Traveling by air is the most common way to get to Ecuador. Quito and Guayaquil both have international airports with frequent direct connections to Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Nearly all flights from Europe and Australasia go via these US cities or through the Caribbean. Some airlines also fly direct from a handful of Central and South American countries. The region's main international hub is Lima, and you may find it cheaper to fly to Peru and continue overland to Ecuador (a 24-hour bus trip). There's a US$25 airport departure tax.

You can also get to Ecuador by land or by sea, but as air travel is much more convenient and roughly equivalent in price, few travelers opt to do so. Overland travel on public buses from both Colombia and Peru presents no problems. Occasionally, cargo ships use Guayaquil as port of call, but as the days of steamer hopping are long-since over, it's a rare traveler who secures this type of passage.

Due to the October 1998 peace treaty, new border crossings with Peru may be opening in Ecuador's eastern region.

Ecuador has a more efficient air transportation system than most other Andean countries. It also has the virtue of being a small country, and relatively cheap, which allows even budget travelers the option of an occasional internal flight. Quito's international airport is about 10km (6mi) north of the city center. The nation's other major airport is in Guayaquil, about 5km (3mi) north of the city center. Both are regularly serviced by buses and taxis. The main domestic airlines are TAME and SAN, though there are other small airlines and charter planes available. Almost all flights begin or end in Quito or Guayaquil. There are flights to several of the Galápagos Islands, but these are expensive. It's also possible to make the trip by boat, but it works out no cheaper.

Most travelers use buses to get around. Busetas (22 seat small buses) cover long distances quickly; larger autobuses are slower but tend to be more social and fun. Keep your passport with you when traveling by bus, as there are frequent, usually cursory, transit police checks on the outskirts of towns. Avoid taking night buses through Guayas Province, as the routes are favored by highwaymen. Pickups (camionetas), trucks (rancheras) and taxis can be hired for long journeys - negotiate a price before you ride. Rental cars are available in a few major towns, with prices comparable to those in the US or Europe. In order to keep the struggling train system alive, foreigners pay more to travel by train than locals do. Passengers are permitted to ride on top of some carriages - dress warmly for the exciting views. The dramatic ascent from Alausi to Guayaquil is one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world.