to take the bus securely. To get to the Cayambe volcano and climb it, we strongly recommend hiring a climbing or trekking tour operator with ASEGUIM as it is quite easy to get lost on the glacier and there can be snow storms. |
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Quito – Machachi The best place to climb and trek around Cotopaxi, Ilinizas, Corazon, Atacazo, Sincholagua, Rumiñahui, Quilindaña volcanoes and peaks is to stay in Machachi or in nearby lodges and haciendas. Buses depart from terminal Quitumbe and cost just $ 0.45. They take 45 minutes to reach Machachi. You can get buses all day long because this is along the main road to Quito. Try to take the bus between 06.00 to 20.00 for security reasons. From Machachi to the Illinizas peaks refuge takes almost 8 hours to walk from El Chaupi town, located 8 kilometers from Machachi heading south. Rent a truck to take you there. It will cost $10 per traveller. It is even better to go with a guide from ASEGUIM. |
Quito – Latacunga - Lasso Latacunga is a nice place to rest up in nearby Haciendas. The bus trip to Latacunga takes 2 hours from Quito and costs $2. Quito – Saquisili Market (Thursday live market) Take the bus at Quitumbe southern station. There are a lot of choices. It takes 2.5 hours and costs $2.50.From Latacunga to Saquisili market, buses depart every 20 minutes near to the central market and take almost 25 minutes to reach the city access way. From there you must take a bus or a truck driver can give you a ride to the center of the city where the market is. It it will cost just $0.50
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Latacunga – Quilotoa loop From Latacunga buses depart daily at 11h30 am. On the northern route, buses go to Chugchilan (just 25 minutes away from Quilotoa Crater) via Sigchos. This bus passes through Saquisili (12h00 pm) and then to Sigchos (14h00) on the way to Chugchilan. The alternative southern way is via Zumbahua, passing through at 13h30. The cost is $2 per person on any of the routes. Both routes take 4 hours. The return from Chugchilan is not quite so easy so plan carefully. There are daily departures in the mornings. The regular ones are: Every day: buses depart at 3.00 am via Sigchos and 4 am via Zumbahua heading to Latacunga. The long way to leave Chugchilan is vía la Mana and is used in the rainy season (Oct – Jun) when access via the northern and southern roads are difficult. It takes almost 7 hours and takes you to to La Mana, Quevedo city. From there it is possible to transfer to a Quito bus (8 hours or to to to Guayaquil (2 hours).
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Quito – Cotopaxi National Park Located just 2 hours south of Quito, the southern entrance to the park is located a few kilometers away from Machachi. There is another option near to Machachi called the northern entrance. By Car: The second way is the same - drive south from Quito but then drive through Machachi for 30 more minutes. Before approaching Lasso, there is a sign at your left that indicates the entrance to the Cotopaxi National Park. It is a small dirt road that will take you in 30 minutes up to the main entrance of the park. Entrance Fees
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Quito to Baños Buses depart every 20 minutes from the Quitumbe terminal in the south of Quito. The trip takes almost 4 hours, because the buses take a lot of passengers and many of the buses stop several times along the way. The price per passenger is $3 and it is better to travel in the daytime to have opportunity to see the incredible landscapes of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. On a clear day you can see 10 volcanoes, and in Baños the impressive and active Tungurahua volcano could give you an explosive eruption when you arrive. |
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Domestic Flights
Domestic flights are not available to any of the cities except Quito. Flights leave from Cuenca, Guayaquil and Manta to Quito. The price is approximately 100 Usd plus 22% in taxes and fares. Air trips from the Amazon basin cities to Quito cost almost the same.
