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The Galápagos Islands airport question has a two-part answer: there are two airports, Seymour Airport on Baltra (beside Santa Cruz) and San Cristóbal Airport, and which you fly into shapes your whole trip. Both connect only to mainland Ecuador, through Quito or Guayaquil. This honest guide covers both airports, the transfers, and which one to choose.
How Many Airports Are in the Galápagos Islands?
There are two passenger airports in Galápagos Islands service: Seymour Airport on Baltra, the busier of the two, and San Cristóbal Airport on the eastern island. A third strip on Isabela handles only small inter-island flights. Here is how the two main ones compare. Emergency strips exist elsewhere, but the airports in Galapagos Islands that take commercial flights are just these two. Want this on your itinerary? Tell us when you’re traveling and we’ll come back with a free quote within 24 hours.
Both fields receive daily flights on Avianca and LATAM from Quito and Guayaquil, and every one of the flights to the Galapagos starts in mainland Ecuador — there are no international routes. Baltra is the airport Galapagos Islands Ecuador routes most of its tourism through, with San Cristobal taking the rest.
| Airport | Code | Island | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour Airport (Baltra) | GPS | Baltra (next to Santa Cruz) | Most visitors; central islands |
| San Cristóbal Airport | SCY | San Cristóbal | Eastern islands; quieter arrival |
Galapagos Islands Airport Codes, Airlines and Flight Times
Three codes cover every Galapagos airport you will ever see on a ticket: GPS for Seymour Airport on Baltra, SCY for San Cristóbal, and IBB for the small strip at Puerto Villamil on Isabela, which only handles inter-island hops. Avianca and LATAM fly the mainland routes; nobody flies in from outside Ecuador.
| Airport | Code | Mainland flights | Flight time | Into town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour Airport, Baltra | GPS | Avianca, LATAM from Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) | About 2 h from Guayaquil; count 3 h from Quito, most flights stop in Guayaquil | Bus, ferry and road to Puerto Ayora, 60-90 min |
| San Cristóbal Airport | SCY | Avianca, LATAM, thinner schedule | Same routes and times | Taxi to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, 5 min |
| Puerto Villamil airstrip, Isabela | IBB | None; inter-island small planes only | 30-45 min hops from Baltra or San Cristóbal | Taxi to Puerto Villamil, 10 min |
Morning arrivals are worth paying for: they leave time for the transfer, the fee counters and a first walk before dark. If your international flight lands in Quito late, sleep there and fly out the next morning; our Quito to Galapagos guide walks through that connection hour by hour.
Baltra Airport Galapagos: The Main Entry Point
Baltra airport Galapagos (Seymour Airport) sits on the small, flat island of Baltra just north of Santa Cruz. Most travelers land here. From the terminal you take a short bus to the Itabaca Canal, cross on a five-to-ten-minute ferry, then a bus or taxi into Puerto Ayora, about 45 minutes in total. It is the most convenient airport for the central islands and most day tours. Your ticket may say Seymour, the code says GPS, and the maps say Baltra Airport Galapagos — all the same strip of tarmac. If you would rather have it all arranged, our 5-day island hopping itinerary handles every detail.
Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora, Step by Step
- Pay the park fee and show your transit card inside the terminal, then walk out to the airport bus (about $5) for the ten-minute ride to the Itabaca Canal.
- Cross the canal on the small ferry (about $1); bags ride on the roof, so keep valuables with you.
- On the Santa Cruz side, take the public bus (about $5) or a taxi (about $25) for the 45-minute drive over the highlands into Puerto Ayora.
- Budget 60-90 minutes door to door and do not book a boat or a tour for the same afternoon; guests on our land tours are met at the terminal and skip the queues.
6-Day Galapagos Land Tour Santa Cruz + Isabela Highlights
From $1,150 p.p.
- Sleep in island hotels, not a cruise cabin
- Local naturalist guides
- Flexible day-by-day island hopping
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport: A Terminal With a Story
The strip itself is older than the tourism industry: the United States built it in World War II as an airbase guarding the Panama Canal, and the islands inherited the runway when the war ended. That accident of history is why a tiny desert island moves the bulk of Galapagos traffic today.
The terminal you walk through now is the world’s first ecological airport, rebuilt in 2012 to run on solar and wind power, with recycled steel from oil-industry pipes in its bones. Its official name is Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport, and for most travelers it is the Galapagos airport they will see exactly twice — landing day and the flight home.
San Cristobal Airport Galapagos Islands: The Alternative Entry
The San Cristobal airport Galapagos Islands option sits right beside the provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a five-minute drive from town. It is quieter than Baltra and ideal if you want to start on the eastern islands or spend your first night somewhere calm. For onward travel, see how to island hop between the islands. San Cristobal Airport Galapagos Islands is the calmest arrival in the archipelago — you can be at your hotel before a Baltra arrival has even crossed the Itabaca Canal.
