Ecuador is a lovely country to visit. It’s one of the most diverse countries in the world in terms of ecology and there is no shortage of natural beauty. Whether you’re going on a wilderness adventure or just hopping from city to city, these Ecuador travel tips are perfect for first time travelers and will help to set you up for a more successful trip.
Ecuador Travel Tips
Many travel tips are the same no matter which country you are visiting, so this guide will focus on the things that surprised me during my trip to Ecuador. These are all things that I wish I would have known before visiting.
Finding Bus Schedules Sucks
There are loads of bus companies in Ecuador but trying to find an actual schedule for these companies feels next to impossible. Even when you go to the bus station and ask for a route, it can be hard to find exact time (or maybe that was just me).
So, note that you’re going to struggle finding bus schedules online. The good news is that many travel blogs will include some information, but you have to hope that those are still up to date.
The biggest thing to note is that buses are frequent and Ecuadorians are super friendly, so you should be able to eventually get where you need to go.
Keep An Eye Out on Buses
People are constnatly getting on and off buses in Ecuador. While you will find official bus stations, drivers are happy to let you on and off wherever you would like along the route.
With so many people coming and going, it’s a prime opportunity for theft. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times or someone just might walk off with your bag (or even open it and pull items out).
Let Your Bus Conductor Know of Your Intended Destination
This might sound like a weird tip, but hear me out. If you’re taking a bus with the intention of transferring elsewhere, let your bus conductor know where that is. They might just let you out early if they catch up to a bus going in that direction.
As an example, I was trying to get from Baños to Latacunga. Finding an actual schedule was impossible and my hotel didn’t offer much help. So I went to the bus station with all of my stuff, knowing that worst case I’d have to go to Ambato and transfer to another bus.
The company that I’m 95% sure offered direct routes said they didn’t have anything and pointed me to the Amazonas Bus that was departing in less than 10 minutes. I told the conductor that I was going to Latacunga and he told me I’d have to transfer in Ambato, but that was fine with me. I got on the bus and didn’t think much of it.
We arrived in Ambato, but before we reached the terminal, the conductor came back to the passengers. He looked at me and asked “Latacunga?” I said “Sí” and was told to follow him. He grabbed my bag from under the bus and literally ran me over to another bus. That bus then took me to Latacunga (since it was headed to Quito).
It was very confusing, but it definitely saved a little bit of time (though I wasn’t able to get off exactly in the city of Latacunga). From what I’ve read online, this isn’t an uncommon situation. So, always make sure that the bus conductor knows what your final destination is. They’ll do what they can to get you there as soon as possible, even if that means throwing you onto another bus mid journey.
Ecuador Uses US Dollars
As an American, I was thrilled to be in a country that used US dollars since it meant I no longer had to convert prices to know how much something costs.
What is interesting about Ecuador though is that they have their own coins. The paper currency is the exact same as what you will find in the United States, but the coins can be different. Both traditional American coins and Ecuadorian coins are used throughout Ecuador.
The coins are the same size and shape for each denomination, which helps so much. The biggest difference is what is printed on the coins. One set of coins will say “United States of America”, while Ecuadorian coins will say “Ecuador”.
Also, Ecuador’s coins are designed so much better than those from the United States. If there’s a big number printed on one side of the coin, it’s Ecuadorian. The United States just expects you to know how much each coin is worth, which is easy for me as an American, but is not so easy for those unfamiliar with our coins.
Lastly, Ecuador uses one dollar coins. They are the same one dollar coins from the United States, but they are so much more prevalent than the US dollar bills. In fact, I was talking to an Ecuadorian and she told me how she thinks of the $1 notes as a novelty, while I (an American) think of the $1 coins as a novelty. I saw more $1 coins in my three weeks in Ecuador than I’ve ever seen in my entire life in the United States.
Cards Will Often Come With An Extra Fee
Like with so many places in South America, credit card transactions come with a fee, so be prepared to pay with cash. ATMs are everywhere so it’s not big deal to get cash.
Even hotels are likely to charge an extra 5% for card payments. For one night stays, this wasn’t a big deal, but it is something to be aware of if you’re traveling on a tight budget.
Don’t Use Big Bills
As I’ve already mentioned, Ecuador uses US Dollars. American notes come in $1 (though these are rare in Ecuador), $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes. Don’t try to use anything bigger than a $20 bill since people are reluctant to take it.
The really good news is that ATMs generally don’t give out anything bigger than a $20 note. It was a breath of fresh air knowing that I could get a large amount of cash out of an ATM and not have to worry about breaking the larger bills. Can other countries please take note?
Quito is Huge and Takes Time to Navigate
Quito is long and narrow. While it’s not a wide city, it’s a long city and it can take over an hour to get from the southern end of the city to the northern end. Give yourself plenty of time to get wherever you are going.
Traffic can also get bad during those long journeys, so if you’re traveling during peak times, give yourself more time than you think you may need.
Quito Has 3+ Bus Stations
If you’re taking a bus to another destination in Ecuador, make sure you use the correct bus station.
Quito’s southern terminal (Terminal Quitumbre) is connected to the metro station and serves all of the destinations south of the city. If you’re going to Latacunga, Baños, Guayaquil, or Cuenca, head to the southern terminal.
In the north, you’ll find Terminal Carcelen and Terminal Ofelia. Terminal Ofelia is where you’ll want to head for buses to Mitad del Mundo and Mindo. Visit Terminal Carcelen for buses to Otavalo. Currently, neither north terminal is connected to the metro so you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to reach these terminals.
Quito’s Airport is an Hour Outside of the City
Not only is Quito a huge city that takes time to navigate, but its airport is far outside the city. The airport sits just east of the city, but there’s a series of mountains between the airport and the city.
What this means is that you need to budget at least an hour to reach the airport. Depending on where you’re starting, the time to the airport could be even longer.
Quito Sits at High Elevation
If you aren’t prepared for it, Quito’s elevation can hit you hard. Depending on who you ask, Quito is the highest capital in the world. Bolivia argues that La Paz is higher, but La Paz is only an administrative capital and Sucre exists as its second capital city.
Since many people will start their trip in Quito, it’s good to be prepared for that high elevation. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to prepare for elevation, so try to go slow on your first day or two as you adjust to the higher elevation and thinner air.
Quito Has a Metro, But it Doesn’t Go Everywhere
I was thrilled to learn that Quito has a metro that’s cheap and easy to use. Simply enter the metro station, purchase a ticket from the machine (you MUST have exact change), and board your train. Depending on where you are connecting, this is fantastic.
However, the metro doesn’t go everywhere. Currently, it starts at Terminal Quitumbre in the south of the city and travels north, halfway across the city. From there, you’ll need to get a bus or taxi to reach your final destination. There is no connect to the airport or even to the north bus terminals.
A local I spoke to said there are plans to connect the metro to the north bus terminals, but that’s still a ways out.
Final Thoughts
Ecuador is full of natural beauty and it can be easy to focus on that instead of some of the logistics of traveling the country. With these Ecuador travel tips, you’ll be better prepared for your trip and focus more on the country’s incredible beauty.
Continue Your Adventure
Ecuador: Spend one day in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. From here you can visit Mitad del Mundo to visit the equator, take a day trip to Otavalo, or take a day trip to hike to Cotopaxi Base Camp. Nearby is the town of Mindo which has great nature and the Tarabita Waterfalls. Continue hiking with the three day Quilotoa Loop trek. Baños is an adventure town, but I recommend a jungle tour. Don’t forget Cuenca, which I think is one of the prettiest towns in South America. Learn even more in my Ecuador Travel Guide.
