TAME (EQ) (www.tame.com.ec) flies frequently between Guayaquil, Quito and other destinations throughout the country. A number of small airlines serve the coast and eastern part of the country. Flying is the usual mode of transport for intercity travel.

From London to Quito is 17 hours, and from New York 9 hours 30 minutes.

Quito (UIO) (Mariscal Sucre) (www.quitoairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) from the city centre. To/from the airport: Buses and shuttles operate frequently (journey time – 20-30 minutes). Return is from Avenida 10 de Agosto. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Tourist information, VIP lounge, public telephones, medical service, bars, car hire, duty-free shops, banks/currency exchanges and restaurants.

Guayaquil (GYE) (Simón Bolívar) (www.tagsa.aero) is 5km (3 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: There are bus and taxi services into the city. Facilities: Banks/currency exchanges, postal service, VIP lounge, duty-free shops and restaurants.

oneworld Visit South America Pass: valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines are Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), Iberia (IB), LAN (LA) and Qantas (QF). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to 34 cities. A minimum of three flights must be booked, with a maximum of 20; prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.

US$25.

Main port: Guayaquil is the main port in Ecuador for both passengers and freight (www.puertodeguayaquil.com). There are passenger/cargo services from Europe, which take around 20 to 22 days, and from the USA.

The Pan-American Highway bisects the country. It begins at the Colombian border in the Carchi province and runs south on to Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca, Loja and ending at Macará near the border with Peru. Part of the highway is toll-administered and the condition of the road is mostly quite good. However, it mainly goes through mountains, making it fairly dangerous to drive.

Bus: Long-distance buses leave from the terminal terrestre (central bus station). Tickets are inexpensive and should be bought in advance to secure a seat. Long-distance coaches can be very comfortable and air-conditioned. Other modes include busetas (minibuses that travel long distances quickly) and converted pick-up trucks. The standards of buses decrease in rural areas. Travellers are advised to keep their passports with them at all times as police checks are common. Keep luggage within sight. It is not recommended to travel at night.