Travel Information - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 38

Camionetas
Camionetas are trucks, mostly privately owned, that gener-
ally wait at local plazas or in the busy areas of smaller
towns. Fares are in the same range as taxis, but camionetas
are more durable in the backcountry. In addition, they are
much more convenient than buses for taking you to remote
areas and are very economical if you have a few people will-
ing to split the cost. It is always a good idea to negotiate a
price before the journey begins.
Taxis are a good way to get around in Quito and Guayaquil. If you're
staying for an extended period, however, you may want to try and
learn the bus system.
Guard your belongings in crowded big city
terminals and on public buses.
By Boat
Where bus routes end, you have probably come to a water-
way. At this point, boat transportation begins. This is par-
ticularly true around the northern coastal tropical forest
region and throughout the entire Oriente. Waterway
transportation is usually in the form of motorized dugout canoes. Al-
thoughmore expensive than buses, boats are also fast and efficient.
Hitching a Ride
In the more remote areas of the highlands, you can often
hop in the back of a pickup truck and ride with the locals.
This is a great way to travel and enjoy the spectacular
scenery, as long as you don't mind the minor discomfort of
a hard wooden seat. On the coast, trucks and open-sided bus-truck
hybrids, called rancheras , sometimes substitute for a bus. Pay the
driver whatever he asks, which should be only small change, usually
similar to the bus fare.
By Rail
Once connecting the coast with the Andes, Ecuador's rail
systemwas largely damaged by the 1997 El Niño and is of-
ten in disrepair, as the more efficient roadways have