Yes, this trip is probably going to involve three to four flights for most travelers. But if that's the price we pay for a cheap flight to Ecuador, we're all in. Copa Airlines is offering flights to the Ecuadorian cities of Quito and Guayaquil starting at $340 round-trip during the Galápagos's warmer season, from December to May when the sea is calmer. The catch? The flights are only out of Boston, but if you live in D.C., New York, Philadelphia, or any nearby northeastern city, you're only a train ride away. Since flights to Ecuador usually cost anywhere between $500 and $800, you could be saving nearly 60 percent off your flights.
If you're deciding between the two South American cities, here's the rundown. Guayaquil, Ecuador's southern port and largest city, is a perfect pitstop before heading to the Galápagos. Spend a day or two here, exploring the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art (known as the MAAC), the bustling Malecón 2000 boardwalk, and Seminario Park, which is filled with iguanas. Quito, on the other hand, is a great base for mainland Ecuadorian adventures: take a side trip to the cloud forests of Mindo to the northwest, head to the waterfalls and iconic Swing at the End of the World in Baños de Agua Santa, or hike the Cotopaxi volcano. If you want to spend time in the capital (which you should), plan to visit the former home of the legendary painter Oswaldo Guayasamín, now a museum, and take the TelefériQo gondola to get the best views over the city.
Both cities offer daily nonstop, two-hour flights to either Baltra Island or San Cristóbal Island airports in the Galápagos that cost around $200 round-trip. We say spend your flight savings on a stay at the 14-room Pikaia Lodge, a Readers' Choice Award winner that is centrally located to major sights in the archipelago and has the right mix of modernity and nature (think an infinity pool with a view of the surrounding jungle). If you're looking for advice on planning your trip to the islands, hit up gurus like Allie Almario of Premier Tours, Eric Sheets of Latin Excursions, or Tom Damon of Southwind Adventures.
How to book: Flights to Guayaquil are cheaper on Copa Airlines, but only by about $30 to $40, so make your choice based on what you want to do in Ecuador, rather than the price. You can find the best dates on Google Flights—they'll be highlighted in the calendar feature in green—and buy them directly from the airline. The flights are available from January through March, just in time to see the giant tortoises hatch (between December and April).
We said earlier that it would probably take you three flights to get to the Galápagos if that's your plan, and that's because Copa's flights to South America all stop at the airline's central hub in Panama City. Heads up, added multi-day stopovers in Panama City (a feature Copa Airlines is known for) are not available on these cheap fares, according to the Flight Deal. The good news is that most of these layovers are only about a hour, so you'll be on your way to all the empanadas and cuy (guinea pig) you can eat.
