Galápagos Island Hopping from Quito

Arrival in Quito

Arrive at any time into Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). The day is unstructured, leaving time to find your hotel and acclimatize to the city's 2,850m elevation. Depending on arrival time, a walk through the neighborhood is a good way to get oriented before the island portion of the trip begins.

Flight to the Galápagos & Darwin Station

A morning transfer leads to the Quito airport for the flight to the Galápagos. Landing on Baltra Island, a small, arid outcrop, the journey continues overland and by ferry to the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The first stop is the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific outpost and breeding center. It's a solid introduction to the islands' conservation work and a chance to see Galápagos giant tortoises up close, from young hatchlings to full-grown adults in a protected corral.

Las Grietas Lagoon & Floreana Island

The morning starts with a walk across Academy Bay to Las Grietas, a striking swimming hole set between two volcanic cliffs. The trail cuts through a cactus forest, home to Darwin finches and lava lizards. The water here is a mix of fresh and salt, clear and cool. In the afternoon, a speedboat makes the crossing to Floreana Island, a trip that can be rough, particularly from July to December. Accommodations are in community-run guesthouses, with meals served at local family restaurants—a system designed to distribute tourism income among the island's 150 residents.