Home / When to Go & Getting There
Two seasons, two gateway cities, two island airports. Here is how to choose each one.
The Galápagos sits on the equator, so there is no bad month to go. What changes through the year is the water temperature, the sea conditions and which animals are breeding.
Getting there is a two-step trip from the US: a flight to mainland Ecuador, then a domestic flight out to the islands. Your cruise or tour sets which island you fly into.
Go December to May for warm water and calm seas, or June to November for the richest marine life. Fly to Quito or Guayaquil, then on to Baltra or San Cristóbal, whichever your cruise starts from.
Warmer air and water, calmer seas and green islands. Short tropical showers most afternoons. Sea turtles nest and land birds breed. The best season if you are worried about seasickness.
| Water | Roughly 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F) |
|---|---|
| Seas | Usually calmer |
| Busy periods | Christmas, New Year, Easter |
The Humboldt Current brings cool, nutrient-rich water and the richest marine life of the year. Skies are often grey and seas choppier. Seabird courtship and whale sightings peak.
| Water | Roughly 19 to 22°C (66 to 72°F) |
|---|---|
| Seas | Choppier, especially Aug to Oct |
| Busy periods | July and August |
Most travelers need 7 to 10 days including flights. Getting from the US to the islands takes most of a day each way, so short trips cost more per day than they look.
| Most common | 8-day cruise or 7-night island hop |
|---|---|
| Add | 1 to 2 nights in Quito or Guayaquil |
There are no direct flights from the US to the Galápagos. Fly to Quito or Guayaquil, then take an Ecuadorian domestic flight to the islands. Book your cruise first, then your flights.
| Mainland airlines | LATAM, Avianca, Equair |
|---|---|
| Typical routing | US hub → Quito or Guayaquil → Galápagos |
Quito is a high-altitude colonial capital worth a day of sightseeing. Guayaquil is at sea level and slightly closer to the islands. Many flights to the Galápagos stop in Guayaquil either way.
| Quito | Altitude 2,850 m; historic center |
|---|---|
| Guayaquil | Sea level; shorter final flight |
Your cruise or tour decides your airport. Baltra serves Santa Cruz via a short ferry and bus. San Cristóbal’s airport sits right next to its main town.
| Baltra | For Santa Cruz and most cruises |
|---|---|
| San Cristóbal | Airport in town; some cruises start here |
Seasons and water temperatures are typical ranges and vary year to year. Airline information checked October 2026.
Tell us when you want to travel, your budget and who’s coming. A trip planner will reply with cruise or island-hopping options, usually within one business day.
