Quito Airport Details
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Airport Code: UIO
Official Website:
Quito Airport Overview
Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre International Airport is the principal airport in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. The Quito airport is one of two main airports in Ecuador with large numbers of flights serving North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Mariscal Sucre also serves as the Quito local/domestic airport. Quito airport connects to local destinations in the Galapagos Islands, i.e. San Cristobal and Baltra, and to other popular domestic destinations in Ecuador like Cuenca, Coca, Loja and Lago Agrio. The Quito airport code is UIO.
The Quito airport is located in the northern part of the city. The airport is situated three miles from the Quito city centre. The airport terminals are located at the intersection of Amazonas and La Prensa avenues. There are two terminals linked by a pedestrian walkway.
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Airport Transportation
Taxis are available to and from the airport. Taxis are lined up outside the Quito airport terminal. There are no official Quito airport taxis but you want to be sure to take the registered yellow taxis. The registered taxis will have a white registration number on the doors. Before 9:00PM the taxi meter should be used. However, after 9:00PM, the meter is optional so you may need to haggle about price. The taxi fare getting from the Quito airport to the Quito city center (Mariscal) should cost between US$5-7. Some Quito buses also provide services to and from the Quito airport. Where possible, use the free bus transfers provided by your hotel, try to arrange this in advance.
The Quito airport has Avis, Budget and Hertz rental cars for hire. There are also some local companies. Small cars are most common in Quito. Automatic cars are less common and more expensive.
Other Tips, Advice & Information
There are a few hotels 15 minutes from the airport. Moreover, there are certain hotels that provide airport shuttle service. Casa Valladolid, a budget hostel and Villa Nancy, located in Quito's financial district, are two lodgings that are only 15 minutes from the airport. Howard Johnson Hotel La Carolina and Mercure Grand Hotel Alameda Quito are further from the Quito airport but they each have airport shuttle services available.
No worthwhile attractions exist nearby the Quito airport; but, there are attractions around the Quito airport. These attractions consist of shopping malls and La Mariscal, which is the city center and has restaurants and a shopping district. Also, if you have time, Centro Historico is worth a visit. These attractions, however, are not within walking distance from Quito airport.
Facilities in the Quito airport are meager, but the airport does have a restaurant, a cafe, and a tourist information desk. Banks, ATMs and currency exchange are available. There is also telephone and Internet access. Passengers with special needs are catered to and a wheelchair service is available upon request..
The Quito airport has one terminal that is divided into a national and an international area. Mariscal Sucre is clean but Quito airport safety is something of a misnomer. Inside the airport is safe but outside the airport requires a heightened sense of awareness especially if arriving at night as it is in a sketchy neighborhood. Be sure to keep an eye on your parcels and personal belongings when arriving to the Quito airport at night. Also, Quito airport baggage is sometimes slashed in the time it is taken off the plane and makes it onto the turn style. To avoid this, you can have your Quito bound baggage wrapped at your departing airport before arriving in Quito.
The international departure tax of $40.80 is included in the purchase of your flight as of February 2011. Upon arrival you will receive a stamp in your passport that allows you 90 days in Ecuador. Once you receive the Quito visa, you can head to baggage claim. Upon exiting the Quito airport, you will have to scan your Quito baggage and hand over the immigration form you received on your flight.
The following airlines fly to Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre International Airport in Quito: AeroGal, American Airlines, Avianca, Continental Airlines, Copa Airlines, Copa Airlines Colombia, Delta Air Lines iberia, Icaro, KLM, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, SAEREO, Santa Barbara Airlines, TACA, TACA Peru, TAME and VIP.
