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Ecuador · Central & South America

Quito & the Galápagos

Colonial Andean capital and cruise gateway to the Galápagos.

Plan this trip
Best time
June to September (Galápagos dry season with cool water + big wildlife).
Stay
8 nights
From US
5h from Miami, 8h from NYC
Lang / Cur
Spanish · US Dollar (USD)

Quito's UNESCO old town + Middle of the World monument make a solid 2-day stop before flying to Baltra for a Galápagos cruise or island-hopping.

01

Highlights

  • 01Quito Old Town + TelefériQo cable car
  • 02Middle of the World monument (equator)
  • 03Mindo cloud forest day trip
  • 04Galápagos cruise or island-hopping (Santa Cruz + Isabela + San Cristóbal)
  • 05Snorkel with sea lions at Los Túneles
02

Where to stay

Quito Old TownLa MariscalSanta Cruz (Galápagos)
03

8-day itinerary

  1. 01Quito

    Old Town, La Compañía Church, TelefériQo.

  2. 02Equator

    Mitad del Mundo + Otavalo market Saturday.

  3. 03Fly Galápagos

    To Baltra + Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Station.

  4. 04Santa Cruz

    Tortuga Bay, Los Gemelos craters.

  5. 05Isabela

    Speedboat to Isabela, Los Túneles snorkel.

  6. 06Isabela

    Sierra Negra volcano hike.

  7. 07San Cristóbal

    Kicker Rock snorkel, sea lion beach.

  8. 08Return

    Fly Quito → US.

04

Local intelligence

  • 01Galápagos entry fee ($200 cash) + transit card ($20) at airport.
  • 02Cruises book 6+ months out; island-hopping is more flexible.
  • 03Quito altitude (9,350 ft) — take the first day easy.
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