With a memory card full of pictures of sleeping sea lions and lazy iguanas, I’m back from a ten-day holiday in the Galapagos. This place is incomparable, and I’ve had an amazing time. However, it’s also very expensive. This guide will give you a few tips for backpacking here without spending a fortune.
Cruises and Tours.
If you’re really serious about seeing as much of the Galapagos as possible, a cruise is the best way to do this. DO NOT book a cruise before coming here. Online travel agents are up to 50% more expensive and it’s better to wait until you arrive. There are only a few cruises, and the travel agents here are selling the exact same deal as those on the web. Same goes for daily tours (except on Isabela).
Shop around.
Along with hotels/hostels and restaurants, travel agencies are the most common businesses you’ll see here. Never jump at the first price you’re offered. Shop around and haggle. I found that women offered me a better deal – around $110 – 130, whereas men wanted to charge me $130 – 150. I tried about 7-8 different agencies and ended up paying $100, which was much less than anyone else had paid on my tour. It pays to shop around.
Hostels
Two pieces of advice for hostels.
Firstly, this may seem counter-intuitive since this is about travelling on a budget, but consider spending a little more on your hostel if you’re here for a long time. You may not want to do something every day. If your hostel has a garden or a common area, the time you’ll spend here quickly makes the extra $5 you’d spend in a café seem worth it.
Secondly, as with travel agencies, shop around. A lot of the hostels in the Galapagos aren’t on Booking.com or Hostelworld. Wait until you get here, and you can find a private room for as little as $15.
Breakfast
Breakfast is expensive and the minimum in most hotels and restaurants is $5. Go to a panaderia (bakery) or supermarket instead. For an (admittedly poor imitation of a) croissant and a drink, it’s a saving of at least $3 a day, which quickly mounts up.
Eating out
When looking at the menus in the centre and the seafront of Puerto Ayora especially, food can seem expensive. My taxi driver told me to go to ‘los Kioskos’as a cheaper option but on closer inspection, it’s an overpriced tourist trap. Instead, I suggest heading into the residential areas. I found some great restaurants where I could get traditional Ecuadorian food for $5. If you’re bored of pollo broaster(KFC style fried chicken), there are a couple of great international restaurants in San Cristobal, serving sushi and Mexican food. There a little more expensive than traditional places, but still way cheaper than waterfront tourist traps.
Coffee
I remember when my Italian tutor first told me that she took her coffee machine with her on holiday. I thought she’d lost it. 7 years later I’ve realised it’s a fantastic idea, and I’m carrying mine around South America.
The Galapagos islands have their own brand of coffee, but it’s extremely expensive. If you have a hotel with a kitchen (not as common as you’d think), make your coffee here.
Packing List
Camera
The islands are beautiful, and the animals are photogenic. Sea lions and iguanas especially like to pose. You’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t have a camera.
GoPro
I don’t have one of these. After swimming with sea lions and turtles, I really wish I did.
Factor 50+ sun cream
I cleverly packed factor 20 sun cream. Fine for your summer holiday in the Mediterranean, but here that’s about as much use as coating yourself in toothpaste. Low factor sun cream, or even worse, none at all, means you’ll be so red you risk a frigate bird trying to mate with you.
Binoculars
For all the birdwatchers out there, these are pretty useful.
Swimsuit
Stunning beaches and snorkelling. Why wouldn’t you? For day tours and diving, wetsuits come as part of the price so you don’t need to worry about that.
Microfibre towel
Always an essential part of any backpacker’s… backpack, lie on it on the beach and dry yourself instantly before folding it back into your bag.
Seasickness tablets
Boat crossings between islands are not on ferries. You can feel every wave and your stomach churns long after alighting the boat.
Hiking boots
There are some great hikes in the Galapagos, especially on Isabela. Bring hiking boots to keep you comfortable and safe.
Raincoat
I can’t speak for the high season, but every morning in November, I was greeted by fine, drizzling rain.
Cash
There only ATMs are in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) and Puerto Baquerizo (San Cristobal). Come prepared – the internet is poor so if you have a travel card, load it before you arrive.
Water bottle
In most hotels, you’re able to fill up your water bottle. It’s useful to have one of these as buying a bottle of water everyday gets expensive. Don’t drink from the tap, though.
If you think I’ve forgotten anything, write it in the comments!