TAME, an Ecuadorian domestic airline has the following flights from Quito to Cuenca for approximately $65 to $80 one way, including taxes:
|
QUITO - CUENCA |
173 |
Mon to Sat |
7:15 |
|
155 |
Mon to Fri |
14:00 |
|
|
173 |
Sun |
9:45 |
|
|
155 |
Sat and Sun |
14:30 |
|
|
175 |
Sun and Mon |
17:15 |
|
|
179 |
Friday |
18:30 |
|
|
CUENCA - QUITO |
172 |
Mon to Sat |
8:30 |
|
154 |
Mon to Fri |
15:15 |
|
|
172 |
Sun |
11:00 |
|
|
154 |
Sat and Sun |
15:45 |
|
|
174 |
Sun and Mon |
18:30 |
|
|
178 |
Friday |
19:45 |
Tame flights from Quito to Guayaquil one way range from $70 to $90:
|
Monday to Friday |
||||||
|
QUITO - GUAYAQUIL |
GUAYAQUIL - QUITO |
|||||
|
Departs |
Arrives |
Departs |
Arrives |
|||
|
6:30 |
7:15 |
7:00 |
7:45 |
|||
|
7:30 |
8:15 |
8:00 |
8:45 |
|||
|
8:30 |
9:15 |
8:40 |
9:25 |
|||
|
9:30 |
10:15 |
9:15 |
10:00 |
|||
|
10:30 |
11:15 |
13:00 |
13:45 |
|||
|
13:00 |
13:45 |
14:30 |
15:15 |
|||
|
15:30 |
16:15 |
15:00 |
15:45 |
|||
|
16:30 |
17:15 |
15:30 |
16:15 |
|||
|
17:30 |
18:15 |
17:00 |
17:45 |
|||
|
19:00 |
19:45 |
18:55 |
19:40 |
|||
|
20:30 |
21:15 |
20:30 |
21:15 |
|||
|
Saturday |
||||||
|
QUITO - GUAYAQUIL |
GUAYAQUIL - QUITO |
|||||
|
Departs |
Arrives |
Departs |
Arrives |
|||
|
8:30 |
9:15 |
8:00 |
8:45 |
|||
|
9:30 |
10:15 |
11:50 |
12:35 |
|||
|
10:30 |
11:15 |
13:00 |
13:45 |
|||
|
13:00 |
13:45 |
16:00 |
16:45 |
|||
|
15:30 |
16:15 |
17:00 |
17:45 |
|||
|
16:30 |
17:15 |
19:00 |
19:45 |
|||
|
17:30 |
18:15 |
|
|
|||
|
Sunday |
||||||
|
QUITO - GUAYAQUIL |
GUAYAQUIL - QUITO |
|||||
|
Departs |
Arrives |
Departs |
Arrives |
|||
|
8:30 |
9:15 |
8:40 |
9:25 |
|||
|
10:30 |
11:15 |
10:30 |
11:15 |
|||
|
13:30 |
14:15 |
13:00 |
13:45 |
|||
|
15:30 |
16:15 |
15:00 |
15:45 |
|||
|
16:30 |
17:15 |
17:00 |
17:45 |
|||
|
17:30 |
18:15 |
18:55 |
19:40 |
|||
|
19:00 |
19:45 |
20:30 |
21:15 |
|||
|
20:30 |
21:15 |
|
|
|||
Flights from Quito to Santa Rosa:
|
QUITO - ST.ROSA |
Mon., Wed., Fri. |
6:00 |
|
Friday |
16:30 |
|
|
ST.ROSA - QUITO |
Mon., Wed., Fri. |
7:30 |
|
Friday |
17:50 |
They offer the following flights from Quito to Loja for approximately $95 one way, including taxes:
|
QUITO - LOJA
|
Mon to Sat |
5:45 |
|
Mon to Sat |
8:40 |
|
|
Sun |
6:30 |
|
|
Sun to Fri |
16:30 |
|
|
LOJA - QUITO
|
Mon to Sat |
7:05 |
|
Mon to Sat |
10:00 |
|
|
Sun |
7:50 |
|
|
Sun to Fri |
17:50 |
Tame also has flights from Quito to Esmeralda as follows:
|
QUITO-ESMERALDAS
|
Mon, Weds, Fri |
10:30 |
|
Sun-Fri |
15:20 |
|
|
Sat |
10:00 |
|
|
ESMERALDAS-QUITO
|
Mon, Weds, Fri |
15:15 |
|
Sun-Fri |
16:20 |
|
|
Sat |
11:00 |
TAME has the following flights to the Amazon:
|
QUITO-COCA |
Mon. – Fri. |
07:00 |
|
Mon. – Fri. |
09:00 |
|
|
Mon. – Fri. |
11:00 |
|
|
Mon. – Fri. |
16:00 |
|
|
Saturday |
10:00 |
|
|
Saturday |
12:00 |
|
|
Sunday |
14:00 |
|
|
COCA-QUITO |
Mon. – Fri. |
08:00 |
|
Mon. – Fri. |
10:00 |
|
|
Mon. – Fri. |
12:00 |
|
|
Mon. – Fri. |
17:00 |
|
|
Saturday |
11:00 |
|
|
Saturday |
13:00 |
|
|
Sunday |
15:00 |
|
QUITO-LAGO AGRIO |
Mon. – Fri. |
10:00 |
|
Saturday |
12:00 |
|
|
Friday |
16:30 |
|
|
LAGO AGRIO-QUITO |
Mon. – Fri. |
11:00 |
|
Saturday |
13:00 |
|
|
Friday |
17:30 |
Aerogal, another domestic airline, has flights to Cuenca (45 minutes from Quito, 30 minutes from Guayaquil) as follows:
Quito to Cuenca
|
Leave |
Arrive |
Days |
|
06:50 |
