Terminal Terrestre Norte (Carcelen) is to the north (surprisingly enough) and services those companies sending buses to Otavalo, Ibarra and that area, as well as those going through to the Colombian border.
Terminal Terrestre Sur (Quitumbe) is more to the west (maybe south west) and services the rest of the country. It is much bigger.
While the new terminals are nice and clean and feel much safer, they are also a massive pain in the arse, being much further away from the city and therefore much more expensive to get to. Not only that, if you want to connect from Otavalo through to somewhere else in the country you´re going to be faced with a massive logistical effort just to change buses.
Having been to both, I though I´d share some information on how to get out there.
If you´re travelling to the northern terminal, it is theoretically possible to get there by bus. From the Mariscal go to 6 de Deciembre (that´s a street name if you were wondering) and take the Ecovia bus all the way to the terminal at Rio Coca. From the Mariscal, that means you want to be heading LEFT. From Rio Coca you can then get another bus to go to the terminal at Carcelen. Unfortunately, when I tried this the buses were completely packed (people jammed in tightly) and going with my luggage was not a realistic option.
Ecoivia buses
Instead I took a taxi. Cost was $6, arranged in advance. On the way back with the meter on the cost was $4.50, although the traffic was light.I would suggest that $5 sounds like a realistic amount if you´re bargaining, if you get offered below that, take it. If above, negotiate, or maybe ask for the meter (although not with a young driver, they´ll drive in circles and rip you off. Possibly).
For the southern terminal it´s possible to take the Trole bus from 10 de Agosto (again a street name). The trole goes all the way to the Quitumbe terminal so that´s a good option. Only 25c! Again, from the Mariscal, you want to head LEFT. Unfortunately, again, when I tried to do it the buses were completely crowded. People without luggage were waiting for 3 or 4 buses before getting on or giving up. With a pack there was no way I was getting on. Instead I got a taxi for $6.50. While I first thought that this was expensive, it´s actually a long way to get out there, I think I probably got a bargain. I would not be surprised if you get charged a lot more, try and bargain down. $7 seems a realistic amount. At the terminal itself one driver quoted $11, no lower, so take your time.
Coming into Quito I did take the Trole into the Old Town and that was quite good. It started to get full but nothing to bad. Unfortunately, more and more people get on as you get closer to town. I imagine that by the time you got to the Mariscal you wouldn´t be able to move, let alone carry a bag. Plus, imagine trying to prevent someone slashing your bag when you can´t move or see anything. A good option maybe to take the Trole to the Old Town, get off at the park with the observatory (or when things start to get crowded) and then take a taxi. From the observatory you´re looking at less than $3 (maybe 2) for a taxi.
For more information on the new terminals, try this link here. Otherwise, try asking travellers or locals about what the price should be. If the driver won´t lower the price to where it should be, get out of the cab. He´ll probably give in. Of course, this only works if your price is realistic.
Good luck!
Harry
