Who is this trip through the Andes and Galápagos for?
Over 15 days, the trip combines the highlands around Quito at 2,850 m, Cotopaxi on the Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños, with six nights on the Galápagos islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. It suits travelers who want to combine volcanoes, a colonial old town and animals up close; best between June and September.
The character shifts after a week. The first seven nights are a highland road trip with a driver, deliberately started slowly, since Quito lies above the roughly 2,500 m threshold at which altitude sickness threatens. The following six nights are island hopping: hotels in two port towns, day excursions with a naturalist guide and a speedboat crossing. This is how most guests travel: in 2025, 79% of Galápagos visitors stayed on land overnight and 21% aboard a ship.
This trip suits well couples and families with school-age children, hobby photographers, and anyone who enjoys hiking and snorkeling but doesn't want an expedition. The longest mainland drive is the Quito–Baños stretch at about 3 h 15 min plus the side trip to Cotopaxi; on the islands, many visitor sites lie near the towns.
It suits less people who get seasick quickly: the crossing to San Cristóbal takes 2 to 3 hours, with a higher swell from July to December. Those with heart or lung conditions should clarify the altitude with a doctor beforehand. Galápagos isn't cheap: park entry and the transit control card alone cost 220 USD per adult (as of September 2026). The route does not include a mainland coastal beach holiday, since the foreign ministries currently advise against several coastal cities.
The FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA describe crime in Ecuador as high; their current advisories are authoritative (as of September 19, 2026). The route uses Guayaquil only as a connecting airport.
Sources: Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
Why does the route go through the Andes first and then to the islands?
Quito is the arrival point for international flights, and two quiet days make the altitude of 2,850 m bearable. Along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, it's on to Cotopaxi and down to Baños at 1,820 m, then back to Quito and by flight to Baltra. The speedboat takes you from Santa Cruz to San Cristóbal, from where the flight goes to Guayaquil for the international return flight.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival – Quito | Scheduled flight from your own departure airport; nonstop e.g. from Madrid, Amsterdam, Miami or Panama City | from Madrid about 10 h 25 min |
| Quito – Cotopaxi National Park | Transfer with driver | under 2 h |
| Quito – Baños de Agua Santa | Transfer with driver or bus | about 3 h 15 min |
| Quito – Guayaquil – Baltra | Domestic flight with a stop | 2.5 to 3 h |
| Baltra – Puerto Ayora | Free bus, ferry, bus or taxi | about 10, 10 and 45 min |
| Santa Cruz – San Cristóbal | Speedboat | 2 to 3 h |
| San Cristóbal – Guayaquil | Nonstop domestic flight | about 1 h 50 min |
| Guayaquil – Return flight | Scheduled flight; nonstop e.g. to Madrid, Amsterdam, Miami, New York or Panama City | to Madrid about 11 h, to Miami about 4 h 35 min |
After the day at Cotopaxi, you sleep in Baños about 1,000 m lower than in Quito. This follows healthytravel.ch's advice to raise sleeping altitude above 2,500 m by only 300 to 500 m per day; higher destinations like the Teleférico and Cotopaxi are day trips.
On Galápagos there's no round trip: arrival at Baltra, departure from San Cristóbal. This avoids a second speedboat crossing, which runs only once a day at 1:45 pm from Santa Cruz. Guayaquil remains a connection point, since the FDFA does not recommend tourist stays there.
Cuenca is missing from the base route: from Quito the bus ride takes about 8 h, the flight about 1 h, and two extra nights would shorten the island days. How the city can be fitted in is shown in the "Longer" variant.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland
Day by day
- 01
Day 1 · Overnight: Quito
Departure to Quito
Departure → Quito
From your own departure airport, it's off to Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) in Quito. According to FlightConnections, it is flown nonstop from Europe only from Madrid (Iberia, Air Europa, Euroairlines, about 10 h 25 min) and Amsterdam (KLM), from North America from Miami, Atlanta, Houston and New York, plus from Panama City, San José, Mexico City, Bogotá, Lima and Buenos Aires (as of September 2026); those starting elsewhere change planes at one of these hubs. The airport is about 40 km from the center, the express bus takes about 45 min, authorized taxis are available around the clock, and private transfers are booked in advance. Mainland Ecuador is on UTC−5 year-round, Galápagos on UTC−6; there is no daylight saving time. Eat only lightly in the evening and skip alcohol: Quito sits at 2,850 m, and according to Quito Turismo, the first signs of altitude sickness appear 6 to 12 hours after ascending above 2,500 m.
