{"id":4389,"date":"2019-02-22T10:45:06","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T10:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/22\/galapagos-tours-for-backpackers\/"},"modified":"2021-07-19T16:58:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T21:58:16","slug":"galapagos-tours-for-backpackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderbusecuador.com\/es\/galapagos-tours-for-backpackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Gal\u00e1pagos Tours for Backpackers: All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, the much coveted Gal\u00e1pagos Islands. They\u2019re on everyone\u2019s bucket list, am I right?
\nThe Gal\u00e1pagos Islands represents a milestone in scientific discovery. It\u2019s where Charles Darwin found his finches and the inspiration to write (eventually) \u201cOn the Origins of Species\u201d. It\u2019s where you can sunbathe next to sea lions and watch archaic tortoises mate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But, let\u2019s face it, it isn\u2019t really the epitome of a \u201cbudget destination\u201d. In fact, it\u2019s sad to say that most Ecuadorians themselves haven\u2019t been to the Gal\u00e1pagos!<\/p>\n

For those of you that want to see one of the planet\u2019s natural wonders (before it\u2019s too late), read on! The following blog is our take on the best way to plan Gal\u00e1pagos tours for backpackers like you TODAY (but perhaps, more realistically, in the next 6 months).<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s so special about the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands?<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s so special about the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, you ask? What\u2019s so special about the\u2026 I\u2019m personally offended that you\u2019ve asked this question.<\/p>\n

Apart from its significance in modern theories of evolutionary biology, Gal\u00e1pagos is a special place because:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Many of the animals have evolved in isolation of continental species and are, therefore, really special and endemic (you won\u2019t find them anywhere else IN THE WORLD).<\/li>\n
  2. Some of these animals (including some of the endemic ones) aren\u2019t afraid of humans so they will literally sunbathe, nest and waddle happily next to you.<\/li>\n
  3. The landscapes around these islands (including the underwater landscapes) are ASTOUNDING.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I personally love point 2 above, the most. It\u2019s really one of the strongest selling points. I don\u2019t understand why more tour companies don\u2019t use this angle in their advertisements. E.g. \u201cBronze your boobies with the Boobies\u201d. (There are, unfortunately, no nude beaches on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.)<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/h2>\n

    Why visit the Gal\u00e1pagos TODAY.<\/h2>\n

    While I\u2019m fully aware you may not be able to the visit the Galapagos TODAY, you should feel a sense of urgency about visiting the Islands in the near future.<\/p>\n

    Some of you may have already guessed why. I\u2019ll give you a couple of hints: Climate change + Islands. Search for \u201cplaces to visit before they disappear<\/a>\u201d in Google and you\u2019re guaranteed to find the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p>\n

    According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust<\/a>, climate change can have \u201cdevastating effects on the wildlife populations in Gal\u00e1pagos.\u201d Many animal species on the Islands rely on the bounty of the sea for their survival, and as sea temperatures rise, marine life, including the all-essential algae and seaweed are beginning to dwindle.<\/p>\n

    The El Ni\u00f1o phenomenon, a destructive weather pattern, has been occurring with more frequency as the global temperature increases, leading to more rainfall on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands. This, in turn, affects land-based animals like the Gal\u00e1pagos Tortoise, whose nests may be decimated due to rainfall.<\/p>\n

    Climate change and its effect on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands isn\u2019t breaking news. This has been going on for a while. However, and unfortunately, drastic changes are being observed by local biologists and even visitors. Declining numbers of penguins, fish populations, marine iguanas and sealions suggest a grim future for this paradisal place.<\/p>\n

    Why is it so expensive to visit the Gal\u00e1pagos?<\/h2>\n

    Four main reasons:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. It\u2019s a long way from anywhere<\/li>\n
    2. There\u2019s an entrance fee to the national park and provincial government fee<\/li>\n
    3. The flights are expensive (for various reasons; among them, greed)<\/li>\n
    4. Due to its remote location, protected areas and geography, food has to be flown or shipped in from the mainland, making it more expensive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      I don\u2019t think people realize how far the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands are<\/strong> from the South American continent. It\u2019s 1195 km (742.5 miles) away from Guayaquil, and takes 1.5 hours by plane.<\/p>\n

      So when you travel to Ecuador to visit the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, you\u2019re really traveling twice. Once to the Ecuadorian mainland, and once to the Islands. If you think in terms of flight costs, please consider this and add between $200-$400 to your transport budget, on top of your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.<\/p>\n

      Then there\u2019s the park fee<\/strong>. The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands consists of two protected areas: The Gal\u00e1pagos National Park (around 97% of the total land mass) and the Gal\u00e1pagos Marine Reserve. The Gal\u00e1pagos National Park happens to be the only Ecuadorian national park to charge an entrance fee: $100 per person if you are non-Ecuadorian resident, which can be paid in cash upon arrival.<\/p>\n

      Plus there\u2019s a $20 \u201cmigratory control card\u201d fee, which helps the local government to better control migration to these islands.<\/p>\n

