The bus station is pretty hectic, there are people running in all directions and ticket vendors are shouting the names of the city their bus goes to. This makes finding the right bus easy though! As long as you know a little Spanish, you can read the signs that have a list of the cities the buses go to. You can also ask any of the vendors and they will point you in the right direction.
Since I live within walking distance of the university where I work, I am located more towards the outskirts of the city. If I want to go to the mall or explore downtown, I use either the public bus for 30 cents or a taxi which costs between $2 to $3. When I go grocery shopping in the mall, I usually take the bus because it’s cheaper. On the way back when I have lots of groceries with me, I like taking a taxi because it’s a lot easier when you have your hands full! When I do ride the bus though, I always try and snag a window seat so I can look out and see the neighborhoods and people rushing past.
Sometimes, if it’s a nice day (which it usually is!) and I have a lot of free time, I can walk all the way to the mall or to wherever else I need to go in the city. One mall is about a half an hour away and another shopping center is about 50 minute walk. Even though it’s far, I enjoy the chance to walk around and explore the city!
Using public buses, either inside the city or larger ones between cities, is a big part of everyday life in Ecuador. While taxis and private transportation companies do exist, I try not to use them too often.
