Arrival brief · Quito UIO
UIO Arrival Guide: Quito Airport to the City, Without the Traps
Quito's airport is a long way from the city, and the ride matters — use the official taxi desk or the Aeroservicios coach, never a street cab. Mind the altitude, keep cash low, and pre-book if you land at night.
2026-08-23
What to expect after landing
Quito’s Mariscal Sucre airport (UIO) is in Tababela, well outside the city — the ride in is a long one (45–75 minutes) and which cab you take matters more than usual here. Use the official taxi desk inside arrivals or a pre-arranged transfer; never a taxi from someone who approaches you. Draw dollars (Ecuador uses the US dollar) from a bank ATM inside, keep withdrawals modest, and split your cash. And take the altitude (2,850m) gently on day one.
Option 1 — Official taxi desk or booked transfer (recommended)
The official airport taxi desk sells a fixed, prepaid fare to the city — a safe, regulated option, about 45–60 minutes. A pre-arranged hotel transfer (a car meeting you by name) is the calmest, especially at night. Both remove the unofficial-cab risk that matters here.
Option 2 — Aeroservicios coach (cheapest)
The Aeroservicios coach runs between the airport and a central terminal near Parque Bicentenario, from where you take an official taxi or app car to your hotel. The value option in daylight; less ideal late or with heavy luggage.
What it looks like
UIO’s real issue isn’t a sales scam — it’s the wrong taxi over a long, isolated route. Quito has a history of “express kidnapping” via rogue cabs (a forced ATM run). From the airport the fix is simple: the official desk or a booked transfer, never a cab that approaches you. In the city, use apps or hotel-called cabs, not street hails.
Do this instead
Take an official desk taxi or a pre-booked transfer (never a street/approaching cab), or the Aeroservicios coach in daylight; draw dollars from a bank ATM and keep cash modest; use ride apps in the city rather than hailing; and go gently with the altitude on day one. That’s the safe Quito arrival, into a stunning Andean capital.
Late-night arrivals
A pre-arranged transfer or official desk taxi is strongly preferred late, given the distance and the unofficial-cab risk. Book before you fly, save your hotel’s address and phone offline, keep valuables out of sight, and don’t take a ride from anyone approaching you in the hall — go straight to your hotel.
Quick answers
What's the best way from Quito airport to the city?
Quito's Mariscal Sucre airport (UIO) is in Tababela, well outside the city — expect 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and where you're staying. Use the official taxi desk inside arrivals (a fixed, prepaid fare), a pre-arranged hotel transfer, or the Aeroservicios coach to a central terminal. Never take a taxi from someone who approaches you; the distance and the wrong-cab risk make the official desk or a booked transfer the smart choice, especially after dark.
Are taxis from Quito airport safe?
Use the official airport taxi desk or a pre-booked transfer, and yes. The risk to avoid is an unofficial or 'street' taxi — Quito has a history of 'secuestro exprés' (express kidnapping), where a rogue cab drives the passenger to ATMs to empty their accounts. From the airport, the regulated desk taxis and booked transfers remove that risk; in the city, use a ride app or hotel-called cab rather than hailing. Keep withdrawals modest and split your cash.
How do I handle Quito's altitude on arrival?
Quito sits at about 2,850m (9,350ft), high enough that some visitors feel the altitude on day one — mild headache, breathlessness, tiredness. Take the first day slowly, drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol, and don't schedule anything strenuous immediately. Most people acclimatise within a day or two. If you're heading higher (the volcanoes, the páramo), build in time. It's a normal part of arriving in the Andes, not a scam.
What if I land at Quito late at night?
A pre-arranged hotel transfer or an official desk taxi is strongly preferred for a late arrival, given the airport's distance and the express-kidnapping risk with unofficial cabs. Arrange the pickup before you fly, have your hotel address and phone saved offline, and don't accept a ride from anyone approaching you in the hall. Keep valuables out of sight and cash modest. Go straight to your hotel.