The Galapagos Islands; As an Ecuadorian blogger, I wrote this guide to traveling cheap (Low cost) with first-hand and updated information to explore it on your own, know what tours you can take on each Island and create a budget according to what you want to know.

Every year, I travel to the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and everything you are going to read in the ChokoTrip and ChokoTours blog, is own and updated content. Above all, it is very objective so that your experience touring the islands is satisfactory. I know most of the islands in Galapagos, I have traveled on cruises and day tours.

This low cost guide to Galapagos, you will find information that will help you plan your trip on your own, and below is the menu of the Galapagos travel guide.

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

---

 

 

What are the requirements to travel to the Galapagos?

There are a few requirements to enter the Galapagos Islands. Regardless of whether you’re Ecuadorian or a foreigner, you must carry the below documents, pay migration fees and park entrance fees:

» Documents:

Carry your passport if you’re a foreigners (it should be the one stamped upon entering the country) or national ID, if you’re Ecuadorian or part of Mercosur.

Return tickets to and from the Galapagos.

 

» Fees:

USD 20: Pay for the transit control card (TCT) in the Guayaquil or Quito airport

USD 100 (Foreigner), USD 50 (Mercosur) or USD 6 (Ecuadorian or resident) Entry tax for the Galapagos National Park

*You should also know what the process is to enter with online pre-registration of the TCT and what you have to do at the Guayaquil or Quito airport to avoid delays.

 
 

---

---

 
 

How to get to the Galapagos?

First, the Galapagos Islands is a province of Ecuador, the island region of the country. It is located approximately 1,000 km off the west coast of the continent.
 

» Galapagos airports

There are two airports in the Galapagos. One is on San Cristóbal Island (airport code SCY) and the other is on Baltra Island (airport code GPS), located near Santa Cruz Island.

» Galapagos Flights

For flights to the Galapagos, it’s better if your entry flight is to the island of Baltra and your departure airport is from San Cristobal Island. This is especially true if you have an itinerary of 7 or more days, total.

» Tickets to the Galapagos

Flights to the Galapagos can be purchased directly online on airline websites like Latam and Avianca, which offer national flights from Guayaquil or Quito and fly to the Galapagos airports.

Flight prices to the Galapagos, vary depending on nationality:

*Keep in mind that all airlines may confront delays and cancelations, which can complicate your trip/itinerary or cruise dates. Review your rights here: problems with your flight in Ecuador

How to get to the Galapagos Islands from Guayaquil by boat?

Those of you that seek to travel by boat to the Galapagos Islands from Guayaquil should know that the trip takes 3 days and departs from a commercial port, located in the neighborhood called Pradera 3, next to the Store Ocean dock. However, transporting people that don’t work for a given vessel is prohibited.

 
 

---

---

 
 

How to travel between the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal?

The inter-island modes of transport you can use to travel between Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal are: inter-island boats in the Galapagos y inter-island flights in the Galapagos.

» Inter-island boats

Inter-island boats are also known as Ferries or speedboats.

Schedule for inter-island boats in the Galapagos:

⁃ Santa Cruz – Isabela: 07h00 and return 15h00
⁃ Isabela – Santa Cruz: 06h00 and return 15h00
⁃ Santa Cruz – San Cristóbal: 07h00 and return 15h00
⁃ San Cristóbal – Santa Cruz: 07h00 and return 15h00
Price for inter-island boats in the Galapagos: USD 40 one way and USD 1.50 cost for marine taxis.
Travel time on any of these routes is 2 hours

Recommendations before traveling on inter-islands boats:
› You can’t travel by boat from San Cristobal Island to Isabela Island or vice versa. You must pass through Santa Cruz and then take another boat.
› You should arrive 45 minutes before departure times at any given dock/port to check in your luggage and identify the boat you must board.
› Take sea sickness or motion sickness pills and try to sit in the back of the vessel, or above. Remember that these are called speedboats and when there are swells, it can be nauseating.

 

» Inter-island flights

Currently, there are 2 airlines that offer local, or inter-island, flights between Isabela, Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands. These are: Fly Galápagos and Emetebe.

