This might sound a bit crazy, but I REALLY like taking buses and prefer them to pretty much every other form of transport. [Other than trains. And boats. Boats are the best.]
bus smile selfie!
Why?
Buses tend to be the most inexpensive form of transportation in most countries, and I’m all about doing things cheap if possible.
If you factor in time waiting around, flight delays, and dealing with security, taking the bus can also be the most relaxing and maybe even most time-efficient method of transport.
This goes not just for intercity and cross-country transport, but also for getting around within a city.
Recently, I’ve become super obsessed with tour buses, especially the open-top, double-decker kind. I first tried the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus concept in Rome, and then again in Mexico City, loving it both times. It’s an awesome way to see the main attractions of a city (and some lesser known spots as well), as well as being a cost-effective and easy way to get around.
Since then, I’ve searched out tour bus experiences in every major city I’ve visited, and my visit to Quito was no exception.
I checked out the Quito Tour Bus, part of the Quito Bucket Pass, and absolutely loved it.
Quito Tour Bus: Safe
Quito has a reputation of being a bit… unsafe. I’d heard stories of muggings, express kidnappings, and typical petty theft. The city I experienced, however, felt quite safe especially during daytime
If you are feeling a bit sketched out, taking the Tour Bus is a very safe alternative to wandering around “on the ground” or even hailing a cab (which provides its own unique set of dangers).
The Tour Bus includes a 30 minute stop to the major attraction of El Panecillo, which is surrounded by an area that isn’t known to be the safest in Quito, especially if you’re walking up to it.
at the top of El Panecillo
The Tour Bus navigates through several different neighborhoods (including the most popular La Mariscal and Historic districts), allowing you to get a varied perspective of the city, and hopefully adding to your comfort level.
Quito Tour Bus: Informative
The Quito Tour Bus is so much more than just simple transportation. A narrated description of the major sites (and sights) is provided in several different languages, including English.
learning a lot about Quito! (and trying to get a tan if the sun comes back out)
The Tour Bus provides basic (cough cough quite slow) internet access via wifi, allowing passengers to look up information on any sites that pique their interest… or maybe to just catch up on Instagram.
Quito Tour Bus: Easy
There are two strategic places to start your trip on the Tour Bus, located in the most popular tourist areas. You can buy your ticket at your hop-on point, or online (but you’ll still need to go to one of the hop-on points to activate it).
In La Mariscal area, you’ll need to activate your ticket at the intersection of Av. Naciones Unidas y Shyris, parque La Carolina, Norte. If you’re in the Historic Center, like I was, you can activate it at the “Quinde” store on the corner of the Plaza Grande (the intersection of Venezuela and Espejo streets).
the main square (Plaza Grande) where I got picked up
Buses leave every hour (schedule here) and the total tour (without any hop-offs) is about three hours. I found the bus to be quite timely, even during heavy traffic.
The stops include:
Boulevard Naciones Unidas
Jardín Botánico
La Mariscal / Plaza Foch
El Ejido
Centro de Arte Contemporáneo
Iglesia La Basílica
Iglesia La Compañía
Mirador El Panecillo – a 30 minute stop here
Bulevard 24 de Mayo / La Ronda
Plaza Grande
Parque García Moreno
Boulevard Naciones Unidas
Quito Tour Bus: Efficient
It can be hard to see all the sights in a big and spread-out city like Quito, especially if you only have a few days (or less!). With the Quito Tour Bus, you can see a lot in a short time.
It is perfect for anyone with a limited stay in the city who still wants to make the most of it. You don’t need to worry about hailing cabs to and from the main attractions, or even doing research, as all the work is already done by the staff of Quito Tour Bus.
passing by all the major sites
Because it passes all of the major sights, the Tour Bus is also perfect for people who love photography (like me!).
While I wasn’t too short on time in Quito (I had 5 days), I still used the Quito Tour Bus to my advantage, by riding it on the first day to get a lay of the land and scope out places I wanted to visit.
What to Bring on the Quito Tour Bus
in my Hotel Carlota room, ready for the tour bus!
Layers
The weather in Quito changes very, very quickly. I went from wearing feeling cold in a sweater and rain jacket to sweating in a tank top in less than 15 minutes, and back.
Sunscreen
Especially if you’re sitting on the top of the bus, the sun gets intense! I was shocked to find that I had a sunburn after my 3 hour ride.
Your Quito Tour Bus pass (and any other attraction tickets you’ve bought in advance)
You’ll want to hold onto your bus pass, as you’ll need it to get back on the pass if you hop off.
Sunglasses
Every now and then when the sun actually comes out, it’s quite bright. You want to be able to actually see these attractions from the bus, so don’t forget your sunglasses.
Rain coat / poncho
When it rains, it pours in Quito, and I was caught in more than one downpour on an otherwise beautiful day. Don’t go out without your rain jacket, or buy a cheap plastic poncho to keep in the bottom of your bag.
Camera
Whether you use your phone as a camera or you go for something a bit more heavy duty, the Quito Tour Bus provides plenty of snap-worthy opportunities.
Water bottle
Unless you want to hop off, you’ll get thirsty at some point in the 3 hour ride on the Tour Bus.
Pin it For Later
How do you feel about taking buses to see a city?
A short vacation in Thailand turned into a life abroad with a canceled ticket home. Nearly a decade later and after living in Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, Puebla, and Puerto Vallarta, Steph is on to her next adventure and living back in beautiful, cosmopolitan Mexico City. She is living, traveling, and working (both as an expat therapist and an international health insurance representative) around the world to find the beautiful, inspirational, and interesting while sharing it with you!
