Flying to Galapagos: Which Airport Should You Choose?

 

An updated version of this blog has been published over on our main website.
Click here to read up on How to Get to Galapagos: Prices, Flights, Airports and Tips!

Traveling to the Galapagos Islands takes some planning given how far the archipelago is from the mainland. In spite of this, there are convenient options for flying to Galapagos directly. There are two main airports to consider when you are flying to Galapagos.

Figuring Out Your Way When Flying to Galapagos

When flying to Galapagos, many people use LATAM Airlines given the variety of cities and countries that it departs from. There are no direct international flights to the Galapagos, which means airlines only fly to the Galapagos Islands from the Ecuadorian cities of Quito and Guayaquil.

It is always important that you arrange your flight times conservatively and in accordance with your Galapagos cruise departure days.

The primary thing to remember is that there are two major airports in Ecuador:

  • José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (airport code: GYE) is located in Guayaquil.
  • Mariscal Sucre International Airport (airport code: UIO) is in the capital city of Quito.

The secondary thing to remember (and this will depend on what island you plan to stay on and/or which one your Galapagos cruise is leaving from) is that there are two major airports in Galapagos:

  • Seymour Airport (airport code: GPS) is an airport serving the island of Baltra (and connects to Santa Cruz via water taxi and bus).
  • San Cristóbal Airport (airport code: SCY) is an airport on the island of San Cristóbal.

Guayaquil: José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE)

Jose Joaquin De Olmedo Airport
Jose Joaquin De Olmedo Is The Name Of Guayaquil’S Airport. Photo By Elemaki Via Wikipedia Commons

Flight time to the archipelago: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport has received many awards, including an award for best airports in South America. It’s not a surprise given its convenience: it’s open 24 hours a day and has nonstop flights that go to Europe and the U.S.A. There’s also a huge number of connections to several different countries in South America, which makes it a gateway to the continent.

One of the reasons people going to the Galapagos use José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport is because of its proximity to the islands.

There are also numerous things available at the airport that allow flyers to spend there time here comfortably. Waiting areas are available along with VIP lounges.

Quito: Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

Airport Of Quito
Mariscal Sucre Is The Name Of Quito’S Airport. Photo By Jordy Vaca Via Wikipedia Commons

Flight time to the archipelago: Approximately 2.5 hours (plus layover in Guayaquil)

Mariscal Sucre International Airport was named the 2016 “World Travel Award Winner” for the third year in a row in the category of South America’s Leading Airport. This is a highly treasured award in the global community and is comparable to the Oscars for the movie industry.

The VIP Lounge at the Mariscal Sucre Airport offers flyers a nice quiet place to enjoy snacks, drinks and a number of reading materials. Business centers and wi-fi is available should you feel the need to take care of anything before heading off to the archipelago.

There are numerous free services available at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, including free Wi-Fi, self-check-in, charging stations, telephone information services, and even a small children’s area.

There are lots of things to keep you busy at the airport while you wait for your connecting flight to continue your Galapagos vacation. The Mall Del Cielo has an array of shops for you to peruse as well as several restaurants. The restaurants include both South American eateries as well as American franchises.

Which airport should you fly from (and fly into) when going to Galapagos?

Selecting which airport you leave from will come down to what country you are originating from and what itineraries/flights and prices are most suitable for your agenda and wallet. A good tip to keep in mind when it comes to cost is to check flights with both Ecuadorian airports and see which airlines offer cheaper flights and/or better itineraries to either one.

When it comes to flying into and out of Galapagos, always keep in mind that all itineraries aboard the Santa Cruz II depart and end at the island of Baltra, so you should make it a point to be extra sure that your plane lands and departs from Seymour Airport (airport code: GPS) on Baltra Island in Galapagos.

Updated:May 8, 2023

Published:March 15, 2017

CALL US TODAY

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Tour 2024 Package: 12 days / Quito, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu / From USD 9,598 per person

SHARE THIS POST

RELATED POSTS

TravelandLeisure.com

Condé Nast Traveler ONLINE

This small, secret rooftop of the restored Casa Gangotena mansion peers over Plaza San Francisco in the center of Quito’s colonial Old Town, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Order a Cedrón Spritz, a refreshing mix of rum, lemon, sparkling wine, and fresh lemon verbena (cedrón) syrup and leaf, then revel in the mesmerizing, real-time montage of daily life in Ecuador’s capital as it parades past.

National Geographic Traveller

A Font of information, Klaus has spent decades in the field, leading tours in the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos Islands. He hung up his guiding boots a few years back and now creates itineraries for the tour operator, Metropolitan Touring. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from mainland South America, Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse locales on Earth.

Cruise Critic

Santa Cruz II is a replacement for the much-loved Santa Cruz, which plied the waters of the Galapagos for 36 years. It is not a new ship; it was built in 2002 and sailed as Mare Australis under the Australis cruise brand, operating expedition cruises around Cape Horn and to Antarctica. Metropolitan Touring bought the ship in 2015 and completely refurbished it, launching it as Santa Cruz II in October 2015.

Telegraph Ultra Travel: 50 Greatest Hotels in the World

When this modern, minimalist, glass-walled jungle lodge opened in 2012, it changed the accommodation game in South America. Arquitect Alfredo Ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would impress in a modern city; in the depths of an Andean cloudforest, it is wild, audacious and beautiful. Though only 70 miles from Quito, Maspi Lodge sits in splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the end of an unsealed road.

Terms and Conditions

Itinerario de 5 días / 4 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (4214 USD + impuestos por persona)
Itinerario de 7 días / 6 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (5672 USD + impuestos por persona)
No reembolsable. Aplica únicamente para residentes ecuatorianos en nuevas reservas directas realizadas, hasta el 30 de junio del 2022, con un ejecutivo de ventas del hotel. Válido para estadías hasta el 31 de agosto de 2022. No puede ser combinada con otros descuentos, promociones u ofertas. El descuento no aplica para otros servicios. El precio no incluye recargo de combustible de $20 por noche de crucero.

We have what you are looking for!