Arrival by Plane
International Airports
Ecuador has two international airports:
- Quito — Aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre (UIO) — The main airport is located in Tababela, 35 km east of the city center. Opened in 2013, modern and efficient. From Europe, KLM (via Amsterdam) flies directly to Quito — the most convenient way from the German-speaking area. Other options: Iberia (via Madrid), Air Europa (via Madrid), Avianca (via Bogotá), and LATAM (via Lima). Flight time from Germany: 13–16 hours (with stopover). Prices: 600–1,200 EUR return.
- Guayaquil — Aeropuerto José Joaquín de Olmedo (GYE) — Located just 5 km north of the city center, much more conveniently accessible than Quito. Also offers international connections, especially to North America. Often cheaper than Quito, especially if you are flying to the Galápagos anyway.
From the Airport to the Center
Quito: Aeroservicios bus (shuttle) to the center: 8 USD, about 1.5 hours. Taxi/Uber: 25–30 USD, about 45 minutes (without traffic). At night: only taxi or Uber, no bus.
Guayaquil: Taxi to the center: 4–6 USD, 15 minutes. Much simpler than Quito.
Flights to the Galápagos
Flights from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (GPS) or San Cristóbal (SCY). Airlines: LATAM and Avianca. Flight time: about 2 hours. Important: Foreigners pay higher rates than Ecuadorians (350–500 USD return vs. 200–280 USD). The Transit Control Card (TCT, 20 USD) must be purchased at the departure airport before check-in.
