Rental agencies are found in major cities and at the international airports in Quito and Guayaquil. Renting a 4WD vehicle is a good idea since many of the roads in Ecuador are in poor condition. The highways are usually in good shape, but secondary roads can be bad. In rural areas, signs are usually lacking. This makes it easy to get lost.

To rent a car in Ecuador, you must be at least 25 years old and have a credit card and foreign driver's license. When you rent the car, a large deposit is placed on your credit card; when you return the car the deposit is removed. Before you leave the lot, thoroughly check the car for scratches and bumps. Also make sure that you have a spare tire and jack, which will come in handy if your vehicle breaks down.

It costs about the same to rent a car in Ecuador as it does in the U.S. Read your rental contract carefully so that you don't get hit with unexpected charges.

While driving, wear your seatbelt, be on the lookout for pedestrians, and obey the speed limit. If you do get a traffic ticket, it's usually charged to your credit card by the rental agency.