Gringo pricing is common in these situations, and you may find yourself bargaining. City buses are cheap, follow set routes, and are often quite crowded. Drivers or their helpers will usually make change if they have it, and the buses can generally be flagged down anywhere. Often, signs in the front window list the major streets, neighborhoods and landmarks along the route. In remote areas, cargo trucks often serve as public transit.
Most towns have a designated area where trucks going in all directions collect passengers.
Be prepared to bargain for the fare and to share your space with all manner of cargo, including livestock. Purchase tickets on Fridays or in the hour prior to the 8 AM departure time. The train returns to Quito on Saturday evenings. This train leaves Quito every Sunday at 8 AM and travels into Cotopaxi National Park, where it stops for two hours before returning to Quito. The trip affords fantastic views of Cotopaxi and other peaks.