How to Travel to the Galapagos on a Budget: Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador (South America)
- Chelsey Jacobs
- Jun 17, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 9, 2024
Salty hair don't care is the true vibe of the Galapagos. Not only are we one with the wildlife, but perhaps the Galapagos is their world and we are just living in it. That’s how it feels! Left, right, up, and down…Animals are crawling (or flopping) everywhere, especially iguanas, sea lions, crabs, and lizards!
You can travel to Galapagos, Ecuador (Santa Cruz is just one island) on a budget, just like I did, and now is the time to go!
For starters, whenever you turn they're asking you for your money.
There is a $20 tourist card that you must pay for at the airport before even boarding the flight to the Galapagos.
When you enter the Galapagos, there is a $100 entry fee (changing in August 2024 to $200) that you pay before leaving the airport.
Every ferry costs $30 (NO BARGAINING)
Santa Cruz is the main port for boats. f you want to go to Isla San Cris from Isabela (or vice versa) you must stop in Santa Cruz.
There are fees to enter each island
IDEAL ROUTE: Fly into Santa Cruz (GPS) and take the next boat to Isabela. Return to Santa Cruz and enjoy. Then head to San Cristobal (SCY) and fly out from there (or vice versa.)
Recommended amount of time: 3-4 days depending on your schedule
Airport Transportation Information
General Tips
You NEED USD before entering the island.
Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal are the main islands tourists visit
All islands have airports but Santa Cruz and San Cristobal fly to the mainland.
Buy your own snorkel on the mainland and carry it around with you everywhere!
Don't plan anything in advance until you get on the islands and bargain!
You do not need to check a bag! The cost of the ticket will rise a lot! I brought only a small backpack for two weeks, did laundry once, and was perfectly fine! Keep in mind that you will wear your bathing suit every single day!
AIRBNBs are worth it and very cheap if you're traveling with someone…
Make sure there is a kitchen because cooking breakfast will save you a ton of money.
Every island offers a menu of the day for lunch & dinner ranging from 5–10 USD!
MIDDLE ATM at Supermarket Proinsular is the best ATM across all the Islands for foreigners ($0-2 charge depending on your card)
a. Airport Transportation Information
When you land, take the $5 bus to the ferry
The ferry costs $1
After the ferry, you need to take another bus to the center for $5
2. Place of stay
Airbnb: Great Airbnb with AC and a kitchen, but a bit of a walk from the port
3. Activities
Take a taxi boat ($1) to Playa Alemanes and snorkel. There wasn’t much to see here but it's a gorgeous beach!
While you are out there, Las Grietas ($10) is around the corner and is a must! Tours start every hour at ..:30 and you need a guide to enter. I recommend going during lunch as there are way fewer people. If you walk towards Las Grietas there will be someone standing there for you get to a guide.
Tortuga Bay ($20 in total for the boat ride) White beach, very calm, and relaxing! As you walk onto the beach, there is another beach behind the main beach that's even more gorgeous. Filled with a lot of iguanas and possibly baby hammerheads if you snorkel. Kayaks to rent for $10 a person for an hour. If you want to stay all day, bring food and drinks because there are no vendors.
Darwin Center: Of course, it's good to check this out! It's a short tour you can do on your own.
There’s a beach called La Ratonera at the center, and one on the way to the center, Playa de la Estacion. Make sure to stop at both! I wouldn’t suggest snorkeling at either.
You can also do a Tortuga tour ($10) around the center with a guide! If you have a layover in Santa Cruz I recommend doing this to fill your day!
Baby sharks near the pier, especially at night!
4. Food
Menu of the Day Street: A street with (cheap) fixed prices for dinners and lunch! Including an entree, main course, and juice
TJ’s Restaurant: My favorite spot! Great meals for $10 and 2x$10 cocktails!
Panaderías are cheap and beyond delicious!
From Santa Cruz, You can go visit Isabela or San Cristobal via ferry or plane.
Visit:
Xoxo,
Chelsey
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