Ecuador advice?

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Chava61

Actually when I left Quito by bus to return to Guayaquil (where I was living), I never used the Quito Central Bus Station. I used a smaller bus station walking distance from the hotel that I was staying at. (So Quito definitely has more than one bus station.) When traveling by bus in Ecuador one needs to know that there are different types/classes of buses similar to different types of train service in other countries. So one can choose from different bus companies all offering service between the same destinations but the ticket prices will vary according to how good buses are that they use and any services that the passenger can get during his/her bus trip. (For example on my bus trip from Quito to Guayaquil, all passengers were served soft drinks with candy and there was tv screen at the front of the bus for watching movies just like on an airplane.)

It appears that you took one of those luxury buses to Guayaquil. When I'm anywhere in Latin America, I ride with the locals. I don't need a TV, as I read on the bus, and as far as food, the local buses have vendors that hop on board, along the way, selling you everything under the sun.

I took a few luxury bus trips in Argentina, with food/drink on board, and one in Mexico, but I'd rather ride with the locals, it much more fun, more interesting and I never found it any less safe!

I never made it to Guayaquil, no nothing of the place, as I have an adverse reaction to high humidity, so I stuck to the higher altitude areas of Ecuador. Coastal areas to me = uncomfortable humidity levels.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by tijlover

It appears that you took one of those luxury buses to Guayaquil. When I'm anywhere in Latin America, I ride with the locals. I don't need a TV, as I read on the bus, and as far as food, the local buses have vendors that hop on board, along the way, selling you everything under the sun.

I took a few luxury bus trips in Argentina, with food/drink on board, and one in Mexico, but I'd rather ride with the locals, it much more fun, more interesting and I never found it any less safe!

I never made it to Guayaquil, no nothing of the place, as I have an adverse reaction to high humidity, so I stuck to the higher altitude areas of Ecuador. Coastal areas to me = uncomfortable humidity levels.

Actually my trip from Quito to Guayaquil was booked through my employer's office in Quito. But my trip to Quito was different. I took a much lower class bus at night from Guayaquil to Riobamba with two Ecuadorian friends. On that bus as we reached the outer limits of Guayaquil, the bus was stopped and searched. During the search of the bus, all the passengers had to exit the bus on to the side of the road. In Riobamba, I stayed overnight at the home of a friend of my Ecuadorian friends. The bathroom in this home was an outhouse. The next day the Riobamba friend drove us all to Quito. I definitely had an experience with the locals and how they traveled.

BTW, if I remember correctly on the luxury bus on the way back the TV was not working. I don't read on buses as it makes me ill, but I enjoy watching the scenery and sometimes interacting with other passengers if it is possible. The only drink/food served on the bus was coke cola together with some candy. For lunch, the bus stopped at some kind of local rest-stop where the food available was only from local Ecuadorian vendors.