Galapagos cruise budgets

Cheap Galapagos cruises are advertised by many agencies on the mainland. This is a buyer beware situation. While everyone wants to stretch their travel money as far as possible, booking a cheap boat without doing your homework could prove a costly mistake. When costs are low it means corners have been cut somewhere, most often with the quality of the guides, the condition of the boat and the operator’s environmental credentials.

If budget is a concern and you have some flexibility in your schedule, you can try booking a last-minute cruise a few days before your arrival, or turn up in Puerto Ayora (on Santa Cruz Island) and shop around on the ground.

If you take this route, do some research beforehand to have an idea of going rates and what you can expect from your cruise experience.

Give yourself enough time to visit a few agencies to compare offerings so that you don’t end up feeling pressured to book something you’re not completely confident about. It’s often possible to get deeply discounted cruises this way, especially as a solo traveller on boats looking to fill those last empty spots.

You may cruise, you may lose – manage your expectations and be okay with doing (awesome!) land-based day trips.

Note that prices vary according to the season, ship class and trip duration. Some ship operators allow you to book direct via their website, others are retailed via travel agencies. While booking direct is normally cheaper, a travel agent will organise your cruise along with your airfare, mainland accommodation, ground transfers and, most importantly, peace of mind. For many this is a worthwhile investment.

Typically the price includes your accommodation for the duration of the cruise, all meals and snacks, and all guided excursions. Higher classes of ships will include equipment like snorkelling, wetsuits and kayaks, whie economy classes may charge extra (or not have them at all!)

Land-based tours on the Galapagos are priced according to length of stay and the accommodation standard. A six-day island hopping trip visiting Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal Islands might cost between $4,000 and $5,000 per person

There’s no denying that a Galapagos cruise can be a pricey vacation. When weighing up how much to spend it’s useful to know where some of the costs come from.

Firstly there’s the guides and staff. All cruises must be accompanied by at least one certified guide, this is as much for the protection of the ecosystem as for your own benefit. Your guide is a major component of the overall experience, you’re paying for highly educated, in-depth professional expertise—make sure you get full use of it and ask lots of questions!

Top-end cruise operators also pride themselves on the quality of onboard cuisine, with highly trained chefs and three excellent meals per day. Some cruises can be as much about the food as the wildlife.

Consider too that much of the food, along with the fuel, fresh water (which is very scarce on the islands), and all other supplies, has to be imported 600 miles from the mainland.

It is ordinarily possible to visit the inhabited islands without a cruise or tour. There are hostels and budget hotels on Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela.

There are also reasonably priced, mid-range hotels and guest houses on the inhabited islands which can be booked in advance via the main hotel booking sites.

Public speed boat ferries cost around $30 each way and travel between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, and Santa Cruz and Isabela. There is no public ferry to Floreana. Speed boats leave in the morning from each island and return in the early evening. Schedules change, your accommodation should have the current schedules.

There are a number of activities you can do independently on the inhabited islands. You can rent snorkelling equipment, bikes and kayaks in the towns of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela. Surfboards and SUP equipment are also available from tour operators on San Cristobal and Isabela Islands. There are short hikes or bike routes along the coast and inland on all three islands.

Note however that you’ll need to be accompanied by a certified guide to visit the uninhabited islands and see the best of the islands’ wildlife.

You can eat relatively cheaply by finding the places that the locals eat. Binford St on Santa Cruz is lined with food kiosks selling local seafood. Playa Mann beach on San Cristobal is close to town and home to a daily food court that offers local fare for less than the tourist restaurants. The main square in the town of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island has several restaurants that serve set menus.

If your hostel has a kitchen, you can find fruits and vegetables and basic ingredients in markets on the inhabited islands. Seafood is available where the fishing ships come in, and there are a few grocery stores offering basic staples.