To get to our hotel, the first thing you need to know is what airport you need to fly into. Keep in mind that the Galapagos Islands have 3 airports:

• Seymour Airport on Baltra Island (airport code: GPS)
• San Cristobal Airport on San Cristóbal Island (airport code: SCY)
• General Villamil Airport on Isabela Island (airport code: IBB)

Of the three of these, the first two are the only airports in the Galapagos that you can fly into from the Ecuadorian mainland (keep in mind that you can only fly to Galapagos from the Ecuadorian mainland cities of either Quito or Guayaquil). Click here for more information on how to get to the Galapagos Islands from the Ecuadorian mainland. The third and final airport in this list is mainly only used for inter-island flights (which you can experience on our Island-2-Island Hopping Program!).

The Arrival Process

Nevertheless, if you’re going to stay at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, and you’re looking to buy your airline tickets on your own, it’s important to make extra sure that you book your flights so that they arrive and depart from Seymour Airport on Baltra Island (airport code: GPS).

Once you’ve arrived and gotten off the plane in the Galapagos, you’ll head through immigration services, where you’ll need to pay for your Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee as well as the fee for the airport shuttle service (named Lobito). After acquiring your park entrance and shuttle bus tickets, you’ll proceed to the baggage claim area, where you’ll retrieve your checked baggage.

The Transfer Process

Note: If you booked your night(s) at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel independently of any of our programs, but still wish to have our transfer services included, please feel free to either tell us upon making your reservation or contact us directly by clicking here. Once we confirm this airport transfer service, you can rest assured that our representative will be waiting for you right outside the airport when you arrive. 

Once you’ve gone through the arrival process, simply exit the airport and hop on the shuttle bus that will take you down to the Itabaca Channel pier. Given this is a shared and public service, it’s possible you will have to wait until the next bus is available.

Once you’ve hopped on the shuttle bus, you’ll get to enjoy a brief, 10-minute ride across the mesmerizing, arid landscapes of Baltra Island until you arrive at the Itabaca Channel pier. Once at the pier, you’ll board a ferry that will take you to the other side of the Channel, dropping you off on Santa Cruz Island. This ferry ride lasts approximately 15-minutes.

Once you arrive at the Santa Cruz Island pier, you’ll have the choice of either hopping aboard a public bus or hiring a taxi (the latter of which are pick-up trucks in the Galapagos!) that will assist you in taking you to Puerto Ayora, which is situated on the opposite, southern end of Santa Cruz Island. Should you opt for a taxi, it’s important that you tell the taxi driver that you wish to go to the “Muelle de Puerto Ayora.”

The journey to Puerto Ayora from this side of the island takes approximately 60-minutes, affording you fascinating views of the landscapes and highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Lush farmlands and Palo Santo forests are just a few of things you’ll get to enjoy on your way to Puerto Ayora.

As we begin heading down from the highlands of Santa Cruz, you’ll notice a dramatic change in the surrounding scenery, as it becomes more urban in nature – and that’s because you’re finally arriving to Puerto Ayora! The bus or taxi will drop you off at the Puerto Ayora pier (Muelle Municipal de Puerto Ayora), where you’ll begin the final leg of your journey to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Once at the pier in Puerto Ayora, you’ll need to board a water taxi that will take you to the hotel pier on the opposite side of the small inlet. Note: The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel has its very own water taxi that can take you to the hotel pier for free. In order to make use of it, you’ll need to call the reception desk at our hotel so that they can send it over to pick you up. You’ll also receive baggage assistance upon arriving at the hotel pier when you request the Finch Bay’s water taxi.

After you disembark from the water taxi at the hotel pier, you’ll enjoy a short walk (2,000 ft/600 m) along a pedestrian-only pathway that will take you through mangrove-areas and small, brackish lagoons before reaching the beachfront area and entering the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel grounds.

Welcome to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel!

Note: Our driver will meet you at the airport outside of baggage claim and will accompany you and assist you with your luggage until you reach the Puerto Ayora public pier.

