Key Information & FAQs
Answers to the questions our Expedition Specialists receive most often
Airfare & Flight Schedule
Airfare & Travel Schedule to Galapagos
You can find all travel Flight Information in this link.
Flights to Galapagos for Ecoventura passengers are serviced by AVIANCA Airlines from Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) to Galapagos (San Cristobal = SCY). Flight reservations for confirmed passengers are made automatically through our seat allotment with Avianca. All passengers who arrive at SCY on AV 1630 on Sunday will receive assistance with the check-in procedure and the option to pre-pay the transit card fee. A representative from Ecoventura accompanies our passengers on this flight. Upon arrival, our crew and guides meet this flight and transport passengers to the yachts. Passengers who chose to arrive on any other flight will not be provided with the same services.
Flight Schedule
Sundays to/from Galapagos (SCY). For full information click here
| ROUTING | FLIGHT | DEPART | DEPART | ARRIVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QUITO – GUAYAQUIL | AVIANCA 1630 | 8:00AM | 9:00AM | |
| GUAYAQUIL – CRISTOBAL | AVIANCA 1630 | 9:45AM | 10:35AM | |
| CRISTOBAL – GUAYAQUIL | AVIANCA 1631 | 11:25AM | 2:15PM | |
| GUAYAQUIL – QUITO | AVIANCA 1631 | 3:00PM | 3:55PM |
Airfares in LOW Season
January 1 – 30 June & September 1 – 31 December
| ROUTE | ADULT FARE | CHILD FARE |
|---|---|---|
| QUITO / Galapagos / QUITO | $ 500,00 | $ 375,00 |
| QUITO/ Galapagos/ GUAYAQUIL | $ 476,00 | $ 360,00 |
| GUAYAQUIL /Galapagos/ QUITO | $ 468,00 | $ 352,00 |
| GUAYAQUIL/ Galapagos/ GUAYAQUIL | $ 445,00 | $ 327,00 |
Airfares in HIGH Season
July 1 – 31 August
| ROUTE | ADULT FARE | CHILD FARE |
|---|---|---|
| QUITO / Galapagos / QUITO | $ 553,00 | $ 411,00 |
| QUITO/ Galapagos/ GUAYAQUIL | $ 525,00 | $ 393,00 |
| GUAYAQUIL /Galapagos/ QUITO | $ 518,00 | $ 385,00 |
| GUAYAQUIL/ Galapagos/ GUAYAQUIL | $ 490,00 | $ 357,00 |
Notes:
Airfares include all airport taxes and airline surcharges.
Rates are subject to change at any time, up until the day of departure and even after tickets have been paid in full.
Avianca Airlines has introduced a small onboard menu offering snacks and drinks available for purchase at an additional cost (as of December 2022).
Arrivals & Departures
International Flights to Ecuador
You will need to book your international flights to Ecuador to arrive to Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) and spend at least one night at a hotel before departing for Galapagos on Sunday morning. An extra night is recommended only during seasons when weather conditions can cause flight delays. You can book an evening flight home on Sunday at the end of your cruise provided the departure is 3 hours after the arrival of the Avianca flight.
International Flights to Ecuador are currently serviced by:
- American Airlines (Miami to UIO and GYE)
- Jet Blue (JFK to GYE)
- United (Houston to UIO)
- DELTA (Atlanta to UIO)
- LATAM (Miami, Bogota, Lima)
- AVIANCA (JFK, Bogota, San Jose)
- COPA (Panama to GYE and UIO)
- AERO MEXICO (Mexico DF to UIO)
- IBERIA (Madrid to UIO and GYE)
- KLM (Amsterdam to UIO and GYE)
All international tickets have the airport departure taxes included in the cost of the ticket.
Flights to Galapagos (San Cristobal)
Flight reservations are automatically made by Ecoventura through our allotment of seats on Sundays to/from San Cristobal (SCY). Flights to Galapagos (SCY) for Ecoventura passengers are confirmed on our recommended flights with AVIANCA Airlines from either Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE). Passengers who purchase their tickets through Ecoventura for the AVIANCA flights will receive assistance with check-in and can pre-pay the park tax and transit card. Additionally, a representative from Ecoventura accompanies our passengers on this flight. Passengers who chose to arrive on any other flight will not be provided with the same services.
