Mariscal Sucre International Airport – UIO Quito, Ecuador
UIO-Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the primary airport serving Quito, Ecuador. Considered to be one of the busiest in South America, it services an average of 200 flights per week. The airport was named after the country’s independence leader Antonio Jose de Sucre and only started operations in 2013 after replacing the old Mariscal Sucre International Airport.
Best Time to Visit
Located about 18km to the east of Quito, Ecuador, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport’s location was specially chosen to expand the coverage of the old airport. This is because the old airport occupied a dangerous location, smack in the middle of a mountain-rich city. Hence, it can be tough for the old airport to accommodate larger traffic and bigger aircrafts. Today, the airport easily accommodates large airlines from places like Mexico City, Madrid, Bogota, Atlanta, Panama, and others. Close by is Sangolqui, which is a quaint little district of Quito and is home to the prestigious ESPE University. Don’t forget to visit The Street of the Seven Crosses, literally having 7 majestic crosses scattered throughout the area.
What to Do & Area Attractions
There are no airport hotels nearby the airport but you can stay at the Sheraton Quito Hotel with its modern façade and a proximity of just 18km from the airport. While it’s not an on-site airport hotel, it’s close enough that you can quickly reach the area in just a few minutes. The closest is the HostalColibri Aeropuerto-Hostel, which is just 6km away.
Aside from UIO, the LTX-Cotopaxi International Airport also services Latacunga, Ecuador and surrounding areas. It is second only to UIO in terms of size.
