Galapagos Islands Tours from Quito
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10 best Galapagos Islands tours from Quito
Compiled by
MelissaQuito travel expert at TourRadar
- Galapagos Outdoor 9 Days Tour
- Galapagos Island Hopping Diving Budget Experience 8D/7N
- Galapagos - Central, West & East Islands aboard the Archipel I
- Galapagos: In Darwin's Footsteps
- Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
- Galapagos Island Hopping Diving Full Experience 8D/7N
- 10 Days Galapagos Highlights Small Group Tour
- 7 Days Galapagos Express Adventure
- Galápagos Island Hopping (6 destinations)
- Galapagos Express - Central & West Islands aboard the Archipel I
Galapagos Outdoor 9 Days Tour
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was a wonderful tour of the Galapagos Islands, Quito and Otavalo while in Ecuador mainland.”
KatherineAbailey, traveled in November
Your trip launches in Quito with UNESCO Old Town visits before flying to San Cristóbal Island. Pass through Kicker Rock, Santa Cruz, and Isabela via speedboat, concluding at Baltra Airport for return to Quito. Total islands covered: 6 in 9 days.
Duration 9 days Destinations Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, Bartolomé Island, Baltra Island Age Range 10 to 80 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator GUIDEcuador Travel From
- NZ$5,507+$1,151 local payments
Flying from Quito to San Cristóbal opens diving opportunities and the Interpretation Center. Boat transfer to Santa Cruz reveals the Charles Darwin Station across 8 days of Galápagos exploration.
Duration 8 days Destinations Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$2,154
Your adventure takes you from Quito to San Cristobal via Guayaquil. Visit 8 Galapagos locations including Fernandina's Punta Espinoza and Santa Cruz's El Chato Reserve aboard Archipel I, concluding with Black Turtle Cove before returning to Quito.
Duration 10 days Destinations Quito, Guayaquil, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, Fernandina Island, Santiago Island, Rabida Island Age Range 16 to 85 year olds Operator Explore! From
- NZ$12,150
Galapagos: In Darwin's Footsteps
19 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The proximity, variety and abundance of the wildlife was staggering, both on land and in the sea.”
Clive, traveled in June
From Quito, a flight takes you to San Cristóbal where the Galapagos Interpretation Center awaits, followed by snorkeling at Kicker Rock. The route covers Floreana, Isabela, and Santa Cruz islands before returning to mainland Ecuador, showcasing the archipelago's unique wildlife.
Duration 14 days Destinations Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Floreana Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, Bartolomé Island, Baltra Island, South Plaza Island, Guayaquil Age Range 16 to 99 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $12,097
5% Off- NZ$11,550You save $547
Hotel Casona de la Ronda in Quito serves as your starting point before flying to Baltra. The Archipel I cruise visits San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Floreana. North Seymour and Chinese Hat islets round out the adventure before ending in Guayaquil.
Duration 10 days Destinations Quito, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island, Las Tintoreras Islet, Isabela Island, Fernandina Island, Seymour Norte, Genovesa Island, Bartolomé Island, Santiago IslandSee all destinations Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From
5% Off- NZ$12,320
Flights connect Quito to San Cristóbal Island, where speedboat transport leads to Santa Cruz Island for diving adventures. The package includes airport transfers and inter-island boat transport.
Duration 8 days Destinations Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Bamba Travel From
5% Off- NZ$4,707
10 Days Galapagos Highlights Small Group Tour
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The canoe rides and sightseeing were unforgettable. The food and restaurant service was great.”
Andrew, traveled in August
Landing at Baltra Island airport, connect to Santa Cruz highlands for tortoise viewing. The route includes San Cristóbal's interpretation center and Isabela's volcanic terrain before returning to Baltra. Speed boats link island destinations throughout the Galápagos adventure.
Duration 10 days Destinations Quito, Santa Cruz Island, San Cristóbal Island, Isabela Island Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Responsible Travel South America From
5% Off- NZ$4,652
Flying from Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport to Baltra Island gateway, you'll discover Santa Cruz Island's treasures including Las Grietas cliffs, Tortuga Bay, and Canal del Amor from Puerto Ayora base before departing via Itabaca Channel to Baltra.
Duration 7 days Destinations Quito, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island Age Range 12 to 90 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Responsible Travel South America From
5% Off- NZ$2,161
Galápagos Island Hopping (6 destinations)
40 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“A very fun, knowledgeable guide and a wonderful group of people to travel with!”