07:35 |
Mon to Fri |
|
10:00 |
10:45 |
Mon to Fri |
|
13:00 |
13:45 |
Mon to Fri |
|
17:30 |
18:15 |
Mon to Fri |
|
10:00 |
10:45 |
Sat |
|
15:30 |
16:15 |
Sat |
|
18:15 |
19:00 |
Sat |
|
10:00 |
10:45 |
Sun |
|
14:00 |
14:45 |
Sun |
|
17:30 |
18:15 |
Sun |
|
18:15 |
19:00 |
Sun |
Cuenca to Quito
|
Leave |
Arrive |
Days |
|
08:00 |
08:45 |
Mon to Fri |
|
11:15 |
12:00 |
Mon to Fri |
|
14:15 |
15:00 |
Mon to Fri |
|
18:45 |
19:30 |
Mon to Fri |
|
11:15 |
12:00 |
Sat |
|
17:00 |
17:45 |
Sat |
|
19:30 |
20:15 |
Sat |
|
11:15 |
12:00 |
Sun |
|
15:30 |
16:15 |
Sun |
|
18:45 |
19:30 |
Sun |
|
19:30 |
20:15 |
Sun |
Aerogal has the following flights from Quito to Portoviejo:
|
QUITO-PORTOVIEJO |
Monday - Sunday |
06:20 |
|
|
Monday - Sunday |
16:45 |
|
PORTOVIEJO-QUITO |
Monday - Sunday |
07:15 |
|
|
Monday - Sunday |
17:45 |
LAN has the following flights from Quito to Guayaquil (All take 55 minutes):
Quito to Guayaquil
|
Flight |
Departs |
Days |
|
XL-1501 |
06:25 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1503 |
08:00 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1505 |
09:50 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1511 |
12:55 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1523 |
17:35 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1525 |
19:10 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1527 |
20:35 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1503 |
07:55 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1505 |
09:50 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1511 |
14:45 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1523 |
18:00 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1527 |
20:00 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1501 |
06:25 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1503 |
08:00 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1511 |
09:40 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1523 |
12:45 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1525 |
17:25 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1527 |
18:50 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1529 |
20:25 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1503 |
07:55 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1505 |
09:50 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1511 |
14:55 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1523 |
17:55 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1525 |
19:30 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1527 |
20:55 |
Sunday |
Guayaquil to Quito
|
Flight |
Departs |
Days |
|
XL-1500 |
06:25 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1502 |
07:55 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1506 |
11:15 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1512 |
14:25 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1522 |
16:00 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1524 |
19:00 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1526 |
20:35 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
XL-1502 |
07:55 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1506 |
11:15 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1512 |
13:10 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1522 |
