Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
course, better rates are given for weekly and monthly rentals. If
you're heading into the backcountry, whether it's the Andes or the
Oriente, be sure to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle and make certain
that insurance and mileage are included. Do a complete vehicle in-
spection ahead of time and note any problems. Check the spare and
jack, as flats are common. Here's a list of rental agencies, most of
which also have offices at the Hotel Colón, at Amazonas and Patria,
opposite the Parque El Ejido:
Avis
, at the airport,
2-2225-890.
Budget
, Río Amazonas 1408 and Av. Colón,
2-2548-237 or 2-2221-
814; at the airport,
2-2459-052 or 2-2240-763; at Hotel Colón,
2-
2525-328.
Ecuacar
, Av. Colón 1280 and Río Amazonas,
2-2529-781 or 2-
2523-673; at the airport,
2-2247-298 or 2-2448-531.
Hertz
, Veintimilla 928 and Amazonas,
2-2238-932; at Hotel Oro
Verde, Luis Cordero 433,
2-2569-130; at the airport,
2-2254-257.
Premium
, Orellana 1623 and 9 de Octubre,
2-2238-582 or 2-2552-
897.
Visitor Information
T
he main artery of the central tourism and business
district in Quito is Avenida Río Amazonas. This
area is often referred to as New Town (“La Ciudad
Nueva”). Most hotels are located around here, and it is
just a matter of walking around a few square blocks to
find just about anything you might need. Tour operators line the
streets, while banks, ATMs and Internet cafés are plentiful. Restau-
rants and shops that cater to foreign travelers are also a dime a dozen.
Photography stores, laundry facilities, and bookstores are all in close
proximity.
Ecuador, situated on the equator, is often referred to as “El Centro del
Mundo,” the Center of the World, the place where the two halves of
the world unite. At the crossroads of Avenidas J.L. Mera and Calama,
just one block off Amazonas, is the area I call “El Centro del Gringo,”
where all traveler paths seem to join. Within a square block or two are
numerous restaurants and hostels that cater to budget travelers, as
well as Internet cafés, where it is cheap and easy to check and send e-
mail or make international calls.
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