Galapagos Ferry
The Galapagos ferry makes travel between islands quick and easy. For Galapagos tourists who are not booked on a live-aboard cruise, the ferry schedule will be your go-to means of transport.
However, what many visitors don’t realize is that careful planning is needed to organize successful hops between Galapagos islands.
So, for sure, you’ll want to pre-book Galapagos ferry tickets. It can be a little confusing, which is why we’ve put together this blog post to guide you smoothly through the process.
So, keep reading for all of the information you’ll need about the Galapagos Ferry Service. How, Where, and When to buy tickets. Which ferry routes are in operation? What is the ferry schedule? Plus, much more besides.
What is the Galapagos Ferry?
Known locally in Spanish as “La Lancha”, the Galapagos ferry is in fact a speedboat used to hop between the inhabited islands of the archipelago.
Galapagos Ferries are fast and convenient for both locals and tourists to use. In truth though, they are also usually crammed full and rather uncomfortable.
It’s a very bumpy ride, and almost certainly will not be your favorite memory of the Galapagos Islands. But, if you wish to visit different islands as part of a Galapagos land trip, then the ferry is a necessary evil.
So, seasick pills at the ready, let’s learn more about Galapagos ferries.
Galapagos Ferry Map
Let’s start at the beginning by looking at the Galapagos Ferry route map.
As you can see, there are 3 different Galapagos ferry routes between islands.
- Santa Cruz – San Cristobal
- Santa Cruz – Isabela
- Santa Cruz – Floreana
Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz is the central hub for all routes. It’s not possible to travel directly from San Cristobal to Isabela, for example, without passing through Puerto Ayora to change boats.
The ferry only serves the inhabited islands. To visit those further afield on the map you’ll need to consider taking a Galapagos Cruise.
How to Book Galapagos Ferry Tickets?
Direct Booking Online
Galapagos ferry tickets can be booked directly online. There are multiple local websites that offer booking services, although none in particular that we can recommend over the others.
These sites have a complete list of scheduled departures each day, so you can pre-book tickets in advance. This option is perfect for those who are DIY traveling.
Do, however, note that some people have reported difficulties processing payments online using foreign credit cards on these sites.
2. Pre-book an Organized Tour
If you are traveling on an organized Galapagos Land Tour then your travel agency will likely take care of the logistics of Galapagos Ferry tickets for you.
Happy Gringo, for example, offers this service to all clients who join one of our tours.
This can be a great way to avoid all of the hassle of the ferry ticketing process yourself.
When to Buy Galapagos Ferry Tickets?
How far in advance to buy Galapagos Ferry tickets? We recommend buying tickets at least 1-2 weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.
If you can buy them sooner, then even better, especially during high season travel months (school summer vacations, Easter break, Christmas & New Year).
Galapagos Ferry Facts
How Much Does the Galapagos Islands Ferry Cost?
Galapagos ferry prices vary by route and operator.
At the time of writing, generic one-way prices are:
- Route Price per person
- Santa Cruz – San Cristobal $45
- Santa Cruz – Isabela $40
- Santa Cruz – Floreana $50-$60
In addition, passengers also have to cover their own fare on the short water taxi ride from port to ferry (and vice versa), at a cost of $1 per person.
There may also be port fees to be paid by passengers on the day.
Galapagos Ferry Logistics
Even once you have bought your Galapagos Ferry tickets, it is quite common not to know the name of your ferry until the day before departure.
On days of high demand, there may be multiple ferries operating, and captains swapping passengers between ferries to fill each one up.
So, try to be patient and flexible. Check the name of your ferry on the day before departure. At the port, look for your ferry representative. They will check that you are on the list, or inform you of any late change onto an alternative boat.
We recommend arriving at the port at least ½ to 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This allows time to first queue at the luggage control counter, and then to find your ferry rep without too much stress.
Galapagos Ferry Schedule
This is the Galapagos Ferry departure schedule at time of writing:
- Route Departure Times
- Santa Cruz – San Cristobal 07:00 and 15:00
- San Cristobal – Santa Cruz 07:00 and 15:00
- Route Departure Times
- Santa Cruz – Isabela 07:00 and 15:00
- Isabela – Santa Cruz 06:00 and 15:00
- Route Departure Times
- Santa Cruz – Floreana 08:00
- Floreana – Santa Cruz 15:00
All ferry journeys last approximately 2 hours, depending on sea conditions.
Which is the Best Galapagos Ferry Company?
There are different ferry operators, but we consider that none are better or worse than the others per se. Anyway, considering that the swapping of passengers between ferries is a common practice by ferry captains, it is difficult to promise which ferry any given person will be on.
In general, I have found the San Cristobal ferries to be of better quality than the Isabela ones.
Also, the few times I have been lucky enough to ride a ferry with rows of forward-facing seats it has been a more comfortable ride than the typical side bench ferries.
But often it comes down to pot-luck on the day.
Hopefully, in the future, the operation and quality of Galapagos ferry services will be better regulated and controlled. Until that day, all I can recommend is to be relaxed and flexible and keep those sea-sickness pills close to hand just in case.
Is the Galapagos Ferry Safe?
It is worth noting that there have been isolated incidents and past accidents involving Galapagos inter-island ferries.
These problems are of course far from common and have fortunately never impacted Happy Gringo passengers over our 20+ years of Galapagos touring.
We do though always strongly recommend using the lifejackets provided on board, from departure to arrival.
Galapagos Inter-Island Flights
For those not keen on a bumpy Galapagos ferry crossing, there is an alternative means of traveling between islands at the Galapagos.
Emetebe Airline operates small Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander planes as an air taxi service between islands.
Service routes even include a direct hop from Isabela to San Cristobal island, which is a big time-saver compared to the ferry connection to make the same journey.
The down-side? Well, at $180-270 round trip per person, the Galapagos air taxi is not for all budgets. There is also a luggage limit restriction of 11kg (25 pounds) per person.
So, there you have it. The Galapagos ferry service may not be perfect, but it is affordable for most budgets and convenient to use. I for one prefer to take my chances on the ferry rather than the expensive inter-island flights.
You might also find our How to get to Galapagos and Galapagos Airport blogs useful, for tips on getting from mainland Ecuador to the archipelago.
For ideas on popular Galapagos Land Trips, check out Happy Gringo’s 6-day Galapagos Discovery itinerary, or longer 8-day Galapagos Explorer trip. Both have Galapagos ferry tickets and logistics included, so you can enjoy the trip hassle-free and without problems.
Happy Gringo can also custom-make your Galapagos itinerary, tailoring your vacation to your precise needs.
In conclusion, the Galapagos Ferry Service is a cheap, convenient, and easy way of traveling between islands. The ferry schedules are reliable, and tickets can be booked online or through your travel agent.
But, passengers beware, go prepared for a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. The logistics and operation of the Galapagos ferries may seem a bit ad-hoc and unorganized on the day, but the ferry does do its job of getting tourists from A to B.
Whether traveling under your own steam or on an organized land tour itinerary, the Galapagos ferry will likely be your best means of travel.
Note: All information is correct at the time of publishing, but may be subject to change by local authorities.