Check-In
On the day of departure
On the day of departure, please arrive at the airport in Quito or Guayaquil two hours prior to departure for check-in. A message will be left at your hotel the evening prior with the check-in time. Before proceeding to check-in, your bags must be inspected by SICGAL as required for travel to Galapagos. Look for the Ecoventura representative at the AVIANCA Airline ticket counter to collect your boarding pass, transit card (if prepaid), and to assist you with check-in. If you have already prepaid, do not stand in line to pay the TCT card.
Upon arrival in Galapagos
Upon arrival in Galapagos, you will queue to process passengers for the Park entrance fee. The park representative will have a list of Ecoventura passengers who have prepaid the park fee. You will need to claim your bag, and our crew will collect all baggage and deliver them to your cabin. Our guides will be waiting for you with signs and will escort you by bus to the main dock where our zodiacs are waiting.
Guests who arrive at Galapagos on an alternate flight
Guests arriving at Galapagos on an alternate flight will not receive the same Day of Departure services. Ecoventura will not provide check-in assistance at the airports in Ecuador or upon arrival in San Cristobal on alternate flights. If you arrive on Sunday, ensure that you book your flights into San Cristobal (SCY) and not Baltra (GPS). You will not be able to pre-pay the Galapagos park entrance fee or INGALA transit card (TCT) and will need to pay the fees upon arrival in cash only. You will be responsible for getting yourself to the main dock by 12:00 PM to wait for our Zodiac to transport you to the yacht.
Embarkation and disembarkation time
Sunday in San Cristobal: Boarding time is 12:00 PM. Guests will not be able to board prior to this time. All guests leaving the yachts must disembark by 8:30 AM mainland time (7:30 AM Galapagos Time).
Entry Requirement to Ecuador & Galapagos
Passports & Visas
A valid passport is required to enter Ecuador. However, passports must be valid for six months and one day after you plan to leave Ecuador. No Visas are required for U.S., Canadian and most European citizens. Visas are required for some Asian, Central American, Middle Eastern and Eastern European countries. It is the passenger’s responsibility to check with local immigration offices or the Ecuadorian consulate prior to sailing to determine if a visa is necessary.
At check-in for AV flight 1630, a representative from Ecoventura will assist you with your boarding pass, park entrance fee, and transit control card receipts if pre-paid. You may be asked to present a return flight ticket and a medical insurance ID card. Our crew will be waiting for you when you land to provide a safe and quick transfer to your yacht.
Galapagos Entrance Fee or “park tax”
The Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system, and the entrance fee is $200.00 per person for foreign adults. Children aged 11 and younger receive a reduced rate of $100.00. The fee is divided among various entities, including the GNPS, Marine Reserve, agriculture, municipalities, INEFAN, and INGALA.
Transit Card Fee
All visitors to Galapagos are required to purchase a “Tarjeta de Control de Transito” or TCT card for $20.00. This card allows INGALA, the institution that controls migration to the islands, to better regulate the flow of all arrivals and departures to Galapagos. Ecoventura will register all passengers in advance provided the fee is prepaid and we receive the passenger information form.
Transportation Contract
All passengers can read the terms & conditions of the transportation contract prior to boarding their cruise. Upon boarding the vessels in our fleet, you accept and agree to the terms & conditions. In order to review the terms before you leave home, you can view this on the company web site.
Online Sworn Declaration Form
The Sworn Declaration Form is a required online document for all travelers to the Galapagos Islands. It is designed to help protect the delicate ecosystem by declaring any items being brought to the islands that could pose a risk.
Starting December 1, 2024, all travelers aged 18 or older must complete the online Sworn Declaration Form digitally up to 48 hours before their flight.
Items to Declare:
Processed, fresh, or cooked food
Plants, flowers, seeds, or biological products
Live animals, wood, handicrafts, or minerals
Camping equipment (e.g., tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots)
You will also need to indicate if you have visited places with domestic or wild animals—such as farms, zoos, or protected areas—within the 72 hours prior to your trip.
After filling out the form, you’ll receive a QR code directly in your email, which you must show to the biosecurity agents at either San Cristobal or Baltra airport.
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