Travel Answers

We are planning to visit Tena this June (2013) and need to discover what transportation options are available to and from Quito and Tena. Is there a reliable bus route / company that runs to Tena? Do we need a private car or taxi? Is the train another option, or other shuttle vans, etc..? How do we hire a car or taxi or find out info about the bus or train service? Thanks. I would appreciate your time and guidance.

I am headed to the Ecuador in June next year and already have booked a 10 day dive trip and a stay in a rainforest lodge. Before we get our dive boat we are spending a couple of days in San Cristobal just to chill after the journey. We would however like to get out and about on the island for some of the time on either day or half day trips, particularly to see some of the wildlife. Can anyone advise on who provides such a service and ideally also what are the places that one would want to visit?
Many thanks.
Dave

Hi fellow VTers!

I am going to Ecuador end of this month and I have about 3 weeks there. I will spend a week at the coast with friends and the remaining 2 weeks...well, I am trying to see what you good people have as suggestions. I do NOT plan to go to the Galapagos.

I will be landing in Quito and I'm wondering how much time I should spend there. I am a big history buff so I am looking forward to visit some of the surrounding colonial cities (or the markets as I've been told).

I do plan to spend at least a day or two where I just hang out in the city ...I will take some work with me so I am looking for safe places to go (in Quito) to get some work done- steady internet connection would be a big bonus.

Any advice would be most wonderful. I am open to visiting other cities in the country!

Thanks much!

We are planning on visiting the Galapagos and will probably fly into Baltra. Then we would like to explore Isabela and the national park. Are there ferries that take people from island to island or are they only accessible by cruise boats? Thank you,

I will be going to Ecuador this summer. I am looking for a company that offer tours. Can anyone recommend such a company?

From Terminal Quitumbe in Quito, Ecuador what bus do I take to the new airport? Will there be room for my suitcase. I have heard that it is a 2 to 3 hour trip to the new airport, but can't afford a taxi.

Hi,

My girlfriend and me are planning to travel to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands in December this year. Does anybody knows if a special permission is required to travel to Galapagos Islands and to stay there for a couple of days? Many thanks for your help!

Thomas

Hello, I will stay in San Cristobal for few days in July. Can you tell me if there is a day tour (boat) to Espanola from St. Cristobal?
Thanks,

Is it possible to take a public bus from Mindo to Chontal ? We would like to visit the Los cedros bioreserve.
How long does it take to get there ?

Hi, I'm looking to visit the Galápagos Islands and wondered what other people suggest for tours.

I was thinking of going with Red Mangrove (www.redmangrove.com) with their land tours. Has anyone used them? And what do they think?

Or would a cruise be better?

Or even another company?

I'm also thinking of doing the Amazon right after. Any advice and/or suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

I will be traveling in Quito on May 1st/labor day. I saw some info stating all the workers will take the day off from work. So does that mean all the businesses incl restaurants will be closed? Any suggestions on what to do that day? Thanks!

I'd like to visit Ecuador but I'm asking how safe is it traveling alone and by bus if I'm going to do an itinerary like this? Quito, Latacunga, Riobamba, Cuenca, Guayaquil, Puerto Lopez , Otavalo, Quito.

1. Best flight schedule from NY Area? 2. How many days are suggested?

Does anyone have any information on English teaching in Quito or other locations around Ecuador? I plan extensive travel around the country and am thinking to help fund my travels around the country by teaching. I do have English teaching credentials which I hope will help. Any helpful feedback would be sincerely appreciated. As would any additional suggestions. Thanks.

Are there still hostels and small alojamientos that charge under10/night in smaller cities and towns? I want to visit Ibarra, Vilcabamba, and perhaps Loja. I looked at a couple of hotels on this site in Cuenca and they were around25/night. Are there less expensive ones, or has the cost of living gone up dramatically since my admittedly dated Lonely Planet was published? I used to read about4/night hostels, and I'm sure those are gone, but are there8-10/night places? Also, for travelers who have visited multiple countries in Latin America, would you say there is more or less theft and street crime in Ecuador than in Colombia or Bolivia? I will be traveling mostly by bus and speak some Spanish.

Hi, my fiance and I would like to visit the Galapagos, but aren't sure which tour operators would be the best choice. There are a few out there but I saw one called Galakiwi tours and their itinerary seems pretty ok. Has anyone gone with any tour operators that are reasonably priced and who have knowledgable guides and are safe?

From reading in the guidebook, it seems that there will be a Carnival festival while we are in Galapagos. Would you know what does it mean for the travelers in terms of the accommodation, transportation etc?

I am travelling to Quito by plane, (from NYC), in January but don't know exactly how long I will stay or where my next destination will be in South America. It will probably be overland to Peru, but this is not certain. Do I need a ticket out of Ecuador to satisfy immigration when I arrive in Quito? Any advice would be very welcome.

