Quito & Isla San Cristóbal: Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need in Quito & Isla San Cristóbal?

• Most travelers spend 7-10 days in Quito and Isla San Cristóbal combined
• Visiting Quito and Isla San Cristóbal in 5 or 6 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
• With 11 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
• The most common extensions are Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil, and Yasuni National Park

How Many Days to Spend In Ecuador

Recommended Itineraries for Quito & Isla San Cristóbal

Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week

Discover the famous flora and fauna of the Galápagos with this seven-day family trip that kicks off in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. Explore the city's kid-friendly parks and cafés, then fly to San Cristóbal, the easternmost island in the UNESCO-listed archipelago. Here you'll experience the perfect mix of chilled beach time and aquatic adventures for all ages as you sunbathe, swim, and snorkel while getting up close and personal with the friendly local wildlife. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days

This 10-day, family-friendly trip to the Galápagos Islands takes you from bustling city streets to peaceful beaches. Start in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, exploring local culture and cuisine with a family cooking class and salsa dancing. Then, it's off to Isla San Cristóbal, where you'll greet curious sea lions, snorkel with colorful fish, and meet giant tortoises. Take a standup paddleboarding cruise along the coast, get creative at a family painting class, and head back to Quito in time to visit the interactive Yaku Water Museum. Read more

Extended Itineraries

1-Week Itinerary Including Puerto Ayora

Hike around an island populated by blue-footed boobies, then dive beneath the surface of the ocean to swim with sea lions and pufferfish: this week-long itinerary in the Galápagos is filled with wildlife and outdoor activities. You'll explore Isla Santa Cruz and Isla San Cristóbal, as well as a pair of uninhabited islands, enjoying boat tours, a snorkeling excursion, and guided nature hikes along the way. Read more

10-Day Itinerary Including Puerto Ayora & Yasuni National Park

Explore two of the world's most diverse wildlife destinations in one trip! This 10-day itinerary will take your family through the wonders of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest and the Galapágos Islands, with a couple of nights in high-altitude Quito to boot. You and the kids will get up close to macaws, giant tortoises, and sea lions in their natural habitats, experience both traditional life in the Amazon and Quito's city style, and learn about one of the frontiers of science and conservation research. Read more

12-Day Itinerary Including Puerto Ayora & Puerto Villamil 

Experience the best of Quito and the Galápagos Islands on this thrilling 12-day itinerary. Featured on ABC's Good Morning America, the trip starts and ends in Ecuador's vibrant capital city, where you'll enjoy two full days of sightseeing. The rest of the adventure happens in the Galápagos, where you'll explore several islands, spot rare birds in the wild, snorkel with penguins, and see giant tortoises up close. Read more

How to travel between Quito & Isla San Cristóbal

The natural paradise that is the Galápagos Islands isn't just a must-visit destination in Ecuador, it's one of the world's most wonderful and important natural sights, containing wildlife that you simply cannot find anywhere else. Traveling there from Quito is usually via Guayaquil, the big port city in Southern Ecuador, which sits much closer to the islands. Arrival on the islands is normally through Isla Santa Cruz or Isla San Cristóbal. Read more