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Ecuador,
Travel - International
Note: Travel tothe northern border, including the Provinces of Sucumbios and Orellana, is advised against. Armed groups are active in these areas and there is a high risk of kidnapping and crime. Staying overnight in Baños, due to the threat of the Tungurahua volcano erupting, is also advised against. There is an ongoing risk of disruption to travel due to social and political unrest.
Air: Ecuador’s national airline, TAME (EQ) (website: www.tame.com.ec), connects Ecuador with the USA and some South American countries. American Airlines (AA) operates daily flights from London Heathrow to Guayaquil, via Miami or New York.
Approximate flight times: From Quito to London is 17 hours, to Los Angeles is nine hours and to New York is nine hours 30 minutes.
International airports: Quito (UIO) (Mariscal Sucre) is 8km (5 miles) from the city centre. A bus service operates frequently, 1100-0300 (travel time 20 to 30 minutes). Return is from Avenida 10 de Agosto. Taxis are also available. The airport facilities include a medical department, bars, car hire, duty-free shops, post office and restaurants.
Guayaquil (GYE) (Simón Bolívar) is 5km (3 miles) from the city. There are bus and taxi services into the city.
Departure tax: US$25.
The Visit South America Pass: This must be bought outside South America in country of residence and allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), IBERIA (IB), LAN-Chile (LA) and Qantas (QF). A minimum of three flights must be booked, with no maximum; the maximum stay is 60 days, with no minimum, and prices depend on the amount of flight zones covered. Children under 12 years of age are entitled to a 33 per cent discount and infants (under two years old) only pay 10 per cent of the adult fare. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines or visit www.oneworld.com.
Sea: There are regular passenger/cargo services from Europe, including Hamburg-South American, Johnson Lines, Knutsen and Royal Netherlands which take 20 to 22 days from Rotterdam and Le Havre. Others sail from Antwerp, Genoa and Liverpool, and the US West Coast (Delta Line Cruises). Guayaquil is the main port for both passengers and freight. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure this kind of passage.
Road: The Pan-American Highway bisects the country from the Colombian border at Rumichaca south to Quito and on to Riobamba, Cuenca, Loja and ending at Macará near the border with Peru. Bus: Panamericana Internacional operates direct services to Caracas, Venezuela (tel: (2) 250 1585). Rutas de América operates direct services to Colombia, Peru and Venezuela with connections to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay (tel/fax: (2) 254 8142; fax: (2) 250 3612). Visitors should remember to carry their passports at all times as there may be frequent controls, both within Ecuador and at border crossings.
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