Quito is preparing to facilitate travel for approximately 130,000 passengers during the Carnival holiday from February 14 to 17, 2026, with an operational plan set to handle increased demand.
Quito, Ecuador, is set to mobilize around 130,000 travelers during the upcoming Carnival holiday, scheduled from Saturday, February 14 to Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The local municipality has announced that major transportation hubs, including Quitumbe in the south and Carcelén in the north, along with smaller regional terminals like La Marín, Río Coca, and La Ofelia, will be accommodating a significant influx of passengers traveling to various destinations across cities and provinces.
The city administration plans to implement an operational strategy in the terminals from February 13 to 17 to manage an expected demand of approximately 171,179 passengers. This represents a notable increase from the previous year, with estimates suggesting a 10% rise in passengers at Quitumbe and a 3% rise at Carcelén. A marked growth is also anticipated at the micro-regional terminals, with La Marín expecting a 24% increase, Río Coca seeing a 27% rise, and La Ofelia forecasted to experience a 5.7% uptick in travel activity.
The forecasted increase in travelers highlights the growing popularity of the Carnival holiday, as evidenced by the previous year when 82,300 travelers departed from Quitumbe during the same holiday period. The upcoming operational adjustments are crucial for ensuring that transportation networks can handle the rising numbers efficiently and safely, fostering regional connectivity and promoting tourism within Ecuador during this festive season.
