José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport

José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is about 5 km north of downtown Guayaquil, on Avenida de las Américas. By taxi or car, the trip to the city center and the Malecón 2000 waterfront usually takes 15 to 25 minutes in normal traffic, and it can be quicker at night or on weekends.

Yes. Guayaquil airport sits inside the city, on Avenida de las Américas, about 5 km north of the center and close to the main intercity bus station, Terminal Terrestre. A stop on the Metrovía bus rapid transit system is a short walk from the terminal, and taxis reach the center in about 15 to 25 minutes.

Guayaquil airport has one passenger terminal, opened in July 2006, of about 50,000 square meters. It handles both domestic and international flights, including flights to the Galápagos. Domestic and international arrivals have separate exits into the ground-floor arrivals hall, and the Galápagos Government Council office is in the upper-level departures hall.

Avianca and LATAM fly both domestic and international routes from Guayaquil, including flights to Quito, Cuenca and the Galápagos. International airlines include Air Europa, American Airlines, Arajet, Copa Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue and KLM, with nonstop flights to cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Panama City and Punta Cana.

Official airport taxis operate from a counter in the arrivals hall. You pay at the counter, receive a ticket, and are matched with a driver in the designated taxi lane outside. Taxis wait outside both the domestic and international arrival doors, though fewer drivers are available after about 11 p.m. Avoid hailing taxis outside the airport grounds.

Yes. The Aeropuerto stop on the Metrovía line 25 de Julio–Río Daule is a short walk from the terminal and connects with the rest of the city's bus rapid transit network. There is no bus or train inside the airport itself, and the Metrovía is crowded and impractical if you are carrying large luggage.

Yes. Uber operates at Guayaquil airport 24 hours a day, and InDriver also works in the city. App drivers generally pick up passengers on the departures-level curb or in the parking lot rather than at the arrivals doors. Check the driver and vehicle details in the app and do not accept off-app offers.

Most visitors need a passport valid for at least six months from arrival, and officers may ask about the purpose of your trip and for proof of onward travel. Citizens of many countries can visit without a visa, but rules vary by nationality. An online customs registration is only required if you carry taxable goods or 10,000 US dollars or more.

Avianca and LATAM fly from Guayaquil to Baltra and San Cristóbal. Pre-register online for the Galápagos Transit Control Card, then have it validated at the Galápagos Government Council office in the upper-level departures hall, which opens from 6:00 to 12:00. Your bags are inspected next to the card windows before check-in, so arrive early.

Salinas is about 2.5 hours west of Guayaquil by car, and there is no direct bus from the airport. Most travelers take a pre-arranged car or a taxi to the Terminal Terrestre, just north of the airport, and catch an intercity bus to Salinas, Montañita or Cuenca. Cuenca can also be reached by domestic flights with LATAM.

Guayaquil is hot and humid all year, with a rainy season roughly from January to May and a drier, slightly cooler season for the rest of the year. The city runs on Ecuador time, UTC-5, with no daylight saving time. Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there is no local currency to exchange.

Guayaquil airport is operated by Terminal Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil S.A. (TAGSA). It handled 4,174,127 passengers in 2025, slightly more than the 4,167,249 recorded in 2024, with about 2.34 million international and 1.84 million domestic passengers. It is Ecuador's second-busiest airport after Quito.