Central & South Coast - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 305

Taxis

Taxis from the airport into downtown usually cost less
than $4. From downtown, it should cost no more than a
couple of dollars to go anywhere in the town, other than
perhaps to themore affluent suburbs where the better res-
taurants and nightlife are located. If you consider traffic, it's just as
easy to walk to most places in and around the downtown area as it is
to drive, although taxis are recommended at night, for safety.

Car Rental

As in Quito, most major international car-rental agencies
and a few local ones are available. The easiest place to find
a rental car is at the airport, where there are numerous
agencies. Prices range from $25 to over $100 per day, de-
pending on the vehicle and duration of rental. Better rates are given
for weekly and monthly rentals. If you'll be heading into the
backcountry, be sure to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Also, make
sure that insurance and mileage are included in the rental fee. Do a
complete vehicle inspection ahead of time and note any problems.
Check the spare and jack, as flats are common.

Car-Rental Agencies

There are competitive rental agencies at the airport, in ad-
dition to those listed here.
Arrancar , Av. de Las Américas, 4-2283-473; airport,

4-2288-179 or 4-2286-279.
Avis , Av. de Las Américas, 4-2285-498; airport, 4-

2287-906.
Budget , Av. de las Américas 900 and Calle Norte, 4-

2394-314 or 4-2284-559; airport, 4-2288-510.

Ecuacar , airport, 4-2283-247.

Hertz , Hotel Oro Verde, 9 de Octubre and Moreno, 4-

2327-895 or 4-2327-999 and at the airport.