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José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Guayaquil, Ecuador
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Ecuador's busiest gateway on the Pacific coast.
- ›The airport is named after José Joaquín de Olmedo, a prominent Ecuadorian poet and independence leader.
- ›It is the busiest airport in Ecuador by passenger volume.
- ›The current terminal opened in 2006, replacing the older facility on the same urban site.
- ›It serves as a major departure point for flights to the Galápagos Islands.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 19 feet (6 meters) above sea level.
José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport serves Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city and busiest port, handling the bulk of the country's commercial air traffic. Inaugurated in its modern form in 2006, the airport replaced the historic Simón Bolívar Airport and is named after the poet and independence hero born in the city. It functions as a primary hub connecting Ecuador to major destinations across the Americas and beyond.
- Main Terminal — A single integrated terminal handling all domestic and international departures and arrivals with modern facilities and retail concessions.
- Taxi services available at designated ranks outside arrivals — metered or negotiated fares to city center
- Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Cabify) operate from the airport pickup zones
- City bus routes connect the airport to central Guayaquil at low cost
- Car rental desks from major agencies including Hertz, Avis, and Budget located in the arrivals hall
- Hotel shuttle services offered by several nearby and city-center properties
- Wyndham Guayaquil
- Hotel Ramada by Wyndham Guayaquil
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Guayaquil Airport
- NH Guayaquil
- Howard Johnson Guayaquil
Inside the terminal, passengers will find a range of cafés, fast food outlets, and sit-down restaurants serving Ecuadorian staples alongside international options. The departures area features several coffee bars ideal for sampling local cacao-based beverages. Outside the airport perimeter, the nearby Urdesa and Kennedy Norte neighborhoods offer a richer variety of traditional ceviche, seafood, and patacones at local restaurants.
- Arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures, as security queues can be slow during peak seasons.
- Currency exchange counters inside the terminal offer convenient but slightly unfavorable rates — consider using ATMs for US dollars, Ecuador's official currency.
- Guayaquil's tropical humidity can be intense; dress in light breathable clothing and keep essentials like insect repellent handy when venturing into the city.
- Confirm taxi fares before departure or insist on the meter to avoid overcharging, and prefer official airport taxi ranks over informal touts.
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José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is an international airport serving Guayaquil, the capital of the Guayas Province and the most populous city in Ecuador. It is the second busiest airport in Ecuador.
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