How to Get to the Galápagos From the US

Getting to the Galápagos from the US takes two flights and, for most people, one night in mainland Ecuador. There are no nonstop flights from the US to the islands, so you fly to Quito or Guayaquil first, then board a short domestic flight to Baltra or San Cristóbal.

The good news: the first leg is easy. Miami, Houston, Atlanta, New York and Fort Lauderdale all have nonstop service to Ecuador, and the flight from Miami is shorter than many domestic US routes. The part that trips people up is the second leg, which has to match your cruise or hotel booking almost exactly.

1. The Route in Plain Terms

Two flights, two airports, one overnight.

Think of the trip as three steps. First, an international flight from the US to mainland Ecuador. Second, a night in Quito or Guayaquil, because most US arrivals land in the evening and most island flights depart in the morning. Third, a domestic flight to the archipelago, which sits roughly 600 miles (1,000 km) off the coast.

Only two Galápagos airports take flights from the mainland: Baltra (GPS), a small island just north of Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal (SCY), right beside the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Isabela has a tiny airstrip used for inter-island light aircraft, not mainland jets.

One detail that surprises most first-timers: the Galápagos runs one hour behind mainland Ecuador. Mainland Ecuador matches US Eastern Standard Time all year, since it does not observe daylight saving time.

2. Nonstop Flights From the US to Ecuador

Southern and East Coast hubs do the heavy lifting.

For most travelers, the simplest plan is to connect once in the US to one of these nonstop gateways, then fly straight to Ecuador. Schedules shift seasonally, so treat the table as a starting point and confirm with the airline before you build anything around it.

Flying from the West Coast or Midwest

There are no nonstops from the West Coast. Your options are a domestic hop to Houston, Atlanta or Miami, or a one-stop itinerary through Panama City on Copa, Bogotá or San Salvador on Avianca, or Lima on LATAM. Copa’s Panama hub is often the smoothest single connection from cities without a US nonstop, and total travel time from Los Angeles typically runs 10–13 hours.

What to expect on price

Round-trip economy fares from Miami, Houston or Atlanta generally fall around $500–$1,000, with peak holiday weeks (mid-December to early January, plus June to August) at the top of that range or above. From the West Coast, expect more. Fares vary enough that a flexible date search usually beats any rule of thumb.

3. Quito or Guayaquil: Choosing Your Gateway

Guayaquil is quicker; Quito is more interesting.

When deciding between the two, start with what your trip needs. For pure efficiency, Quito vs Guayaquil is not much of a contest: Guayaquil is at sea level, its airport sits inside the city a few minutes from the riverfront hotels, and island flights from there are shorter. Quito, at about 9,350 feet (2,850 m), adds altitude, a 45–60 minute drive from the airport to the old town, and often a stop in Guayaquil on the way to the islands anyway.

Quito wins when you want more than a transit night. The colonial center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cloud forest and the Andes are within easy reach, and it is the logical base if you are pairing the islands with Machu Picchu or the Amazon.

A useful compromise: fly into Quito for a couple of days of sightseeing, then fly home from Guayaquil after the islands, or the reverse. Your island flights can be booked open-jaw at no real penalty.

4. Flights From the Mainland to the Islands

Two airlines, two airports, and very little slack.

LATAM and Avianca operate the mainland-to-Galápagos flights. Equair, which also flew the route, suspended operations in 2023, so older guides that list it are out of date. LATAM has also added a direct Cuenca to Baltra service, which is handy only if you are already in southern Ecuador.

Flights run daily from both Quito and Guayaquil, mostly leaving in the morning and returning from the islands around midday to early afternoon. Foreign visitors generally pay more than Ecuadorian residents, and round trips usually land somewhere around $350–$600 depending on season, airline and how far ahead you book.

Baltra or San Cristóbal?

