There are two international
airports in Ecuador: Quito and Guayaquil. Most travelers fly into
Quito. All flights to the Galapagos originate in Quito or Guayaquil.
First step is getting a flight to Ecuador. You'll find some of the best prices on Ecuador Flight from the USA using this booking services provided by eXito Travel:
Book flights to Ecuador
Choose a Departure City
From
the United States and Canada
Flights from the US are
always routed through Miami, Houston, and New York, with thousands
of connecting flights from other cities. There are no direct flights
from Canada. You must have a connecting flight to one of the three
American cities listed above.
From
Europe
Flights to Ecuador leave
from London, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt and all include at
least one layover.
From
Latin America
There are regular flights
from Bogota, Caracas, Lima, and Santiago de Chile to both Quito
and Guayaquil. There are also flights from Sao Paulo and Manaus,
Brazil. From Central America there is a daily flight from San Jose,
Costa Rica and from Panama. There are few deals to be had when flying
between Latin American countries. Trans-border fares between Latin
American cities can easily cost as much as flying from North America,
despite the shorter distances. Many travelers prefer to fly to the
border and cross the border by bus in order to save money.
Flight
Prices
Ticket prices vary starting
at USD 300 from New York or Miami during low season. The price of
your ticket will usually depends on four factors:
Season: The peak tourist
seasons are from June 15 to September 30 and December 15 to 24.
Expect to pay a lot more for your ticket if you intend to fly during
these periods.
Length of stay: A ticket
valid for the minimum stay (30 days) will cost less than a ticket
that allows you to stay longer than that.
Time of Purchase: The earlier
your buy your ticket the less you will have to pay. The exception
for this is last minute tickets sold by consolidator companies,
which can often offer great savings.
Discounts: An international
student card entitles you to discounts on economy-class airfare.
These seats are the quickest to sell out, so book early!
For the best deals on flights to Ecuador, especially during non-peak season, we highly recommend Exito Travel.
Arriving
in Quito
Both international and domestic
flights to Quito will land at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport,
located in the city and just a few minutes from most of Quito's
hotels. Most important to remember is that Quito is situated at
almost 3,000 meters (9,900 feet) and that the airport offers no
covered walkways between the terminal and the planes. Bring a jacket
and/or raincoat, particularly if you are arriving at night.
Upon entering the airport,
you will immediately get into the immigration line. If you are going
to be in Ecuador for 90 days, make sure to say so or the customs
official will give you less.
Claiming baggage will take
about 20 minutes. If you don't see your luggage on the carousel,
be sure to check the floor, as bags are mysteriously thrown there
on occasion. Next to the carousel there are trolley carts; these
can be rented for USD 1.00. To assure its safe return, an attendant
will accompany you and the cart outside the terminal. A small tip
is expected. Non-passengers are not allowed into the terminal so
if someone is meeting you they will have to wait outside.
The airport features adequate
services, but limited in comparison with what you would find in
a US or European airport, especially since most flights arrive at
night when most services are closed. Pay phones are located in the
departure section of the terminal, which may or may not be open
depending on the time of day. To use a pay phone you will need a
phone card or tokens and there is usually someone selling them nearby.
However, if you arrive at night, you may have problems changing
money or using the phone.
Try to arrange to be picked
up before arriving in Quito. Another option is to take a taxi; drivers
are happy to accept US dollars at any time (don't pay more than
USD 5 for a taxi to most anywhere in Quito).
Departing
from Quito
Taking an international
flight out of Quito, as with any other major city, means giving
yourself plenty of time. It is generally recommended that you arrive
at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. There is a USD $40,80 airport tax on all international flights. The booths where you pay are clearly marked and the airport tax must be paid in cash in either U.S. dollars or Euros.
Make sure that your boarding pass gets the appropriate stamps/stickers
after you pay.
On your way out, you will
again pass through immigration and will receive an exit stamp. As
when arriving, non-passengers will not be allowed through to the
boarding gates. Say your good-byes at the ticket counter! Depending
on the day, it may be necessary to pass through several bag-checks,
carry-on baggage could be hand-searched.
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