Is it possible?
We always hear about how expensive it is to visit the Galapagos Islands. Travel Agencies offer cruise ships for thousands of dollars for just a week of crammed activities with a bunch of strangers. This Ultimate Guide to Galapagos on a budget is here to show you that having an amazing experience full of activities on Galapagos can be done on a backpacking budget!
How much time do you need?
For Galapagos I recommend a minimum of one week. This gives you the possibility of spending a few days on each of the main islands. If you plan on taking day tours to some of the other islands where you can’t spend the night, you need to add more days accordingly.
For anyone going to do a lot of diving, this probably will require a few more days if you really want to do all of what the islands have to offer as well.
Route
On a budget I suggest flying into either Santa Cruz and out of San Cristobal or vice versa as this will save you some time. If you land in Santa Cruz, then take the boat to Isabela Island for a few days before returning to Santa Cruz. Once you’ve seen what you need there, take the boat to San Cristobal for the last part of your trip before flying back to the mainland. For those starting in San Cristobal do it in reverse.
Things to do for free
Most activities and tours on the islands are not cheap, but you might not want to miss out on some of them. However, if you are on a budget there are plenty of amazing things to do totally for free on all three islands!
Santa Cruz
No matter where you go on the three main islands you will spot wildlife everywhere. Especially sea lions, iguanas, tortoises, crabs and even penguins. Just by hiking and exploring the beaches and trail near each town you can spot incredible wildlife without paying a dime. In Puerto Ayora, the main town, they even wander around town hanging out on benches and sidewalks!
Darwin Center
Just a 10 minute walk outside of Puerto Ayora you will find the Darwin Research Center. This place is free, but now you need a guided tour that costs $10 to see the turtles. This is because of criminals in recent years stealing turtles to sell on the black market.
The $10 are well spent though, and gives you a tour with some history of the animals and Darwin, as well as a look at the breeding stations where they are helping the population of different turtles grow back!
Beaches
Also, close by there are several nice beaches that are full of crabs and iguanas where you can relax if the weather is nice or even snorkel if you bring your gear. The beaches like Playa de la Estacion are free and great for wildlife spotting and snorkelling on a budget.
I also recommend walking to Tortuga Bay for a nice afternoon on this beautiful beach relaxing and wildlife spotting! There’s a nice pathway there and takes about 40-minutes.
Isabela Island
On Isabela Island you can see plenty of wildlife along the coast and on the trails close to town. There are also several ponds where you can spot groups of flamingos. If you want to hike the volcano on the island it will cost you around $60.
Snorkelling
There are some day-tours that take you snorkelling at the most famous places and you will see incredible life under water. Only downside is that these will set you back quite a bit. For instance snorkelling Los Tuneles cost a minimum of $100 for a day. Some of these might be a must do for you, so adjust your budget accordingly or try some of the free spots!
If you are on a true backpackers budget you can often borrow or rent cheap snorkelling equipment at your hostel and go snorkelling off the coast for free. These spots are also full of life and I did this on several occasions swimming with sea turtles, sea lions, penguins and so many different fish all around! A great way to get up close with wildlife without breaking the bank. I recommend Concha de Perla right next to where the docks where you arrive by boat.
Wall of Tears
This is a hike you can do for free to the Wall of Tears, a wall that was built by prisoners as a form of punishment. Next to it is also a great viewpoint of the island and the coast. The trail that leads to the wall can be done by foot or by bicycle. Make sure you keep your eyes open on the road so you don’t miss out on the wildlife! Giant tortoises can be found along the way, depending on the season.
San Cristobal
There are plenty of beaches where you can lay down and relax or go for a swim depending on the weather. These beaches are all free and a great way to explore around the main town. Most of them are full of sea lions, iguanas and crabs. On some of them you might struggle to find space on the beaches that fill up with sea lions. Of course this depends a little on the season.
Interpretation Center
On San Cristobal don’t miss the Interpratation Center to learn more about the history of Galapagos. Many explorers and countries have been a part of the history of this unique place. Combine the visit with a stop to Mirador Cerro Tijeretas for more snorkelling if you bring your gear. Enjoy a beautiful walk along the coast and make sure you stop by Playa Mann and Playa de Oro on the way back to town.
Playa Loberia a little further south of the main town is also worth a visit. This beach can be full of sea lions as well, but has a trail that takes you a long the coast for a possibility of spotting some blue-footed boobies. Again all for free.
Budget
Doing Galapagos on a budget can be done for less than $1000 for a week. This includes flights, $120 entrance fee, staying in shared dorms, eating meals of the day or cooking yourself, transportation between islands, and some activities. There are plenty of day tours to other islands that you can do if you want to add these.
Here is an overview of what I spent for one week snorkelling, hiking and relaxing on Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal:
- Flights – $400
- Entrance Fees – $120
- Accommodation – $25 per night
- Food – $15 per day
- Transportation – $100 (three boat rides + bus from airport)
- Activities – $10 (Darwin Center Guided Tour)
Overall I spent less than $900 in total for a week on Galapagos, which is something I consider super cheap including flights and the entrance fee. Booking my flights and accommodation earlier than a week before is probably the only thing that could have made the total cost lower.
Food
In town expect everything to be more expensive than mainland Ecuador. Most restaurant have meals starting from $10-15 and serve a variety of food. Many restaurant will feel quite touristy. For true backpackers on a budget, make sure you find restaurants serving meals of the day, which can be found for around $5.
Accommodation
There are plenty of hostel options for backpackers on the three islands, although they might sell out quickly if you don’t book in advance. Mostly these are decent hostels that sometimes come with free fruit. Expect to pay between $20-25 per night in a shared room. Depending on the season and if you book last minute, these prices can go even higher.
Transportation
This will be the biggest expense when going to Galapagos. I spent just under $400 for a round trip flying into Santa Cruz and out of San Cristobal. This was done about a week before going, so if you plan ahead you can get this cheaper.
Also you need to take into account transportation between the islands. The boat ride takes around two hours and cost $30-35
When to go
Galapagos Islands are great to visit year round. Most people tend to go during its warmer but rainier season between December and May. During this period the sea is usually calmer. Between June and November is the dry season and a little cooler. Because of its subtropical climate, the temperature never drops too far though.
As you can see, in terms of weather you can pretty much visit anytime you like. The most important question to ask yourself might be, what would a like to see? For example June-August is best for spotting whales, while February is great to see the penguin migration. From July-August is when the Giant Tortoises are migrating and seen wandering around. Sea turtles are seen laying eggs in January, while new born blue-footed boobies can be seen in October.
No brainer
It can feel like you would need a full year to spend on Galapagos to see all the different seasons, but I can assure you that no matter when you decide to visit, you will see wildlife like you have never seen before. You will see so much, do cool stuff and make friends along the way before leaving with tons of memories, and hopefully photos of this incredible experience. Galapagos is unique and a bucket list item everyone should cross of their list, doing it on a budget or an all inclusive cruise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Galapagos? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
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