Jennifer, traveled in June
Starting and ending in Quito, fly to Baltra Island. Visit Santa Cruz's Charles Darwin Station, Floreana's black-sand beaches, and Isabela's Sierra Negra Volcano. Return via speedboat transfers between islands, covering major Galápagos highlights.
Duration 9 days Destinations Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Floreana Island, Isabela Island Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operator G Adventures From $4,999
25% Off- NZ$3,749You save $1,249
Flying from Quito's Puembo district to Baltra Island, visitors tour Santa Cruz's Fausto Llerena Centre before boarding Archipel I. The voyage includes stops at Isabela, Fernandina, and Santiago islands before returning to Quito.
Duration 7 days Destinations Quito, Guayaquil, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora, Isabela Island, Fernandina Island, Santiago Island, Rabida Island Age Range 16 to 85 year olds Operator Explore! From
25% Off- NZ$8,360
What people love about Galapagos Islands Tours from Quito
- Galapagos Discovery
Animals in galapagos. Islands and beaches
- Galapagos Outdoor 9 Days Tour
We did this tour in January for 9 day trip ( Galapagos Tour) with our family . The hotels selected were high end hotels (4*) with buffet breakfast, rooms and ambiance were perfect. Our Tour Guide Alex & Jose were knowledgeable. They would even help us with recommendations to buy souvenirs , and food to try. Lunch and dinner mentioned in the itinerary were high end restaurants selected with wide spread of authentic food. All in all, we loved the trip and special thanks to you for making our visit a memorable one.
- Galapagos Essentials
We absolutely enjoyed our time on Galapagos. Our guide Marista was friendly and very knowledgeable. It was good to experience her passion for the islands past present and future.
What our customers ask about Galapagos Islands Tours from Quito
What's the best time of year for tours starting in Quito to visit the Galapagos?
Tours from Quito are most popular from June through August when temperatures are mild and rainfall is minimal in both locations. The period from December through May brings warmer weather and occasional showers to the Galapagos but offers better underwater visibility for activities at locations like Tortuga Bay and Las Grietas. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We went in July and had perfect weather for hiking Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island and snorkeling with sea turtles at Puerto Egas."
How many islands can I expect to visit on a typical tour starting in Quito?
Most itineraries cover 3-4 principal islands using Santa Cruz as the central point with excursions to Isabela Island San Cristobal and uninhabited locations such as Santa Fe or Bartolomé. Tour boats for island hopping leave from Puerto Ayora's harbor on Santa Cruz. One TourRadar traveler noted: "Starting from our arrival from Quito we managed to explore Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal islands which gave us a great overview of the diverse Galapagos ecosystems."
What type of accommodation can I expect throughout the tour?
The journey begins in Quito at tourist-class properties like Embassy Hotel followed by nature-oriented lodging in the Galapagos such as Hotel Ninfa or Galapagos Dreams in Puerto Ayora. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The hotels were well-located - from our base in Quito to the waterfront property in Puerto Ayora which made daily excursions convenient."
What's included in the flight arrangements from Quito to Galapagos?
Tour packages typically cover internal flights between Quito and the Galapagos Islands with morning departures between 6:40-9:40am including a fuel stop in Guayaquil. Travelers need to budget for the $100 USD National Park entrance fee and $20 USD Transit Control Card payable in cash upon arrival at Baltra or San Cristobal airports. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The flight arrangements were smooth - our guide met us at the Quito airport and helped facilitate all the necessary paperwork and payments."
How do I get from Quito to the Galapagos Islands?
The journey starts with a 3-hour flight from Quito to Baltra Island with a short layover in Guayaquil. A naturalist guide meets visitors at Baltra airport followed by a ferry transfer to Santa Cruz Island where Hotel Galapagos Dreams in Puerto Ayora serves as a base. According to a TourRadar traveler: "The transitions were seamless - from hotel pickup in Quito to the flight connections and meetup with our Galapagos guide at Baltra."
What's the recommended physical fitness level for these tours?
These tours need moderate physical ability for activities such as the Sierra Negra Volcano hike on Isabela Island (5-6 hours) the walk to Tortuga Bay (45 minutes) and snorkeling sessions at locations like Las Grietas. Properties such as Hotel Ninfa in Santa Cruz offer comfortable rest between activities. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "While some hikes were challenging like Sierra Negra our guide paced the group well and there were plenty of breaks to rest and photograph wildlife."
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