HOW TO TRAVEL THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
We were soaking up sunshine and frolicking with sea lions in the
Galápagos Islands. It was just as dreamy as it sounds! Even after all of
the traveling we've done in Asia since then, this is one of the
destinations people ask us about most often. But lucky for you, we're going to share our best tips for traveling
there on a budget because we believe it's a place that not only the rich
should experience. We'll even share exactly how much we spent, so you have an idea of what you're in for. Though not as budget-friendly as many other South American
destinations, visiting this stunning archipelago is definitely doable
even if you're not related to Donald Trump... (and for your sake, we
sure hope you aren't!)
Why did we decide to go to the Galápagos, despite it's reputation of being only for the rich?
While backpacking in South America, we had no intention of visiting
the Galápagos. From everything I had read, I knew it was hella
expensive, and that was enough to keep us away. We had a pretty tight
budget to stick to, after all. But after countless travelers we met
along the way recounted stories of this magical place, we finally
convinced ourselves that since we were already in Ecuador, going to the
Galápagos would never be cheaper.
We thought of it this way: Sure, in 10 years we will (hopefully)
have more dough in our savings account, but it's highly likely that the
ecological wonder will no longer be the same. The ecosystem on the
islands is already being damaged in large part due to tourism. Once we realized that there's no better time to visit the Galápagos
than the present, we bit the bullet and bought a last minute flight. We
were fully aware that this excursion would break the budget we'd set
for our 3-month trip, but we were determined to do our best of keeping
our costs as low as possible. And we did a pretty good job of it!
Great! I promise this is a trip of a lifetime that you won't
regret. And we're here to help! We learned a lot along the way and are
excited to pass along all we know about traveling to the Galápagos on a
budget so you'll be able to maximize each dollar!
Okay, let's get started...
Come with a plan
I'm about to divulge all of our best tips for traveling the
Galápagos on a budget, but first I'm going to get the bad news out of
the way... Even if you follow these tips exactly, you will still spend a
good chunk of money while visiting these islands. Yes, these tips will
save you money (hopefully lots of it!), but it is still a very expensive
place to travel. There's no way around it. What you can do, though, is come with a solid budget plan. This
way, you'll be prepared and will find it much more enjoyable than if you
come with unrealistic expectations
.
So let's talk numbers:
First things first: you'll need to book a flight. There are only a
few airlines that fly to the Galápagos, and prices typically hover
between $350 - $450 (round trip from mainland Ecuador) depending on how
far in advance you book.
Tip # 1: The cheapest city to fly from is usually Guayaquil. And
yes, this means you need to first account for the cost of getting to
Ecuador.
Tip #2: If you can be flexible with your time, use Skyscanner's
"whole month" function to find the cheapest dates to fly. (When
selecting departure and return dates, click on "whole month" instead of a
specific date.)
Once you have accounted for the cost of the flight, add $110 per
person. This is a conservation fee that each visitor must pay before
stepping foot out of the airport. No bargaining here!
Now, add to this the cost of getting from island to island via
ferry – $30 each way, which adds up fast. So if you're like us and want
to see the 3 main islands, you're looking at $120 per person just in
ferry costs.
I know you're not going to want to hear this, but the cost of
accommodation, food, and entertainment in the Galápagos is much more
comparable to the United States than it is to the rest of Ecuador. Be
prepared to spend at least 3 times what you would in the rest of the
country.
1. Rethink the cruise
The absolute cheapest way to explore the Galápagos is by basing
yourself on land. You can take day trips to the ocean and hop from
island to island. If you are on a tight budget, this is definitely the
way to go!
Another way of seeing the islands is on a cruise. Though I don’t
have personal experience with seeing the islands this way, we met both
travelers who had great experiences and terrible ones. If cruising seems
more your style, there are a few things you'll want to consider.
Sure there are “budget cruises” advertised, but remember, you get
what you pay for. Why come to one of the most spectacular places in the
world, only to have your experience tainted by staying in a stuffy boat
with subpar staff and sketchy food. There are some great medium-priced
companies out there and there are some pros to traveling this way, but
make for sure you're going with a quality, ethical company before you
make a reservation.
Be sure to look at reviews and rankings for any cruise you take.
We've done a little research for you and we really like Liveaboard.com.
They have quality boats from all over the world in their network and can
hook you up with the best trip in the Galapagos. They specialize in
scuba diving trips so if you want to see this magical place underwater,
look no further.
Remember that you can see everything you would on a boat, by basing
yourself on the islands and taking day trips to sea. This way, even if
you wind up staying in a bad hotel, you only need to sleep there. If you
are on a cruise, you’re stuck.
2. Book accommodation in advance
We found that there were many luxury and mid-range options for accommodation, but inexpensive hotels were seriously lacking.
If you’re looking only for budget rooms, you will have a limited
number of places you can stay. I will tell you, some of these budget
places are absolutely disgusting. Think rude owners, rooms with stained
sheets and rotting ceilings… oh, and waking up in the middle of the
night with a cockroach scurrying across your face is not enjoyable
either.
We stayed in two such places when we first arrived on the islands because we hadn’t done our research.
The good news for you is that you can avoid the duds. The bad news
is that decent, inexpensive hotels book up quickly. Plus, the Internet
in the Galápagos is terribly slow, so doing your research ahead of time
really is a must.
Below is one hostel we recommend from personal experience:
Galapagos Best Homestay (Santa Cruz Island)
An all-around great place to stay, each room has a kitchenette and an
unlimited supply of purified drinking water. This place is it is a bit
out of the way – about a twenty-minute walk to the town center. Taxis on
the island are cheap though, and it will only cost you $1 to get
downtown if you really don’t want to walk.
3. Time your trip right
You may not always have control over the time of year you visit,
but obviously peak season (June - September, and December - January)
will cost more than off-season.
In addition to the time of year, consider how many days you will
spend in the Galápagos. Visiting for a short amount of time does not
always mean you will save money. Generally speaking, the longer you
stay, the less you will actually spend per day.
It goes without being said that a month in the Galápagos will cost
you a small fortune. You’ve got to find that sweet spot where you have
enough days to travel slowly, but not so many that you spend unnecessary
money.
We spent one week in the Galápagos, which was enough to see the
three main islands. We did have to rush around a bit in our last couple
of days though, costing us more money than we would have spent
otherwise. In my opinion, 10 days would be ideal.
4. You need to search, but there is cheap food
While most tourists flock to the Italian pizzerias and Western joints, follow the locals for some cheap, Ecuadorian cuisine.
On Santa Cruz Island: At night, look no further than Binford Street
for great people watching and even better food. The seafood looks
delicious and is no doubt very fresh, but it is still expensive.
Instead, sit at one of the many open-air restaurants and order the
Cazuela de Camarones – a traditional “stew” of plantains, spices and
shrimp. This $12 dish was delicious and more than enough for two of us
to share.
On Isabela Island: Head outside the main drag to Restaurante el Tropical where the locals gather.
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