Coming to Quito for conference

[ALAN BELLAIRS]

I will be attending the conference in Quito Feb 5-7, and I plan to arrive a few days early. My flight arrives at around 12AM on Jan 31 and I would like to find a reasonably priced hotel near the airport. The next morning I plan to go to Cotacachi for 2 days, the to Cuenca for 2 days before I go to the conference. Here are the questions I have.

1. Can anyone recommend a hotel near the airport, and what would the cab fare normally be?
2. If I took a bus to Cotacachi, what would that cost? Or does anyone know a taxi driver that speaks English and could take me there and be kind of an informal tour guide?
3. What would be a good hotel in Cotacachi?
4. What would be a good hotel in Cuenca?
5. Again does anyone living in Cuenca know an English speaking taxi driver that could show me around?

[EI EXPERT – EDD STATON]

I can help you with the Cuenca questions. You can’t go wrong with Hotel Victoria and Hotel Inca Real, both centrally located in the historic district. There are a lot of highly recommended bilingual taxi drivers. Two to contact are Orlando Siguenza (orlando_siguenza@yahoo.com) and Victor Ojeda (victorh0613@yahoo.com).

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

A lot of folks stay at the Quito Airport Suites when they need lodging near the airport. I believe the taxi fare will be around $15 from the airport.

If you take a bus you’ll need to take one to Otavalo which will cost around $2. From Otavalo you can transfer to a Cotacachi bus which will set you back 25 cents.

Rodrigo Flores is a bilingual driver and guide who can pick you up from the airport and show you around. I don’t have his e-mail, but this is his Facebook page and you can contact him there.

The most popular place to stay in Cotacachi is La Cuadra. It’s a nice hostel just off the main square with a shared kitchen and reasonable rates. El Arbolito is another nice option and is located just off Parque San Francisco.

[ALAN BELLAIRS]

Thanks for the info!

[ALAN BELLAIRS]

One quick additional question to Wendy. How often does the bus run to Otavalo and Cotacachi? I am trying to coordinate a flight to Cuenca and back before the conference also. Oops thought of another question. Do you need to take a taxi to the bus station from the Quito Airport Suites, or does a bus perhaps stop at the airport on the way to Otavalo? Thanks!

[COUNTRY EXPERT – WENDY DECHAMBEAU]

The buses from Cotacachi to Otavalo runs every ten minutes, so it’s very easy to catch. I’m not quite sure I understand your second question. Where do you want to go from the Quito Airport Suites? If you’re going to the airport you’ll need to take a cab. If you’re headed to Otavalo you’ll probably be able to catch a bus heading that way from a street near the Quito Airport Suites. If you want to go from the airport to Otavalo you’ll want to catch a cab to the traffic circle in Pifo and then catch a bus from there. You don’t need to be at an official bus stop or station, you can just flag down any bus passing by and they will stop.

[ALAN BELLAIRS]

Sorry for the confusion. I just assumed I would have to go back to the airport to catch a bus to Otavalo. I get in to Quito around midnight, and want to take a bus to Otavalo/Cotacachi the next morning. Then I will come back to Quito in time for the conference.
Thanks again!

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