Buses in Ecuador are a bit more complicated than they need to be. The schedules themselves are confusing and then there’s the extra caution you’ll need to take while on the bus. That’s not to scare you off from taking the bus in Ecuador, but it’s rather a heads up that you’ll need to put in a little more care.
Here’s my top tips for traveling Ecuador by bus and everything that I wish that I had known before traveling to Ecuador.
Tips for Finding Bus Routes in Ecuador
Let’s start with my tips for finding which bus you’ll need to take while in Ecuador.
Start With an Online Search
Like with any country, start your search for a bus online. Search “Bus from X to Y” and hope that something comes up. You might find results, but that’s no guarantee. From my experience, very few Ecuadorian bus companies have an online presence. It’s cheap for those bus companies to not maintain a web presence, but it’s frustrating for tourists.
You can also try sites like BusBud and Rome2Rio, but don’t be surprised if you only find vague answers.
Look at a Map
This is my biggest tip for finding buses in Ecuador. When in doubt, look at a map and find the biggest cities nearby. Is your destination en route to Quito? Is it en route to Guayaquil? Is it en route to Ambato?
As long as you are on the bus, you are almost certainly going to be able to get off wherever you want. Every single bus that I took throughout the country stopped to pick up and drop off passengers all along the route.
So, while it may be difficult to find a bus directly to your destination, if it’s off of a major highway on another major bus route, you’ll be able to get there.
Go to the Station and Ask for Advice
When I was traveling from Cuenca to Latacunga, I was sure that there had to be a direct bus between the two cities, but I couldn’t find anything online. So, I walked to the station and asked.
Some companies will post schedules, but it’s not a guarantee. Even when I asked at the station for buses to Latacunga (from the bus company that I was almost certain offered it), I wasn’t able to get much more information the day before.
Lastly, if you show up with all of your bags and ask for a particular destination, the staff at the station will do their best to help you. It might not be a direct bus, but they will get you to your destination. In my case, I ended up on a bus bound for Ambato where I needed to transfer to another bus for Latacunga.
Tips for Traveling Ecuador by Bus
So you’ve finally found your bus. Here’s what you need to know about taking the bus in Ecuador.
Buses Will Stop Frequently
As long as the bus is going in the same direction you need, you can ask the driver to stop the bus. The driver will be happy to let you get on or off the bus at any point along the route.
What this means is that buses can take longer than you expect because of the constant starting and stopping. Even on the longer routes like Cuenca to Baños, we stopped constantly for other passengers.
Watch Your Belongings
As mentioned above, you can get on and get off the bus anywhere along the route. That means that other travelers can do the same and it’s a primte opportunity for theives. Keep an eye on all of your belongings on the bus.
That’s not to say that you can’t take your big bag on the bus (I put mine under the bus all the time), but it’s espeically important to keep your valuables on you and to keep an eye on it at all times.
Let Your Bus Driver/Assistant Know 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 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.
You Don’t Need a Ticket
This doesn’t mean that you won’t pay for your bus, but with people getting on and off the bus at all sorts of stops, there will be an assistant whose job it is to collect the bus fare. If you purchase a ticket at the station, hand it over. If you just got on the bus without a ticket, pay the attendant when he comes by.
Common Tourist Routes
Lastly, I want to give some advice for those who are looking for specific bus routes in Ecuador since it can be difficult to find exact information online.
Cuenca to Baños – Amazonas bus company is the only company that operates this route directly. It runs twice per day, but the morning bus is significantly more convenient for travelers. I purchased my ticket a day before the journey, just to make sure I’d be able to get on this bus. If you miss the direct bus, head to Riobamba and then connect from there.
Baños to Latacunga – The biggest thing to note about Latacunga is that any bus heading north to Quito will stop here, so it’s pretty easy to find a bus since they depart frequently from everywhere in the country. Just note that many buses to Latacunga will only stop at the highway near Latacunga, not at the bus station itself. There are taxis waiting to take you the rest of the way (for $5).
Latacunga to Quito – Buses depart every ten minutes or so. Just head to the bus station and find the next bus to Quito. I didn’t buy an actual ticket, so I’m not really sure which bus company I ended up using. I just got on the bus and paid the attendant. Buses will arrive at Terminal Quitumbre.
Quito to Mindo – Buses depart from Terminal Ofelia and run just a few times per day. Typically buses are every hour and a half to two hours between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you’re looking to take the later bus, confirm the last departure so you don’t miss it.
Quito to Otavalo – Buses leave for Otavalo from Terminal Carcelen and depart every few minutes. Just get to the station and ask for Otavalo. At the Otavalo station, just find a bus to Quito. They leave at the same frequently.
Buses Along the Quilotoa Loop – If you’re hiking the Quilotoa Loop, I highly recommend talking to your accommodation for up to date bus schedules. Buses from Latacunga to Sigchos (the start of the loop) depart every hour, starting at 8:00 am. Buses from Quilotoa to Latacunga depart every 60 to 90 minutes. I was unable to find a true schedule for this bus, but note that the last bus from Quilotoa is at 5:00 pm. Plan your hike accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Taking the bus in Ecuador doesn’t have to be challenging. Yes, there’s some confusion and uncertainty due to the lack of schedules online, but there will always be a bus (sometimes with a transfer) to get you wherever you need to go in Ecuador.
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.
