The Galapagos Islands at $298 RT

If the Galapagos are on your bucket list (they should be) your first step isn’t spotting blue-footed boobies or dodging sunbathing iguanas. It’s getting yourself to Guayaquil.

And these flights are your best bet, because Guayaquil is the main jumping-off point for the islands - with the most frequent connections, smoother schedules, and fewer surprises than trying to route through Quito.

Flying is pretty straightforward: daily flights run to the two island airports, Baltra (near Santa Cruz) and San Cristóbal. 

Both are easy gateways to the archipelago, and you can even fly into one and out of the other!

Just remember: the Galápagos operate with extra regulations, inspections, and fees to protect the environment, so build a little buffer time and budget into your plans.