Transportation in Ecuador is the transport infrastructure networks in Ecuador and those connecting the country with other countries. Transportation in Ecuador include aviation, highways, pipelines, ports and harbors, railways and waterways. Apart from transporting passengers, the country is a relatively small exporter of fruits and vegetables such as banana, papayas and pineapples.
The Sierra Region still plays an important role in transportation throughout the country. The Pan-American Highway crosses it from north to south. Ecuador has managed to update some roads into four-lane freeways:
luxury buses — autobús de lujo, which travel the main routes between cities.[3]
standard buses — these travel more local routes and will stop for any passengers that hails them.[3]
minibuses — busetas which service the outer fringes of the bus networks[3]
rancheras — trucks which have been converted to buses by adding wooden benches. These service the poorer, rural areas, along with camionetas, which are converted pickup trucks.[3]
In the capital, Quito, boarding platforms are used to put passengers at the same level as the entrance to the bus.[4]
Railways in Ecuador ━━━ Routes with passenger traffic ━━━ Routes in usable state ·········· Unusable or dismantled routes
Total:
812 km (single track)
Narrow gauge:
812 km of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.
All services ceased in 2020.
Proposals
There is a proposed rail connection with Colombia. On 5 July 2008, a meeting took place between Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador regarding a railway for freight and passengers to link the three countries, and linking the Pacific with the Atlantic also. There is no railway service to Peru.
Metro services
In 2020, the Cuenca Tramway (Tranvía Cuenca), the first modern rail transit line in Ecuador, opened for service.
The Quito Metro initiated its commercial operations on 1 December 2023.
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