Flights can save you time on your trip through the Galapagos. If you want to travel from San Cristobal to Isabela or vice versa, I recommend you fly. However, if there isn’t enough fuel, your flight will be cancelled and you’ll have to travel on inter-island boats. This is also why I recommend reading the fine print regarding cancellation policies for both local airlines.

 
 

---

---

 
 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS VIDEO – PLAYLIST

---

 
 

How much does it cost to travel to the Galapagos?

The budget to travel to the Galapagos Islands depends on the number of days in your trip, the islands you want to see and where you will be staying overnight.

» Budget to visit the Galapagos

Here are the average expenses, so you can calculate how much money you need to travel through the Galapagos Islands. I also have a budget + itinerary for the following islands: Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island e San Cristobal Island.
 
USD 20: TCT Migration Card. You must pay this at the Guayaquil or Quito airport before checking in with your airline.
USD 6: Ecuadorian entrance fee to Galapagos National Park. This payment is made as soon as you get off the plane at either Baltra or San Cristobal airport.
USD 50: Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park for members of Mercosur or the Andean community. This is paid as soon as you get off the plane as well.
USD 100: Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park for foreign tourists. Similarly, you pay this as soon as you get off the plane at the airport.
*Minors from 0 to 2 don’t pay and from 2 to 12 pay half the National Park entrance fee.
USD 5: Entry tax for Ecuadorians if traveling to Isabela
USD 10: Entry tax for foreigners if traveling to Isabela
USD 5: Bus from Baltra airport to dock. “Lobitos” buses can be found outside the airport. As soon as these are filled, they depart to the port where you can cross over to Santa Cruz.
USD 1: Barge. It will take you from the dock on Baltra to Santa Cruz. Try to board last so that you are the first to get off.
USD 5: Bus from the dock in Santa Cruz to Puerto Ayora. The bus ride takes about 45 minutes and, on the way back, you need to take it from the bus station (terminal terrestre), located near the town of Puerto Ayora. Buses depart at 07h00, 07h40, 08h00 and 08h40.
USD 25: Taxi from Itabaca dock in Santa CRuz to your hotel in Puerto Ayora. You can share this taxi with up to 4 people.
USD 2: Taxi from the airport in San Cristobal to your hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
USD 25: Total cost of food per day in the Galapagos. Breakfast USD 5 – Lunch USD 5 – Dinner USD 15
*Oftentimes you won’t need to pay for lunch as this is included in the tours and is enough to go on until dinner.
USD 4: One bottle of Pilsner beer in the Galapagos. You can also try artesanal beer made in the Galapagos.
USD 30: Accommodation – always ask for the simplest set up, if you’re on a budget. Even a room with AC increases the price.
*You may need a room with AC during the months between December and May when the heat can get unbearable.
 

» Financial advice about your trip to the Galapagos

Currency and exchange rate
Take 20, 10, 5, 1 dollar bills. The majority of businesses and establishments won’t accept 100 and 50 dollar bills. Ecuador uses the dollars and all ATMs will provide dollars.

ATMs
It’s better to take cash because many touristic establishments don’t accept credit card payments. On Santa Cruz Island and San Cristobal Island you’ll find ATMs belonging to the following banks: Banco del Pacífico, Bolivariano and Banco Pichincha. On Isabela Island there’s another ATM belonging to Banco del Pacífico, but it is often out of service.

Credit cards
If you still want to take your credit card, you should ask your hotel if they offer a safe/security box where you can store your credit cards and cash. Unfortunately, there have been cases of credit card fraud on the Galapagos, as well as petty theft of cards, that are still being investigated. This doesn’t mean it’s unsafe on the Islands, in fact the Galapagos Islands are Ecuador’s safest destinations.

 
 

---

---

 
 
 
 

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

---

 

What to do in Santa Cruz Island?

Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos has the most touristic activity because the majority of tours and cruises depart from this island.

I recommend staying for 5 days in Santa Cruz so that you have enough time to visit a number of islands on day tours, like: Pinzón Island, Santa Fe Island, North Seymour, Floreana Island, South Plazas Island, Bartolome Island; and also visit other destinations on your own, such as: tour through the high region of the island, el garrapatero beach, tour of the bay, tortuga bay beach, Alemanes beach and las Grietas.
 

