If you are planning to travel through Ecuador on your own, the first rule is to remember to carry your passport at all times. You might be stopped on the road for regular police controls.

There is an extensive network of roads that connects all regions of Ecuador. The Pan-American Highway connects the north of the country, from Tulcan at the Colombian border, to the south border with Peru. It connects cities throughout the Andes Mountains, from Ibarra to Quito, Riobamba and Cuenca.

Road conditions vary with provinces. While the roads in the Guayas province have been recently restored, other areas of the country still need some work to be done, and potholes as well as cracks in the road are more frequent, due to flooding and minor earthquakes (usually occurring in areas of the western coastal province of Manabi). Although driving from Guayaquil to Quito or Cuenca usually takes between 8 hours (Quito) and 5 hours (Cuenca) by car, it might be prolonged due to mudslides on the way up the Andes.

We recommend you to stay away from some areas that are more at risks within Ecuador, such as the northern border with Colombia where common crime and kidnapping tend to be more significant, as well as the area of Baños, including overnight stays at the town itself. In this area, the volcano Tungurahua has recently been very active, following a massive eruption in August 2006 which destroyed a large part of its surroundings and relocated many inhabitants.

There are more than 30 volcanoes within Ecuador, 7 of them considered active (Tungurahua, Pichincha and Reventador being three of them). For that reason, we recommend that you get informed of the local situation before traveling to those specific areas.

Many car companies operate in Ecuador, Hertz, Budget and Avis being the most important ones. You will usually find them at or close to the airports. A regular driving license is enough and an International Driving Permit won’t be required.