Get Started Planning Your Trip to the Galápagos
With its pristine landscapes and unique wildlife encounters, embarking on a vacation to the Galápagos Islands is a dream that many share. The exciting news? You don’t need an unlimited travel fund to make this trip a reality! A more budget-friendly adventure awaits those who choose to plan a land-based trip. While it involves a bit more planning, the payoff is well worth it. Our trip for a family of five, door to door, was $12,000. Read on for some practical tips to begin planning your unforgettable Galápagos getaway.
Check out the complete itinerary in my article: One Week in the Galapagos without Breaking the Bank. And, Galapagos Costs and Strategies: November 2017 is packed full of more planning tips.
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.
Land or cruise itinerary?
Go big or go home? If you are watching your travel expenses — not this time. With careful planning, we were able to experience the Galapagos and Quito for $12,000 for a family of five (November 2017). Really! When people ask what my favorite trip is — it is this trip to the Galapagos, and we didn’t do it on an expensive cruise.
There are advantages to an organized Galapagos cruise such as access to more of the uninhabited islands and very remote islands. But, what if cruising isn’t for you or you don’t have the travel funds? No worries, you can get an awesome Galapagos experience, including amazing activities, with a land-based itinerary. This latter itinerary may actually be a better option for adventure travelers, especially if you only have a one week to work with. And, have I mentioned that it is less expensive? Once in the Galapagos, we spent 50% less money doing a land-based itinerary versus going on a mid-priced four-day cruise + one day in Santa Cruz. My land-based itinerary price comparison includes: lodging, food, transfers, taxis, tips, entrance fees, and a full-day boat tour to Bartolome Island.
For reference, I planned and booked this trip six months in advance.
Booking your flights to the Galápagos Islands
Flights to the Galápagos arrive at San Cristobal Island or Baltra Island for Santa Cruz Island. Make sure you are booking a flight for foreigners and not the less expensive Ecuadorian Nationals fare.
You will need to spend a night in mainland Ecuador before and after your connecting flights to the Galapagos, so look into both Quito and Guayaquil airports for the best prices and times. I suggest that you spend four nights/five days in the Galapagos, taking a later flight out so you still have that last full day in the Galapagos.
FITZ BITS TIP: Add a second night in Quito before or after so you have a full day to tour Quito and the equatorial monuments.
Santa Cruz or San Cristobal?
Santa Cruz is the most densely populated of the three inhabited Galapagos islands. As such, there is a lot to do and see there. One downside though is that it is a 45-minute drive from the airport to the main town of Puerto Ayora. For what it’s worth, I heard that Say Cristobal may be less expensive.
After a lot of research, I chose Santa Cruz because of day-trip access to a couple of the uninhabited islands as well as visiting the remote Isabella Island for a couple of nights. If you do not go to Isabella Island, you may want to consider flying into Santa Cruz (Baltra) and out of San Cristobal or vice-versa.
Bring cash
The currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. You will want to have $1’s and $5’s handy for tips and taxis. There are ATMs in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island but zero ATMs on Isabella Island.You will pay cash for the Galapagos Transit/Migration Control Card ($20 per person) and Galapagos National Park Fee ($100 per person/$50 per child under 12 years old) at the airport. For folks arriving at Baltra Airport for Santa Cruz Island, there is an airport bus to a ferry that costs $1 per person. We were not charged for the bus but I read that it is $5 per person. Finally, you will need cash for the taxi or bus transfer for that 45-minute drive to town. Taxis in the Galapagos are white pick-up trucks.
Once in town, taxis are a fixed price at $1.50 per person when we visited. Make sure you do not get overcharged!
How many days in the Galapagos?
After the time and cost expense to get there, I suggest at least five days for a great land-based Galapagos experience. It is best to stick with just two islands so you don’t lose too much time with transfers.
Visited November 2017
Noted costs are subject to change.
