Ecuador Flights
Flights to & from Ecuador
Flights to Ecuador are
offered by a limited number of airlines who rarely have special offers
or discounts, especially for long-haul flights. However, do
shop around and be flexible with your flight dates as some travel
websites or agents offer slightly better prices. Be
assured, Ecuador is such a rewarding country to visit
that your flight price will be worth it.
Europe to Ecuador Flights
Flying
from Europe, you
usually
have the choice of travelling to Ecuador via Amsterdam with KLM or via
Madrid with Iberia. If you are prepared to put up with the
hassle, bureaucracy and having all your luggage unloaded and
reloaded on the way you can fly via the USA, usually Miami
or Houston. I don't recommend this option, but it is
sometimes cheaper so you'll have to decide between your money or your
sanity.
Flights USA to Ecuador
Flight
routes from the
United States to
Ecuador are usually via Miami, Houston or possibly
Atlanta. LAN Chile
sometimes have a route via New York. Short haul flights from
other South American countries are offered by various local airlines,
or there is the option of overland travel by bus
from Ecuador's neighbouring countries Peru or
Colombia if you have sufficient time. Ecuador
rarely appears on round-the-world flight ticket routes, but you may
include it on some of the pricier ones, or buy an extra flight from
Santiago in Chile.
International Airports in
Ecuador
Ecuador's main
international airports
are Quito, the capital city high in the mountains, and Guayaquil, the
main port on the coast. Galapagos flights to and from Quito
all stop
at Guayaquil on the way. Consider a flight into Quito and out
of Guayaquil, or vice versa, to make the most of your time in Ecuador.
Quito's climate is cooler and there are no mosquitoes, but
the altitude may hit you for a few days. Guayaquil is hot and
humid with plentiful mosquitoes but its sea-level location avoids
altitude issues.
Flying into or out of
Quito on a clear, sunny morning gives one of the best
views on earth. The "avenue of the volcanoes" seen from above
is just breathtaking, so do book a window seat.
The weather is not always clear so the view is not
guaranteed, and of course if you choose a night flight you will miss it
all anyway. In Guayaquil it is almost always cloudy
and the views are not as spectacular. Bear in mind that
arriving late at night is not the safest or most convenient option in
either Quito or Guayaquil. If your flight arrives in Ecuador
at night, it is best to pre-arrange an airport transfer to your hotel.
Quito's Mariscal Sucre
airport is currently situated in the north of the city. A new
airport is being constructed to replace it, much further away from the
city, due to open in 2010. Guayaquil's Simon Bolivar airport
was renovated in 2006.
Ecuador Visas
You will
almost
certainly not be allowed on a one-way flight to Ecuador without a visa.
Most tourists will need a return flight ticket to convince
both the
airline and the Ecuador authorities that there will be no issues with
immigration. In addition, note that the tourist visa issued
on arrival is valid for no more than 90 days. Most airlines
will not allow you to board your flight if your return date is more
than 90 days away and you do not already have an Ecuador visa in your
passport. If you plan to stay for more than 3
months, do check in advance with your airline to avoid losing
your flight.
Ecuador Departure Tax -
International Flights
International
departure
tax from Guayaquil airport is now $27.15 and from Quito airport $40.80.
This must be paid at the airport, in cash, in
US
dollars. The authorities are not flexible about this, so make
sure you have the right amount of currency to hand and don't rely on
money-changing facilities being open for early morning
flights.
Internal flights within Ecuador
Internal flights within
Ecuador are relatively inexpensive. Although you miss the
roadside scenery, they avoid hours of bus travel on
poor roads. For example, overland travel from Quito
to
Guayaquil takes 9-10 hours, Quito to Loja around 16 hours. If
your time in Ecuador is very limited or you are travelling to one of
the remote rainforest resorts, flying may be your only realistic
option.
Flying does have
a heavy environmental cost
so you might think about compensating for the carbon emissions
from your
flight with one of the various offset schemes to reduce your
carbon footprint in Ecuador. The whole issue of carbon
credits is
contentious with a wide variety of schemes making different claims, but
anything you can do to neutralise the effect of carbon
emissions
is a start.
Galapagos Flights
A flight
to the Galapagos
Islands is the only legal way to get there without your own
yacht (for which you would be charged huge fees).
Passenger travel to the Galapagos Islands on the cargo boats
is strictly forbidden so
you need to fly to either Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal
island or Baltra, just off Santa Cruz island. Galapagos
flight prices are controlled by the government. Galapagos
flights should be booked well in advance especially at peak tourist
season. Seats are
usually unallocated - arrive early for a window
seat.
Ecuador Departure Tax -
Domestic Flights
Departure tax on domestic
flights within Ecuador is a couple of dollars and usually
included in the flight price - check with your flight ticket booking
agent to make sure.
Ecuador
Flights
Flights to and from Ecuador, air routes and airline options.
Note that no responsibility can be taken for the content of
external links or for reliance on any of the suggestions on this site.
Internal flights in Ecuador, alternatives to flying to, from
and within Ecuador. Please consider the carbon emissions from your
Ecuador flights and take some personal action to neutralise your carbon
footprint for the sake of the environment.
