A really fantastic part of South America, is the ease of public transportation. In the United States, especially in rural areas, owning your own car is pretty much a requirement. It’s not even a question, everyone has a car. But in Ecuador and many parts of Central and South America, a large number of the population don’t own a vehicle. They don’t need to. Even where we live- in the rural Amazonian community an hour and half away from the nearest town, on only a narrow dirt road,catching a bus in Ecuador is easy. A public bus passes in the morning and returns in the afternoon. And two kilometers away a handful more buses pass regularly throughout the day. It’s fantastic.
There are a handful of designated “bus stops” and each town has a “terminal” where the majority of buses stop. If you are traveling a distance you’ll be able to purchase your ticket here and catch a bus leaving at a specific time headed to a specific destination. But for coming and going, getting on wherever you are and getting off wherever you want to arrive, it’s also really easy.
Stop the Bus
First, to catch the bus. Find out from the locals, or take note of the buses passing and the hour. For us it’s a window of about 30 minutes that it could pass, so we’re out there beside the road early and sometimes have to wait, but it comes. Now as the bus approaches, hold out your arm. Like the branch of the letter “T” and hold it for a brief second or two. The bus driver puts on his brakes, you climb up and it takes off again. Easy peasy!
Find Your Seat
Ideally, the bus isn’t too crowded and you can just make your way down the aisle to the seat of your choice. But sometimes it’s full and you have to find a good hand hold, set your feet, and enjoy the view of the tops of the heads of the rest of the passengers.
If you are traveling with children also be aware that if you are in your own seat but the bus fills up, children, probably six and under, are expected to double up and sit on parent’s laps and older kids might squish to make available seats for others. I actually really appreciate it. Sometimes it means I have extra snuggles with my kids, other times it means someone else holds their child so that I can have a seat. It works.
Pay for Your Passage
The bus “ayudante” is the one who will take your passage. Preferably you have small bills or coins for the small fee. Sometimes he or she will walk down the aisle, collecting your fare. Sometimes they’ll meet you as you get off the bus and you’ll pay then. Either way it’s a good idea to ask around and get an idea of how much the cost is per person or observe how much others are paying. Here in Ecuador seniors and children age six and under are half price. Sometimes you’ll get someone who charges more, knowing you are a tourist or a foreigner. They aren’t supposed to and if you have an idea of the cost beforehand, you can just be ready to pay with the correct amount.
Can I take Food on the Bus?
Most buses are okay with food and many will have street vendors jump on at a stop, selling sweet bread, popsicles, fruit, etc. to the passengers. We finally decided to go ahead and purchase sometimes from them and really enjoy it, but some with weak or foreign stomachs might be better avoiding the homemade or possibly unwashed food. Be a courteous passenger and don’t make a mess. Most buses will also have garbage bags along the aisle or at the front. A few buses we’ve used do ask that you don’t have open food but for the most part, it’s not a problem.
Can I take my Suitcase on the Bus? Or other large items?
You’ll likely notice that just about everyone carries a backpack, students and adults alike. They are so handy and I honestly never catch the bus without it. I can carry my wallet, copy of my passport, water bottle, stash an umbrella or jacket. Diapers and wipes for the baby and then have space to carry back my purchases. I strongly advise you to keep your backpack with you. Hold it on your lap or place it by your feet. (If you need a great backpack, this is the one I use, William’s, the bigger kids, and the littles). The kids don’t always bring their own backpacks for trips to town, but they often do and having a good one that is the right size and decent quality is super helpful.
If you have a lot of cargo- like suitcases, a weeks worth of groceries, 50 lb bags of animal feed or a Christmas tree, the “ayudante” can help you load it below the bus. It’s easy to do as well as quick and easy to unload. We’ve never had a problem with things being stolen or lost when transported under the bus, but be aware that it could happen and keep your valuables with you.
How do I Ask the Bus to Stop for me?
When you notice your destination approaching, simply gather your things, make your way to the front of the bus and, at least in Ecuador a loud “gracias” tells the driver that you’d like to stop.
And that’s it! You can successfully navigate riding a bus in Central or South America. It’s a skill they should really teach in school, don’t you think?
Additional Tips for Taking the Bus in Ecuador:
- Long bus rides will more likely require you purchase a ticket from the office beforehand, and may have assigned seats. They’ll also likely have air conditioning and a movie, so that’s a plus! Count on the movie starring Jackie Chan or Chuck Norris.
- If you are prone to motion sickness, be prepared. Especially if it’s a long bus ride down the winding Andes mountains from Quito. An extra bag or two in your backpack for emergency puking is a good idea. And just ask for more bags at the front of the bus, if you need. And we’ve found that sniffing citrus fruit or peel really helps and a lemon or orange are often something we have in our bag for snacks or can quickly pick up and then just use a finger nail to make a small slice and breathe deeply, eyes closed. Or carry your favorite anti-nausea meds.
- Our bus ride to town is about 90 minutes and I’m likely to use some of that time to take a nap. If I do, I like to set the alarm on my phone to make sure I wake up in time for my stop.
- Speaking of phones, especially on the bus I prefer to not get out our phones or ipad as much as possible. Sometimes it would sure help to pass the time. Especially with kiddos. But I don’t want to flaunt them to those around us. Just in case. And it’s good for us all, kids included, to be bored sometimes and just watch the trees go by. It builds character, I’m sure.
- Drunks. Especially if you travel on the weekends, it just seems that there are often drunks also traveling. It’s ugly. They can be rude or overly friendly and in your face. Especially if you’re a foreigner. I try to remember that I’m glad they have a “designated driver” taking them home and hope their stop is coming up. And it’s okay to just politely end the conversation, if that’s what you need to do. Sometimes I’ll pull the “no hablo espanol” card with them and that usually works.
The longest bus trip we’ve taken as a family has been from our home to Quito. Even that 6 hours bus ride was okay. It’s still a long ride, but it’s a great way to travel and for less than $20, it can’t be beat. Catching a bus in Ecuador is an easy and affordable, readily available option while you are here. You can do it!
