The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific ocean some 1000 km off the Ecuadorian coast. The islands of San Cristóbal (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno), Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora) and Isabela (Puerto Villamil) are inhabited, the remaining area is protected by the Galapagos National Park. In order to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands tourism is a highly controlled. There is no way to tour the islands individually outside the towns, you must tour the islands in groups escorted by a certified naturalist guide. A cruise is the best way to visit many of the islands in a short period of time. Tours are of at least four days. There is a wide range of cruise offers, from small boats for about 12 passengers to big luxurious cruise ships for more than 100 passengers, most boats and cruises provide snorkeling gear, many yachts also offer scuba diving and sea kayaking. Diving courses and tours are also offered. In Puerto Ayora you can do snorkeling, scuba diving, horse-back riding, biking, bird watching, trekking, caving, etc. and book some land based daily boat tours (only during high season) and even light air craft flights to other islands, and enjoy the best night life of the Galapagos archipelago.
Flights from Guayaquil and Quito to Baltra (next to Santa Cruz Island) and to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal Island).