One Week in the Galapagos Without Breaking the Bank
Get ready to cross the Galápagos off your bucket list. I am going to show you how you don’t need an expensive cruise to truly experience the Galápagos Islands. And, it gets even better: it is possible to have an amazing experience within a one-week vacation. REALLY! Make this dream trip happen—without breaking the bank—by planning a land-based itinerary and booking everything yourself instead of opting for a package trip.
You will find more helpful tips in my article: Get Started Planning Your Own Trip to the Galápagos.
These are my honest opinions and recommendations — I do not receive any compensation or discounts during our travel. This story does include some affiliate links for which I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please click the links to support my blog.
Accommodations
One night | Wyndham Quito Airport
The Wyndham Quito Airport is a nice hotel near the airport and a reasonable price point. Always review your bill at check out. My receipt was about $20 higher than the reservation and had to be adjusted. The airport shuttle was free when we were there.
Three nights | Torre Mar Boutique Suites in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
The two-bedroom Torre Mar Boutique Suites apartment with a shared rooftop terrace is nice for a family. They pulled in an extra mattress for our group of five. I like that it is centrally located, yet off the main drag. It is an easy 10-minute walk to the dock and there is a good little bakery down the street. The wonderful hosts helped us book a day tour to Bartolome, purchase ferry tickets for Isabella, and buy medicine when my son got a stomach bug.
Two nights | Hostal Tero Real in Puerto Villamil, Isabella Island
Hostal Toro Real is a great place to stay for the price! I was a little nervous about “hostel,” but it was perfect. We had two villas for our family of five. Central location. Clean. Peaceful. Delicious and hearty breakfast. Inexpensive laundry service. The manager booked our Los Tuneles tour for much less than the cost I was finding online. Unexpected bonus, they drove us to the dock for an early morning return ferry.
Two nights: Hotel Real Audiencia, Quito
This was a great family-friendly hotel where we had a two-bedroom apartment across the street. It looks like it is now permanently closed. However, I include it here for reference because the location was great for a visit to Quito.
FITZ BITS TIP: Hire a guide in Quito. Click here for my article: Add Quito to Your Galapagos Itinerary.
What to do on Santa Cruz Island
Visit the Highlands on your way in from the airport
Book an early flight so you have time to stop in the Highlands on your way to Puerto Ayora. Hike around the Los Gemelos sinkhole and visit Reserva El Chato for the giant tortoises and lava tunnels ($5 per person). This breaks up the 45-minute drive and saves time not backtracking. Bonus — save money versus an organized tour. Just negotiate the price with your taxi driver. We paid the taxi driver $50 + tip for our family of five. What a wonderful welcome to the Galapagos!
Read my Galapagos Planning Tips article with details on the Transit Control Card and Galapagos National Park fees due at the airport. All of these fees add up and you need to have that cash with you. The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar.
Explore the Charles Darwin Research Center
This is another great place to visit early in your trip. It is free to enter and there is a lot of information inside and along the trails. There is also a breeding center that was free when we visited but may now have a fee.
Wear a swimsuit, and pack a towel and snorkel gear, so you can jump in the water at the nearby Playa de La Estacion. This isn’t exactly the best beach on the island, but you are here so why not check it out? The resident iguanas and sea lions make the visit worth it even if you don’t get in the water.
Book a day tour to the uninhabited Bartolome Island
You made it all the way to the Galápagos Islands, now you really should go out to one of the uninhabited islands. This is a splurge, but think of all the money you saved by not doing a four-day Galapagos cruise! We did the Bartolome Island Day Tour on the Adriana catamaran with Galapagos Best. It is a long day with significant transit time, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be sure to book this far in advance because the number of daily visitors are strictly controlled.
There are other uninhabited islands, such as North Seymour Island, that can be visited on a day trip.
Jump in the water Las Grietas
Take the Ferry a Las Grietas or Finch Bay Resort water taxi from the right side of the main pier in Puerto Ayora. This quick transfer across the bay is $0.80 per person each way, but the rest is free. Then, walk the trail for about 20-minutes passing a small beach and salt flat. Upon arrival at Las Grietas you will have to sign in and then descend the stairs to this fun and refreshing swimming hole. Be careful as the wood platform can be very slippery.
Enjoy jumping off the deck as well as from the rocks aside the crevice. Bring your snorkel so you can take a look underwater too. Swim back and climb over the rocks at the end to explore the second pool too. There is also a side hiking trail with birds-eye views of Las Grietas and Puerto Auora.
FITZ BITS TIP: It is best to do this early in the morning before it gets crowded.
Hike the trail to the beautiful Tortuga Bay beaches
The trail starts with stairs up to a flat 1.5-mile trail. There is a small hut where you will need to sign, in but it is completely free. It’s about a 30-minute walk to the first beach, Playa Brava. While you may see some surfers swimming is strictly prohibited at this beach. To swim, turn to the right and continue walking for about 20 minutes, through the mangroves, to the calmer Playa Mansa.
These are deserted beaches. Bring plenty of water as well as snacks, sunscreen, and your snorkel gear for Playa Mansa. The beach closes at 6 PM so don’t embark on this journey too late in the day. Also, I suggest you take a taxi to the entrance since it is a bit of a trek to the bay and you are trying to fit in as many activities as possible on this trip! You can also take a water taxi out to the bay, but I heard that the boat ride can be quite rough and it costs $10 per person each way.
Explore the main pier and fish market
Observing the sea lions and birds alongside humans does not get old. Puerto Ayora’s main pier and fish market are great places to see these fearless creatures. It is funny to see where else they show up: on boats, under benches, walking down the street. The pier is also beautiful at night and you will likely see sharks swimming below. All part of the magic of the Galapagos!
Have dinner at La Calle de Los Kioskos
Every evening, the food stands on both sides of Charles Binford Avenue put tables and chairs in the street for casual al fresco dining. It is a great outdoor eating experience and more affordable than the restaurants by the dock.
Take the ferry to Isabella Island for a couple of nights
Spending time on Isabella Island was the icing on the cake for this trip! The 1.5-hour ferry ride costs $30 per person each way. There is also a $10 fee per person when you arrive at the dock. While this island is the largest of the four inhabited Galápagos Islands, it is one of the least populated. You will find the main town of Puerto Villamil very slow paced and relaxing with natural beauty and animal encounters at every turn.
FITZ BITS TIP: Pack Dramamine because the ferry ride can get quite rough.
What to do on Isabella Island
Half-day Los Tuneles Tour
This is a must-do half-day tour on Isabella Island. Lose track of time exploring Cabo Rosa by boat, on land, and snorkeling with turtles and sharks. So many magical moments on this tour — most especially the blue-footed booby birds and their babies.
Snorkel in Concha de Perla Lagoon
This is a wonderful lagoon for snorkeling. It is an adventure just to get there, walking around and over the resting sea lions on the boardwalk. I think we visited three or four times — couldn’t get enough of it. And, free!
Walk the boardwalk to see the flamingos
Take the long boardwalk through The Wetlands and observe the colorful flamingos and other birds. Continue through the mangroves to the Turtle Breeding Center (fee to enter).
Explore Puerto Villamil
The town is small and flanked by a beautiful long white sand beach. Large marine iguanas paint the rocky shore. Take a look at the Wall of Tears and read about its sad history. Take the long boardwalk through The Wetlands and observe the colorful flamingos and other birds. Continue through the mangroves to the Turtle Breeding Center (fee to enter). Relax at the Pink House — a great casual place to get a drink and watch the sunset.
Visited November 2017
Noted costs are subject to change.
