Photo: Wikimedia Commons
How to get to Galápagos: flights, airlines and fares (2026)
There is exactly one way onto the archipelago: a flight from mainland Ecuador. No cruise ship arrives from abroad, no international route lands in the islands, so your trip starts with a connection through Quito or Guayaquil. Here is who flies, from where, for how long and for how much, based on fares and schedules verified in September 2026.
Only two airlines fly there
Avianca and LATAM are the only carriers operating between the continent and Galápagos in 2026. Recent years have thinned the field: EquAir ceased operations in mid-2023, and Ecuatoriana Airlines never operated its first flight. Emetebe flies between the islands themselves (Baltra, San Cristóbal, Isabela) but not from the mainland.
Practically, that means prices move with just two players. Book early, especially for December-January and July-August, when fares sit at the top of their range.
Routes from Quito and Guayaquil
- Quito (UIO) to Baltra (GPS): both Avianca and LATAM fly it. This is the most common entry point.
- Quito (UIO) to San Cristóbal (SCY): Avianca operates the only nonstop; LATAM sells the route with a connection in Guayaquil.
- Guayaquil (GYE) to Baltra (GPS): both airlines, nonstop in about 1h55.
- Guayaquil (GYE) to San Cristóbal (SCY): Avianca direct, with minimum fares around $136 to $137 one way.
- Cuenca (CUE) to Baltra: new for 2026. LATAM started this route on 31 March, twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday) on an A319, flying out via Quito for a total of 3h32 and returning direct in 1h52.
Most Quito departures make a technical stop in Guayaquil of about 45 minutes. You stay on the plane; it is slower than it sounds on paper but not a real layover. Around 12 flights per week per airline leave from Quito, with departures between roughly 06:50 and 13:05. That morning-heavy schedule is why nearly every Galápagos itinerary burns half a day on arrival.
How long the flights take
- Quito to either island: about 2h20 to 2h30 door to door, including the Guayaquil stop. The fastest nonstop stretch is around 2h10.
- Guayaquil to either island: about 1h30 to 1h55 nonstop.
What flights actually cost
One-way minimums we found on the airlines’ own sites in September 2026:
| Route | Airline | From (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| Quito → Baltra | Avianca | $147 |
| Quito → Baltra | LATAM | $156 (LATAM Ecuador site) |
| Baltra → Quito | LATAM | $187 |
| Guayaquil → Baltra | Avianca | $134 |
| Guayaquil → San Cristóbal | Avianca | $137 |
| San Cristóbal → Guayaquil | Avianca | $133 |
| San Cristóbal → Quito | Avianca | $137–140 |
LATAM does not publish minimums for all its Ecuador routes, so treat the table as a floor, not a promise (check current fares).
Round trip, the realistic range for a foreign visitor is 400 to 550 USD per person, climbing higher in the December-January and July-August peaks. Other fare trackers put the general band at 300 to 500 USD, with 600 USD and up in high season or when booking last minute. Flying from Guayaquil instead of Quito typically saves 10 to 50 USD on the round trip.
The resident fare trap
The cheapest fares you see on Ecuadorian sites are often resident-only. As a foreigner you are supposed to buy a higher fare class, and the airlines enforce it: travellers who accidentally (or deliberately) book a resident fare have been charged around $150 extra at check-in. Filter for adult non-resident fares when you search, and if an agency quotes you something suspiciously cheap, ask which fare class it is.
Before you fly: the TCT card
The Tarjeta de Control de Tránsito (TCT) is a transit control card issued by the Consejo de Gobierno de Galápagos. It costs US $20 and is mandatory for every non-resident visitor. Since 29 May 2025 you can register and pay online through the official government portal, which is the smoothest path: enter your passport details and return flight, pay by card, and download the digital TCT with its QR code. The government recommends doing this 24 to 48 hours before departure. You can still get it in person at the CGREG counter in the Quito or Guayaquil airports, before you check in with the airline.
The TCT is not the park entrance fee. That is a separate US $200 (foreign adult), collected in cash when you land. Both charges are laid out in the Galápagos entry fee guide.
Landing day
You will land at Baltra or San Cristóbal, pay the park fee at the park counter, have your luggage checked for fresh food and organic material, and start the transfer to your hotel. What that transfer involves at each airport is in our Baltra vs San Cristóbal comparison.
Last verified: September 2026