- 02
Day 2 · Overnight: Quito
Quito's old town at a slow pace
Quito
The first full day serves acclimatization to the altitude: short distances with breaks, light meals and small amounts of water spread across the day. The old town has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1978. Around the Plaza Grande stand the cathedral, the Carondelet Government Palace and the Archbishop's Palace; a few streets further, the Jesuit church La Compañía, the Church and Convent of San Francisco with the Fray Pedro Gocial Museum, and the La Ronda alley. On Mondays at noon, the presidential guard changes in front of the palace. At midday, a locro de papa, the thick potato and cheese soup, fits well. Practical tip: official taxis are yellow or white and carry an orange license plate; take one in the evening even for short distances.
- 03
Day 3 · Overnight: Quito
Mitad del Mundo and the Teleférico
Quito → Mitad del Mundo → Quito
After 48 hours at altitude, the day can become more active. About 23 km north of the city stands the 30 m equator monument Mitad del Mundo; it commemorates La Condamine's 1736 survey of the equator, though the yellow line on the grounds doesn't lie exactly on 0°. There are also museums on science and culture, a planetarium and a French pavilion; at the Museo Intiñán, experiments with the equator line can be tried. In the afternoon, the Teleférico climbs in 18 min from 2,950 to 4,050 m; you sleep afterward again in Quito at 2,850 m. In the evening, a canelazo made of naranjilla juice, cinnamon, panela and aguardiente warms you up. Practical tip: Quito Turismo recommends layered clothing, sun protection and a small umbrella.
- 04
Day 4 · Overnight: Baños de Agua Santa
Along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi and on to Baños
Quito → Cotopaxi National Park → Baños de Agua Santa
With a driver, it's south along the "Avenida de los Volcanes", with more than 70 volcanoes and mountains. Cotopaxi National Park can be reached from Quito in under two hours. Cotopaxi stands 5,897 m tall and is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world; a trail leads to the Limpiopungo lagoon, and the José Rivas refuge at 4,864 m is only for those who already feel well acclimatized. Because the volcano is under intensive monitoring, check the situation the day before. Afterward it's down to Baños at 1,820 m; the tourism ministry gives 3 h 15 min for the whole stretch from Quito. You thereby sleep about 1,000 m lower than in Quito. Those who prefer to see the crater lake Quilotoa instead drive via Latacunga to the roughly 3 km wide caldera, with a crater rim up to 3,914 m.
- 05
Day 5 · Overnight: Baños de Agua Santa
Waterfalls and hot springs
Baños → Ruta de las Cascadas → Baños
Baños lies in a valley at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano, 180 km from Quito and 35 km from Ambato. The tourism ministry counts around 16 waterfalls near the town; the waterfall route includes, among others, Inés María, Agoyán, Manto de la Novia, San Jorge and the Pailón del Diablo, which plunges into a narrow, green gorge. With a driver, several falls can be combined in one day. In the late afternoon comes a soak in warm water: five municipal balnearios and private spas draw on springs of volcanic origin. Baños sells the traditional melcocha as a sweet. Practical tip: healthytravel.ch recommends the yellow fever vaccination for Baños in Tungurahua province, since the town lies below 2,500 m east of the Andes; clarify this before departure.
- 06
Day 6 · Overnight: Baños de Agua Santa
Casa del Árbol and an active day in Baños
Baños de Agua Santa
In the morning, head up to the Casa del Árbol with the swing known as the "columpio del fin del mundo" (swing at the end of the world). In the afternoon, choose between rafting, canyoning, canopy, a via ferrata or a horseback ride, organized by certified operators. Safety standards vary according to the FDFA and Germany's Federal Foreign Office, so check operators and equipment before booking. A quieter option is a visit to the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa, a Gothic-looking building made of volcanic stone, or the San Martín adventure park in the Lligua sector. Practical tip: the BMEIA advises checking for restrictions due to the irregularly active Tungurahua volcano before visiting.
- 07
Day 7 · Overnight: Quito, near the airport
Back to Quito and preparation for Galápagos
Baños de Agua Santa → Quito
According to the tourism ministry, buses to Quito run every 15 minutes, and the trip takes about 3 h 15 min; a booked transfer is more comfortable and arrives before dark, since the FDFA and Germany's Federal Foreign Office advise against overland travel at night. Because the island flight departs early and the airport is about 40 km from the center, it's best to stay overnight near the airport. For the Transit Control Card (TCT), travel dates are pre-registered online; travel agencies can apply for the card at least 48 hours before the flight. Adults fill out the goods declaration for Galápagos digitally starting 72 hours before the trip. Fresh fruit, seeds and plants stay on the mainland. Pack small dollar bills: 50 and 100 USD notes are often not accepted.
