The short version: flights to the Galápagos leave Quito in the morning, so you will almost always spend at least one night in the city. Budget $20 for the transit control card (bought online beforehand) and $200 cash for the national park fee (paid on arrival in the islands), arrive at Quito airport 2.5 hours early for the biosecurity check, and use your night or two here to see the Old Town and settle into the altitude. A base just above the historic center makes the early start painless.
Getting in from the airport
Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (code UIO) sits out in Tababela, about 40–45 km east of the city, a 45 to 60 minute drive that stretches longer in morning and evening traffic. Your options:
- Official airport taxi: a fixed fare of roughly $25–30 to the historic center. Pay at the taxi counter inside arrivals, not with a driver at the curb.
- Ride-hailing: Uber, DiDi and InDrive all work, usually $20–30 (InDrive is often cheapest). Use the designated pickup lane. They can be thin on the ground between about 2 and 5 a.m., when an official taxi is the safer bet.
- Our pickup: for $35 we arrange a door-to-door transfer so someone is waiting for you by name, which is a gentle way to arrive after a long flight.
Flights to the islands
Two airlines fly Quito to the Galápagos: Avianca and LATAM. (You may still see Equair mentioned in older articles; it stopped flying in 2023, so ignore it.) There are two island airports: Baltra (GPS), the gateway to Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal (SCY). Air time is about 1 hour 55, though many services touch down briefly in Guayaquil, making the whole journey nearer 3 hours. Departures are in the morning, typically between about 6 and 10:30 a.m., so book the earliest flight you can face to get a full first day on the islands.
The fees and paperwork, current for 2026
Two mandatory charges catch people out, and both changed recently. Get them right and the rest is easy.
- Transit Control Card (TCT): $20 per person. Since 2025 you buy it online in advance through the official CGREG platform (the agency formerly known as INGALA), ideally within 48 hours of your flight. At Quito airport you still visit the CGREG counter to validate it with your passport and return ticket before check-in.
- Galápagos National Park fee: $200 cash for foreign adults. This doubled from $100 on 1 August 2024. You pay it in cash US dollars when you land at Baltra or San Cristóbal. Children pay $100. Card machines are unreliable, so carry the exact amount.
- SICGAL biosecurity check. Before you check in at Quito, every bag (checked and carry-on) is inspected and scanned at the SICGAL / Agrocalidad counter, then sealed, to keep foreign species off the islands. There is also an online goods declaration to complete up to 48 hours before departure. This is why you arrive early.
Fees and procedures do change; confirm the current amounts on the official Galápagos National Park and CGREG sites shortly before you fly.
Leaving your big bag in Quito
Because island baggage allowances are tight and biosecurity is strict, most travelers take only what they need to the Galápagos and leave the rest in Quito. It is a normal thing to ask of your host. We are happy to store a suitcase for you at the apartment while you are away, so you fly light and come back to dry clothes and the things you did not need on a boat.
24 hours in Quito
One full day is plenty for the essentials, most of them a short walk or taxi from San Juan:
- Morning: the Old Town, Plaza Grande, the gilded interior of La Compañía de Jesús, and Plaza San Francisco.
- Midday: the Basílica del Voto Nacional, right here in San Juan; climb the towers for a city view, then lunch nearby.
- Afternoon: the TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha (~4,050 m) for the panorama. Take it slowly if you have only just arrived; the altitude is real.
- Evening: La Ronda, the lantern-lit colonial lane, for a canelazo and dinner.
48 hours in Quito
With a second day, slow down and add a little distance:
- Morning: Mitad del Mundo, the equator monument, about an hour north, with the interactive Intiñán museum next door.
- Afternoon: El Panecillo for the winged Virgin of Quito and the view (take a taxi up), or a museum such as Casa del Alabado.
- Evening: dinner in La Floresta or Mariscal, then an early night before your flight.
A second night also helps your body: two easy nights at 2,850 m take the edge off the altitude, which is worth having whether the islands come before or after a Highlands trek. If climbing is on your list, see our Quito altitude guide.
Why stay above the Old Town
A Galápagos stopover is all about a smooth, early departure and a good night’s sleep, and San Juan is a good place to find both: ten minutes above the historic center, close enough to walk the Old Town in the afternoon and settle in early before a dawn flight.
One thing to say plainly, because this guide is about a stay of a night or two: our own apartment is no longer available for that. We rent it long-term only, from 90 nights up, so a stopover is not something we can host. If you are coming to Quito for a season and the islands are one trip among several, then we may be the right base, and you can check availability on the availability page. Otherwise the logistics above hold wherever you sleep.
Extending the trip? Our day trips from Quito cover Cotopaxi, Otavalo, Mindo and more, all easy to fold around your island dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Galápagos National Park entrance fee?
For a foreign adult non-resident it is $200, paid in cash (US dollars) on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal airport. The fee doubled from $100 on 1 August 2024. Children aged 2–11 pay $100. Bring the exact amount in cash, as card terminals are not reliable, and confirm the current amount on the official park site before you fly.
Do I need a Galápagos transit control card, and where do I get it?
Yes. Every visitor needs the Transit Control Card (Tarjeta de Control de Tránsito, TCT), which costs $20 per person. Since 2025 you register and pay for it online in advance through the official CGREG platform (ideally within 48 hours of departure), then validate it with your passport and return ticket at the CGREG counter in the Quito airport before check-in.
How early should I arrive at Quito airport for a Galápagos flight?
Give yourself at least 2.5 hours. Before check-in you have to validate your transit card at the CGREG counter and put every bag through the SICGAL biosecurity inspection, where luggage is screened and sealed. Flights to the islands leave in the morning, so this is often an early start.
How far is Quito airport from the city, and what does a taxi cost?
Mariscal Sucre International (UIO) is in Tababela, about 40–45 km east of the historic center, a 45–60 minute drive (longer in rush hour). An official airport taxi is roughly $25–30 and Uber or InDrive around $20–30. We also offer a door-to-door pickup for $35 if you would rather be met.
Can I leave my big luggage in Quito while I am in the Galápagos?
Yes, and many travelers do. It is common to leave a bag with your Quito accommodation while you take only what you need to the islands, both to travel light and because Galápagos baggage rules are strict. Just ask us and we will keep it safe until you are back.
Is one day in Quito enough before the Galápagos?
A single full day is enough to see the highlights of the UNESCO Old Town and ride the TelefériQo for the view. Two days lets you add Mitad del Mundo (the equator) and a slower pace, which also helps you adjust to the 2,850 m altitude before or after the islands.