| Quito | Galapagos Cruises

Planning your Galapagos adventure from Quito? This guide covers everything you need to know—from luxurious Galapagos cruises and adventurous expeditions to family-friendly and customizable tours. Learn how to choose the best tour tailored to your preferences, book the best Galapagos flights, and prepare for an unforgettable experience with GreenGo Travel.

Key Takeaways

Embarking on the Galapagos Islands with tours from Quito can offer various experiences, including luxurious cruises, adventure expeditions, wildlife encounters, and customizable packages. Here are the key takeaways:

• Luxury cruises provide comfort, gourmet dining, and expert guides.
• Adventure expeditions offer hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling for thrill-seekers.
• Wildlife experiences include close encounters with iconic species like giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies.
• Customizable packages allow tailored itineraries, combining Galapagos and Amazon adventures.
• Planning tips include booking flights early, choosing tours carefully, and preparing for a seamless experience.

Why Start Your Galapagos Adventure from Quito?

Quito is the perfect starting point for Galapagos Islands tours, with direct flights to Baltra Island and San Cristobal Island, which are the key entry points for travelers. Flying from Toronto? Check out this practical guide for Galapagos Tours from Toronto & Flights from Toronto to Quito!

This Andean capital offers a seamless transition from vibrant city life to the pristine beauty of the Galapagos Islands. Additionally, it provides a safe and well-connected hub with plenty of cultural experiences, making it an ideal launchpad for your Galapagos adventure.

Planning to stay some time getting to know Quito? Here are the top 10 things to do in Quito, Ecuador!

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Top 10 Galapagos Tours from Quito 

Each tour category offers a unique experience, ensuring there’s something for every traveler. Whether you’re seeking luxury, adventure, wildlife encounters, or family-friendly activities, you will find a Galapagos tour made for you! Check out the detailed descriptions of each tour type, with examples and highlights, making it easier to find the perfect Galapagos experience from Quito.

Galapagos Luxury Cruises

Expect spacious cabins with private balconies, gourmet dining, and expert-led excursions. Perfect for those seeking comfort and elegance. Activities include snorkeling, guided hikes, and wildlife watching.

• Alya Luxury Cruise: Private balconies, ocean views, and gourmet dining.
• Elite Galapagos Cruise: Upscale accommodations, guided excursions, and luxurious services.
• Hermes Galapagos Catamaran: State-of-the-art vessel with unique services like a butler and hammam aboard.
• Natural Paradise Cruise: 3 tiers of cabins available in 3 decks, and fantastic remote itineraries!

Adventure Expeditions in the Galapagos Islands

For thrill-seekers, these tours offer kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. Both land-based and cruise options are available.

• Ultimate Galapagos 6-Day Tour: Volcano hikes and snorkeling.
• Monserratt Galapagos Cruise: The perfect expedition cruise with great itineraries that combined can offer a unique cruising expedition.
• Coral I & II Cruises: Explore Eastern and Western Galapagos Islands.
• Land Based Expedition Tours: Crafted by Galapagos experts to provide you the perfect blend of land with navigable exploration.

Galapagos Wildlife Tours

Perfect for nature lovers, offering close encounters with giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas, it includes both land-based and cruise options. Santiago Island is a key destination for wildlife tours, offering incredible opportunities to spot various marine animals and enjoy unique landscapes.

• Galapagos Wildlife: Our portal lets you explore Galapagos cruises by wildlife—pick your favorite animal and find the best cruises to spot them!
• Santa Cruz Extension: Our santa cruz extension is perfect to explore more wildlife pre- or post-your Galapagos cruise.
• Dual Galapagos Cruises: Dual Galapagos cruises lets you explore Galapagos wildlife both on land & underwater.

Snorkeling & Diving Tours in the Galapagos Islands

Explore vibrant underwater ecosystems, swimming with sea lions, sea turtles, and reef sharks. Options include day trips, multi-day cruises, and guided diving expeditions to iconic spots like Kicker Rock and Devil’s Crown, offering unforgettable encounters with marine wildlife.

• Galapagos Liveaboard Cruises: The best way to explore the Galapagos underwater
• Galapagos Getaway Tour: The perfect getaway tour in a compact 4 day trip, to explore beaches with amazing snorkel opportunities.

Hiking Tours in the Galapagos

Trek safely through volcanic landscapes and lush highlands. Trails include Sierra Negra Volcano and Prince Philip’s Steps.

• Galapagos Exploration Tours: A 5-day adventure, where you get to hike a volcano in the Galapagos!
• Bonita Galapagos Cruise: Itinerary C takes you to the remote island of Genovesa, for a unique hiking experience.

Galapagos Photography Tours

Capture the most stunning wildlife and landscapes with expert guidance on the best spots and techniques.

• Galapagos and Amazon Rainforest Tours: Photography galore in the most coveted destinations in south america!
• Galapagos Adventure Tours: Explore the 3 main islands, making it ideal for a photography adventure!

Family Tours in the Galapagos

Designed for all ages, offering kid-friendly activities such as snorkeling with playful sea lions, relaxing beach visits to places like Tortuga Bay, and guided nature walks where children can learn about Galapagos wildlife like giant tortoises and marine iguanas while ensuring safety, flexibility, and practicality for families.