- 08
Day 8 · Overnight: Puerto Ayora
Flight to Galápagos and arrival on Santa Cruz
Quito → Guayaquil → Baltra → Puerto Ayora
At Quito Airport, the TCT counter is open from 5:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the card costs 20 USD. Afterward, the biosecurity agency ABG checks the luggage; border and baggage control can take up to 1 h 30 min. LATAM and Avianca fly with a short stop in Guayaquil in 2.5 to 3 h to Baltra; clocks on the islands run an hour behind the mainland. On arrival you show the TCT and pay the park entrance fee of 200 USD for those aged 12 and up. A free bus takes about 10 min to the Canal de Itabaca, the ferry costs 1 USD, then it's a 2 USD bus ride of about 45 min, or a 25 USD taxi, to Puerto Ayora. In the afternoon: the Charles Darwin Research Station with the final resting place of Lonesome George, the last Pinta giant tortoise.
- 09
Day 9 · Overnight: Puerto Ayora
Tortuga Bay and the highlands of Santa Cruz
Puerto Ayora → Tortuga Bay → Highlands
The morning belongs to Tortuga Bay, one of the most-visited spots near Puerto Ayora with 140,224 visits in 2025. Marine iguanas lie on the white sand beach, and in the mangrove swamp behind it young whitetip reef sharks and rays swim. In the afternoon, head to the island's highlands, which rise to 864 m across 986 km²: Scalesia trees grow there, giant tortoises live there, and a lava tunnel runs over 2,000 m long. Dinner is at the restaurants by the harbor. Practical tip: under the new visitor rules, a minimum distance of 2 m from all animals applies while hiking and snorkeling, touching, feeding and flash photography are banned, and the park administration requires reef-safe sunscreen. Mosquito protection also belongs in the day bag, since dengue occurs on the islands too.
- 10
Day 10 · Overnight: Puerto Ayora
Boat tour to North Seymour
Puerto Ayora → North Seymour → Puerto Ayora
Uninhabited islands may only be entered with an accredited naturalist guide and an authorized boat. A day trip goes to North Seymour, a flat island next to Baltra with the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in Galápagos and many blue-footed boobies, which court and breed from June to August. On the visitor site you stay on the marked path. Most visitor sites offer, besides the hike, snorkeling and a ride in the dinghy, the panga. In the dinghy and kayak, a minimum distance of 4 m from animals applies, 100 m from whales and 50 m from dolphins. Practical tip: those prone to seasickness should discuss remedies with a doctor before the trip; from July to December waves are higher than in the first half of the year.
- 11
Day 11 · Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Tortoises, Las Grietas and speedboat to San Cristóbal
Puerto Ayora → Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
The morning belongs to two sites for which the new park rules require a reservation: the Fausto Llerena breeding center with the Ruta de la Tortuga, the most-visited site near Puerto Ayora in 2025 with 148,499 visits, and the Las Grietas bathing spot with 131,793 visits. At 1:45 pm the speedboat departs for San Cristóbal, scheduled to arrive at 4:00 pm; depending on the swell, the crossing takes 2 to 3 hours. The boats hold up to 20 people, the trip costs 30 USD per person, and tickets are sold by agencies at the harbor. In the evening in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Galápagos province, sea lions often sleep on the beaches. Practical tip: pack luggage waterproof and keep valuables in your carry-on.
- 12
Day 12 · Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Snorkeling with sea lions at Cerro Tijeretas
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno → Cerro Tijeretas → Punta Carola
San Cristóbal is the easternmost island of the archipelago; here Charles Darwin first set foot ashore in 1835. Near the town lie Cerro Tijeretas, the second most-visited site near the town in 2025 with 53,045 visits, and the beach Punta Carola with 34,859 visits. Galápagos sea lions are the archipelago's most common marine mammal and often swim close to shore, which is why today is the day for snorkeling with sea lions. The 2 m distance applies in the water too, and you never chase an animal. The BMEIA calls for caution after several shark encounters while snorkeling, swimming and diving. Practical tip: those who prefer paddling can rent a kayak; in 2025, 799 guests on San Cristóbal used one, and in a kayak a distance of 4 m from animals applies.
