El Labrador Station — Quito Metro Northern Terminus

El Labrador Station is the northern terminus of Line 1 and one of the system's five multimodal stations. Buses to Mariscal Sucre airport leave from outside, and this will be the starting point of the planned extension towards La Ofelia.

Location
El Labradornorthern Quito
Position
15 of 15northern terminus
Airport
40-50 minby bus from the station
Type
Multimodalone of five

Location and access

El Labrador Station stands in the district of the same name, in northern Quito, on the grounds of the old Mariscal Sucre airport. It is one of the system's five multimodal stations and the northern terminus of the line.

Getting there: by Metrobús-Q and regular northern bus routes, or on foot from the surrounding neighbourhoods. Buses to Tababela airport leave from the stop outside the station.

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Connections with other transport

  • ✈️Airport busTo Tababela, roughly 40-50 min
  • 🚌Metrobús-QCentral Norte corridor and local buses
  • 🅿️Car parkFor metro users, daily rates
  • AccessibilityLifts, ramps and adapted signage

What to see nearby

Parque Bicentenario

The vast park laid out over the runways of the old airport, 103 hectares of open space that also hosts events.

Airport bus stop

Buses to Mariscal Sucre airport in Tababela leave from outside the station — the usual way to combine the metro with a flight.

Northern Quito

Residential neighbourhoods with local shops and quick access to the La Prensa corridor.

Station services

The station has ticket offices for buying and topping up the Metro Q card, self-service machines, access gates, lifts and escalators for priority passengers, information screens with arrival times, CCTV and security staff. As a multimodal terminus it also has a car park and the airport bus stop. It is fully accessible.

Opening hours

El Labrador Station operates every day of the year, including public holidays:

  • Monday to Friday: 05:30 – 23:00
  • Saturdays: 07:00 – 23:00
  • Sundays and public holidays: 07:00 – 22:00
  • Approximate frequency: every 5–10 minutes depending on demand (more frequent at peak times)

Customer service: 1800 METRO Q (638 767), Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.

Journey times and fares from El Labrador

The Quito Metro uses a flat fare: you pay the same price regardless of how far you travel on Line 1.

Standard fare
$0.45
Reduced
$0.22
Disability
$0.10

Approximate journey times from El Labrador to key stations:

DestinationStopsApprox. time
Iñaquito (financial district)2~5 min
San Francisco (Historic Centre)8~19 min
Quitumbe (southern terminus)14~34 min

Times estimated from the full end-to-end run (34 min between termini). Check exact times at the station or in the official app.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the airport from El Labrador?
Buses to Mariscal Sucre airport (Tababela) leave from the stop outside the station. The journey takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. Operators and timetables on this route have changed more than once, so check the current departures before you travel.
Does the airport bus run at night?
Do not count on it. Night coverage on this route has varied and the city has acknowledged gaps outside daytime hours, so for very early or late flights plan on a taxi or a private transfer. Remember the metro itself does not run between 23:00 and 05:30.
How long does the metro take from El Labrador to Quitumbe?
The full run to the southern terminus takes about 34 minutes, calling at all 15 stations on the line.
Can I take large suitcases on the metro?
Yes, luggage is allowed. For comfort it is worth avoiding the peak periods (07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00, Monday to Friday).
Will El Labrador always be the end of the line?
For now, yes — but an extension north to La Ofelia is planned, adding four new stations. Construction is scheduled from 2028 and the opening is estimated for 2031.