How To Get To The Galapagos: Flights, Airports And Fees
Every trip to the Galapagos starts with a flight, because no passenger boat runs from mainland Ecuador. Below are the airlines from Quito and Guayaquil, the choice between Baltra and San Cristóbal airports, the fees you pay on the way and the boats between the islands, with 2026 prices.
What Visitors Need To Know In October 2026
- Fees: Since 11 August 2026 the regular public boat between the inhabited islands costs USD 50 per tourist per leg and the special service USD 65, with half price for children under 12, students, people with disabilities and people aged 65 and over; residents pay USD 35 and USD 50.
- Transport: LATAM Ecuador has flown Cuenca to Quito to Baltra twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, since 31 March 2026.
- Transport: Baltra airport is in a USD 12 million improvement program through 2027, including more security filters, more X-ray machines and runway repaving with partial closures of about three months; the closure dates are still to be announced.
Checked October 2, 2026
How Do You Get To The Galapagos?
You reach the Galapagos only by plane. LATAM and Avianca fly from Quito and Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal, with flights taking roughly two hours. There is no passenger boat. Before flying, pay the transit card, USD 20, on the mainland, and the park fee, USD 200, on arrival.
No passenger boat or cargo ship takes tourists from mainland Ecuador to the islands in 2026, so flying is the only option. LATAM and Avianca serve Baltra and San Cristóbal from both Quito and Guayaquil. Quito to Baltra takes about 2 hours 10 minutes non-stop, though some flights make a short stop in Guayaquil with passengers staying on board. LATAM Ecuador also added a Cuenca to Quito to Baltra service from 31 March 2026.
Round-trip economy fares for foreign visitors typically run USD 250 to 500 and can pass USD 600 at peak times or when booked late. Two payments apply: the Transit Control Card costs USD 20 per person and is issued at the CGREG counter in the Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in, and the park entrance fee is USD 200 for foreign adults, paid in cash to rangers on arrival.
More on this: Galapagos travel guide
Flights From Quito And Guayaquil
LATAM and Avianca fly from both Quito and Guayaquil to Baltra and San Cristóbal. Round-trip fares for foreign visitors typically run USD 250 to 500 and can pass USD 600 at peak times or with late booking. Guayaquil is often slightly cheaper, and some Quito flights stop there with passengers staying on board.
| Route | Airlines | Flight time | Round trip, foreign tourist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quito to Baltra | LATAM, Avianca | About 2 hours 10 minutes | USD 250 to 500 |
| Quito to San Cristóbal | LATAM, Avianca | About 2 hours 5 to 10 minutes | USD 250 to 500 |
| Guayaquil to Baltra | LATAM, Avianca | About 1 hour 55 minutes | USD 250 to 500 |
| Guayaquil to San Cristóbal | LATAM, Avianca | About 1 hour 50 minutes | USD 250 to 500 |
Peak season or late booking can pass USD 600. One-way fares seen on airline sites in 2026 started at about USD 147.
Flight times are short: about 2 hours 10 minutes from Quito to Baltra, about 1 hour 55 minutes from Guayaquil to Baltra, and about 1 hour 50 minutes from Guayaquil to San Cristóbal. Quito to San Cristóbal takes roughly 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes. On Avianca and LATAM sites in 2026, one-way fares to Baltra were seen from about USD 147 to 161, and Avianca round trips to San Cristóbal on the Galapagos Sky operator page cost USD 525 to 575.
Residents pay a lower fare for the same seat, and fares move with demand, so compare both airlines for your dates. If you start in Cuenca, LATAM Ecuador added a Cuenca to Quito to Baltra service from 31 March 2026.
Baltra Or San Cristóbal: Which Airport Should You Fly Into?
Fly into the airport of your first island. Baltra serves Santa Cruz, most cruises and tours, and Isabela connections. San Cristóbal serves a start on San Cristóbal itself. If you want to fly into one and out of the other, ask the airline or operator.
| Baltra (GPS) | San Cristóbal (SCY) | |
|---|---|---|
| Town you reach | Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz | Puerto Baquerizo Moreno |
| Transfer | Airport bus USD 5, channel boat USD 1, then a bus USD 5 or a taxi USD 25 | Taxi under 5 minutes, USD 2 to 4, or walk |
| Time to town | About 1.5 to 2 hours door to door | Under 10 minutes |
| Best for | Santa Cruz, most tours, Isabela connections | A start on San Cristóbal |
Baltra is the island with the Seymour airport, just north of Santa Cruz. You cross the Itabaca channel to reach Santa Cruz, and from the airport the route to Puerto Ayora runs by airport bus to the channel, then boat, then a bus or taxi. Door to door it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
We landed on Baltra and needed to reach Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, so we grabbed a cab and the ride took about 45 minutes. On San Cristóbal the transfer is shorter, with the airport under 5 minutes by taxi from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Flying into one island and out of the other, for example landing on Baltra and leaving from San Cristóbal, avoids a boat trip back. Confirm that arrangement with the airline or operator.
More on this: Baltra Island
Fees You Pay On The Way
Two official fees are not optional: the Transit Control Card, USD 20 per person, and the Galapagos park fee, USD 200 for foreign adults and children 12 and over. Buy the TCT before check-in at the mainland airport or online, then carry cash in small bills for the park fee, which park rangers collect on arrival.
| Item | Cost | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| Transit Control Card (TCT) | USD 20, free under 2 | CGREG counter at Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in, or register online first |
| Galapagos park fee | USD 200 adult, USD 100 child under 12 | Cash to park rangers on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal |
| Airport bus on Baltra | USD 5 | From the airport to the Itabaca channel |
| Itabaca channel crossing | USD 1 public, USD 2 private | Short boat ride to Santa Cruz |
| Bus or taxi to Puerto Ayora | USD 5 by bus, USD 25 by taxi for up to 4 | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus, 45 minutes by taxi |
The two official fees come to USD 220 per adult before the flight.