- 13
Day 13 · Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Isla Lobos and the highlands of San Cristóbal
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno → Isla Lobos → El Junco
In the morning, an authorized boat with a naturalist guide travels to the small islet Isla Lobos off the coast. It is named after the colony of sea lions and fur seals that sometimes rests there; blue-footed boobies nest here seasonally, and in the calm water you snorkel among marine iguanas. In the afternoon, head to the highlands to the El Junco lagoon in a crater, the only permanent freshwater source in the Galápagos Islands, and to the David Rodríguez giant tortoise breeding center, the most-visited site near the main town in 2025 with 63,470 visits. Those who prefer to stay by the sea go to the La Lobería visitor site, with 15,117 visits in 2025. Practical tip: keep the TCT safe, as it is requested again when leaving the islands.
- 14
Day 14
Via Guayaquil to the return flight
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno → Guayaquil → Return flight
San Cristóbal Airport is about 10 min from town; bus or taxi cost 1.50 to 3 USD. Nonstop to Guayaquil takes about 1 h 50 min, and on the mainland it's an hour later. Because the FDFA advises against tourist travel to Guayaquil and exempts only transit through the airport, you stay at the airport and fly onward the same day. From Guayaquil (GYE), according to FlightConnections, there are nonstop flights to Madrid (about 11 h) and Amsterdam (about 11 h 40 min), to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and New York, to Panama City and San José, and to Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires (as of September 2026). If no connection fits the same day, it's better to plan the return via Quito rather than an overnight in Guayaquil. Germany's Federal Foreign Office reports a curfew from midnight to 5 am in Guayas province until September 30, 2026, and advises allowing enough time for airport transfers.
- 15
Day 15
Arrival after the return flight
Return flight → Arrival
When you arrive depends on your own departure airport: Panama City, Bogotá and Lima are each about 2 h from Guayaquil, Miami about 4 h 35 min; after a long-haul flight with a connection, you often land only on this day. How much the clock jumps relative to UTC−5 on the mainland and UTC−6 on Galápagos depends on where you live. Those feeling tired in the following days should not plan their first workday right after landing.
Where do you stay on this route?
You sleep in hotels in five locations: three nights in Quito, three in Baños, one night in Quito near the airport, and three nights each in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal. Guayaquil is only a connection point without an overnight stay. For Galápagos, the hotel booking must already be in hand at departure.
| Stage | Nights | Location | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quito | 3 | old town or the La Carolina/Iñaquito district on the metro | frequent thefts in the Mariscal Sucre nightlife district |
| Baños de Agua Santa | 3 | hostería in town, some with thermal water | watch for advisories on the Tungurahua volcano |
| Quito | 1 | hotel near the airport | TCT counter opens at 5:00 am |
| Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) | 3 | hotel in the port town | show the booking on entry |
| Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal) | 3 | hotel in town, airport about 10 min away | sea lions on the beach, keep your distance |
| Guayaquil | 0 | airport only | FDFA advises against tourist stays |
In Quito, the old town offers short distances to the Plaza Grande and the churches. The La Carolina/Iñaquito district has hotels, restaurants and shopping centers and lies on the metro, which runs from south to north in about 34 min. The FDFA recommends paying particular attention to safety when choosing accommodation.
In Baños you stay in hosterías, some with their own thermal water. On Galápagos, hotels exist only on the four inhabited islands; Puerto Ayora, with over 12,000 residents, is the largest town, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the provincial capital. This page deliberately does not name hotels or ships; the generator searches live for suitable properties based on travel dates and category.
Sources: Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust
When is the best time for this trip?
June to September fits best: dry season in the highlands, and cooler on Galápagos with abundant marine life. From December to May it's warmer on the islands, and the sea is calmer until June; but in Quito afternoon showers are frequent from October to May.
Quito, Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno: average daily high and low temperatures and monthly rainfall
| Quito | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Low °C | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Rainfall mm | 139 | 143 | 176 | 177 | 122 | 58 | 34 | 25 | 38 | 76 | 90 | 100 |
| Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 |
| Low °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Rainfall mm | 44 | 64 | 53 | 60 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Rainfall mm | 36 | 54 | 48 | 52 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 16 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station IZOBAMBA (21 km, 3058 m), auf 2850 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SEYMOUR (33 km, 63 m), auf 10 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SAN CRISTOBAL (2 km, 19 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The chart shows the pattern: in Quito, temperatures barely change over the year, with July and August the driest. On the coasts of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal, it's warmest and wettest from January to April, and hardly any rain falls from June to November.
For the island week, the swell matters: from January to June the sea is calmer, from July to December waves are higher. Blue-footed boobies court and breed from June to August. In the summer months, Germany's Federal Foreign Office warns of brush and forest fires in the highlands, particularly in Pichincha province around Quito.
Sources: Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Charles Darwin Foundation
What variants are there: a cruise, shorter, longer, with children?
