Visiting The Galapagos Islands
Flying to the Galapagos Islands
is the only way for you to get there.
Galapagos is a pricey destination
but worth every cent!
Cruise the Enchanted Islands
to visit even the furthest sites.
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once in a lifetime experience for most people and hence should be planned carefully. It also requires thoughtful planning because of the remote location and special regulations of the national park.
How to Get to Galapagos
The Galapagos archipelago lies almost 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast in the Pacific. Therefore, the only way to get there is by plane. Direct flights are available from Quito (2h 10) and Guayaquil (1h 50). The most commercial airport is located on Baltra Island (GPS) just north to Santa Cruz Island but there also exist flights to San Cristobal Island (SCY).
Expenses to Be Taken into Account
Apart from your Galapagos cruise or land-based tour, there are some compulsory expenses that have to be paid by every Galapagos visitor. These expenses are:
- Flight ticket to Galapagos ($400-$550, varies depending on the airline, route and season)
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100 per adult, $50 per child – paid in cash upon arrival in Galapagos)
- Migratory control card “INGALA” ($20 per person – paid in cash at Quito or Guayaquil airport)
Depending on your tour, there could incur some other expenses like additional meals and beverages, tips (expected but not mandatory), equipment rental, travel insurance etc.
Minimum Stay in Galapagos
Considering that it costs roughly $600 per person to just get to Galapagos, we recommend to spent at least three nights in Galapagos. You also have to take into account that most flights arrive and leave around noon, so the first and last day will be very short.
Cruise or Island Hopping?
When starting to plan your trip to the Galapagos Islands, you will first have to face the choice whether to explore the archipelago by cruise or island hopping. If you are still unsure, please find here a general list of the pros of each travel type:
| Galapagos Cruise |
Island Hopping (hotel-based tour) |
|
+ Travel even to the furthest islands + Get to see more animals + Visit more islands in less time |
+ Flexible (dates and activities) + Generally less expensive (not always) + No need to spend time on a boat |
Traveling to Galapagos with Kids
In general we recommend to travel to the Galapagos Islands only with children who are at least 6 years old because guides often give longer explanations about the wildlife during the visits and there are a lot of national park rules to follow. So, kids usually enjoy the tours better from the age of 6 onwards.
However, children of all ages are welcome in Galapagos and Midland Travel will find the perfect tour for your family.
Some cruises have strict child policies but others offer special programs for children and some even family departures. Contact one of our Galapagos experts to learn more about the different tour options for families.
