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Galapagos Islands & Quito Expedition

Quito, Galapagos Islands

7 days

Starting at USD 6999 pp

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Discover Ecuador Tour

From Quito to the Galapagos Islands

Aerial view of Mitad del Mundo equator monument with Andean volcanic peaks, San Antonio de Pichincha Ecuador
Group of marine iguanas basking on black lava rocks along Fernandina Island coast, Galapagos
La Compañía de Jesús baroque church facade in Quito's UNESCO historic center, Ecuador
Galapagos tour from Quito — naturalist guide pointing to wildlife from a panga boat near volcanic cliffs
2026
USD 6999
per person
2027
USD 7299
per person
Plan Your Trip
See full itinerary

Day by Day

Sample Itinerary
San Francisco Church and colonial plaza in Quito's UNESCO-listed historic center, Ecuador

Day 1

  • Quito

Land in the Andes

Touch down in Quito. A private transfer carries you to Casa Gangotena Quito, your boutique sanctuary overlooking Plaza San Francisco.

Mitad del Mundo monument with equator line marked on the entrance pathway, Quito Ecuador

Day 2

  • Quito City Tour

One Foot in Each Hemisphere

Quito city tour through colonial plazas, then a foot in each hemisphere at Mitad del Mundo. Night at Casa Gangotena.

Couple with naturalist guide observing Galapagos giant tortoises at Santa Cruz Island highland reserve

Day 3

  • Baltra Island & Santa Cruz

The Expedition Begins

Fly from Quito to Baltra. Board your expedition yacht and begin your Galápagos expedition with a first landing on Santa Cruz.

Two Galapagos penguins standing on coastal lava rock Isabela Island

Day 4

  • Santiago Island & Chinese Hat Islet

The Postcard of the Archipelago

Walk Santiago Sullivan Bay lava flows, then snorkel with penguins at Sombrero Chino.

Magnificent frigatebird displaying red gular sac, Genovesa Island, Galapagos

Day 5

  • Genovesa Island

Explore Darwin Bay’s fearless wildlife

Red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and more. Climb Prince Philip Steps for an unforgettable bird sanctuary experience!

Galapagos land iguana basking on lava rock beneath prickly pear cactus, Santa Fe Island

Day 6

  • Santa Fe Island

Land Iguanas & Playful Sea Lions

Walk South Plaza red-carpet cliffs among yellow land iguanas. Snorkel Santa Fe, turquoise bay, where sea lions glide beside you.

Couple taking a farewell selfie at Seymour Airport in the Galapagos Islands

Day 7

Carry the Islands Home With You

Farewell breakfast on board. Transfer to Seymour Airport and fly back to the mainland with memories that will outlast every photo.

Reserve Your Spot

Map of Your Visit

Map of the Galapagos and Quito tour route showing island locations in the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador

What's included

Seamless travel
Airport transfers in Quito and Galapagos – Round-trip domestic flights between Quito and Galapagos – Galapagos National Park entrance fee and Transit Control Card

Handpicked stays
Premium accommodations in Quito and a 5-day expedition cruise through the Galapagos Islands

Curated gastronomy
Daily breakfast in Quito and all meals included onboard and non-alcoholic beverages*

Expert-led experiences
Half-day tour through Quito’s Historic Center and private Middle of the World experience – Guided island explorations throughout the Galapagos itinerary

Expedition & onboard privileges
Immersive Galapagos expedition experience aboard one of our expedition vessels

Not included

International airfare – Meals not specified – Gratuities – Fuel surcharges*

*Fuel surcharges are subject to change without prior notice.

*Non-alcoholic beverages are included onboard only.

Highly Rated with Outstanding Scores on:

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NPS 9.5
Customer Satisfaction

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the Galapagos from Quito?

You fly — a round-trip domestic flight from Quito to Baltra Island. If you want to learn more about it, read our “How to Get to the Galapagos” blog.

About 2 hours nonstop. Up to 3.5 hours if your flight stops briefly in Guayaquil.
No. The park requires a guide at all times, and the islands sit hours apart by boat — plan on at least 4 to 5 days.

About 1,330 km (830 miles) by air.

7 days total works well: 2 in Quito, 5 aboard an expedition yacht in the islands.
Quito first — it eases you in before the more active days on the islands.
A little. Quito sits at 2,850m (9,350ft), so take it easy and hydrate on day one. The Galapagos Islands themselves are at sea level.
Transfers, round-trip domestic flights, the park entrance fee, a Transit Control Card, a hotel in Quito, the full expedition cruise with meals, a Quito city tour, and guided island visits. Not included: international airfare, gratuities, some meals, and fuel surcharges.
From USD 6,999 per person for 2026 departures, USD 7,299 for 2027.
Both work year-round. December to May is warmer with calmer water; June to November is cooler and drier. June and November hit the sweet spot between them.
Yes, land-based stays exist, but a cruise reaches more remote islands than a land-based one can.
Layers for Quito’s cool mornings and evenings; for the islands, reef-safe sunscreen, a swimsuit, quick-dry clothes, a light rain jacket, closed-toe shoes, and binoculars.
No, for US, UK, and Canadian passport holders — 90 days visa-free. The Galapagos requires the $20 Transit Control Card.
Yes — it’s a tightly regulated park, and you’re with a certified naturalist guide at every stop.

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Melissa Altamirano
“Melissa has been fantastic! She answers all my questions, gets back to me quickly, and has mapped out a wonderful trip for us. I couldn’t be happier with the service I have received.” —Mary Kabat
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Four Galapagos penguins standing on black lava rocks near a sandy beach shoreline
Are you a Travel Agent?*
Check-in*
Check-out*
At Metropolitan Touring we process the information you provide us with in order to respond to the request made by you in relation to the services we provide and the products we supply. You can exercise the rights of access, rectification and updating of inaccurate data or, where appropriate, request the deletion or elimination, limitation or suspension of the processing of your data or oppose the processing of your data. Contact us at dpdecuador@metropolitan-touring.com