The right airport is the one your cruise uses. Ships embark at either Baltra or San Cristóbal, and the operator will tell you which flight to take, often booking it for you so the group arrives together. For land-based trips, Baltra serves Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora is the main tourist town) and San Cristóbal serves its own island. If you plan to island hop, flying into one and out of the other saves a ferry ride. For a deeper comparison, see Baltra vs San Cristóbal airport.

Baggage

Island flights generally allow one checked bag of 23 kg (50 lb) and one carry-on of about 8 kg (17 lb). Small-ship cabins have little storage, so a soft duffel is easier than a hard case. Our Galápagos packing list covers what earns a place in that bag.

5. Paperwork and Fees Before You Board

Four checkpoints between the mainland and your first sea lion.

The Galápagos has its own entry controls on top of Ecuador’s. US citizens do not need a visa for a standard tourist stay, but you do need a passport valid for at least six months. After that, expect four steps.

• Transit Control Card (TCT), $20. Issued by the Galápagos Governing Council (CGREG). Since May 2025 you can buy it online by card, then show it at the CGREG counter in Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in. Otherwise you pay at the counter. Many cruise operators handle this for you.
• Biosecurity declaration. Completed online before your flight. Paper forms were phased out in early 2026, and you show the QR code on arrival. Your checked bag is also scanned for fresh food, seeds and other banned items before you fly.
• Galápagos National Park fee, $200. Paid on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal by most foreign adults, $100 for children under 12. It is generally cash only, so carry clean, untorn US bills. See our Galápagos entrance fee guide for who pays less.
• Round-trip ticket. CGREG requires proof of a return flight to the mainland, and tourist stays are capped at 60 days a year.

Health insurance proof appears in a 2018 Galápagos ordinance, but enforcement was postponed and the official TCT requirements do not currently list it. We cover the details in do you need travel insurance for the Galápagos. Either way, carry your policy details and a medical evacuation benefit; the nearest major hospitals are on the mainland. You can compare plans on our Galápagos travel insurance page.

6. Timing Your Connections

The overnight is your insurance policy against a missed ship.

Ships do not wait. If a delayed US flight makes you miss the morning island flight, you can miss embarkation, and catching up mid-cruise is expensive when it is possible at all. That is why nearly every operator recommends arriving in Ecuador at least the day before, and many suggest two nights in peak season.

The return is the reverse problem. Island flights can run late, and Galápagos flights typically reach the mainland in mid-afternoon. Same-day connections to evening US departures are possible, but a late-night flight out (many US-bound departures leave close to midnight) or a final night on the mainland is the calmer choice.

7. What to Book First

Work from the islands outward.

For most travelers, the right order is the opposite of instinct. Lock in the hardest-to-get piece first, which is the ship cabin or hotel on the islands, then build flights around it.

1. Your cruise or land itinerary. Small ships carry 16 guests or fewer and popular dates sell out months ahead. Our guide to the best time to book a Galápagos cruise covers lead times.
2. Island flights. Book them to match the ship’s embarkation airport and timing. Many operators book these for you, which keeps you on the group transfer.
3. International flights. Arrive at least one day before the island flight and leave no earlier than the evening of your last island day.
4. Mainland hotel nights. One near the airport is enough for a transit stop.
5. Travel insurance. Buy it soon after paying your cruise deposit, while you are still eligible for the broadest cancellation benefits.

Not sure which ship suits you? Start with our Galápagos cruise comparison.

8. From the Airport to Your Ship or Hotel

Baltra takes a little effort; San Cristóbal takes five minutes.

If you are on a cruise, your naturalist guide meets you after the park fee desk and handles the transfer. Independent travelers have a bit more to do.

• Baltra to Puerto Ayora: a short airport bus to the Itabaca Channel, a few-minute ferry across to Santa Cruz (a dollar or so in cash), then about 40–45 minutes by taxi or public bus to Puerto Ayora. Taxi pickup trucks generally charge around $25–$30.
• San Cristóbal airport to town: about five minutes by taxi, or a 15–20 minute walk if you pack light.

How to Get to the Galápagos: Quick-Reference Checklist

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