Travel Between Guayaquil & the Galapagos Islands

Travel Between Guayaquil & the Galapagos Islands
To get to the Galapagos Islands, many people travel from the coastal city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Guayaquil is a thriving port city that caters to tourists heading to the Galapagos Islands and therefore offers options for traveling to the islands.
Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Michael (a.k.a. moik) McCullough

Significance

The Galapagos Islands are approximately 610 miles from Guayaquil. This proximity to the islands makes Guayaquil an ideal gateway for visitors traveling to the Galapagos.

Types

Travel between Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands is accomplished by air or sea. Many boat and cargo ships travel from Guayaquil to the islands. Daily flights offer a shorter and cheaper alternative to tourists.

Time Frame

Boat travel from Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands can take as long as three and a half days. Traveling by air takes approximately an hour and a half. The islands are one hour behind continental time in Ecuador.

Considerations

The only way to tour the islands is by boat. Because of the delicate ecosystem of the islands and preservation concerns, all tours are led by licensed guides.

Warnings

Travel from Guayaquil to the Galapagos is notoriously expensive; the flight, combined with a week touring the islands, could cost thousands of dollars.

Article Written By Jill Lewis

Jill Lewis is an attorney in the insurance defense field who combines an active law practice with a freelance writing career. Concentrating on legal articles dedicated to providing practical advice to the layperson, Lewis has written for various online and print publications, including eHow and Business.com. She is a graduate of New York University and the Lewis and Clark School of Law.

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