» Touristic destinations in Santa Cruz Island

 
 
Tour through the high region of the island
The tour through the high region of Santa Cruz can be done in a taxi pickup truck. Most taxi drivers already know the stops and sights along this route. In summary, visit: Los Gemelos, lava tunnels and las Primicias ranch or al Chato, where you’ll find gigantic tortoises.

The entire tour takes about 2 hours and if you’re traveling with a few others, you can split the cost of the taxi, which is USD 50, total. Entry to el Chato or las Primicias ranches is USD 5 per person.

*I strongly suggest hiring a local naturalist guide for this tour and, since you’ve hired them for the entire day, they may also take you to other spots.

El Garrapatero Beach
This is one of the few beaches where camping is permitted in the Galapagos. To reach Garrapatero you need to take a taxi for USD 40 or rent a bicycle, which costs USD 20, per day. The beach is located about 25 km from Puerto Ayora. There’s a space for BBQs available to visitors, just make sure you leave everything as clean as you found it.
*There are a lot of annoying horseflies here and they’re worse after you’ve gone for a swim!

Bay tour
The tour around Santa Cruz bay is a short 3 hour boat trip. To summarize it, you visit spots around Puerto Ayora like: dog beach (playa de los perros), the love crevice (la grieta del amor), you can snorkel in the crevices (las Grietas), where the water isn’t as cold as in other areas of the island.

Tortuga Bay Beach
Tortuga Bay beach or Tortuga Bay is considered one of the best beaches across the Galapagos Islands, according to most travelers. To get to Tortuga Bay, you can hike along a trail for 45 minutes. First, find a white sand beach where people are surfing, then take a right and walk along the beach for 10 minutes. You’ll find a little trail in the mangroves and then see a beach, which is Tortuga Bay. It has calm, shallow and transparent waters – ideal for children. It closes at 5pm.

Los Alemanes Beach
Your visit to los Alemanes beach can (and should) be combined with a visit to las Grietas (below). First, take an aquatic taxi in Puerto Ayora (cost of $0.50) which will cross you to the dock at los Alemanes Beach. When you arrive, first head to las Grietas and try to make it back to los Alemanes beach when it’s low tide for the best snorkeling.

Las Grietas
Visit las Grietas before or after your visit to los Alemanes Beach. These deep, water filled crevices were formed as a result of a volcanic fracture. The trail to las Grietas is rocky, like most trails in the Galapagos, and passes through residential areas, where the first colonizers to Santa Cruz settled. They run along the salt mines where salt was once extracted using traditional methods.

 
 

 
 

» Day tours from Santa Cruz Island

I can help you find availability on the following day tours in Santa Cruz Galapagos and reserve your spot in advance: Bartolome Island tour, Santa Fe Island Tour, North Seymour Island Tour, Pinzon Island Tour, South Plaza Island Tour, Floreana Island Tour y Chinese Hat Island Tour
 

This is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the Galapagos by most travelers. You’re required to visit the island on a day tour. There are incredible, other worldly landscapes. Read more about Bartolome Island and book a tour in advance.
 

There are two different day tours to Santa Fe. One lands on the island and the other doesn’t, but offers a fishing experience. The tour that doesn’t make a landing in Santa Fe Island offers snorkeling in one of the island’s bays and then lands on Playa Escondida, which is in Santa Cruz Island. The tour with landing in Santa Fe provides the opportunity to observe some of the Galapagos Islands’ most famous land iguanas. Read more about Santa Fe Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

This tour includes a hike through North Seymour along a trail with many blue-footed boobies, frigates, land iguanas and sea lions. This is ideal for travelers who only have a few days on the Islands but want to prioritize wildlife sightings on one island. Read more about North Seymour Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

You’ll snorkel among sea lions, reef sharks known as Tintorera sharks, manta rays and, occasionally, Galapagos penguins. I think this is one of the best snorkeling spots in the Galapagos. Read more about Pinzon Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

You’ll hike and observe birdlife, sea lions and land iguanas. You can snorkel in the turquoise waters of Punta Carrión and, if you’re lucky, you’ll see sharks and tropical fish. Read more about South Plaza Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

This island has the most history in the Galapagos. It’s also one of only two islands with its own fresh water spring. It has a “galapaguera” where you can observe the giant tortoises up close. You’ll snorkel and, with a bit of luck, you’ll see penguins, manta rays and sea lions frolicking nearby. Read more about Floreana Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

It’s geological formation gives it a unique landscape, not to mention the contrast of colors between the black lava stones, white sand beach and blue ocean. You’ll see various marine iguanas and sea lions and will snorkel in Sullivan Bay, where you might see penguins, sharks and tropical fish. Read more about Chinese Hat Island and Book a tour in advance.

