Flying to Ecuador — Airlines, Routes, Airports, and Tips

Flying to Ecuador is straightforward from the US. Direct flights run 4-5.5 hours from major hubs, the country uses US dollars so there's no currency hassle on arrival, and Americans get 90 days visa-free with just a passport stamp. But the details matter — which airport you fly into, how you connect to your final destination, and what you do when you land can make the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful first day.

Ecuador's Three Main Airports

Quito — Mariscal Sucre International (UIO)

Ecuador's primary international hub. The airport opened in 2013 in Tababela, about 25 miles east of Quito's city center. It's modern, clean, and well-organized with decent food options (grab a Menestras del Negro meal before you leave the terminal).

The catch: it's 45-60 minutes from central Quito in normal traffic, and 90+ minutes during rush hour. If you're connecting to a domestic flight or meeting someone in the city, plan accordingly. The old airport was right in the middle of town — this one is not.

Transport into Quito: Uber works at UIO ($12-18 to Mariscal/La Carolina area), official taxi stand outside arrivals ($25-35 fixed rate to city center), Aeroservicios shuttle bus ($8 to Rio Coca station). Pre-arranging a transfer through your hotel or Airbnb is the stress-free option.

Guayaquil — Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International (GYE)

Ecuador's second international hub, and arguably the more convenient airport. It sits just 10-15 minutes from downtown Guayaquil, which makes connections and transit much easier than Quito.

The terminal is older and less polished than Quito's, but it's functional. Immigration lines are usually shorter here. If your final destination is Cuenca or the southern coast, flying into Guayaquil often makes more sense than Quito.

Transport into Guayaquil: Uber works ($4-8 to city center), taxi from official stand ($5-8 to downtown), or Metrovía bus ($0.30 but not practical with luggage).

Cuenca — Mariscal Lamar (CUE)

Cuenca's airport is tiny — one terminal, a few gates, limited food options. But it's incredibly convenient: 10 minutes from the historic center by taxi ($3-4). Most flights are domestic connections from Quito or Guayaquil, but Copa Airlines runs a direct international route from Panama City (PTY) that connects to dozens of US cities.

The runway is short, nestled in a valley, and approaches can be bumpy. Flights sometimes divert to Guayaquil due to weather or visibility. It happens maybe once a month. Don't let it scare you, but don't book an impossible same-day connection out of Cuenca either.

Direct Routes from the United States

Miami (MIA) — The Best Hub

Miami has the most options to Ecuador, by far.

• Miami to Quito (UIO): LATAM, Avianca, JetBlue — multiple daily flights, 4.5 hours
• Miami to Guayaquil (GYE): LATAM, Avianca, Copa — daily flights, 4 hours

If you're flexible on airports, Miami gives you the most schedule options and the most competitive prices. JetBlue's service to Quito is solid and usually cheaper than the legacy carriers.

Houston (IAH)

• Houston to Quito: United — daily nonstop, 5 hours
• Houston to Guayaquil: United, Spirit — daily, 5 hours

United's Houston hub is the best option for anyone in Texas, the Midwest, or connecting from the western US. Spirit runs a budget option to Guayaquil if you can handle the Spirit experience.

New York (JFK/EWR)

• JFK to Quito: LATAM, JetBlue — 5.5 hours
• JFK to Guayaquil: LATAM — 5.5 hours, fewer options than Quito

East Coasters who don't want to connect through Miami have direct options, but schedules are more limited. Check JetBlue first — they often have the best prices on this route.

Other US Cities

• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Guayaquil: Spirit — budget option, 4.5 hours
• Atlanta (ATL) to Quito: seasonal service, check availability
• Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, etc.: no direct flights. Connect through Miami, Houston, or Panama City

The Copa Connection (Panama City)

Copa Airlines, based in Panama City (PTY), is the unsung hero for getting to Ecuador from cities without direct service. Copa flies to PTY from over 20 US cities — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Boston, Washington DC, Orlando, Tampa, and more. From PTY, they have multiple daily flights to both Quito and Guayaquil, plus that direct flight to Cuenca.

The PTY connection is usually 2-4 hours, the airport is modern with good lounges, and Copa's service is consistently solid. If you're not in Miami or Houston, Copa via Panama is often your best bet.

Prices: What to Expect

Round-trip US to Ecuador (economy):

• Typical range: $350-700
• Deal range: $250-400 (off-peak, booked early, flexible dates)
• Peak range: $600-1,000+ (holidays, last-minute)

Best booking strategies:

• Book 6-8 weeks before departure for the sweet spot
• Set up Google Flights price alerts for your route — it's the single most useful tool
• Fly Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for lowest fares
• Red-eye departures from the US are often $50-100 cheaper
• Consider positioning flights: if you live in Minneapolis, a $100 flight to Miami + $300 Miami-to-Quito beats a $650 one-stop from MSP

When NOT to fly (peak pricing):

• Christmas through New Year (December 20 - January 5): prices surge 40-60%
• Carnival week (late February/early March): Ecuadorians travel heavily, domestic flights spike
• July-August: summer vacation season, both US and Ecuadorian families traveling
• Semana Santa (Easter week): domestic travel spikes

Connecting to Cuenca from Quito or Guayaquil

Most international flights land in Quito or Guayaquil. If Cuenca is your final destination, here are your four options, ranked:

Option 1: Domestic Flight (Best for First-Timers)

Fly Quito or Guayaquil to Cuenca on LATAM or Avianca. Takes 45 minutes. Costs $50-80 one way if booked in advance, $80-120 last minute.

Pro: fast, easy, no navigation stress after a long international flight. Con: limited schedule (a few flights per day), occasional weather cancellations, luggage sometimes delayed on tight connections.

