Transfer in Guayaquil vs Quito

Question

Hi, we are heading to the Galapagos in February and booked this flight to get there:

Feb 14: dep NYC at 1 pm/arr Guayaquil at 8:30 PM

Stay in either Sheraton or Holiday Inn near the airport overnight then catch flight to Baltra the next morning at 10 AM. Due to our cruise we have to be on a certain flight that departs Auito then stops in Guayaquil (where we will be getting in).  Started to get worried about the safety in Guayaquil. The alternative would be fly to Quito with this itinerary:

Dep NYC at midnight on Feb 14 (so the evening of Feb 13), are Quito at 6:30 AM on Feb 14

Stay overnight in Quito and catch the 8 AM flight to Baltra.

It seems like the Guayaquil itinerary is easier, but it also seems like most people go through Quito instead. Can anyone weigh in on the pros and cons?

azbuceadora · Accepted Answer

Go with the itinerary that suits you best. You're not in Guayaquil very long, and won't be in the problem areas which are far from the tourist areas. You don't have much time to visit anything in the city anyway.

I think most people prefer flying to Quito in order to visit the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the Andean surroundings.

Lojeslj · Answer

We flew in a day early into Quito on our last trip and I unexpectedly woke up with altitude sickness the next day. Did not feel well at all and was quite happy to get back down to sea level. We are returning to the Galapagos in May and are purposely going via Guayaquil this time. We will arrive a day early again to provide a buffer for airline/travel issues and will do a day tour arranged thru our travel agent.

HLJHLJ · Answer

I agree with AZB. You will be going straight to an airport hotel and then back to the airport in the morning. You won't see anything of the city, so it really doesn't matter. Just choose whichever works best for you.

Heather B · Answer

Dear Cat,

1) Be sure that your ship knows what flight you are on. It's always recommended to be on the same plane that the ship uses to fly its guests over to Galapagos. What if your flight is delayed? Your ship will not wait for you very long if all the other guests are on board, and you are two hours late...

2) Consider flying into Ecuador 2 days before your cruise start date. What if there's a major snow storm in NYC the day of your flight? You risk missing your cruise.

Guayaquil is not that bad for the average visitor - but of course, keep your wits about you. Just avoid flashing cash / cameras / jewelry / phones and stick to the more frequented areas. Ask your hotel to help organize outings.

Warmest regards,

Heather Blenkiron

catjones2016 · Answer

Thank you for all the replies, I feel better! We are booked on the same flight as all the cruise passengers from the mainland to Baltra, but there is no guidance on the flights to Ecuador.

r c · Answer

welcome

since you live in NYC, you do realize that its not so safe either from a traveler's perspective. while you may know otherwise, what you are doing to other places, is the same as those that want to visit NYC.

As mentioned, do what works for you, your money and schedule. Just so you know you will have to make that connection in Guayaquil.

some unsolicited thoughts. Its how i see/do things.

> anytime there is another connection and if the 1st leg has a delay, it could lead to a domino affect.

>Also, i dont know where you get your fear info from, but you may want to start vetting it. was it current or what it the last ice age? if it was via mouth, did you challenge them and get details or was it by word of mouth when they were in college years ago.

> did you get any travel/trip insurance? If not why?

good luck

Transfer in Guayaquil vs Quito - Galapagos Islands Forum

Transfer in Guayaquil vs Quito

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