Quito To The Galapagos: Easy Step-By-Step Guide (2023)
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Looking for the best ways to get from Quito to the Galapagos? You’re in the right place! Both Quito and the Galapagos Islands are must-see destinations in Ecuador, and this post tells you step-by-step how to travel between the two (with a few tips too!)
Quito is the second-highest city in the world and is one of the best locations to start your Ecuador trip due to its large international airport.
Then there’s the Galapagos Islands, one of the biggest bucket-list destinations on Earth. This volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean attracts thousands of visitors each year and is often the sole reason why tourists flock to this part of the world.
This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from Quito to the Galapagos, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more.
So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Quito to the Galapagos!
Still got a question about travelling from Quito to the Galapagos? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!
🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:
- Backpacking Ecuador: COMPLETE Guide
- 2 Weeks In Ecuador: Routes, Itineraries & Guides!
- 10 Days In Ecuador: Route, Itinerary & Tips
- Ecuador Itinerary 3 Weeks: FULL Route + Guide
Quito To The Galapagos: A Summary
The journey between Quito and the Galapagos Islands is roughly 830 miles (1335km). At this current time, there is only one way to travel between Quito and the Galapagos; and that is by plane.
Journey times from Ecuador to the Galapagos vary from 2 hours – 4 hours, depending on the flight, time of day and where you are flying from (Quito or Guayaquil).
A boat between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos would take 3 days, so it just isn’t a feasible option when backpacking Ecuador!
Even the cruises that sail around and between each of the Galapagos Islands require a flight from either Quito or Guayaquil first.
So in short, the most popular, and only way to travel between Quito and the Galapagos is by plane. Avianca is the most popular airline that travels between the two locations (and you can check flight prices with Avianca here).
So, let’s talk about the flight from Quito to the Galapagos (and vice versa), what you can expect, how much you’ll be paying and how often you can fly to the Galapagos!
1. Quito to the Galapagos by plane
As previously mentioned, the only way to travel from Quito to the Galapagos is by plane.
Depending on the time of year you are travelling, and how in advance you book your flights, you can expect to pay between £200-300 ($300-400 USD) for a return flight to the Galapagos from Quito.
It’s a little more expensive travelling from Guayaquil to the Galapagos (roughly £300/$400), but it’s quicker, with a flight time of only 2 hours.
If you book a guided tour to the Galapagos, you will still need to board a flight from either Quito or Guayaquil to reach the islands. Your tour package will explain whether this flight is included in the total price, or whether you need to book that flight independently.
There are daily flights between San Cristobal and Baltra (adjacent to Santa Cruz), two of the Galapagos’ main islands. I recommend flying from Quito to one of these islands, then booking a return flight back from the other island. This then means you don’t have to double over on any travel time.
➡You can check prices for flights to the Galapagos from Quito here.
How do I travel around the Galapagos Islands?
There are 127 islands in the Galapagos archipelago, and unless you’re an intrepid explorer, it’s unlikely you’ll be visiting them all! The three main islands that backpackers and tourists usually visit are Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal.
So, how do you get to and from each island? When you are on the Galapagos Islands, you will have the choice to either travel by boat to each island or fly between them. Not all of the islands have airports, so you will need to plan your route accordingly.
Let’s discuss both the boat and plane between the Galapagos islands.
🦉 TOP TIP: If you have booked an organised tour or cruise around the Galapagos Islands, all of your transfers, boat trips and transport will be planned for you! You can check out the best Galapagos Island tours here!
Boats around the Galapagos Islands
Boats are a popular way to travel around the Galapagos Islands. There are daily boats that leave Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal, and cost around £20 ($25 USD) per person per single journey.
However, there are limited boats that leave the islands each day. For example, some ferries only leave at 6 am or 7 am, and will put on extra boats if over a certain amount of people have booked.
This is why it’s absolutely necessary to pre-book your boats! Boats can be booked at any of the island’s docks.
A word of advice; the Galapagos boats aren’t the best. They’re bumpy, often rough and there’s a lot of travel sickness. Don’t eat too much beforehand and be prepared with seasickness tablets.
TOP TIP: I recommend flying to San Cristobal, getting a boat to Isabela, a boat to Santa Cruz and then flying back to Quito or Guayaquil from there. This cuts the number of flights and boats down quite a bit, as you’re not doing any overlapping travel.
Flying around the Galapagos Islands
Another option is to fly between each of the Galapagos Islands. Note that these are small planes (usually 8-seaters), and the half-hour flights cost a lot of money (£150/$160 for a single journey), but they’re quick and efficient!
If you’re booking flights between the Galapagos islands, you need to book with either TAME or AeroGal. They are not available to book on mainstream flight booking websites.
