Ecuador Airport Transfer Guide (2026) - All Options & Tips
Plan your arrival using the reliable official information for Quito or Guayaquil airport transfers, including tips to avoid common scams.
Ecuador's two main gateways are Quito's Mariscal Sucre International, well east of the city across the valley, and Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo International, which sits close to the city centre. The Quito transfer is the longer of the two, so plan it before you land.
We have not yet verified how travellers currently reach Ecuador from the airport serving it, so we are not publishing routes, operators or fares we cannot stand behind. For what is running on the day you travel, the arrivals information published by your arrival airport is the reliable source, and your accommodation will usually know what works best for the hour you land.
Helpful Tips
The Metro de Quito (Ecuador's first metro, opened 2023) runs on a rechargeable card. It slices north to south faster than traffic. Transfer points link to the Trolebús and Ecovía BRT corridors. Fast. Simple. Reliable.
Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport sits 40 km from the city center in Tababela. The authorized airport shuttle costs far less than a taxi for this long haul and departs all day. Save money. Ride official.
Common Scams to Avoid
Unofficial taxi touts at Qito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport swarm arrivals and quote several times the regulated fare. Ecuador's State Department warns that unlicensed rides from UIO carry a documented risk of 'express kidnapping,' where drivers force passengers to ATMs. Use the official dispatcher counter inside the hall. It prints a fixed-fare receipt before you meet any driver.
At Quito and Guayaquil airports, some unlicensed drivers quote a low curb price and then demand far more at your destination. They blame traffic, luggage, or a so-called misunderstanding. Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there is no currency confusion to hide behind. Disputes turn ugly. Agree on the total fare in writing or use the official regulated taxi counters. They post fixed zone prices.
Near Ecuador airport arrivals, scammers pose as plainclothes police and ask to 'inspect' wallets for counterfeit bills. This distraction lets them steal cash or swap real notes for fakes. Quito reports this often. Real Ecuadorian police show ID and never run informal currency checks on tourists inside a terminal. If approached, refuse and walk straight to the public security desk inside the airport.