Chauffeur service in Ecuador

BlaakLane.com provides chauffeur, black car and limousine service in 2 Ecuador cities: Quito, Guayaquil. Every city page lists the airports served, the pickup rules, the business districts and hotels we drive to most and the intercity runs booked from there. Trips are booked on one account at a fixed fare shown before you confirm, with flight tracking on every airport pickup.

Chauffeur service across Ecuador: what to know

Ecuador's two main gateways are very different. Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) sits at Tababela, on a plateau about 40 km east of the city. The drive to the northern business district or the historic centre usually takes 45-75 minutes, via the Ruta Viva or the Collas road. Guayaquil's Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport (GYE) is inside the city, 15-25 minutes from most hotels. At both airports chauffeurs wait at the designated pick-up area. Having the chauffeur meet you with a name board inside UIO or GYE is an add-on, offered in selected locations only.

Many nationalities can visit Ecuador visa-free for up to 90 days. Ecuador uses the US dollar. Travellers continuing to the Galapagos pay a transit control card fee at the airport and a national park fee on arrival in the islands. Entry rules are published by the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry.

Main routes by car in Ecuador

Most chauffeured routes are day trips from Quito into the Andes, or coastal runs from Guayaquil.

Andean day trips work well as city tours and day trips on an hourly booking, with a 3-hour minimum.

Driving in Ecuador: altitude, rules and events

Ecuador drives on the right. Quito sits at about 2,850 m, and roads toward Cotopaxi climb higher. Travellers should allow for the altitude, and chauffeurs plan for fog and afternoon rain in the mountains. Quito restricts vehicles on weekday peak hours according to the licence plate, under a scheme called pico y placa. Landslides can close mountain roads in the rainy months, so a chauffeur may suggest leaving earlier for Cotopaxi or Mindo. Parking at the airport or at hotels, and any gratuity, is charged at the exact amount paid.

Dates to plan around:

• February or March: Carnival, a national holiday with heavy road traffic to the coast.
• June: Inti Raymi, the solstice festival, most visible around Otavalo.
• July 25: Guayaquil's foundation day.
• October 9: Guayaquil's independence day.
• Early December: the Fiestas de Quito, around the city's founding day on December 6.

Which vehicle suits which trip in Ecuador

A Standard Sedan or Luxury Executive Sedan handles the airport run into Quito for one or two travellers. Families heading to Cotopaxi haciendas, or travellers with Galapagos luggage, fit better in a Standard Black SUV. Senior executives visiting Guayaquil's port and banking offices often choose an Executive Black SUV. Birding and photography groups travel together in a Sprinter Van. See the fleet for details.

Business and leisure hubs in Ecuador

Quito holds the government, the embassies and many corporate offices along Avenida Republica de El Salvador and the La Carolina area. Guayaquil is the commercial port city, with shipping, banking and agribusiness, which brings corporate travel and crew changes. Leisure trips focus on the Galapagos, the Andean markets and Cuenca's historic centre. Ecuador Travel lists events, and rates explains fares.

Booking tips for Ecuador

Flights to the Galapagos leave from both Quito and Guayaquil, and some Quito departures stop in Guayaquil. Travellers landing late in Quito often stay near the airport at Tababela, then drive into the city the next morning, which also suits early Galapagos departures. Give the chauffeur hotel entrance details when booking, since many colonial-centre streets are narrow and one-way. For Guayaquil, riverside hotels along the Malecon 2000 and the Samborondon business district are both within 30 minutes of GYE. In Ecuador, a vetted local affiliate operates the car, and your confirmation names both the company and the chauffeur. Quito airport publishes flight information.