The Transit Control Card, issued by the Consejo de Gobierno, costs USD 20 per person and children under 2 are exempt. Get it at the CGREG counter in the Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in, or register online first. Before dropping your bags there is also an extra security and biosecurity bag check at the mainland airport.
The park entrance fee has been USD 200 for foreign adults and children aged 12 and over, and USD 100 for foreign children under 12, since 1 August 2024, with children under 2 exempt. Rangers take it in cash when you land at Baltra or San Cristóbal, so bring small bills. Once you are through, buses, the Itabaca channel crossing and taxis to Puerto Ayora are paid separately.
More on this: Ecuador Entry Requirements · Using US dollars in the Galapagos
Can You Take A Boat From Mainland Ecuador?
No. There is no passenger boat and no cargo ship that takes tourists from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos in 2026. Cargo vessels carry freight only, so flying is the only way to reach the islands. Posts that still describe a cargo boat option for tourists are out of date.
A traveler cannot book a boat crossing from the mainland. No passenger boat or cargo ship takes tourists from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos in 2026, and cargo vessels carry freight only. Flying is the only way. Some older posts still describe a cargo boat option for tourists, and those posts are out of date.
More on this: Is there a boat from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos?
Getting Between The Islands
Boats link Santa Cruz with Isabela and San Cristóbal twice a day for USD 50 one way, taking 2 to 2.5 hours. There is no direct boat between Isabela and San Cristóbal, so you change in Santa Cruz. Small planes by Emetebe or ESAV cost USD 150 to 245 and take 40 to 45 minutes.
| Route | Departures | Time | One way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz to Isabela | 7:00 and 15:00 | 2 to 2.5 hours | USD 50 by boat |
| Isabela to Santa Cruz | 6:00 and 15:00 | 2 to 2.5 hours | USD 50 by boat |
| Santa Cruz to San Cristóbal and back | 7:00 and 15:00 | 2 to 2.5 hours | USD 50 by boat |
| Isabela to San Cristóbal | No direct boat; change in Santa Cruz | Most of a day | Two boat tickets |
| Any pair of islands by plane | Emetebe or ESAV, times vary | 40 to 45 minutes | USD 150 to 245 |
Boat times can shift; confirm at the pier. Half price for children under 12, students and people aged 65 and over.
Departures run at 7:00 and 15:00 on the Santa Cruz routes, and Isabela to Santa Cruz also has a 6:00 boat. Times can shift, so confirm at the pier. Half price applies to children under 12, students, people with disabilities and people aged 65 and over.
The boat was rough and we saw quite a few people throwing up continuously. Between the ride, check-ins and fees, the whole process took about 4 to 4.5 hours, so we essentially lost half a day. The trip between Isabela and San Cristóbal means two boat tickets and most of a day through Santa Cruz.
More on this: Galapagos Itinerary: 7, 10 And 14 Days
FAQ
How long is the flight to the Galapagos?
Quito to Baltra takes about 2 hours 10 minutes non-stop; directflights.com lists 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes. Some Quito flights stop briefly in Guayaquil with passengers staying on board. Guayaquil to Baltra takes about 1 hour 55 minutes, Guayaquil to San Cristóbal about 1 hour 50 minutes, and Quito to San Cristóbal about 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes.
How much does a flight to the Galapagos cost?
Round-trip economy fares for foreign visitors from Quito or Guayaquil typically run USD 250 to 500, and can pass USD 600 at peak times or when booked late. Guayaquil is often slightly cheaper than Quito. Residents pay a lower fare for the same seat. One-way fares to Baltra were seen from about USD 147 to 161 on Avianca and LATAM sites in 2026.
Do you pay the Galapagos park fee at the airport?
Yes. The park entrance fee is USD 200 for foreign adults and children aged 12 and over, USD 100 for foreign children under 12, in force since 1 August 2024. Children under 2 are exempt. Pay it in cash to park rangers on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal airport. The Transit Control Card costs USD 20 and is issued before check-in.
Can you fly into one Galapagos airport and out of the other?
Yes, you can fly into one airport and out of the other, for example land on Baltra and leave from San Cristóbal. That avoids a boat trip back. Confirm the arrangement with the airline or operator before booking.
Is there a ferry from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos?
No. No passenger boat or cargo ship takes tourists from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos in 2026. Cargo vessels carry freight only, so flying is the only way to get there.
How do you get from Baltra airport to Puerto Ayora?
Take the airport bus for USD 5, about 10 minutes to the Itabaca channel, cross on the public barge for USD 1 (USD 2 private), then a bus for USD 5, about 1 hour 15 minutes, or a taxi for USD 25 flat for up to 4 people, about 45 minutes. We decided to grab a cab, and the total ride took about 45 mins.
How do you get from Santa Cruz to Isabela?
Operators list two public boat departures a day, Santa Cruz to Isabela at 7:00 and 15:00, each crossing taking 2 to 2.5 hours. The public boat costs USD 50 per tourist one way since 11 August 2026, half price for children under 12, students, people with disabilities and people aged 65 and over. Confirm times at the pier, as they can shift.
