SIM cards-which provider to choose?

[Vanessa]

Hi everyone!

This is my first time going to Ecuador and wanted to bring my
international cellphone with me. In an older post on this group
(2007), there was a mention of a cell phone tower for the company
Porta near to where we'll be and I wondered if this was still the
case. I'm trying to figure out which provider's SIM card would be the
best to buy and give coverage where we'll be, as well as in other
places in Ecuador.

Also does anyone know if SIM cards are sold at the airport? That way
I can get one as soon as I arrive.

thanks!
Vanessa

[Micah I Smith]

Hi Vanessa,

Porta is a great company, and I used Movistar last year and had full coverage everywhere I went.  I believe the prices are similar too.  However, I think I remember noticing more places to buy more minutes from Porta than for Movistar in the area where we'll be living... so keep that in mind.  

As far as where to buy cards, I'm almost positive that they do sell them at the airport, but they also sell them at the Supermaxi, a grocery/drug store, that is at the top of a hill in the Mariscal in Quito, where you'll be staying before going up to Cangahua.  Any staff member who has been on the project before will be able to help you get there if you can't get a card at the airport.  The Supermaxi is also a great place to get anything you forget to bring with you, such as a toothbrush, sunscreen, aloe, towel, razor, etc.

Hope that helped,

Micah

[Vanessa]

Thanks so much Micah for the information! If Porta has more places to
buy from then I might go with that one. But it's also good to know
Movistar works as well.

Vanessa