Getting There · Quito
You land at UIO, and you fly out of it again for the islands. The city is a long way off — about an hour to the old town by road — so plan the first night around the morning flight, not the other way round.
Put in your international landing and your Galápagos flight. We’ll hold them against the counters you need to clear first; your ticket sets the real time.
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) at Tababela. If your Galápagos flight leaves early, sleep by the airport: Wyndham and Holiday Inn both list a free shuttle on their brand pages. Rincón de Puembo, about 30 minutes out by car, lists one too.
Heading into the city instead? Diario Expreso (June 2025) puts an airport taxi at about US$25 to 30 and a private car at about US$15 to 20. Buses to the Río Coca and Quitumbe terminals cost US$2. The old Aeroservicios shuttle has stopped.
On a Celebrity cruisetour, the line meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel, so check your documents before you book anything.
Booking.com lists airport taxis you can book ahead. Check the pickup point, the price and the cancellation terms before you book.
Booking.com links are affiliate links: Seabound Journeys may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change what we recommend. Affiliate disclosure.
Each line’s own wording, read October 18, 2026 — schedules change, so check yours.
| Line | What it sells here | Ships and dates we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Cruises | 10-night-plus Galápagos cruisetours | Flora, via Baltra; two Quito nights before, airport transfers, flight included; e.g. Inner Loop 18 to 28 Dec 2026 | celebritycruises.com |
| Silversea | Silver Origin | Charter Quito to San Cristóbal since 5 Jul 2025, no Guayaquil stop; Quito hotel stays | Silversea press release |
| Lindblad Expeditions | Galápagos Escape | Hotel night in Quito; group flight to Baltra at extra cost; Islander II, Thursdays and Saturdays | expeditions.com |
| Ecoventura | Its own flight block | Avianca AV1630, Sundays, UIO 08:00, Guayaquil stop, San Cristóbal 10:35; no hotel | ecoventura.com |
The islands run an hour behind the mainland, per Ecoventura, so a 10:35 landing on your ticket is island time. Lindblad’s Exploring Galápagos, on Endeavour II, starts in Quito too, per its current itinerary page. Flying from Guayaquil instead? That guide has the GYE steps.
Fares and dates are on Booking.com. Land the day before, not the morning you fly.
Booking.com links are affiliate links: Seabound Journeys may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change what we recommend. Affiliate disclosure.
No official airport tariff is published that we found, so these rows come from Diario Expreso’s June 2025 report. Treat them as rough.
| City bus to the Río Coca or Quitumbe terminal, US$2 per person | — |
| Private car, low end, about US$15 per car | — |
| Private car, high end, about US$20 per car | — |
| Airport taxi, low end, about US$25 per car | — |
| Airport taxi, high end, about US$30 per car | — |
One way, all in US dollars, from Diario Expreso (June 3, 2025). Casa Gangotena’s blog also puts a taxi at about US$25. None is an official tariff.
Sleeping by the airport? Wyndham and Holiday Inn list free shuttles on their brand pages, and Holiday Inn asks you to reserve; Rincón de Puembo’s brand page lists one too. Celebrity cruisetour guests are met at the airport. The State Department notes robberies in the arrivals area, so take the shuttle or an airport taxi rather than walking out with the bags.
Put your Galápagos flight time in the “Galápagos flight departs” box: 08:00 for Ecoventura’s Sunday Avianca flight, for example. The row below is counted back from that time.
Landing from abroad the same morning won’t work for an 08:00 flight, and Ecoventura asks you to arrive in Ecuador at least a night ahead. Fly in the day before.
We ranked twelve hotels for the night before, from the airport shuttles to the old-town mansions. Tell us the flight and the ship, and we’ll pick the night that fits.
Ecoventura’s Sunday return lands at UIO at 15:55, via Guayaquil, and it says allow three hours or more for an international connection. Enter your flight home and your landing time.
There are no partner links inside this planner. It’s built only from what the Galápagos park and governing council, the lines, each hotel or its named listing, and the news reports we name publish. Every price is in US dollars.
US citizens need a visa only for stays over 90 days in a 12-month period, per travel.state.gov, and the passport must be valid six months beyond arrival, with a blank page for each stamp. Declare US$10,000 or more on entry. The State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, exercise increased caution, and Quito isn’t among its Level 4 areas.
The altitude is the other thing to plan for. Quito is about 2,850 m up and the airport about 2,400 m. Take the first evening slowly and drink water.
For the Galápagos flight, file the online biosafety declaration up to 48 hours ahead and leave fresh food behind. Ecoventura points to Avianca’s baggage rules, so check your airline’s allowance. For the counters and the lines, see our Quito departure guide.
One night near UIO takes the pressure off the morning. Celebrity builds two Quito nights into its cruisetours; Ecoventura and the others leave the hotel to you.
Two of our twelve are at the airport, a shuttle ride from the terminal, and four more in Tababela and Puembo, within about 7 to 8 km by our pins. The old town and La Mariscal are a long drive away.
Our top six, with the straight-line distance from Quito Airport to each. All twelve are on the hotels page.
What each of our twelve, or its listing, says about the ride from UIO to its door. Three brand pages list a free shuttle; the rest come from listings or don’t say.
About 18 km east in a straight line, per Wikipedia. By road, Casa Gangotena puts the old town about 43 km and an hour away.
About US$25 to 30, per Diario Expreso (June 2025). No official tariff is published that we found.
Yes. Buses run to the Río Coca and Quitumbe terminals for US$2, per Diario Expreso, and the Aeropuerto–Río Coca route now runs on to El Labrador station, per Vistazo.
Wyndham Quito Airport and Holiday Inn Quito Airport, per their brand pages; Holiday Inn asks you to reserve it. Rincón de Puembo, in Puembo, lists a free 24-hour shuttle on Best Western’s page.
Quasar suggests at least two hours if you’re buying the TCT at the airport. The TCT and the bag check come before airline check-in.
The State Department rates Ecuador Level 2 and notes robberies in the UIO arrivals area. Use a hotel shuttle or an airport taxi.
Tell us where you fly from, your line and your flight date. An advisor confirms your flight, then puts the flight, the hotel night and the ride together. No fee, no obligation.
Seabound Journeys will follow up within one business day. In the meantime, feel free to keep browsing.
Want to talk sooner? Book a free 30-minute call.
Journey further.
Tell us the flight date and who’s coming. A real advisor checks rates for that night and replies within one business day.
We’ll check rates for your night and reply within one business day.
Want to talk sooner? Book a free 30-minute call.
