Welcome to Ecuador.
Consider the following...
1. The high-altitude cities are Really High. Quito at 9,350 is 4K higher than Denver, The Mile High City. Take it easy the first few days, keep hydrated, do not push it. Don't make me tell you how bad some folks feel if they ignore this advice.
2. Take licensed taxis in the cities. There are multiple ways to identify them, but let's keep it simple. A licensed taxi will have a license plate that is all orange or white with an orange stripe. Stay away from the "gypsy" cabs -- which often are not even the standard color, yellow.
Phone or have someone phone for a cab when possible.
3. Take city-to-city buses in the daytime only. Nighttime buses are a security risk due to poor lighting. A variety of events you may not see back home can occur in Ecuador. Earthquake or volcanic eruption, for example, can rain debris on roadways...and you don't want to be dealing with resulting delays at night.
4. Spread your money around your person, including a money-belt or inner compartment. And stay alert. Most crime in Ecuadorian cities is non-violent (except for the place mentioned in #5 below). But there are pickpockets and grab-and-go artists in crowded areas. This week a street urchin on the Ecovia bus line here in Quito jostled me as we boarded a crowded bus, accessed-opened my pouch and stole my cellphone (value $34). He ducked off the bus at the very next stop before I knew what had happened.
5. Avoid Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. It's hot, humid and not even at the beach. 510 express kidnappings were reported there in a 10.5 month period (Jan.-Nov. 2012; source: Latin American crimewatch publication "Dialogo"). That's way more than any other EC city. You don't need to be in Guayaquil.
Have a great visit.
cccmedia, Quito