Cheap flights to
Ecuador

People always ask us if there’s a best day of the week to book a flight. There isn’t, but there is a time period when prices tend to be cheapest. We call it the Goldilocks Window because it’s not too far ahead of your trip but not too last-minute either. It’s about 1–3 months before a domestic flight. For international trips, start looking earlier, 2–8 months ahead of your departure date.

If you’re traveling for an event and your dates aren’t flexible, or if you plan to travel during peak season, it’s best to look even earlier. Think June for a December holiday trip or December for summer travel. Last-minute deals are few and far between during busy travel seasons, with fare jumps happening 21, 14, and 7 days in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute to start planning.

Our beloved Greek Islands Trick might be named for one country’s islands, but it can actually work all over the world. The point of the trick is to get as close to your destination as you can for the cheapest price, then find a second flight or other mode of transit for the last leg.

If you want to fly from Indianapolis to Quito in July, for example, flights could be close to $1,000. Instead, look for a cheap flight to Miami, often found for under $250. From there you could find a cheaper flight to Ecuador. Or, if you want to fly to the Galápagos Islands but flights are too expensive, try looking at Quito first and see if you can find a deal, then add transit to the Galápagos. It takes a bit more planning, but it can save you a bunch of money.

This is like the Greek Islands Trick but on the departure side. Again, let’s say you live in Indianapolis. If flights are expensive, try searching for flights from Chicago or Cincinnati instead. We see amazing deals every day that are often worth adding a drive or bus ride.

And if nothing else, it may even be worth it to search for a flight to your final destination from farther afield. For instance, if you live in Minneapolis and find a great deal from New Orleans to Quito, it may be worth it to book the deal, then reposition yourself from Minneapolis to New Orleans at a low cost.

Ecuador has nice weather for much of the year, so if you can avoid traveling during peak seasons, like summer or winter holidays, you can save money. We like traveling during shoulder season, the periods just before and after a high season. Think September–October in Ecuador, for example. You’ll still have nice weather but without the crowds and high prices.

The more flexible you can be with your dates, no matter what season you travel, the better. Even in high season, if you can fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday, you’ll probably save money compared with flying on a Friday or Sunday, when people take weekend trips or travel for business and prices are higher.

Keeping track of airfare as it changes takes time, and you could miss a good deal. Luckily, flight tracking tools can help. Set up fare alerts for your travel dates, and you’ll get an email when prices drop. All you have to do is book. If your travel dates are flexible, set a few alerts. It’s best to do this ahead of the Goldilocks Window we talked about to see the deals that come up during that time.

Ecuador has one large airport in Quito and smaller airports around the country. Visitors to Quito can typically reach the city on a nonstop or one-stop flight, while those flying to the Galápagos or another city will make at least one—likely two—connections.