The short version: we're at Diego Noboa OE10-187 y Javier Espinosa, in Carapungo, north Quito — 40–50 minutes from the airport via the Ruta Collas expressway and about a 5-minute walk from the Ecovía feeder bus stop. The long version, with the details your map app won't tell you, is below.
From the airport: 40–50 minutes
The Ruta Collas expressway links the Panamericana Norte with Tababela, and the trip takes 40–50 minutes off-peak — we timed it ourselves on a weekday. In traffic, longer. Your map app will quote you less; trust this number, which comes from actually driving it.
A taxi from the airport's official taxi stands costs around $20–24; a cooperative taxi booked through an app usually comes to $13–17. Budget $15–25 and there will be no surprises. Tell the driver "Carapungo, Diego Noboa con Javier Espinosa" — anyone who knows the sector will find it without a map.
If you'd rather take the bus, the official airport service runs to the Carcelén terminal for $2, leaving roughly every 20 minutes, every day, and taking 45–50 minutes. It is not a 24-hour service — if you land very late or leave very early, confirm the first and last departure at the airport rather than counting on it. The bus stops at the Carapungo interchange on the Panamericana — ask the driver to call the stop as you board. If you stay on to Carcelén, a short 10–20 minute taxi drops you at our door.
By Ecovía: feeder stop 5 minutes away, one integrated fare
What Carapungo locals call "the Ecovía" is the feeder bus for the San José de Morán sector: its stop — Galo Plaza Lasso y N16 — is about a 5-minute walk from the hostal. One integrated fare connects you to the Ecovía trunk line at Río Coca station — the feeder takes 25–45 minutes depending on the route (the semi-express via Av. Simón Bolívar is the fastest). From Río Coca, the trunk line carries you toward the center and the south of the city.
By intercity bus: Carcelén terminal, 10–20 minutes away
If you're arriving from Otavalo, Ibarra, Cayambe or anywhere in northern Ecuador, your bus ends at the Carcelén intercity terminal, a 10–20 minute taxi ride from the hostal. Local bus lines also link Carcelén and La Ofelia with Carapungo for $0.35 (the city is considering $0.40, but the ordinance has not passed), though with luggage the taxi is worth it.
By Metro: El Labrador is the nearest station
El Labrador station on the Quito Metro is 20–40 minutes away by taxi, depending on traffic. There's no direct feeder bus from Carapungo, so on public transport the trip means transfers via Río Coca or La Ofelia and can take over an hour — for the Metro, a taxi is the sensible option.
When you arrive
We don't have our own parking, so if you come by car you'll need to find street parking. Reception is open 07:00 to midnight; if your flight lands in the small hours, message us on WhatsApp at +593 98 773 0465 that same day and we'll wait up for you.
If you're still deciding where to sleep before a flight, we compare the options in where to stay near Quito airport. And to fill the spare hours, there's what to do near Carapungo. We're five rooms from $10 a night.