Instead of island hopping, a cruise can be planned on Galápagos, reaching more remote islands like Genovesa or Española. In 12 days there's time for a condensed version; at 18 days, Cuenca fits in. Families pay 100 USD park entry for children under 12 instead of 200 USD, and nothing under 2.
Cruise instead of island hopping
A cruise replaces the six hotel nights on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. The ships follow itineraries set by the park administration and also reach remote visitor sites: Darwin Bay on Genovesa, where red-footed boobies breed more densely than anywhere else in Galápagos; Española with the waved albatross colonies from April to December; or Punta Espinoza on Fernandina with marine iguanas, penguins and flightless cormorants. In 2025, 21% of guests chose this format. Flight days depend on the ship's departure and arrival ports; those who get seasick easily are better off staying on land.
Shorter: 12 days
With 10 nights the order stays the same, but each stage gets shorter: Quito 3 nights, Baños 2, Quito 1, Puerto Ayora 2 and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno 2. The active day in Baños, the North Seymour boat tour and the highland day on San Cristóbal are dropped. The two quiet days in Quito should not be cut.
Longer: 18 days with Cuenca
Three extra nights are enough for Cuenca: after Baños, back to Quito, a flight of about 1 h, three nights in the old town at 2,450 to 2,600 m, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. From there, Cajas National Park with its many mountain lakes and Ingapirca, 80 km to the north, the country's most important archaeological site, are worthwhile. In Cuenca, hats made of toquilla straw are traded, whose weaving craft has been intangible cultural heritage since 2012. The return trip is a flight of about 1 h to Quito, or, not daily, about 50 min to Guayaquil and from there to Galápagos. The FDFA also names Cuenca in connection with theft and robbery.
Different season
From December to May it's warmest on Galápagos, and the sea is calmer until June; in the highlands, however, it rains more often in the afternoon then. The route still works; excursions in Quito and to Cotopaxi should be scheduled for the morning during this period.
With children
Children under 12 pay 100 USD park entry on Galápagos, and under 2 neither park entry nor TCT. Good for families are the museums and the planetarium at Mitad del Mundo, the hot springs in Baños, and the giant tortoise breeding centers. With small children, replace the long travel day over Cotopaxi with a direct drive to Baños and an extra day there. Altitude, the yellow fever vaccination for Baños and mosquito protection should be discussed beforehand with a pediatrician or a travel medicine specialist.
Sources: Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · FlightConnections · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Quito Turismo (Visit Quito) · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine)
What does the trip order book, and what do you pay locally?
The generator books the flights from your departure airport and back, the domestic flights Quito–Baltra and San Cristóbal–Guayaquil, 13 hotel nights with breakfast, and the transfers with driver on the mainland. Locally you pay the transit control card for 20 USD, the park entry of 200 USD for those aged 12 and up, the ferry, buses and the speedboat for 30 USD (as of September 2026).
| Item | Who handles it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound and return flight from your departure airport (to Quito, return from Guayaquil) | Generator | live fare at booking |
| Domestic flights Quito–Baltra and San Cristóbal–Guayaquil | Generator | live fare at booking |
| 13 hotel nights with breakfast | Generator | live price at booking |
| Transfers with driver in Quito and to Baños | Generator | included in the trip price |
| Transit Control Card (TCT) | locally, Quito airport | 20 USD, free under 2 |
| Galápagos park entry | locally, on arrival at Baltra | 200 USD aged 12 and up, 100 USD below that |
| Canal de Itabaca ferry and bus to Puerto Ayora | locally | 1 USD and 2 USD |
| Speedboat Santa Cruz–San Cristóbal | agencies at the harbor | 30 USD per person |
| Bus or taxi to San Cristóbal airport | locally | 1.50 to 3 USD |
| Day tours with naturalist guide | authorized operators | varies by operator |
The "from" price only arises from the generator's test run with live flights and hotels; this page therefore names only officially set fees and rates. The order carries the rule "book permits early", since the Fausto Llerena breeding center and Las Grietas require a reservation under the new visitor rules. The rule "sleep lower first" is deliberately absent: it applies to arrivals above 3,000 m, and Quito lies below that; instead, two quiet days are planned in.
Not included are meals other than breakfast, tips, entrance to museums, hot springs and the Teleférico, and activities like rafting or canyoning. Travel insurance with repatriation cover is strongly advised, since medical care on Galápagos is very basic and evacuation to the mainland is not always possible promptly.
Sources: Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Registro Oficial del Ecuador · Expreso · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · FlightConnections · FlightConnections