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Traveling to the Galapagos Islands: Planning your Trip

Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward exploring a legendary archipelago. But now you might be wondering exactly where are the Galapagos Islands located and how do you get there?

Don’t worry—In order to make traveling to Galapagos Islands a seamless experience, the following sections provide all the essential information to help you prepare for a fantastic adventure!

Where are the Galapagos Islands Located?

The Galapagos Islands are a remote and iconic destination within Ecuador's territory, located approximately 600 miles (1,000 km) off the coast of South America. Ecuador, named after the equator, is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the Galapagos Islands being one of its most renowned.

How Do You Get to the Galapagos Islands?

Due to their isolated location, there are no road or ferry services connecting the islands to the continent, so naturally, the question arises: how do you get to the Galapagos Islands? Visitors must first arrive in mainland Ecuador and then take a local flight to the Galapagos. Major airlines offer daily international flights to Quito and Guayaquil.

Airports & Flights to Galapagos

Flights to the Galapagos Islands depart daily from Quito and Guayaquil. Most of Galapagos flights from Quito stop briefly in Guayaquil to pick up passengers. Flight times are as follows:

Quito to Guayaquil: approximately 35 minutes.
Guayaquil to Galapagos: approximately 2.5 hours.

Currently two airlines operate these routes: LAN-Ecuador and Avianca.

The Galapagos Islands have two main airports: Baltra Airport and San Cristobal Airport. The choice of arrival and departure airport depends on your itinerary or cruise route.

Baltra Airport (GPS): the main gateway to Galapagos, is located near Santa Cruz, the most populated island in the archipelago, making it the busiest airport in the region.
San Cristóbal Airport (SCY): is smaller but convenient for those visiting San Cristobal Island and its surrounding areas with a lot of activities options.

Galapagos Travel Tips

Due to high demand, we strongly advise booking your local flights together with your cruise. Royal Galapagos reserves a number of spaces with local airlines for our operational cruise days, ensuring a worry-free travel experience for our guests.

Since most international flights arrive in Ecuador in the evening and flights to the Galapagos primarily operate in the morning, an overnight stay in Quito or Guayaquil is usually necessary. We recommend arriving in Ecuador at least two nights before your flight to the Galapagos to allow time for connections and adjustments. View our pre-cruise packages in mainland Ecuador.

To Keep in Mind:

Time Zones: Mainland Ecuador operates on UTC-05:00, while the Galapagos Islands are 1 hour behind the mainland.
One Way Ticket: Only residents can purchase one-way tickets, so all visitors must book round-trip flights for their Galapagos Islands trip.

Ready to plan your trip to the Galapagos Islands? Check out our cruise options and pre-cruise packages!

Galapagos Travel Frequently Asked Questions

Visitors must fly to mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) and then take a domestic flight to the Galapagos Islands. We recommend arriving in Ecuador at least two nights before your flight to the Galapagos to allow time for connections and adjustments.

Galapagos is located approximately 600 miles (1,000 km) off the coast of Ecuador in the Eastern Pacific, the Galapagos Islands have been part of Ecuador’s territory since 1832.

The two main island airports, with daily connections to the mainland, are Baltra (near Santa Cruz) and San Cristóbal. Flight time from Guayaquil to the Galápagos is about 2.5 hours; Quito to Guayaquil is about 35 minutes.

Yes, it’s recommended to arrive in mainland Ecuador at least two nights prior to your Galápagos flight to ensure smooth connections. Many flights to the islands depart in the morning and international arrivals often land the previous evening.

Quito and Guayaquil: Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5)
Galapagos Islands: One hour behind mainland Ecuador (GMT-6)

To help protect this fragile ecosystem, all visitors must follow specific regulations of the Galapagos National Park:

Keep 2 meters (6 feet) away from wildlife and never touch or feed animals.
Stay on marked trails and follow your naturalist guide at all times.
Do not remove rocks, shells, or plants, and avoid using flash when taking photos.
No smoking, alcohol, or campfires in protected areas.
Drones, motorized watercrafts, and air tours are not permitted without authorization.

To view a full list of the Park’s rules, packing guide and requirements, click here.