Flights to Guayaquil Airport (GYE)

Discover Guayaquil

Cheap Flights to Guayaquil Airport

Located on the western bank of the Rio Daule near the Puente de la Unidad Nacional, Guayaquil Airport (GYE), also known as José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, serves almost 8 million passengers a year. Travelers who take flights to Guayaquil Airport (GYE) might catch sight of Santa Ana Hill, a 200-foot rise covered with colorfully painted houses and businesses that appears almost as a patchwork quilt from the air.

Facilities at Guayaquil Airport

Once your cheap flights to Guayaquil Airport (GYE) land, you can explore the airport's upstairs concourse with check-in counters, a VIP lounge, automated teller machines and a duty-free shop. To get around the city of Guayaquil after deplaning, you can take taxis for a small fee, usually only $1 or $2. You can also take buses from Guayaquil to Quito and Cuaneca for a reasonable fare.

Things to Do Near Guayaquil Airport

Guayaquil is a gateway city to both Ecuador itself and the Galapagos Islands, which lie some 600 miles to the west. The nature preserve of these islands is one of the most popular destinations for travelers with connecting flights to Guayaquil Airport (GYE), and the flora and fauna are well worth the trip. You may also want to visit the Parque de las Iguanas to see the lizards scuttle or laze about.

About 150 miles north of Guayaquil, you can visit the equator. There is a handsome monument at Mitad del Mundo, or Middle-of-the-World Park, that was erected in 1979. Purists might tell you that the equator is about 700 feet farther north, but the terrain on the actual spot was unsuitable for a monument. You can even take pictures with your feet on either side of the painted line.

As you explore the city itself, it's recommended that you take one of the dozens of tours offered by the locals, such as the Malecon 2000 river walk. For some alone time, you can have a private tour of Salinas Beach. Families may want to take a ride on Captain Morgan's pirate ship through the harbor. The Cerro Santa Ana neighborhood has plenty of shops and restaurants, and it offers a beautiful view after you climb its 400 steps.

Travel Tips for Guayaquil Airport

Ecuador has adopted the United States Dollar as its national currency, so there is no money exchange needed, and the cost of accommodations and food in Guayaquil is remarkably affordable: A three-course meal for two at a nice restaurant is only about $30. Some traditional Ecuadorian dishes you might want to try include arroz con pollo, ceviche and locro soup, which is made with potatoes and cheese.

If you happen to book cheap flights to Guayaquil Airport (GYE) in May, then you can participate in Ecuador's celebration of victory in the Battle of Pichincha, which started Ecuador down the road to independence from Spain. In July, the city of Guayaquil puts on a weeklong festival of fireworks, concerts and street parties.