• Legend Galapagos Ship: The largest size a ship is allowed in Galapagos, and family-friendly with custom areas and guidance for children.
• Tip Top II: Interconnected cabins available, making them ideal for families that want to have privacy yet access to their children’s cabin.
• La Pinta: A vessel that offers family departures and is a mid-sized ship, making it ideal for families!

Educational Tours

Perfect for students, researchers, and curious minds, these tours include visits to research stations like the Charles Darwin Research Station, guided lectures on conservation, and hands-on experiences with local wildlife and ecosystems. They offer native insights into the Galapagos Islands’ unique biodiversity and scientific significance.

• Galaxy Orion: A preferred vessel for educational purposes, due to its extensive itineraries, and affordable rates.
• Galapagos Angel: A good layout of itineraries, for those looking to explore the Galapagos for educational purposes.

Island Hopping Tours

Experience staying on multiple islands like Santa Cruz and Isabela, with flexible day trips to remote sites, snorkeling adventures, wildlife encounters, and scenic hikes. Expect visits to pristine beaches, lush highlands, and vibrant local towns—the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation. Isabela Island is a key destination for island-hopping experiences, appealing to adventurous travelers looking to explore diverse landscapes and engage in activities like wildlife tours and comfortable yacht trips.

• Island Hopping Tours: Browse all our island hopping tours, and pick the one that suits your needs.
• Galapagos and Amazon Rainforest Tours: Combine land hopping, with mainland Ecuador, to the amazon rainforest.

Custom Tours

Expect personalized experiences tailored to your preferences, blending comfort, flexibility, and exclusive activities. Perfect for those wanting unique itineraries. Custom tours offer detailed planning with GreenGo Travel, providing bespoke journeys. You can explore Amazon and Galapagos packages or design personalized trips covering Quito, Guayaquil, and the Galapagos with premium lodging, guided city tours, and seamless logistics.

• Combined Amazon and Galapagos Packages: Include Amazon rainforest stays at Mashpi Lodge and Sacha Lodge, with Galapagos wildlife tours.
• Customizable Travel Packages: Tailor-made tours covering Quito, Guayaquil, and Galapagos, premium lodging, guided city tours, and seamless logistics arranged by GreenGo Travel.

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Ready to get started with your Ecuador & Galapagos Adventure?

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Quito and Guayaquil Galapagos Travel Packages

Enjoy hotel accommodations ranging from luxury to budget-friendly options, seamless airport transfers ensuring stress-free travel, immersive city tours showcasing Quito’s and Guayaquil’s rich culture and history, and well-coordinated flights to the Galapagos. Expect tailored packages highlighting top attractions such as Malecon 2000 in Guayaquil and Quito’s historic Old Town, providing a comprehensive and enriching travel experience with GreenGo Travel. These packages also include galapagos flights, ensuring a complete and hassle-free travel itinerary.

Tips for Planning Your Galapagos Adventure from Quito

Planning a trip to the Galapagos can be overwhelming, but these practical tips will help ensure a smooth and unforgettable journey.

Booking Galapagos Flights to the Islands

Due to special rates, most cruises prefer that you book Galapagos flights through them. However, if you book separately, be aware of possible fees. Avianca and Latam Airlines offerflights from Quito and Guayaquil. Consult your travel advisor to align your flights with your cruise schedule.

Choosing the Right Galapagos Island Tour

Consider your available time, budget, and desired experiences when selecting a tour. Ensure your choice includes experienced guides and covers the islands you want to explore. Isabela Island is a key destination for island-hopping experiences, offering diverse landscapes and activities like wildlife tours and comfortable yacht trips. Santiago Island is also a key destination for wildlife tours, where you can spot various marine animals and enjoy unique landscapes.

Preparing for Your Trip

Health precautions, such as vaccinations for typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever, are recommended.

Pack essentials such as walking shoes, water shoes, hiking attire, a water bottle, and sun protection. Prepare to experience the Galapagos’ outstanding natural beauty, with its amazing wildlife and diverse habitats both on land and underwater.

Galapagos Entry Requirements

Before embarking on your Galapagos adventure, knowing the entry requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey. Travelers must present a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining. Additionally, a Transit Control Card (TCT) issued by the Galapagos Government Council is required, which can be obtained at the airport in Quito or Guayaquil before departure.

Visitors must also pay an entry fee to the Galapagos National Park upon arrival. The fee is $100 for adults and $50 for children under 12, payable in cash. This fee supports the conservation and maintenance of the park.

Health precautions are also recommended. While there are no mandatory vaccinations, it is advisable to be up-to-date with routine vaccines and consider vaccinations for typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever, especially if you plan to visit other parts of Ecuador.

By ensuring you have all necessary documents and health precautions in place, you can focus on enjoying the outstanding natural beauty and unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.

Are You Ready to Start Your Galapagos Adventure From Quito?

Now that you have all the details, it’s time to make your Galapagos dream trip a reality! Whether you prefer a luxury cruise, adventure-packed expedition, island-hopping experience, or a fully customized tour, GreenGo Travel has the perfect itinerary for you.

With expert planning, seamless logistics, and personalized service, we ensure an unforgettable journey—from Quito to the Galapagos and beyond.

Ready to explore? Contact GreenGo Travel today, or book here, and let’s craft your perfect itinerary!

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