Why book a guided tour of the Galapagos Islands?
The easiest way to visit the Galapagos Islands is via a guided or organised tour. Why? Well, getting around the Galapagos and planning a trip yourself is no easy task! Plus, it’s expensive!
Booking an all-in-one tour means you can relax when it comes to organising and planning your once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos trip. It also means you won’t miss out on any of the major bucket list activities, and your time will be filled with some of the best Galapagos experiences.
➡ You can check prices, dates, availability, timings and what actually happens during a Galapagos guided tour here!
Where to stay in the Galapagos
As previously mentioned, there are three major islands in the Galapagos to visit.
- Santa Cruz – a holiday destination in itself – is full of tropical beaches, lively nightlife and delicious restaurants. If you’re staying here for the first time, I recommend either Hotel Fiesta or Hotel Blue Galapagos Sustainable Eco Lodge.
- Isabela is another popular spot that is known for being the largest of the islands, with an abundance of wildlife and pretty landscapes. The stays I recommend are Mi Playa Beach Front or the beautiful Isamar Hotel.
- San Cristobal is known as the ‘best’ island to visit because of its wildlife and snorkelling – where you can spot sea lions, giant tortoises, sting rays, swimming iguanas and more. For first-timers in San Cristobal on the Galapagos, I recommend staying at either Cucuve Eco Lodge or Galápagos Eco Friendly. For a luxury (not budget-friendly stay), check out the beautiful Villa Bonita.
Where to stay in Quito
Knowing where to stay in Quito is important. Why? Well, there for starters, it’s a big city. There are many areas to choose from, and picking the wrong one could be detrimental to your trip. Secondly, some of the areas are less safe and tourist-friendly than others.
If you’re in Quito for the first time, I recommend booking accommodation in either the main Historic Centre or La Floresta.
The Old Town (Historic Centre) is perfect for a few days in Ecuador, as it’s in the centre of town, close to all of the major attractions and has some great hostels and hotels.
La Floresta is better suited to digital nomads and long-term stays in the city.
Some of the best accommodations in Quito include:
- Viajero Hostel (city centre): a beautiful hostel that includes free breakfast!
- Community Hostel (city centre): the perfect social hostel for the Amazon Rainforest tour!
- Secret Garden: (city centre): around a 15-minute walk to the main square, and is ideal for specific Cotopaxi tours.
- Hotel Stubel Suites & Cafe (La Floresta): a hotel with offers stunning views of the Guápulo Valley.
- NH Collection Quito Royal (La Floresta): a more luxurious stay with a health club, free WiFi and free breakfast.
Quito To The Galapagos: FAQs
1) How do I get from Quito to the Galapagos?
To travel from Quito to the Galapagos, you need to fly. There are currently no boats travelling from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos.
Alternatively, you can get a bus to Guayaquil (if you want to explore more areas of the country first) and then fly directly from Guayaquil to the Galapagos. This all depends on your route and what you would like to do in Ecuador.
2) How far is the flight from Quito to Galapagos?
The Galapagos and Quito are not close, and it takes around 2.5-4 hours to fly between the two! The total distance between Quito and the Galapagos is 830 miles (1335km).
3) Can you fly directly to the Galapagos Islands?
The only places where you can fly to the Galapagos are Quito and Guayaquil. This is because the Galapagos Islands are a protected area, and the number of tourists visiting is limited.
You need to book a flight to Quito or Guayaquil if you are visiting from the UK, Europe, the USA or anywhere else in the world.
4) Do I need a visa for Galapagos from UK?
If you are visiting the Galapagos from the UK, you will be given 90 days on your passport for Ecuador upon arrival. This means you do not need a visa to visit the Galapagos. This is the same for tourists from the USA.
5) Can you fly to the Galapagos Islands from UK?
No. There are no direct flights from the UK to the Galapagos. You need to book a flight to Quito or Guayaquil for a connecting flight if you are visiting from the UK, Europe, the USA or anywhere else in the world.
6) Do you need a SIM card to travel to the Galapagos Islands?
Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and getting around the Galapagos Islands. Wifi ******
We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards. ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
Don’t forget travel insurance for South America!
If you’re visiting South America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in South America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for South America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Quito to the Galapagos: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Quito to the Galapagos Islands! When you’re planning a trip to Ecuador or the Galapagos, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information.
I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Ecuador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:
- Backpacking Ecuador: COMPLETE Guide
- 3 Days In Quito: The PERFECT Itinerary
- 2 Weeks In Ecuador: Routes, Itineraries & Guides!
- Amazon Tours Ecuador: BEST Cuyabeno Trip From Quito
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