What are the best months to visit the Galapagos islands in order to see as much of a variety of wildlife as possible (perhaps including snorkeling)? I was considering beginning of March. Is that a good time?

Family of 5 looking for a monthly rental in Riobamba, or at least somthing that is affordable by the week. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Hello. I'm having a lot of difficulty deciding between two similar 4 night cruises on good catamarans in the Galapagos late December (4 nights due to time constraints, unfortunately). The two catamarans are Treasure of the Galapagos and Queen of Galapagos. Here are the two itineraries: Queen of Galapagos: Thu. AM Baltra Airport PM Santa Cruz: Highlands-Twin Hills(Gemelos) Fri. AM Floreana: Punta Cormorant/ Champion PM Floreana: Post Office Bay/ Mirador Baronesa/Devils Crown Sat. AM Española: Punta Suarez PM Espalola: Gardner Bay/ Islote Osborn Sun. AM Cerro Brujo PM León Dormido Mon. AM Interpretation Center PM San Cristóbal Airport Treasure of Galapagos: Transfer in/CHARLES DARWIN * SEYMOUR N./BARTOLOME * TORTUGA BAY/SANTA FE * PUNTA SUAREZ/BAHIA GARDNER-ISLOTE GARDNER-ISLOTE OSBORN * CERRO COLORADO/transf out Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! - Mike

I am heading to Quito next week and I was wondering if I need any electrical adapters to take with me or Ecuador electrical system is same as US? Many thanks

Hi, We are planning a South American holiday to include the Galapagos Islands asthe main purpose of the visit. It is my partners dream location. I need advice on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING please!! lol I know the flights from Ecudor are around the350/$400 mark. Accom is fair price and easy. My concern is gettting aroun the islands without being on a sail boat cruise etc. My questions are: How long will we need to see most/all of the Galapagos? What time of year is the low season? Are there local tour guides that can help us navigate the islands? Can you suggest the best way t navigate the islands baring in mind cost and time? Our budget is not fied yet as we are prepared to pay for the sail cruise if we have to. But we prefer to be independant travelers.

I'm completing a small research project in Quito at the Universidad de las Americas in January, and am looking for inexpensive accommodations that are within walking (or a short bus ride) from the university. I've heard about Traveler's Inn which seemed nice, but would love recommendations from others who have been through the area. Thanks in advance!

To prepare for my Cotopaxi climb, I would like to climb Carihuairazo (or Iliniza Norte, alternatively) around November 6. I am looking for a partner to share a guide (I am planning to book with Julio Verne Travel - www.julioverne-travel.com). The price per person is lower, if a guide is shared by 2 persons (USD 185 instead of 280 for Carihuairazo). I am 30, male, from Germany, but I know Ecuador quite well, as I lived there for several years. I am not an experienced mountain climber, but physically fit and I have climbed Iliniza Norte before. Anyone interested, don't hesitate to contact me.

I like to get away at Christmas every year and I'm looking at a flight to Ecuador that lands on Dec 23rd and departs on Jan 3rd. Can anyone comment on whether I should expect shops and tours to be closed during the holidays. How about tours out to Galapagos? Do you think they will be operating? I know when I was going to Costa Rica a few Christmas ago people told me I would never find places to stay and things would be closed. It couldn't have been further from the truth.

Are there any direct fights to the islands from anywhere else in South America other than Ecuador? Thanks, Joe

Hi I am looking into land based tour on the Galapagos because sea sickness is a major concern. I have tickets to the islands between end of Dec 2012 and 5th Jan 2013. Its High High season I know, but I wonder, from people who's been there, what are the chances that we join some land based tours (we are 2 people, we can squeeze in, right?) after we have arrived there? I can live with seeing less of the islands, I can live with seeing only sites close to Santa Cruz island (which is where I am going to). What do you all think? Will I end up not joining any tour because they are all fully booked when I get there? What about cost, nobody (OK, I wasn't reading carefully) ever mention costs of those land based tours, anybody have any idea? I know they varies, but will they be cheaper than cruises in general anybody knows? Thanks so much!

I have a child in Quito as part of his college major in the USA. His new ASUS computer died. They will not let him ship it home nor allow me to send a used computer as replacement, through the mail due to safety concerns. Does anyone know a computer repair store or an electronics store in Quito? He'll need his computer to write his papers and get his courses online. His "home family" does not own a computer and has not been able to assist.

Hi There, I'm going to Ecuador in October and was thinking of going to some of the beach towns however every photo I see of the beaches in Ecuador has an overcast sky and I just read that June to November is mainly overcast and cooler all along the coast! I had been thinking of Mompiche, Montanita or Canoa. Can anyone tell me if these or any other places are likely to be sunny in Ooctober? Thanks very much