| Transportation |
 Planes, trains, and automobiles...
Planes
Air travel is relatively reliable within Ecuador, and relatively inexpensive. These national flights are heavily used by commuters, so Mondays and Fridays are the busiest. Air travel has never been affected by strikes, and are the only way to travel when national strikes occur. The scenary is stunning from the air! All tours to Galapagos use air transportation to get to the Islands. Tours to the Rain Forest usually give the tourist the option of going inexpensively by bus, or quickly but more expensively, by air.
Trains
Trains are a relaxing way to see the country. The routes they follow leave the cities & highways behind, so you get a feel for the countryside, away from the ugly buildings along the road. Plan to take the train, but have a back-up plan in case there is no train service during your stay. Call the station a couple of days before you go, to see if it is running and when weather, landslides, strikes, and other problems always plague the train schedules; but, relax, because at almost any stop along the train route, you can hire a truck to take you to your destination, if something happens during your train-trip.
Automobiles
There are cars for rent by reputable companies. The prices are about the same or a little less as in North America. Cars are usually new, although maintenance is not at a high standard.
 Driving here is difficult, due to the road conditions, and requires an entirely new set of driving skills. If you get into a serious accident, the consequences are extreme. A driver is guilty until proven innocent. People, for example, are sometimes jailed for driving without a license. There are some great advantages to having the freedom of a rented car.
Many places are off-limits if you do not have a private car, because public transportation does not go to the more remote areas. A car is relaxing because you can be leisurely, carry more things, and not be forced to be with strangers all the time. But, beware: stay as close as possible to the car, to avoid robberies or unpleasant incidents
. |
|
|
Location
