The first thing to know: no airline flies straight to Galápagos from Europe or Canada. Every journey has two parts, an international flight to mainland Ecuador and then a domestic flight out to the islands. It is simpler than it sounds, and here is how we would plan it with you.
Step 1: fly to mainland Ecuador
From the UK. There are no direct flights from London to Quito at present. The usual one-stop routes from Heathrow go via Amsterdam with KLM, via Madrid with Iberia, or via Bogotá with Avianca. Expect roughly 13 to 14 hours in the air, plus your layover.
From Germany. There is no direct flight from Frankfurt to Quito either. KLM via Amsterdam, and Iberia or Air Europa via Madrid, are convenient options, again with about 13 to 14 hours of flying.
From Austria. Vienna has no direct link to Quito, so you will connect through a hub such as Amsterdam or Madrid. Allow a long day: the journey averages around 19 hours, layover included.
From Canada. Good news for this winter. Air Canada has scheduled nonstop flights to Quito from early December 2026 to late March 2027, three a week from Montréal and one a week from Toronto. Both land just after midnight. Outside that season, Copa connects Toronto and Montréal with Quito through its hub in Panama.
KLM also flies from Amsterdam to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s other gateway, which can be handy for flights to the islands.
Step 2: fly on to the islands
LATAM and Avianca fly to Baltra, the airport for Santa Cruz, from both Quito and Guayaquil, and to San Cristóbal mainly from Guayaquil. The flight takes about two hours, and some Quito departures stop briefly in Guayaquil. Before you board, you will need the paperwork in our entry requirements guide.
Plan a night on the mainland
This is the tip we would give a friend. Flights to the islands from Quito leave early in the morning, and a late international connection is the most common way to miss one. So arrive in Ecuador at least a day before you fly to Galápagos. If you land just after midnight, do not book the same morning’s flight.
On the way home, flights from the islands reach the mainland in the afternoon. An evening international departure can work, but the next day is safer. A spare day in Quito, at about 2,850 metres, also lets you adjust to the altitude and see the old town.
Passports and visas
UK, German, Austrian and Canadian passport holders generally do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, and your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. Please check your own government’s travel advice before booking.
Let us help you fit it together
Schedules change, especially on seasonal routes, so confirm them before you buy. Once you have rough dates, tell us your home airport and we will help you line up your flights with your trip, whether that is our 5-day island hopping tour, the 6-day version or a cruise on the Catamaran Alya. Write to us and we will gladly help.
