Quito airport is 38 km from the city and the shuttle that used to bridge the gap has stopped. Take the official taxi at USD 25 and do not economise at midnight.
- Quito's airport is 38 km east of the city, 45 minutes to well over an hour, so this is not an airport to improvise at.
- The official airport taxi is a flat USD 25 to most central districts, USD 3 to USD 5 more between 22:00 and 06:00, booked at the desk inside rather than from someone in the hall.
- The Aeroservicios shuttle no longer runs. It was the sensible middle option for years and stopped in 2026, so any advice recommending it is out of date.
- Guayaquil's airport is 5 km from the centre and a taxi is USD 5 to USD 10 - but take it from the official rank rather than hailing one outside the door.
- Quito sits at 2,850 metres and you will feel it within the hour. Plan nothing for the first afternoon, drink water, and skip the alcohol on day one.
Quito
Mariscal Sucre is 38 km east of Quito, in a valley at about 2,400 metres, and the drive takes 45 minutes to well over an hour in traffic. This is not an airport you improvise at.
- The official airport taxi is a flat USD 25 to most central districts, and about USD 3 to USD 5 more between 22:00 and 06:00. Book it at the desk inside, not from someone in the hall.
- A pre-booked private transfer is USD 35 to USD 55 and is what most hotels will arrange.
- inDrive and Uber operate and run USD 15 to USD 25, with the usual caveat that the pickup point is away from the terminal door.
- The Aeroservicios shuttle no longer runs. It was the sensible middle option for years and it stopped in 2026, so any advice recommending it is out of date.
- The public route is bus 198 to Rio Coca and then the Ecovia, about USD 2.35 in total and about 2 hours. Cheap, and not something to attempt at night with luggage.
- Get some small notes at the airport. Nobody has change for a USD 50 note.
Guayaquil
- Jose Joaquin de Olmedo is 5 km from the centre, which makes it one of the easiest arrivals in South America.
- A taxi to the centre is USD 5 to USD 10 and should be taken from the official rank.
- Do not walk out of the terminal and hail a car. Guayaquil is the city where the FCDO's warnings bite hardest.
- The Metrovia bus passes nearby and is not worth it with bags.
Altitude, which starts at the airport
- Quito sits at 2,850 metres and the airport at about 2,400. You will feel it within the hour.
- Do not plan anything for the first afternoon. Headache, breathlessness on stairs and poor sleep the first night are normal.
- Drink water, skip the alcohol on day one, and eat lightly.
- Guayaquil is at sea level, so arriving there and travelling up is gentler on the body if your itinerary allows.
- Coca tea is offered everywhere in the sierra and does help.
Getting straight out of town
- Quitumbe terminal in the south serves the southern sierra and the coast; Carcelen in the north serves the north and the Amazon road.
- Buses leave constantly and cost very little. See the transport section for which ones to avoid.
- Domestic flights to Cuenca, Coca and the Galapagos leave from the same Quito terminal.
Comments
No comments yet. Share the first one.
Share a tip
Sign in to continue.