Tip: if your international flight arrives in Quito after 6pm, don't try to connect to Cuenca the same day. Stay overnight near the Quito airport (Wyndham Quito Airport is walkable) and catch a morning flight to Cuenca. Rushing a same-day connection through Quito with bags and immigration is asking for trouble.

Option 2: Guayaquil to Cuenca by Bus (Best Value)

From the Guayaquil bus terminal (Terminal Terrestre), take a direct bus to Cuenca. Multiple companies run this route all day long: SuperSemeria, Ejecutivo, Flota Imbabura.

• Duration: 3.5-4 hours
• Cost: $8-10 for ejecutivo (standard), $12-15 for VIP/cama service
• Scenery: spectacular. You climb from sea level through Cajas National Park at 13,000 feet, then descend into Cuenca's valley. On a clear day, it's one of the most beautiful bus rides in South America

Pro: cheap, frequent departures, stunning scenery, no airport hassle. Con: 3.5-4 hours in a bus after an international flight can be tiring, altitude change is dramatic, road can be foggy at night through Cajas.

Tip: take the bus during daylight hours so you can see Cajas. The VIP/cama buses have fully reclining seats, Wi-Fi, and are genuinely comfortable.

Option 3: Copa Direct to Cuenca via Panama

Copa flies Panama City (PTY) to Cuenca (CUE) several times per week. If you can connect through Panama, this gets you directly to Cuenca's tiny airport without dealing with Quito or Guayaquil at all.

Pro: direct to Cuenca, single airline for the whole trip. Con: limited schedule, only works if you're coming through PTY.

Option 4: Quito to Cuenca by Bus (Not Recommended for Arrival)

It's 8-10 hours by bus from Quito to Cuenca. Fine for a future adventure when you're settled, terrible idea on your first day in the country after an international flight.

Arrival: What Happens When You Land

Immigration

You'll line up at immigration control. For Americans, it's simple:

• Hand over your passport (valid 6+ months)
• They stamp it — you get 90 days as a tourist, no visa required
• No questions about return flights or hotel reservations (unlike some countries)
• They may ask you to fill out a customs declaration form — keep your copy, you technically need it when you leave

The whole process takes 5-20 minutes depending on how many flights landed at the same time.

Customs

After picking up your bags, you'll go through customs. Most people get the green light (nothing to declare) and walk straight through. Occasionally they'll flag you for a random bag check — it's not a big deal, just standard procedure.

What to declare: if you're carrying more than $1,338 in cash (or equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it. No duty on personal items for tourists.

First Steps After Clearing Customs

1. Cash: Ecuador uses US dollars. You already have the right currency. Bring $200-300 in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s, $20s). Many places — taxis, small shops, comedores — cannot break a $50 or $100 bill. ATMs are available at both major airports (Banco Pichincha, Banco del Pacifico) but have withdrawal limits of $300-500 per transaction

2. SIM card: both Quito and Guayaquil airports have Claro counters in the arrivals area. A prepaid SIM costs $3-5, and you can load $10-15 of data/minutes on the spot. Bring your passport. Make sure your phone is unlocked first. You can also wait and buy one in town — Claro, Movistar, and CNT stores are everywhere

3. Transport: pre-arrange if you can. Have your hotel, Airbnb host, or a transfer service ready. If you're winging it: Uber works at both Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) airports and is the easiest option. Official taxi stands are outside arrivals with posted fixed rates

4. Don't exchange money: there is nothing to exchange. If someone in the airport offers to exchange currency for you, walk away

Baggage Tips for Ecuador Flights

International baggage allowances on flights to Ecuador:

• LATAM: 2 checked bags x 23 kg (50 lbs) each included on most international fares
• Avianca: 2 checked bags x 23 kg each on full-fare international tickets; basic economy may only include 1 bag
• JetBlue: depends on fare class — Blue Basic includes 1 checked bag, Blue and above include 2
• Copa: 2 checked bags x 23 kg each on most fares
• United: depends on fare class, check your specific booking
• Spirit: nothing included, pay per bag ($30-65 each way depending on when you buy)

Critical warning on domestic connections: if you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight (e.g., Quito to Cuenca), your domestic leg may have a LOWER baggage allowance. LATAM domestic allows 1 bag x 23 kg on basic fares. If you have 2 international bags, you might pay $40-75 for the extra bag on the domestic leg. Check your booking confirmation carefully.

Overweight fees: $75-150 per bag over the weight limit. Never worth it. If your bag is approaching 50 lbs, redistribute weight or ship the excess via USPS flat-rate boxes beforehand.

Pro Tips from Frequent Ecuador Flyers

• Aisle vs. window: for Quito arrivals, grab a window seat on the right side of the plane. On clear days, you'll see Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, and the Avenue of Volcanoes as you descend. Worth it
• Quito's runway: the airport sits at 7,874 feet elevation. Landings and takeoffs feel faster than you're used to — thin air means higher ground speeds. Totally normal, don't panic
• Arrive hydrated: you're landing at altitude. Start drinking water on the plane, skip the alcohol on the flight, and take it easy your first day. Altitude sickness is real in Quito (less so in Cuenca, which is lower)
• Screenshot everything: your booking confirmation, hotel address, emergency contacts, insurance info. Don't rely on having internet immediately after landing
• Travel insurance: get it. World Nomads, SafetyWing, or IMG Global cover Ecuador. A medical emergency without insurance will ruin your trip and your bank account
• Return flight requirement: technically, Ecuador can ask for proof of onward travel. In practice, this is almost never enforced for Americans. But if you're nervous, book a cheap refundable ticket or use BestOnwardTicket.com for a temporary booking

The flight to Ecuador is short, direct, and easy. The hardest part is everything that happens after you land — but that's what the rest of these guides are for.