Santa Cruz Island Hotels and Hostals

 
 

 
 
 
 

ISABELA ISLAND

---

 

What to do on Isabela Galapagos?

Isabela Island in the Galapagos is one of the largest of all the islands and is known globally due to its immense crater, one of the largest in the world following Yellowstone’s.

I recommend staying on Isabela for 3 days so that you have time to visit a few islands on day tours, like: Cabo Rosa, Sierra Negra Volcano and Tintoreras; and visit other touristic destinations on your own, like: bicycle route to the wall of tears , concha perla, breeding center and flamingo pond and its beaches.
 

» Touristic destinations on Isabela Island

 
 
Bicycle route to the wall of tears
The cycling route to the wall of tears is, by far, the most famous one across the Islands. You can rent a bicycle for USD 20 per day. Start in the morning and travel through: La playita (little beach), playa del amor (love beach), the look out Cerro Orchilla and finally, the wall of tears.

Breeding Center and flamingo pond
Make the most of your bicycle route and, on the way back, stop by the tortoise breeding center which is open until 5pm and is only meters from the flamingo pool.

Concha Perla
A spot on Isabela where you can snorkel among many fish species and sea lions. The water is clear and make sure to take your own snorkel gear or rent it beforehand.

 
 

 
 

» Tours from Isabela Island

I can help you find availability on the following day tours in Isabela Galapagos and reserve your spot in advance: Cabo Rosa Tunnels, Sierra Negra Volcano and Tintoreras.
 

The tour is awesome – first you’ll visit a rock called Union Rock where you’ll see blue-footed boobies. Then you’ll go to the tunnels for a tour where you’ll see more boobies and experience some top-notch snorkleing. If you’re lucky, you might even end up swimming among tintorera sharks! Read more about Cabo Rosa Tunnels and Book a tour in advance.
 

This is one of the few treks that you can do in the Galapagos Islands. It’s a trek that lasts 5 hours to reach one of the largest volcano craters in the world, and part of the route passes by Chico Volcano – an otherworldly place. Read more about Sierra Negra Volcano and Book a tour in advance.
 

This tour lasts a couple of hours. It begins on an Islet where you’ll see marine iguanas, sea lions and Tintorera sharks. Afterwards, you go snorkeling.

Isabela Island Hotels and Hostals

 
 

 
 
 
 

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

---

 

What to do in San Cristobal Island?

San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos is the capital island of the Galapagos. An advantage of this island is that the majority of its beaches are close to the port and you’ll see many sea lions everywhere.

I recommend staying in San Cristobal for about 4 days so that you have enough time to visit a few islands and places on day tours, like: Española Island, Lobos Island, Punta Pitt, Kicker Rock / Leon dormido; and other touristic destinations you can get to on your own, like: Laguna del junco, Galapaguera, Puerto Chino Beach, Interpretation Center, Las Tijeretas, Punta Carola Beach and La Lobería.

 

» Touristic destinations in San Cristobal Island

 
 
Interpretation center, las Tijeretas hill and Punta Carola Beach
The tour along this trail begins once you traverse the Interpretation Center (a place to learn about the history and formation of the Islands). Along this route, heading toward Tijeretas Hill (Cerro Tijeretas), you’ll visit Mann Beach and Punta Carola Beach.

La Loberia Beach
You should take a taxi that costs USD 3 and talk to your taxi driver so that they come and pick you up as well. If you do this, only pay after the ride is completed, which would cost you around USD 10. You can also return on foot, but it’s a 45 minute hike without any shade.

Tour around high region of San Cristobal
This is a half day tour during which you can explore the high region of the island on your own. You can visit: Ceibo house (la casa del Ceibo), El Juncolagoon, La Galapaguera and Puerto Chino beach
*I strongly recommend hiring a naturalist guide for this tour. Since they’re hired for the full day, they may also take you to additional spots.

