Ecuador

Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport lies at Tababela, on a plateau east of the capital, so the drive into the city takes a while and winds through the valleys. A Quito Airport transfer booked ahead means a driver is waiting for you, which helps after a long flight and at this high altitude. Guayaquil’s José Joaquín de Olmedo airport is the country’s other main gateway, and both cities have flights to the Galápagos Islands. Whether you land late at night or need an airport transfer to a hacienda in the Andes, Tranigo lets you compare vehicles and local providers for your private transfer and pay the price you see when you book.

Quito’s colonial old town, among the first places ever listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the obvious starting point, followed by the TelefériQo cable car up the slopes of Pichincha. Classic day trips lead to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the equator, the Otavalo market in the northern highlands and Cotopaxi National Park with its snow-capped volcano.

Inside Quito’s gilded La Compañía church, at the San Francisco monastery and along the streets of the old town, a local guide explains the art and history you would otherwise walk past. A guide is also good company at Otavalo or Cotopaxi, where local knowledge makes the day easier. Use the Guides tab in the search above to look for a private guide, or write to us on WhatsApp.