Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By Trolley
The double-length electric trolley -
El Trole
- is another fast, effi-
cient, and very inexpensive means of transportation. It runs from the
far north end of Quito near the airport directly to the southern ex-
tremes of Old Town along Av. 10 de Agosto. The trolley line operates
from 6 am until midnight (10 pm on weekends).
Please be careful though - there are a lot of
pickpockets. The trolley is probably best
avoided if you are struggling with luggage or
heavy backpacks.
By Bus
There are numerous
public buses
throughout the city
that cost next to nothing, but they can be confusing and re-
quire a bit of research to use them effectively. The red and
blue city buses run north and south along Amazonas, not
to be confused with the red
selectivos,
which have various routes.
Countrywide, buses travel anywhere there is a road, and then some.
For a different view of the city, organized tours offer the opportunity
to relax, see the sites, and free yourself from worrying about driving
through the chaos of mad, runaway vehicles.
TheNewCity, or
LaCiudadNueva
, is wheremost of themodern ame-
nities, inculding nice hotels, restaurants and cafés are located,
though the historical highlights of Quito are in the Old City. Most
travelers will find everything they require within walking distance of
their hotel. Traffic is significant and it seems almost as though driv-
ers speed up when pedestrians cross the street. Pay attention when
crossing streets, but don't worry too much; just follow the locals and
be ready to make a quick dash for the curb when necessary.
By Car
Unless you are extremely adventurous, driving around
Quito is not recommended. Unless you are fromNewYork,
the drivers in this country, particularly the taxis, bring
newmeaning to the phrase “crazy driver.” If you do decide
to rent a car, most major international car-rental agencies, as well as
few local ones, have offices in Quito. Prices range from $25 to over
$100 per day, depending on the vehicle and length of rental. Of
Search WWH ::
Custom Search