โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Ciudad de Catamayo Airport (LOH), formerly known as Camilo Ponce Enrรญquez Airport, is the primary aviation gateway serving the city of Loja in southern Ecuador. Located in the town of Catamayo, approximately 35 kilometers west of Loja, the airport operates from a single, modern passenger terminal building that was completely reconstructed in 2013. The facility is designed to handle domestic regional traffic with high efficiency, providing a streamlined experience for travelers navigating the Andean highlands.
The terminal building provides a professional and intuitive layout, where all essential servicesโincluding check-in counters, security screening, and the waiting loungeโare concentrated within a single-story, 2,800-square-meter structure. Amenities at the terminal include a small cafรฉ in the landside public area serving local Loja specialties such as tamales and humitas, alongside essential travel retail. For premium travelers, the facility features the Sala VIP Catamayo, which offers a quiet space with refreshments and Wi-Fi. The terminal is also equipped with a single baggage claim belt and maintains a high standard of accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility.
Ground transportation to and from the LOH terminal is well-facilitated, with local taxis readily available outside the arrivals exit for the 45 to 60-minute drive to Loja. Shared vans and regional buses also provide frequent connections between Catamayo and the city center. The airport features a single 1,860-meter asphalt runway (07/25) situated in a valley with a sunnier climate than Loja itself. As a primary regional hub for carriers such as Aeroregional, the airport provides frequent links to the capital, Quito (UIO). Travelers are encouraged to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure to ensure a smooth check-in process at this essential southern highland gateway.
๐ Connection Tips
Ciudad de Catamayo Airport (LOH), also known as Camilo Ponce Enrรญquez Airport, is a vital regional gateway in the Loja Province of southern Ecuador, serving the city of Loja. For international travelers, the most efficient route is to fly into Quito and take a short 50-minute domestic flight to Catamayo. A unique tip for visitors is utilizing the airport as a technical stop before heading directly into the spectacular Podocarpus National Park or the world-famous Vilcabamba Valley; several specialized transfer companies provide pickup services directly from the terminal exit. Amenities include free Wi-Fi (often requires local registration), several airline lounges, and a diverse selection of dining options serving traditional Andean and international cuisine. LOH provide a professional and remarkably stress-free arrival experience, reflecting the unique hospitality and natural beauty of the southern Ecuadorian highlands.
For travelers, the most critical tip is understanding that the airport is located in Catamayo, approximately 38 kilometers (a 45 to 60-minute drive) from the Loja city center. Upon arrival at LOH, ground transportation is well-coordinated; dedicated airport shuttle buses and shared taxis (camionetas) meet every scheduled flight and provide a reliable link to the city's major hotels and the main bus terminal. Arriving at least 90 minutes before domestic departures is typically sufficient to navigate the thorough but generally fast security screening. The regional climate is temperate and pleasant year-round, but mountain fog in the Catamayo valley can occasionally lead to morning flight delays.
The airport primarily handles domestic flights operated by major carriers like LATAM and Aeroregional, connecting the southern interior to the national hub at Quito (UIO). It is standard practice to negotiate the fare beforehand, as meters are rarely used; a typical fare to Loja is around $15 to $20 USD. Facilities at LOH are modern and professional, following a major terminal renovation in 2013. When connecting back to a long-haul international flight from Quito, always allow for a minimum 4-hour buffer to account for potential regional delays.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
110
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Los Perales Airport serves the Bahรญa de Carรกquez and San Vicente area on Ecuador's central coast. Although it no longer functions as a normal scheduled-passenger airport, it still matters as a local airfield for general aviation, state activity, and emergency access. Its location near the estuary and the Los Caras bridge gives it a practical role in a coastal zone where local geography shapes transport choices.
The infrastructure is basic and should be understood in that context. This is not a modern commercial terminal but a small local airfield with limited passenger-facing services. Travelers relying on the area usually organize the airport piece as part of a broader regional plan rather than treating it like an independent transport hub.
For most visitors, the airfield's real relevance is historical or logistical, since many standard commercial itineraries now flow through Manta instead. Even so, Los Perales remains a useful local aviation point in a part of Ecuador where short-distance coastal movement can still be operationally important.
๐ Connection Tips
Los Perales Airport (BHA) functions primarily as a general aviation facility without scheduled commercial service, requiring travelers to utilize Manta's Eloy Alfaro International Airport located 80 kilometers south (1. 5 hours by road) for all commercial airline connections to Ecuador's national and international aviation networks. The 2010 inauguration of Los Caras Bridge over the Chone River estuary revolutionized regional connectivity by directly linking Bahรญa de Carรกquez with San Vicente, completing Ecuador's strategic Spondylus Route tourist corridor and eliminating previous ferry dependencies. Road transport from Manta Airport involves either direct bus service via Cooperativa de Transporte Turรญstico Manabรญ (hourly departures, 2-hour journey, $3 fare) or taxi/rental car options following Highway E15 coastal route through Rocafuerte and Tosagua. Ground transportation infrastructure at Los Perales Airport reflects its diminished commercial role following the cessation of scheduled passenger service, with no established taxi stands, rental car facilities, or public transit connections operating from the airfield itself.
Local transport options in Bahรญa de Carรกquez include traditional yellow taxis charging approximately $5-10 for city center destinations, ubiquitous mototaxis (motorcycle taxis) costing $1-2 for short trips but unsuitable for luggage transport, and informal shared pickup trucks (camionetas) serving rural routes. The Los Caras Bridge's 1,980-meter span includes dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways with three scenic rest balconies, making non-motorized crossing viable for lightweight travelers exploring the 10-kilometer San Vicente connection. Private aviation arrivals must coordinate ground transport through local fixers or hotel concierges, as the airport's remote location from Bahรญa's urban core and absence of communication facilities make spontaneous transport arrangements virtually impossible. Ecuador's coastal Manabรญ Province infrastructure positions Los Perales Airport as a remnant of pre-bridge transportation networks, when air service provided essential connectivity before Los Caras Bridge transformed regional dynamics along the Spondylus Route. The airport's strategic value now centers on emergency medical evacuations, disaster response capabilities following Ecuador's frequent seismic events, and supporting government operations in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone where the Chone River estuary meets the Pacific Ocean.
Charter operations occasionally utilize the 1,500-meter paved runway for eco-tourism access to nearby Machalilla National Park and Isla Corazรณn wildlife refuge, though most commercial tourism flows through Manta's superior facilities. The airfield's proximity to shrimp farming operations and agricultural zones maintains its relevance for cargo and business aviation supporting Ecuador's coastal export economy. Weather patterns influenced by the Humboldt Current create relatively stable flying conditions year-round, though morning coastal fog can delay operations until mid-morning clearance. Emergency contingency planning should account for the region's vulnerability to El Niรฑo events that periodically cause severe flooding and infrastructure damage, making alternative routing through Guayaquil or Quito necessary during extreme weather events that can isolate Manabรญ's coastal communities for extended periods.
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