 
 

 
 

» Day tours from San Cristobal Island

I can help you find availability on the following day tours in San Cristobal Galapagos and reserve your spot in advance: Espanola Island, Kicker Rock / Leon dormido, Pitt Point, Lobos Island and 360 Tour.
 
 

Española Island is where the majority of the world’s 12,000 albatross couples reproduce. Due to its arid climate and lack of fresh water, this is paradise for sea birds. Read more about Espanola Island and Book a tour in advance.
 

Punta Pitt or Pitt Point is located in the north corner of the Island. It’s a group of conical Está ubicada en el extremo norte de la Isla. It is a group of eroded volcanic cones sparsely populated by vegetation that is endemic to the Islands. This is an ideal place to observe where a variety of sea birds nest, such as the blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, red-footed boobies and frigates. Read more about Pitt Point and Book a tour in advance.
 

Kicker Rock, known in Spanish as “Leon Dormido”, is an uninhabited islet located 30 minutes from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It’s a refuge for many sea birds like the blue-footed boobies, as well as sea lions. The tour combines with a landing at one of the following beaches: Manglecito, Tortuga, Cerro brujo (Witch Hill) or Puerto grande Roca. Read more about Kicker Rock and Book a tour in advance.
 

This tour involves a complete loop around San Cristobal Island. It begins with a landing on Rosa Blanca where you visit the Rosa Blanca lagoon, then you’ll fish on Punta Pitt/ After lunch there’s a landing in Sardina Bay here you can photograph Witch Hill (Cerro Brujo) and the tour ends with some snorkeling in the canal at Kicker Rock. Read more about 360 Tour and Book a tour in advance.
 

Every island has its bay tour and this island has a lot to offer. It’s an ideal place to experience, close up, the animals in their natural habitat after only 25 minutes of sea travel. At Isla Lobos you’ll have a dry landing and a 1km walk where you can observe blue-footed boobies nesting and two types of frigates (common and royal). Read more about Lobos Island and Book a tour in advance.

San Cristobal Island Hotels and Hostals

 
 

 
 
 
 

What is the best season to go to the Galapagos?

The best time to go to the Galapagos is all year round, but for me, who has visited almost all the seasons and months of the year, I think that the best season to travel to the Galapagos Islands is between the end of April and the entire month of May. The rains begin to disappear, there is no longer so much humidity and the sun is still there to enjoy the paradisiacal beaches that the Galapagos have.

The only bad thing is that the penguins can be seen more during the cold water season, although the albatrosses can be seen on Española Island from April to December.

High season in the Galapagos: The months of June, July, August and from December 20th until January 5th are considered high season in the Galapagos. If you’re planning to go on those dates, I would recommend reserving day tours and accommodation 4 months in advance.

Low season: September is the only month considered low season since the weather and ocean currents aren’t ideal. However, it’s one of the best months to spot wildlife.

Climatic seasons: There are two seasons in the Galapagos Islands, cold (known as “garúa” season due to the constant light drizzle) and warm.
 

 
 

---

---

 
 

What to take to the Galapagos?

Consider the possibility of taking long hikes through wet and dry terrain, as well as other physical activities. This is what I would pack:

What can’t you take to the Galapagos?

Tourists cannot take pets, seeds, or drones to any of the islands.
If you want to see a complete list of things you can and cannot take to the Galapagos, download images 1 – 2
 
 

Galapagos Time zone

It’s important to know the time difference between your country of origin and the Galapagos Islands (GMT-6) so that you reprogram your watch and cellphone while traveling.

 
 

---

POLITICAS DE USO

• Al reservar hospedaje en cada isla, obtendras 10 dolares por isla, es decir si reservas en las 3 islas hospedajes obtendrias 30 dolares de descuento por persona al contratar tours diarios en las 3 islas.
• Al usar el descuento en los tours contratados con ChokoTrip, las reservas de hospedajes no podran ser canceladas ni se aplicaria ninguna politica de cancelacion ni cambio de fecha de los hoteles.
• Para acceder al descuento, la compra de los tours debe ser realizar por la misma persona que reservó en el siguiente formulario de la pagina de ChokoTrip
• Solo para reservas del 2024

Close