San Cristobal Galapagos Airport (SCY): Flights, Taxi, and Fees
Flights land at San Cristobal Galapagos Airport from both mainland hubs — Avianca and LATAM fly the Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) routes, and most departures touch Guayaquil first. Schedules run thinner than Baltra’s, so book early for high season. The arrival could not be simpler: the taxi into Puerto Baquerizo Moreno takes five minutes and costs a couple of dollars, and I have watched plenty of travelers just walk it with a backpack.
Compare that with Baltra: bus to the canal, ferry, then forty-five minutes of road before Puerto Ayora. The fees are identical no matter which strip you land on — the $20 INGALA transit card you buy before boarding on the mainland, and the Galápagos National Park entrance fee on arrival, $200 for most foreign visitors, cash only. The full category table is in our park entrance fee guide.
Isabela’s Airstrip and Inter-Island Flights
Isabela has an airstrip at Puerto Villamil (IBB), but no mainland flights land there. Small nine-seat planes connect Baltra, San Cristóbal and Isabela in 30 to 45 minutes, a useful option if the two-hour ferry crossings worry you or you are short on time; they cost several times the ferry fare and carry strict baggage limits, so book them through your operator with the rest of the route. For most travelers the ferries described in our island hopping guide remain the practical way between the inhabited islands.
Airports in Galapagos Islands: Which Should You Use?
Choosing between the airports in Galapagos Islands comes down to your route: fly into Baltra for Santa Cruz and the central/western islands, or into San Cristóbal for the east and a gentler arrival. Many travelers fly into one and out of the other to avoid backtracking. Whichever galapagos islands Ecuador airport you use, book early, see our guide to flights to Galápagos. If a booking engine lists a generic Galapagos Islands Ecuador airport without naming it, assume it means Baltra.
On Arrival: Park Fee and Transit Card
At either airport you pay the Galápagos National Park entrance fee on arrival, and you must buy an INGALA transit control card at the mainland airport before you fly out. Have cash ready. To plan what comes next, see our Galápagos itinerary guide.
Booking the Flight That Lands You at the Right One
Choosing between Baltra and San Cristobal is really a booking decision, because the airport is fixed the moment you buy the ticket and there is no road connecting the two. Our flights to Galapagos guide covers which airlines serve which airport, how schedules line up with the day tours, and why a morning arrival is worth paying for.
If you are working out the whole journey rather than just this leg, start with how to get to the Galapagos Islands. And once you know your entry point, the base island follows: Baltra puts you on Santa Cruz Island, while the other lands you on San Cristobal Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Galapagos Islands have an airport?
Yes, two passenger airports: Seymour Airport on Baltra (next to Santa Cruz) and San Cristóbal Airport, both connecting only to mainland Ecuador.
How many airports are in the Galapagos Islands?
Two main passenger airports, Baltra and San Cristóbal, plus a small strip on Isabela for inter-island flights only.
What airport do you fly into for Galapagos Islands?
Most travelers fly into Baltra (Seymour) for Santa Cruz and the central islands; San Cristóbal is the alternative for the eastern islands.
What airport is closest to the Galapagos Islands?
The closest airport to the Galapagos Islands on the mainland is Guayaquil (GYE), about 2 hours away by plane. Flights from Quito (UIO) usually stop in Guayaquil on the way out. There are two answers to where to fly into for the Galapagos Islands: Quito or Guayaquil for your international arrival, then Baltra (GPS) or San Cristóbal (SCY) for the last leg.
How do you get from Baltra airport to Santa Cruz?
A short bus to the Itabaca Canal, a 5-10 minute ferry, then a bus or taxi to Puerto Ayora, about 45 minutes in total.
Which airport is better, Baltra or San Cristobal?
Baltra for the central and western islands and most day tours; San Cristóbal for the east and a quieter arrival. Flying into one and out of the other avoids backtracking.
Do you pay a fee at the Galapagos airport?
Yes. You pay the national park entrance fee on arrival and must buy an INGALA transit control card at the mainland airport before flying out.
What is the Galapagos airport code?
The Baltra airport code is GPS, for Seymour Airport. It is also the Santa Cruz Galapagos airport code, because Santa Cruz has no runway of its own: you land on Baltra and cross the Itabaca Canal on a short ferry. San Cristóbal Airport is SCY. Isabela’s airstrip (IBB) only takes small inter-island planes, so tickets from the mainland only ever show GPS or SCY.
How do I get to the Galapagos Islands from the airport?
You do not: you fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal, then take the bus-ferry-road transfer (Baltra) or a five-minute taxi (San Cristóbal). The full route, costed, is in our guide on how to get to the Galapagos Islands.
Ready to Plan Your Arrival?
Once you know which airport you are flying into, the rest of the trip lines up. Tell us your route and we will build a land-based itinerary from the moment you land.
The Real Picture
Two small airports, one big arrival. Pick Baltra or San Cristóbal to match your route, have cash for the park fee, and you are minutes from the wildlife.
