The 3 Closest Airports to the galapagos islands

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The 3 Closest Airports to the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a remote archipelago, and reaching them requires flying. While the islands themselves host the airports you’ll land at, you must first fly from mainland Ecuador. Here’s a look at the key airports involved in a trip to the Galapagos.

  1. Seymour Airport (GPS)

    Seymour Airport, often called Baltra Airport, is one of the two main airports located directly within the Galapagos Islands. It’s situated on Baltra Island, a small, arid island just north of Santa Cruz Island, which is the most populous island in the archipelago. Most visitors arriving here take a short ferry and bus ride to reach Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz.

    • Distance to the Galapagos Islands: 0 miles (Located on Baltra Island)

    • Address: Isla Baltra, Galápagos, Ecuador

    • Pros: Main gateway, serves Santa Cruz, relatively modern facilities | Cons: Requires bus/ferry transfer to reach inhabited areas | Airlines: Avianca Ecuador, LATAM Ecuador | Car Rental: Not typically available or necessary; transfers arranged via tours/taxis/buses

    • Official Website: https://www.ecogal.aero/ (Ecogal – Operator)

    • Phone: +593 5-252-6195 (Note: Contact information may vary)

    • Rating: Approx. 4.3 / 5

  1. San Cristóbal Airport (SCY)

    This is the second primary airport located directly on the Galapagos Islands. Unlike Seymour Airport on Baltra, San Cristóbal Airport is conveniently situated right on the edge of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Province, located on San Cristóbal Island. This makes accessing the town and accommodations very easy upon arrival.

    • Distance to the Galapagos Islands: 0 miles (Located on San Cristóbal Island)

    • Address: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal, Galápagos, Ecuador

    • Pros: Directly adjacent to town, convenient access | Cons: Fewer flight options than GPS, serves a less central island for some itineraries | Airlines: Avianca Ecuador, LATAM Ecuador | Car Rental: Not typically available or necessary; taxis and local transport readily available

    • Official Website: https://www.ecogal.aero/ (Ecogal – Operator)

    • Phone: +593 5-252-0138 (Note: Contact information may vary)

    • Rating: Approx. 4.2 / 5

  1. José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE)

    Located in Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador, this is not on the Galapagos Islands itself but is the closest major airport serving as a departure point to the Galapagos. All flights to the Galapagos originate from either Guayaquil (GYE) or Quito (UIO) on the mainland. Guayaquil has the geographical advantage, resulting in slightly shorter and often less expensive flights to the islands compared to Quito. It’s a large, modern international airport.

    • Distance to the Galapagos Islands: Approx. 600 miles / 970 km (Flight distance to the islands)

    • Address: Av. de las Américas, Guayaquil 090513, Ecuador

    • Pros: Closest mainland gateway, often shorter/cheaper flights to Galapagos, major international connections | Cons: Requires an additional flight (~1.5-2 hours) to reach the islands | Airlines: Numerous international (e.g., LATAM, Avianca, Copa, KLM, American Airlines) & domestic to Galapagos (Avianca Ecuador, LATAM Ecuador) | Car Rental: Major companies available (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Localiza, etc.)

    • Official Website: https://www.tagsa.aero/en/ (TAGSA – Operator)

    • Phone: +593 4-216-9000

    • Rating: Approx. 4.5 / 5

Conclusion:

The technically closest airports to (meaning within) the Galapagos Islands are Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island and San Cristóbal Airport (SCY) on San Cristóbal Island. However, to reach these island airports, you must fly from mainland Ecuador. The closest major airport on the mainland serving as the primary departure hub for Galapagos flights is José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil.

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