      By the time you\u2019ve landed in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, you\u2019ve probably already spent between $300-$500, and that\u2019s not counting accommodation, food, or activities.<\/p>\n

      Finally, since the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands are remote, there is only so much competition between hostels, tour companies, yachts etc. Those that exist have the luxury of charging hefty rates and access to the Islands and its activities quickly becomes rather exclusive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/h2>\n

      So you\u2019re interested in Gal\u00e1pagos tours for backpackers?<\/h2>\n

      You probably skimmed through the estimated costs above and thought, \u201cHell no, the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands can wait\u2026\u201d but, believe it or not, this could be a more affordable vacation than you\u2019re imagining. While you won\u2019t be able to cut certain costs (entrance fees, flight from Guayaquil or Quito), in the following guide, we\u2019ll give you some tips to minimize expenses.<\/p>\n

      Cheap flights to the Gal\u00e1pagos<\/h3>\n

      When searching for flights for your backpacking trip through the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, use Skyscanner.com<\/a>. The advantage of this flight search engine is that it will only show you flights that are available to non-Ecuadorians. Otherwise you\u2019ll come across an incredible price, get all excited, only to be disappointed when asked for your Ecuadorian ID number.<\/p>\n

      Also, in Skyscanner, use the \u201cwhole month\u201d setting to view the cheapest dates.<\/p>\n

      There are 3 airlines that fly to the Gal\u00e1pagos: LATAM, TAME and Avianca. TAME and Avianca regularly compete for the lowest price, according to reviews, TAME tends to have more issues with delays and cancellations.<\/p>\n

      If you\u2019re lucky, you can find flights to Baltra Island (GPS) for $180 one-way from Guayaquil and around $200 one-way from Quito. You can also fly into San Crist\u00f3bal Airport (SCY) on San Crist\u00f3bal Island, but flights tend to be a little pricier.<\/p>\n

      *Always open a private or incognito browser<\/em><\/p>\n

      When to book cheap flights to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h2>\n

      The tourist high season on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands takes place during Christmas break and then between the months of June and early September. This means, as expected, there will be more tourists visiting and higher prices at hotels and on tours.<\/p>\n

      Gal\u00e1pagos weather and tours<\/h3>\n

      The rainy season (which also the hot season) takes place between December and June and fewer visitors come around this time. The advantage is that it\u2019ll feel a bit quieter on the Islands, the water will be warmer, and you can still expect to see a ton of wildlife.<\/p>\n

      The coldest month of the year is September, which is also the month with the least amount of touristic activity.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/h2>\n

      Exploring the Gal\u00e1pagos by land, backpacker-style<\/h2>\n

      The reason a trip to the Gal\u00e1pagos is normally so expensive is because visitors think they\u2019ll see the best of the Islands by boat and opt for a cruise package. These are all-inclusive, yes, but also VERY expensive. You can expect to pay from $800 to $3,000 for a 5-6 night cruise.<\/p>\n

      What many travelers don\u2019t realize it that you can see many sights if you travel by land and do day tours<\/strong>. What you won\u2019t have access to are some of the more distant islands, but you\u2019ll be able to hop between Santa Cruz, San Crist\u00f3bal, Isabela, and Floreana islands and between those four there is more than enough to see on a week-long trip.<\/p>\n

      This option will also save you heaps of dinero<\/strong>, and you can expect to spend around $600 – $1000 on your entire trip<\/strong>, including your flight from Guayaquil. It\u2019s a wide range because you might decide to splurge on a special meal, or decide to go on that hammerhead shark SCUBA dive…
      \nAlways set some money aside for those moments, especially if you know you\u2019re weak to FOMO and your personal mantra is YOLO. Once there, you\u2019ll definitely feel like it\u2019s worth the splurge.<\/p>\n

      Airbnbs and hostels on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h3>\n

      As with flights, always book your accommodations in advance! There are only so many affordable airbnbs and they\u2019ll get snatched quickly.<\/p>\n

      While the average price for an Airbnb on the Islands is $82 per night, you can find options for as little as $16 per night! That\u2019s a deal, and reviews said it was \u201csparkling clean\u201d.<\/p>\n

      In fact, just out of curiosity I searched for Airbnbs on the four accessible islands charging up to $30 per night and found 21 on Isla Isabela, 44 on Santa Cruz, 35 on San Crist\u00f3bal and, well, 1 on Isla Floreana.<\/p>\n

      Similarly, affordable hostels can be found on the islands from as little as $18 per night. The only island with no hostel options is Isla Floreana.<\/p>\n

      What about camping on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands?<\/h3>\n

      If you\u2019re out to save money, camping is usually the way to go. However, on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, you\u2019ll really only be able to camp around the populated towns on Santa Cruz, San Crist\u00f3bal, and Isabela.<\/p>\n

      Since the majority of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands are protected, camping is not allowed and you\u2019re always expected to enter with a certified guide.<\/p>\n

