At Galapagos Insiders we often get asked: Can you fly to the Galapagos Islands? The answer is, yes, you can. In fact, flying is the only way to get to the Galapagos Islands. There is no other form of transportation that will get you there. This is in part because the Galapagos Islands are approximately 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away from the Ecuadorian mainland. There are not any ferries that will get you to the archipelago.
There is some useful information for planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands about how flights work from mainland Ecuador, to help you organize your trip suitably. Understanding this can help you plan your time and flights well to best fit your preferences.
Another question we frequently get asked is whether you can fly directly to the Galapagos Islands from the USA or Europe without any changes. The answer to this is a definite no. There are no direct international flights to the Galapagos Islands from any location outside of Ecuador. This is because there is no international entry point in the archipelago. You have to fly through an airport on mainland Ecuador to enter the country, and from there you can fly onwards to your Galapagos destination. This means almost always changing in either Quito or Guayaquil. Generally speaking, the international flight operators that come from the main regions are as follows:
North America – often American Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Airlines and JetBlue.
South America – usually LATAM Airlines, Copa Airlines or Avianca.
Europe – in many cases flights are not direct to Ecuador and require a stop along the way. Typical operators are KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Iberia and Air Europa.
Australia and New Zealand – flights are not direct and routes usually go through Lima, Bogota, Santiago, Panama City or even the USA.
International flight arrivals in Ecuador are usually not well timed to connect to the Galapagos Islands on the same day. Very often, flights to the archipelago leave first thing in the morning, meaning that most international visitors would not be able to arrive early enough to make a connection.
In a very few cases where a flight arrives from the USA very early in the morning in Quito or Guayaquil you might be able to connect on the same day if your onward flight departs in the late morning. However, timings on this are risky and it is not recommended. Even if your international flight lands on time you would need to clear immigration and collect your luggage before going through a number of Galapagos checks and then checking in your bags for your Galapagos flight. This makes time very tight.
A much better strategy, and essential in most cases is an overnight stay in either Quito or Guayaquil. In some cases, two nights may be recommended, especially with multi-connecting flights from further afield.
When thinking about which city to choose, Quito has some great sights, including its UNESCO historic old town and the potential for sightseeing to the Equator. The climate is cool and mountainous in contrast to Guayaquil. However, flights are 30-45 minutes longer from Quito to the Galapagos Islands compared with Guayaquil’s shorter flight times. Guayaquil is hotter and more humid, and the shorter flight durations are good for situations when visitors have tight itineraries or a late international arrival. For some, it might also be helpful to know that sometimes Quito flights to the Galapagos have a short stop on the concrete in Guayaquil as well.
Currently, the main airlines operating routes between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are LATAM and Avianca. Flights depart from both Quito and Guayaquil and arrive at one of the archipelago’s two main airports. The options are Baltra Island which is connected to Santa Cruz Island where many cruises start, or San Cristóbal Island, which is another starting point for some cruises.
Flights from Guayaquil to the Galapagos generally take between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours. Departures from Quito are slightly longer, typically around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. However, a number of Quito services include a brief stop in Guayaquil before continuing onward to the islands. When this occurs, total travel time is usually between approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on the length of the stop.
While understanding how flights to the Galapagos work is an important first step, most travelers quickly realize that the best way to experience the islands is through a carefully planned itinerary.
The Galapagos National Park strictly regulates visitor access, and many of the most spectacular wildlife sites can only be visited with licensed naturalist guides and authorized vessels. For this reason, many visitors choose to explore the archipelago on a multi-day cruise.
At Galapagos Insiders, we specialize in helping travelers organize their entire journey — including Galapagos cruises, flights, hotels, and personalized itineraries designed around your travel dates and interests.
👉 Explore our curated selection of cruises and tours here:
Galapagos Islands Cruises & Tours
Our team of local experts can help you:
• Choose the best cruise itinerary for your travel dates
• Coordinate the correct flights to match your cruise departure port
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• Plan a seamless trip including mainland Ecuador if desired
Whether you are looking for a luxury expedition yacht or a small first-class catamaran or a land based Galapagos trip, we will help you find the perfect Galapagos cruise experience.
There are some extra steps that travelers must complete before checking in for their Galapagos flight, so it is important to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure.
The first step is securing the Galapagos Transit Control Card (otherwise known as TCT). This is a mandatory document that is needed for entry to the islands for all visitors. The cost is $20 US dollars per person. There are special counters at both Quito and Guayaquil airports where you obtain it. To get issued with the card you need to supply passport, flight details and sometimes hotel booking or tour information. Your card is then stamped and re-checked on landing in the Galapagos Islands. You need to keep hold of it for your whole Galapagos vacation.
Once you have your Transit Control Card the second extra step is to then pass your luggage through the Galapagos biosecurity screening (also known as ABG inspection). During this process bags are scanned and sometimes manually inspected to ensure that there are no restricted items present. Food items that are not permitted include fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as seeds and most animal products. Other restricted materials that are checked for include plants, soil and untreated wood. Some sealed, processed foods such as packaged snacks are usually allowed.
When your bags have cleared this process they are sealed with an official tag that must not be broken before arrival in the Galapagos Islands. This is really important to ensure that the fragile ecosystems of the archipelago are conserved and are protected from invasive species and prohibited materials.
After this, you can check in for your flight, as normal.
When your flight lands in the Galapagos Islands you have to pay your national park entry fee. This is not to be confused with the Transit Control Card (TCT). The Galapagos National Park entry fee is a separate payment. At the time of writing this needs to be paid in cash. It costs $200 US dollars for each adult and $100 for each child under the age of 12.
Once again at the airport both your carry on and checked bags will be rescanned to check that there are no prohibited items. You will also be required to show your Transit Control Card. You will also usually go through a biosecurity check where you walk over disinfectant mats or trays or have your footwear inspected. This avoids seeds, insects or soils being introduced to the islands and potentially threatening the fragile ecosystems.
Finally, those with an organized Galapagos cruise or Galapagos land-based trip are collected at the airport.
In short, the response to the question can you fly to the Galapagos Islands is yes, and in fact, you must. All visitors reach the archipelago via flights from mainland Ecuador. They usually connect in either Quito or Guayaquil to pick up a domestic flight to either Baltra or San Cristóbal. Connecting from an international flight will usually require an overnight stay in Quito or Guayaquil. While the flight process itself involves a few additional steps compared with standard domestic travel, these measures are essential in protecting the enchanted Galapagos Islands.
