In Quito looking for the easiest way to get to Baños to enjoy a couple days or weeks of relaxation. You don´t want to start that vacation with a strenous ride to the bus station, or spend extra money on a long taxi ride to the bus station do you? Well don´t worry this little explanation will get you from Quito to Baños for around 4 dollars (USD). First off if you are in either New or Old Town Quito you are going to want to get on the bus which runs in the middle of the street in the bus-emergency only lanes. (note: there are other buses, usually blue, which drive the standard streets as well but the center buses were much easier) In New Town they run on Avenida 6 de deciembre and in Old town you can get on the trolley. (Make sure you are heading south because the Quitumbe Terminal is located in South Quito) The buses cost 25 cents and will take you all the way to Quitumbe if that´s what they say on the front of the bus, the buses we know for sure go all the way to the terminal are labeled C1. You can take other buses to the Terminal Terrestre del Cumanda and get off there and wait for a C1 or any other bus labeled Quitumbe. You won´t be asked to pay again if you stay on the terminal platform. This is what we did and the first Quitumbe bus which came by was very full and we decided to try our luck at the next one and it worked out, the second bus was pretty much empty and still heading to Quitumbe. If you are getting on anywhere from New to Old Town to Quitumbe I would suggest finding a seat because it is about a 20-30 minute ride to the Terminal. Once at the Terminal everything is well-marked and easy to understand (if you have a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish, hint Boletos are tickets so just follow that sign.) This post is just to get you to Baños because that is what we did but really it will get you to anywhere the buses go from Quito. Back to the directions, all you have to do once at the bus terminal is find the ticket (boleto) window for the destination of your choosing, pay your ticket fee (3.50USD a person from Quito to Baños), and find the bus number which matches your ticket. The buses are very nice, reclinable seats, fresh air from above, underbus and overseat storage, in-drive movies, and beautiful views. One thing to note is that your tickets come with assigned seats for the bus so don´t just pick a seat go to the correct number above the seat which matches your ticket. Our ride took about three and half hours and was very pleasant, we hope yours goes as smoothly.
Showing posts with label taking the bus from quito to banos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taking the bus from quito to banos. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2012
Taking the Bus from Quito to Baños in Ecuador
In Quito looking for the easiest way to get to Baños to enjoy a couple days or weeks of relaxation. You don´t want to start that vacation with a strenous ride to the bus station, or spend extra money on a long taxi ride to the bus station do you? Well don´t worry this little explanation will get you from Quito to Baños for around 4 dollars (USD). First off if you are in either New or Old Town Quito you are going to want to get on the bus which runs in the middle of the street in the bus-emergency only lanes. (note: there are other buses, usually blue, which drive the standard streets as well but the center buses were much easier) In New Town they run on Avenida 6 de deciembre and in Old town you can get on the trolley. (Make sure you are heading south because the Quitumbe Terminal is located in South Quito) The buses cost 25 cents and will take you all the way to Quitumbe if that´s what they say on the front of the bus, the buses we know for sure go all the way to the terminal are labeled C1. You can take other buses to the Terminal Terrestre del Cumanda and get off there and wait for a C1 or any other bus labeled Quitumbe. You won´t be asked to pay again if you stay on the terminal platform. This is what we did and the first Quitumbe bus which came by was very full and we decided to try our luck at the next one and it worked out, the second bus was pretty much empty and still heading to Quitumbe. If you are getting on anywhere from New to Old Town to Quitumbe I would suggest finding a seat because it is about a 20-30 minute ride to the Terminal. Once at the Terminal everything is well-marked and easy to understand (if you have a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish, hint Boletos are tickets so just follow that sign.) This post is just to get you to Baños because that is what we did but really it will get you to anywhere the buses go from Quito. Back to the directions, all you have to do once at the bus terminal is find the ticket (boleto) window for the destination of your choosing, pay your ticket fee (3.50USD a person from Quito to Baños), and find the bus number which matches your ticket. The buses are very nice, reclinable seats, fresh air from above, underbus and overseat storage, in-drive movies, and beautiful views. One thing to note is that your tickets come with assigned seats for the bus so don´t just pick a seat go to the correct number above the seat which matches your ticket. Our ride took about three and half hours and was very pleasant, we hope yours goes as smoothly.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Baños
After an easy three and a half hour bus ride from Quito on the morning of the 10th, we made it to Baños by mid afternoon. No, Baños is not a bathroom, but it is a small tourist town located near one of Ecuador´s many active volcanoes and the name comes from its reputation for its thermal hot springs(or baths).
Yesterday, we walked to some hot springs which are a little outside town. Along the way we were expecting to cross a foot bridge over a river, but when we came to where the foot bridge once was, all we found were the reminants of the old bridge and a few small boards crossing the river. Luckily the river was not very wide across or deep so we weren´t worried about quickly running over the not so sturdy boards from one side to the next. We then climbed up a foot path to a road which continued with a steady incline to El Piscina del Salado. Once arriving we paid the $3 entrance fee and then entered total relaxation. They had six baths total ranging from freezing to enjoyably hot and two chorros(showers) with cold and hot water. I entered my first Spanish conversation with a local, which went smoothly considering I understood 85% of what was being said and the couple was very nice.
Today we spent the day mountain biking along curvy roads from Baños to Machay for a total of about 18 miles, most of which is downhill. Along those 18 miles we saw 17 waterfalls! The landscape was stunning but what was worrisome were the giant buses passing us with no shoulder to turn to if something bad were to happen. Also, about halfway down we came to a tow truck removing a crumpled car from one of the cliffs below. Our theory that nothing bad ever happens to people performing dangerous activities in South America has now been disproved.
We will be adding photos once we get back to Quito!
Yesterday, we walked to some hot springs which are a little outside town. Along the way we were expecting to cross a foot bridge over a river, but when we came to where the foot bridge once was, all we found were the reminants of the old bridge and a few small boards crossing the river. Luckily the river was not very wide across or deep so we weren´t worried about quickly running over the not so sturdy boards from one side to the next. We then climbed up a foot path to a road which continued with a steady incline to El Piscina del Salado. Once arriving we paid the $3 entrance fee and then entered total relaxation. They had six baths total ranging from freezing to enjoyably hot and two chorros(showers) with cold and hot water. I entered my first Spanish conversation with a local, which went smoothly considering I understood 85% of what was being said and the couple was very nice.
Today we spent the day mountain biking along curvy roads from Baños to Machay for a total of about 18 miles, most of which is downhill. Along those 18 miles we saw 17 waterfalls! The landscape was stunning but what was worrisome were the giant buses passing us with no shoulder to turn to if something bad were to happen. Also, about halfway down we came to a tow truck removing a crumpled car from one of the cliffs below. Our theory that nothing bad ever happens to people performing dangerous activities in South America has now been disproved.
We will be adding photos once we get back to Quito!
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