      If you\u2019re really set on camping, you\u2019ll notice that there are only a few options on TripAdvisor<\/a>. Some hostels may simply not advertise camping, but can be flexible if they have the space. We suggest you inquire directly about this option with various hostels along your route.<\/p>\n

      Dining like a backpacker on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h3>\n

      There are around 30,000 residents on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and they eat at regularly priced places for around $5 a meal. Always ask for the typical lunch menu \u201cplato del d\u00eda\u201d instead of selecting a specific dish from the menu.<\/p>\n

      Unfortunately, if you have specific dietary restrictions, you might not find many appetizing dishes at the local spots. You can always try to convince the owners to prepare a plate of sides (lentils\/menestra, rice\/arroz, plantain\/maduro, salad\/ensalada).<\/p>\n

      When stopping through the islands, keep your eyes open for affordable looking cafeterias that also look clean. The last thing you\u2019d want is to get food poisoning on this trip!<\/p>\n

      And, since you\u2019ll likely be going on day tours which usually include lunch, you may only need to budget for breakfast and dinner during your trip. You can also get some snack food or lunch ingredients at the grocery stores in the port towns and, if your hostel or Airbnb offers access to a kitchen, you can cook your own food, which is a great money-saving option.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/h2>\n

      Affordable (or free) activities for backpackers on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h2>\n

      Snorkeling –<\/h3>\n

      On the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands you\u2019re literally surrounded by water and can find incredible places to snorkel at every stop. You don\u2019t need a boat. You just need some snorkeling gear (can be rented or bring your own!) and possibly a taxi or ferry ride to get where you want to snorkel. San Crist\u00f3bal is known for its snorkeling spots and make sure to also visit Las Grietas on Santa Cruz Island.<\/p>\n

      Birdwatching, nature photography and wildlife spotting –<\/h3>\n

      If you love birds and can get your hands on a a pair of binoculars and a bird guide, you\u2019re set! Because of the abundance of nature and wildlife here, you won\u2019t want to forget your DSLR either.<\/p>\n

      Tortoise breeding centers –<\/h3>\n

      Nearly every island has a tortoise breeding center. WHen you first arrive, take note of where they are located if you want to see some mating tortoises or their offspring.<\/p>\n

      Kayaking –<\/h3>\n

      Once you\u2019ve rented a kayak ($20-40 per day), you can literally choose your own adventure. Combine this with some snorkeling gear and a tuna sandwich, and you\u2019re killing it at backpacking through the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p>\n

      Sunbathing –<\/h3>\n

      It\u2019s free and you can do it with the sea lions.<\/p>\n

      Strolling through town –<\/h3>\n

      While a little less exciting than the other activities, this is a great way to get a feel of the Islands, find cheap food and make new friends. You can\u2019t be underwater ALL day anyways.<\/p>\n

      Museums –<\/h3>\n

      There are a number a museums you can explore for free on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, like the San Crist\u00f3bal Interpretation Center and the Charles Darwin Research Station\/Tortoise Breeding Cener.<\/p>\n

      Hiking –<\/h3>\n

      Another free activity you can do on every island, especially on San Crist\u00f3bal. Ask at your Airbnb or hostel for recommended hiking routes on each island.<\/p>\n

      Free destinations for backpackers on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h2>\n

      Honestly, this section deserves a post of its own (stay tuned), but here\u2019s a rundown of some of the best free places to visit for backpackers on the Gal\u00e1pagos. Seriously, why go on a cruise when you can do all of this for FREE?<\/p>\n

      Please note that each location has closing hours and plan your day accordingly.<\/p>\n

      Santa Cruz Island<\/h3>\n

      Tortuga Bay (best beach ever), Los Alemanes beach, las Grietas (a deep chasm with good swimming), el Mirador de Los T\u00faneles (lava tunnels), el Chato Tortoise Reserve, los Gemelos Volcano Craters, las Ninfas Lagoon, Garrapatero Beach, and the Charles Darwin Research Station.<\/p>\n

      Isabela Island<\/h3>\n

      Concha de Perla snorkeling hole, Puerto Villamil Beach, Sierra Negro, Wall of Tears (El Muro de las L\u00e1grimas)<\/p>\n

      San Crist\u00f3bal Island<\/h3>\n

      Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, Mann Beach, Baquerizo Beach, Punta Carola Beach, Frigate Bird Hill, la Lober\u00eda Beach<\/a><\/p>\n

      Floreana Island<\/h3>\n

      Post Office Bay, the lava tunnels, Cormorant Point, Cerro Alieri and Asilo de la Paz, and la Lober\u00eda<\/p>\n

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      Travelling between Islands<\/h2>\n

      To hop from island to island, you\u2019ll need to use either the speed boats or ferries. These cost around $25-$35 each way. You can also book a ticket in advance on viator.com.<\/p>\n

      There are a number of ferry\/speed boat schedules published online, like the one below. Schedules change frequently for all transport in Ecuador. Always arrive 45 minutes early and double check with your hostel\/Airbnb upon arrival.<\/p>\n

      Ferry Schedule<\/h3>\n