Traveling to Galapagos in a State of Emergency

While traveling to Ecuador mainland remains possible (avoiding stays in major cities is recommended) as the Andes National Parks & Amazon Protected Reserves are safe for travelers, The Galapagos islands, located 740 miles off the Ecuadorian coast, or 3,5 hour flight from Quito, is a “world apart“, and that includes the safety aspect.

• Traveling to the Galapagos Islands
• Coming back home
• Travelling to Galapagos: Important Notes.
• Ministry of tourism official statement

Traveling to the Galapagos Islands

Journeying to the Galapagos islands is safe, and for those wishing to bypass a stay in Ecuador mainland, there are options such as using connecting flights or staying in secure hotels close to Quito International Airport (from 5 to 20’ away). Typically, after arrival, visitors whose main objective of coming to Ecuador is discovering the enchanted islands stay one night in Quito (close to the airport) upon arrival. Right next morning, they take their domestic flight to Galapagos. You may do the same in Guayaquil city, however, due to the latest incidents, particularly in this city, we recommend flying to Quito.

Flights to the archipelago from Quito take about 3.5h (2,5h from Guayaquil). And you can fly either to Santa Cruz island or San Cristobal island depending on your program.

 

For our travelers on an island-hopping tour, it’s important to note that a daily curfew is also in effect in Galapagos (from 11pm to 5am) due to the Ecuador nationwide state of emergency. However, in Galápagos it’s like there is always a curfew as after 9-10pm everything is pretty much quiet in the islands. Travelers on cruises in Galapagos can simply enjoy their adventure!

Coming back home

Once the tour is finished, and after taking your domestic flight out of Galapagos islands, it’s easier to catch a connecting international flight back home (mainly from Guayaquil international airport) on the same day. If you decide to flight back to Quito, you may have to add one more night to your itinerary, unless your international flight back home takes off late. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Our travelers, Evelyne & Jack, are currently exploring the Galapagos Islands after having ventured through the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes. On the day when President Noboa declared the “State of Emergency,” they happened to be in Quito, and the following day, they headed southbound to the Saquisilí indigenous market (which they found empty). For more details, have a look at our article on “Ecuador: State of Emergency.“

Important Notes:

– Curfew does not apply to foreign/nationals traveling to/from the airport. Passengers must present their passport or ID and flight booking or boarding pass. As a security measure, only passengers are permitted to enter the airports, family members and/or friends won’t be allowed into the terminals to drop off or pick up passengers.

– Now you can apply for the Galápagos TCT (Transit Control Card) online or obtaining it at the airport in Quito or Guayaquil. In addition to this, upon arrival to the Galapagos, the entrance is to be paid.

– There are no direct international flights to/from the Galapagos Islands.

– In spite of the incidents across the country (on mainland), with a solid pre-trip planning and organization, Ecuador continue to be a safe and unique destination to visit. Whether you choose to explore independently or with ITK Voyage, we are ready to accompany you during your trip and assist you with any pre-trip questions or doubts.

Ministry of tourism official statement

The Ministry of Tourism reaffirms its commitment to national security and constantly updates and announces official information about the country’s situation in accordance with the latest developments. In this case a “drastic reduction of incidents throughout the national territory (on mainland)“.

*We will keep you informed about any new official statements.