The cars always have the right of way, and this is opposite from the U.S., so it has taken me sometime to adjust.
Another important and popular mode of transportation is buses. Most people, even those who own cars, travel by bus at least some of the time, especially if they are traveling long distances. The buses operate at all times of the day and go to every region of the country. If I want to travel to a different city or province, I always take one of these buses. For the most part they are comfortable and cheap! Without these buses, movement within the country would be nearly impossible. They are a crucial part of the transportation system in Ecuador as they move people and goods throughout the entire country.
A few other types of transportation that people use include taxis, city buses and camionetas. Taxis are a found in most cities and mid-size towns. If you need to get somewhere quick, they are the best choice. Taxis are not always the cheapest, but sometimes you can set a price with the driver before hopping in or bartering with them when you arrive. As I mentioned before, buses are extremely important for travel and the city buses are no different. These buses run within city limits and to some rural communities. They are cheap and reliable, but once you’re on the bus, hold on! They move quickly and the ride can be quite bumpy, so it's best to sit down if there are seats. Camionetas are best described as big vans that move quicker than buses but are slightly more expensive. They are great if you want to get somewhere fast and avoid the craziness of the buses.
