Galapagos: Family Volunteer Vacation >
Flight Information & Entry Requirements
Flight Information
BEFORE YOU PURCHASE FLIGHTS, PLEASE VERIFY IF YOUR TRIP IS GUARANTEED TO RUN! YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ON IF YOUR TRIP IS GUARANTEED IN YOUR REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION EMAIL OR CHECK WITH YOUR TRAVEL COORDINATOR - jenny@discovercorps.com
We have very specific arrival and departure times for your program. Please carefully read the below and call us with any questions.
Fly into and out of Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
Arrive at any time on the first day of the trip (ideally in time for the welcome dinner)
Depart on the trip end date, after 9:30 pm.
Discover Corps books your domestic flight to the Galapagos Islands. This flight will leave Quito early in the morning on Day 3 of the trip with about 3 hours of travel time to Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra Island in the Galapagos. Entrance fees to the islands, transit cards & the flight are all coordinated and paid for by Discover Corps.
Amazon Basin Extension (5 days, 4 nights). We will be staying a single night in Quito before heading to the Amazon Basin for 3 nights.
Fly into and out of Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
Arrive at any time on the first day of the trip (ideally in time for the welcome dinner)
Depart on the last day of the extension anytime after 4 pm (departures between Mon-Fri) or after 5 pm (departures Sat-Sun).
Discover Corps books your domestic flight between Quito and El Coca (Amazon). This flight leaves in the morning of Day 11 and returns between 12 pm-2 pm on Day 14. Example:
Day 10- Final day of the Galapagos trip. Overnight in Quito.
Day 11- Fly to El Coca, Amazon.
Day 12- Amazon
Day 13- Amazon
Day 14- Return back to Quito for flights home.
*The Quito UIO Airport has a rest lounge perfect for long layovers. Learn more about the airport lounge and cost here.
Early Arrival/Late Departure
Discover Corps recommends that you arrive a day prior to avoid any flight delays or cancellations. If you decide to arrive a day prior to the trip start date, you can book an early night at the hotel directly. If you arrive outside of the Discover Corps program, you are responsible for the transfer from the airport to the hotel.
The preferred hotel closest to the UIO Airport is: Wyndham Hotel, Quito. This hotel offers a free airport shuttle service. If you prefer to not have to move hotels on day 1, you can book with Ikala Hotel. This is where we'll be staying for the first two nights in Quito. We can request that you be in the same room but we cannot guarantee it.
If you plan to arrive early or depart late, please share your plans with your Travel Coordinator!
Book Your Flights
Discover Corps' dedicated flight partner for all of our trips is the team at Wings Travel. Their team know all of the flight windows and details for each of the destinations that we work in. Please always make sure that your trip is guaranteed to run before booking any airfare!
To get a quote from Wings Travel, please see the details below:
Get a Quote by Phone: Call (346) 396-4538. Our representative, Melanie Carter, is available 6am-3pm PST.
Get a quote by Email: Email our representative Melanie Carter at Melanie.Carter@wings.travel with the details below and she will be in touch with a quote.
Please have the following in hand when you are booking your flights:
Exact trip arrival and departure dates (including any extensions that you are taking)
Arrival and departure airports
Confirmation that your trip is guaranteed to run