Getting from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the city

The distance is the thing

Quito's old airport was inside the city. Mariscal Sucre moved out to Tababela, and a great many arrival plans still assume the old geography.

• 90 to 100 minutes between the airport and central Quito.
• This applies in both directions. The commonest mistake in Ecuador is leaving too little time to get back out for a departure.
• Traffic makes it worse, not better, at the wrong hours.

The Aeroservicios coach

• About USD 8 one way.
• Every 30 minutes, roughly 03:30 to 23:30 - which covers nearly every flight.
• Comfortable, with luggage space, running between the airport and a terminal in the city.
• It is the standard choice for visitors and considerably cheaper than a car.

Taxis and apps

• Uber and Cabify operate in Quito.
• Airport taxis are available at the rank and cost substantially more than the coach.
• Agree the fare before you set off if you take one from the rank.
• Do not accept a ride offered inside the terminal.

Practical points

• Ecuador uses the US dollar. No exchange needed, but small notes are essential - USD 20 notes are hard to break outside cities, and USD 50 and 100 notes are often refused outright.
• Quito sits at about 2,850 m. Not La Paz, but high enough that a first day of hill-walking in the old town will tell. Take it gently.
• The Galapagos flights leave from here or Guayaquil - and Ecuador charges a substantial cash entry fee on arrival in the islands. See the Ecuador guide.