Follow your driver’s indications and get on the public bus just outside the airport with signs saying “Canal Itabaca.” This bus will take you across Baltra’s arid landscape to the Itabaca Channel. The transfer bus is a basic official airport shuttle which you may need to share with other passengers. Sometimes, this means we must wait a couple of minutes for the next available bus. The ride generally lasts no more than 10 minutes.

At the channel, we take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. The ferry ride lasts approximately 15 minutes and is shared with other passengers. Sometimes, if the ferry is full, we may experience a slight delay as we wait for the ferry to be available. Our driver will pay for the ferry.

Once you have reached the Santa Cruz side of the channel, wait here with your luggage until your chartered transport vehicle arrives. You will travel 26 miles (42 km) across Santa Cruz Island through Palo Santo groves, a Scalesia forest, and lush farmlands, enjoying beautiful views the whole trip before arriving at Puerto Ayora’s public pier.

At the pier, we will embark on the hotel’s very own water taxi and take a very short, 5-minute trip, to cross over from the Municipal Dock to the Hotel Dock.

Once there, we’ll disembark from the water taxi at the Hotel Dock, where you will leave your luggage with the hotel staff (they will take care of transferring it to your room). Enjoy the short walk (2,000 ft/600 m) along a pedestrian-only pathway that will take you through mangrove-areas and small, brackish lagoons before reaching the beachfront area and entering the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel grounds.

Once you’ve gone through airport controls and exited the baggage claim area, a hotel staff member will greet you, provide you with a basic overview of your day ahead, and assist you with your checked luggage. Our staff member will direct you from here on out and will make sure that your large luggage is delivered directly to the hotel. Please note that if your hand luggage was taken by the airline staff (either in Quito or Guayaquil, because it was too big), you should let us know upon arriving. At this time, please make sure you keep all papers given to you by the local Galapagos authorities. You will need these papers later when departing Galapagos.

Please note that this is the last time you will be in contact with your large baggage (until you reach the hotel). It is important that you make sure you carry the following with you for the day in a small daypack: comfortable, closed-toe shoes, long socks, and the essentials (wallet, passport, identification cards, any important medicine you might need, etc.). Also, be sure to bring some cash for souvenirs, extras, and other items not included in your program. Please follow our staff’s instructions regarding transportation and feel free to ask them for any additional information.

The next step is to board a shuttle bus that will take you down to the public dock. The shuttle bus is a basic, official airport bus which you may need to share with other passengers. Sometimes, this means we must wait a couple of minutes for the next available bus. The ride generally lasts no more than 10 minutes.

Once you arrive at the dock on the south side of Baltra Island, you will walk a short distance from the bus to the passenger ferry that will take you across the Itabaca Channel, dropping you off on the northern shores of Santa Cruz Island. The ferry ride lasts approximately 15 minutes and is shared with other passengers. Sometimes, if the ferry is full, we may experience a slight delay as we wait for the next ferry to arrive. Our staff member will pay for the ferry.

Once you have reached the Santa Cruz side of the channel, wait here with your luggage until your chartered transport vehicle arrives. You will travel up and over the lush highlands as you make your way to the south side of the island where the hotel is located.

The ride over the highlands affords views of up to five vegetation zones, with a brief stop at Los Gemelos Craters – two pit craters that make for an excellent introduction to the Galapagos’ volcanic origin. After that, we’ll continue onwards, descending down the south side of the island to visit one of its most remote regions, where the famous giant tortoises roam in their natural habitat!

Before arriving to Puerto Ayora, will have the chance to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the highlands. One soft drink is included in the lunch. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. You can leave your backpack in the transfer vehicle if you wish.

After your lunch and a quick tour of the restaurant’s surrounding area, hop back into the transfer vehicle for the rest of the ride to the largest port in the archipelago, Puerto Ayora. At the pier, we will embark on the hotel’s very own water taxi and take a very short, 5-minute trip, to cross over from the Municipal Dock to the Hotel Dock.

Once there, we’ll disembark from the water taxi at the Hotel Dock, where you will leave your luggage with the hotel staff (they will take care of transferring it to your room). Enjoy the short walk (2,000 ft/600 m) along a pedestrian-only pathway that will take you through mangrove-areas and small, brackish lagoons before reaching the beachfront area and entering the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel grounds.