Best Galapagos Islands and general q's

I'm trying to plan a trip to Ecuador in 2015.
What are the best islands to visit in the Galapagos?

Is it possible to do day trips from Quito to the following places:
Quito to Mindo
Quito to Otavalo
Quito to Cotopaxi
Quito to Banos

Is it safe to travel alone through Ecuador as a 30 year old woman?
Thanks everyone!

Española, Genovesa, Isabela (western shores), and Fernandina are generally the most-recommended for various reasons. However, most naturalist cruises will visit just two of these on an eight-day itinerary, so if you find a boat that goes to three, you'd be doing quite well. Bartolomé is a favorite of mine also.

Mindo, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi can easily be day trips. Baños is about three and a half hours from Quito and would be quite a long day trip.

And yes, Ecuador would be quite safe for a woman. I traveled alone there for six weeks on my first visit, and lived and worked there for several years, often traveling alone.

Very helpful, thank you!!
Have you been to or heard about Floreana or Rabida at all? I can't seem to find much info on either, but seems visually very intriguing based on the descriptions.

May I ask what's been so great about your recommended islands?

Thanks again for your help!

I shouldn't recommend daytrips. Better to spend the night at all those places

I have been to Rabida and Espanola, visited while on an 8-day cruise.
Rabida: many sea lions, big and very old cacti, lava lizards, pelicans, and the Galapagos mini tomato, which -according to the naturalist guide- was crossed with the regular tomato and there was the cherry tomato!
Espanola: piles and piles of marine iguanas, sea lions, many birds (nazca boobie, blue foot boobie, galapagos hawk and a large colony of waved albatross), rocky terrain, blow hole and the so-called "Airport", where the birds take off.

I shouldn't recommend daytrips. Better to spend the night at all those places

Interesting, thank you! Can I ask why? Great night life? Or cutting back on travel time?
Thanks!

What sort of tour are you looking for? A multi-day cruise, or day trips? You cannot get to the more remote uninhabited islands on day trips, thus you would be very limited to which islands you could visit.

What sort of tour are you looking for? A multi-day cruise, or day trips? You cannot get to the more remote uninhabited islands on day trips, thus you would be very limited to which islands you could visit.

I'm doing the islands via cruises. Asking about day trips specifically from Quito to various cities within the country itself (not the islands). Thanks!

See "My Tips" posted eleven months ago We did the same itinerary. It was wonderful! With the possible exception of walking around Quito's Old town at night I think it's safe. I encourage you to check out my tips on Ecuador.
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