16:10 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1526 |
20:00 |
Saturday |
|
XL-1500 |
06:25 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1502 |
07:55 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1506 |
11:10 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1512 |
14:10 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1522 |
15:50 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1524 |
18:50 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1526 |
20:15 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1528 |
21:50 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
XL-1502 |
07:55 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1506 |
11:15 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1512 |
13:20 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1522 |
16:20 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1524 |
19:20 |
Sunday |
|
XL-1526 |
20:55 |
Sunday |
LAN also has flights to Cuenca as follows:
Quito to Cuenca
|
Leaves |
Arrives |
Days |
|
16:05 |
17:00 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
15:50 |
16:45 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
16:05 |
17:00 |
Sat, Sun |
Cuenca to Quito
|
Leaves |
Arrives |
Days |
|
17:35 |
18:30 |
Mon, Tues, Weds |
|
17:20 |
18:15 |
Thurs, Fri |
|
17:35 |
18:30 |
Sat, Sun |
Icaro flights from Quito to Manta are:
|
QUITO-MANTA
|
Monday - Saturday |
06:40 |
|
Saturday |
13:10 |
|
|
Sunday |
17:30 |
|
|
Sunday |
19:40 |
|
|
Sunday |
07:50 |
|
|
Sunday |
12:30 |
|
|
Friday |
17:30 |
|
|
Friday |
19:40 |
|
|
Friday |
12:30 |
|
|
Monday - Thursday |
13:10 |
|
|
Monday - Thursday |
18:00 |
|
|
MANTA-QUITO
|
Monday - Saturday |
07:40 |
|
Saturday |
07:40 |
|
|
Saturday |
19:10 |
|
|
Saturday |
14:20 |
|
|
Sunday |
18:30 |
|
|
Sunday |
08:50 |
|
|
Sunday |
13:40 |
|
|
Sunday |
20:40 |
|
|
Friday |
18:30 |
|
|
Friday |
20:40 |
|
|
Friday |
13:40 |
|
|
Monday - Thursday |
14:20 |
|
|
Monday - Thursday |
19:10 |
ICARO also has flight from Quito to Coca as follows:
|
QUITO-COCA |
Monday – Friday |
08:45 |
|
COCA-QUITO |
Monday – Friday |
09:40 |
Renting a Car
If you should decide to rent a car to travel, you must be at least 25 years old, hold a valid license, and have an international credit card. Car rental rates vary between $50 and $120 per day, and it is generally recommended that you rent a four-wheel drive vehicle. Avis (tel. 02/2440-270; www.avis.com.ec), Budget (tel. 02/3300-979; www.budget-ec.com), Hertz (tel. 1800/227-767 toll-free within Ecuador, or 02/2254-257; www.hertz.com.ec), and Localiza (tel. 02/3303-265; www1.localiza.com.ec) are the main car rental agencies, with offices at both major international airports. Since Localiza is a national company, it also has several offices in other cities and tourist destinations around Ecuador.
Distances between various locations in Ecuador are not always the most accurate indicator of travel time, due to road conditions and the type of terrain being crossed. What follows is distance between Quito and several principal destinations in the Central Andes, with an estimation of driving times:
|
FROM |
TO |
DISTANCE |
TIME |
|
Quito |
Ambato |
136 km |
2 hours |
|
Quito |
Baños |
176 km |
4 hours |
|
Quito |
Guaranda |
420 km |
8 hours |
|
Quito |
Riobamba |
188 km |
3 hours |
|
Quito |
Latacunga |
88 km |
1.5 hours |
