We did not want to get up too early in the morning but we also did not want to be arriving in Salinas after dark. So the 10:15 flight looked about right. Any earlier would have been about 8 am I think.
Could have saved a few bucks buying the return but right now we have not booked the living space as we are still awaiting some prices at places. We have a line on a condo on the east end of the San Lorenzo and also prices on some days up the coast a ways. If we go up the coast we will want to book a few days at Big Ralph's so we can spend a weekend in the beach town before heading northward for quiet and relaxation. So all that chatter means that we need to wait to make the decision on when to return to the highlands of Quito.
A few dollars by taxi will take us from the airport to the bus station and then to the crowded lineups to purchase bus tickets to take us to the station in Ballenita.