Mérida to Quito flights
Quito lies 1,274 km (792 mi) south-west of Mérida, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 23 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Mérida | Quito | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Venezuela | Ecuador |
| Population | 300,000 | 2.8 million |
| Elevation | 1,389 m (4,557 ft) | 2,854 m (9,364 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-4 (America/Caracas) | UTC-5 (America/Guayaquil) |
| Nearest large airport | VIG, 56 km out | UIO, 22 km out |
Clocks in Quito are 1 h behind Mérida right now, so a 2 h 23 min journey lands only 1 h 23 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Quito
Crossing from Venezuela into Ecuador: money changes from the Bolivar Soberano to the Dollar (USD); the dialling code becomes +593; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648794 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648798.
Airports at each end
Leaving Mérida
Mérida is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso Airport (VIG), 56 km (35 mi) from the centre, whose 10,645-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Quito
Quito is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), 22 km (14 mi) from the centre, whose 13,445-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX, 76 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariscal Sucre International Airport | UIO | 22 km (14 mi) | 13,445 ft | 7,841 ft |
| Cotopaxi International Airport (regional) | LTX | 76 km (47 mi) | 12,117 ft | 9,205 ft |
Book a flight to Quito
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Quito
Our booking partner lists 947 places to stay in Quito. Of the 459 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (218), and 19 are five-star. Across 151 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9 out of 10. Guests have left 54,891 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Quito
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Quito from Mérida?
1,274 km (792 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Mérida.
How long does it take to get from Mérida to Quito by air?
About 2 h 23 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Mérida and Quito?
Quito is 1 h behind at the moment (America/Guayaquil against America/Caracas).
Which airports are used for Mérida to Quito flights?
Typically Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso Airport (VIG) to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO); Quito also has LTX.
What currency do I need in Quito?
The Dollar (USD).
Where can I stay in Quito?
Our booking partner lists 947 places to stay in Quito, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.