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."

Galapagos Islands Tours from Quito

Ready for a natural experience like no other? Quito to Galápagos combines altitudes, exploring colonial city's churches, flying to islands, cruising among wildlife, snorkeling with sea lions, and discovering Darwin's inspiration. There’s nowhere else in the world quite like this. Imagine seeing giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies, experiencing evolution firsthand, all with wildlife encounters that'll ruin you for regular zoos forever.

10 best Galapagos Islands tours from Quito

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Explorer
Galapagos Outdoor 9 Days Tour
4.5 (8 traveler reviews)
"I was blown away by the professionalism of the staff at every location. The hotels were perfect!"
Sabrina, traveled in December
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Puerto Ayora, Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet,Puerto Villamil,Santa Cruz Island,Bartolomé Island,Baltra Island+5 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
GUIDEcuador Travel
From
US$3,300per person
+$690 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Handpicked adventures loved by our team
TourRadar Curated
Explorer
Galápagos Adventure: Snorkelling & Sea Lions
4.7 (43 traveler reviews)
"A beautiful experience seeing wildlife and a great way to spend time in nature."
Stephanie, traveled in March
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Floreana Island, Isabela Island
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
No departure dates available
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Explorer
Galapagos Essentials
4.5 (9 traveler reviews)
"We broke the seal on the lock down culture surrounding Covid, and were the first folks back on the trail in a year!"
Kerry, traveled in March
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Quito, Santa Cruz Island, San Cristóbal Island,Lobos Island+1 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Adventure Journeys
From
US$1,570per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Galapagos Discovery
4.4 (19 traveler reviews)
"Her knowledge, personality, patience, organization, fun demeanor was outstanding."
Cindy, traveled in December
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Lobos Island,Santa Cruz Island,Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet+3 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
10% Off
From $2,395
US$2,156per person
+$230 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Jewels of Ecuador: Galapagos and Amazon
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Wonderful Holidays UK tour of Ecuador including the Galapagos. Looked perfect. Everything was high quality: the guides, the equipment, the transportation, the rooms."
Stephen, traveled in July
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Quito, Tena, San Cristóbal Island, Lobos Island, Guayaquil
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
PacificGalapagos IslandsAmazonian Basin+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Wonderful Holidays UK
15% Off
From $3,762
US$3,198per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Galapagos Multisport
4.7 (5 traveler reviews)
"The TourRadar website is very easy to navigate and there are many options for tours anywhere you might want to go."
Darlene, traveled in March
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno,Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet,Santa Cruz Island,Puerto Ayora,Floreana Island,Bartolomé Island,Baltra Island+7 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Adventure Journeys
15% Off
From
US$2,998per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Ocean Cruise
Galapagos Discovered - 6 days
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Española Island,Punta Suarez,Floreana Island,Santa Cruz Island,Baltra Island+4 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
M/C Anahi Galapagos Cruise
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
15% Off
From
US$3,915per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
7 Days Galapagos Express Adventure
5.0 (4 traveler reviews)
"The boat ride to the uninhabitable island was A++. Great crew, food, above & beyond treatment for the vacationers."
Joyce, traveled in February
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Quito, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
4% Off
From $1,290
US$1,240per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Wildlife
7 Days on a Budget Galapagos Islands Tour in San Cristobal
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"I had a great time in San Cristobal! I saw sea turtles, pelicans, reef sharks, rays, and hammerheads."
Kyleigh, traveled in January
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
3% Off
From $1,560
US$1,510per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Geluxe: Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands
4.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"Just a super adventure and really appreciative of the accommodations upgrades."
RichardNickel, traveled in May
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Quito, Cotopaxi Volcano, Cotopaxi National Park,Papallacta,Isabela Island,Galapagos Islands,Santa Cruz Island,Puerto Ayora,Baltra Island+6 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Islands
Galapagos Islands
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
15% Off
From $7,549
US$6,417per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
10 Days Galapagos Island Hopping in Santa Cruz and Isabela
4.7 (22 traveler reviews)
"Very interesting and diverse with many activities. We felt taken care of."
Laura, traveled in January
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora,South Plaza Island,Bartolomé Island,Seymour Norte,Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet,Puerto Villamil,Baltra Island+7 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
2% Off
From $2,600
US$2,550per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
10 Days Galapagos Highlights Small Group Tour
4.7 (3 traveler reviews)
"The canoe rides and sightseeing were unforgettable. The food and restaurant service was great."
Andrew, traveled in August
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Quito, Santa Cruz Island, San Cristóbal Island,Puerto Ayora,Pinzón Island,Santa Fé Island,Isabela Island,Baltra Island+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
2% Off
From $2,788
US$2,738per person
Price based on Private Single Room
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Explorer
Galapagos Ultimate 6 Days Tour
4.6 (13 traveler reviews)
"It is great for people who have little time before the trip to plan because it certainly covers all the highlights in the Galapagos."
Angela, traveled in May
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
GUIDEcuador Travel
2% Off
From
US$1,390per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Explorer
Best of Galapagos
4.5 (45 traveler reviews)
"nice variety."
Martha, traveled in January
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Leon Dormido,Puerto Baquerizo Moreno,Floreana Island,Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet,Puerto Villamil,Santa Cruz Island+6 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
15% Off
From $3,955
US$3,362per person
+$230 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Galápagos Multisport
4.9 (46 traveler reviews)
"I find the accommodation suitable enough for my needs: comfortable bed, air condition, water, electricity, wifi."
Max, traveled in February
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora, Floreana Island,Isabela Island,Las Tintoreras Islet,Baltra Island+3 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
PacificGalapagos Islands+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
15% Off
From $3,699
US$3,144per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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