How to Visit the Galapagos Islands on a Budget?
The Galapagos Islands often conjure images of luxury cruises and high price tags, but visiting this iconic destination doesn’t have to break the bank.
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ll reveal insider tips and budget-savvy strategies to help you plan an unforgettable, no-frills adventure to the Galapagos on a budget.
With the right planning and a few smart choices, experiencing the magic of the Galapagos is totally doable—even on a shoestring.
Keep reading for information about the different types of Galapagos budget tours available, the cheapest months to book & travel, how to save on Galapagos flights, how to find last-minute deals, and many more Galapagos on a budget tips.
- Is it possible to Visit Galapagos on a Tight Budget?
- Which Type of Galapagos Tour is Cheapest?
- How to plan a DIY Galapagos Trip on a budget?
- When is it Cheapest to Visit the Galapagos Islands?
- When is it Cheapest to Book a Galapagos Vacation?
- Cheap Galapagos Flights - How to Get to the Galapagos on a Budget?
- A Typical Galapagos Budget Trip Cost Breakdown.
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Get a FREE personalised quote todayIs it Possible to Visit Galapagos on a Tight Budget?
In short, yes, there are budget ways to visit the Galapagos Islands.
That said, it’s true to say that Galapagos is a more expensive travel destination than the rest of Latin America.
So, how to do Galapagos travel on the cheap?
There are various ways to travel to Galapagos, so let’s delve into the choices and the costs.
Which Type of Galapagos Tour is Cheapest?
1. Galapagos Budget Cruises
Cruising is the most popular and traditional method of visiting the Galapagos Islands.
If your budget stretches to a cruise, then do it! A cruise itinerary will take you further afield to sites that cannot be visited on other tours or by yourself. Although cruises are the priciest Galapagos choice, there are ways of finding good price deals.
A typical 8-day Galapagos Cruise can easily cost in excess of $5,000 per person these days. But if you know how and where to look, there are ways to find incredible cruise deals.
Budget Galapagos Yachts
Start by checking out the standard class cruises at the budget end of the Galapagos yacht scale. Published 8-day rates on the Golondrina yacht, for example, list at $3,190 – not a bad entry point.
How about we look at a shorter 5-day trip? Now we’re talking $1,840 on the Golondrina, plus different itineraries to choose between.
Remember that cruises are all inclusive, so these prices have you covered for accommodation, food, guiding, transport, and activities.
Special Galapagos Cruise Price Deals
Another method for finding affordable Galapagos cruises is to check for special price deals. It’s not uncommon to find 2-for-1 offers, or $1000 off on Galapagos yachts that are struggling to sell their spaces in advance.
Try using Happy Gringo’s live cruise tool below for a quick and easy way to find the best deals. Just use the left-hand menu to filter for discounts.
CHECK OUT LIVE GALAPAGOS CRUISE AVAILABILITIES
Sometimes there are price deals to be had well in advance, other times you might have to keep checking in the months leading up to travel.
Last Minute Galapagos Cruise Deals
For those willing to take the risk, it’s also possible to shop around for a Last-minute Galapagos cruise. The idea here is that yachts don’t want to sail with empty berths, so they may offer heavy discounts in the days right before departure.
In truth, it usually goes one of 2 ways. You either strike it lucky and save $$$, or you miss out on cruise options altogether if there are no last-minute spaces available. We’ll discuss this more in the “When is it Cheapest to Book a Galapagos Vacation?” section below.
2. Galapagos Budget Tours on Land
Another increasingly popular way to visit the islands is with a Galapagos land tour. These are often the cheapest type of pre-organized Galapagos tour that can be booked through a travel agency.
Land tours are personalized itineraries using hotel bases on inhabited islands, and including activities each day to make the most of your time at Galapagos.
Advantages of land tours are the flexibility and freedom that they offer in personalizing your itinerary and activities.
In terms of price for 2 travelers, our 8-day Galapagos Explorer costs from $1,890 per person with overnight stays on 3 different islands. Cheaper still, the 6-day Galapagos Discovery is from $1,485 per person with hotels on 2 different islands.
As you can see, there are significant savings to be had on a Galapagos land tour in comparison to cruising.
3. DIY Galapagos: The Ultimate Money-Saver
For those on a real shoestring budget, the ultimate money-saver is to plan a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Galapagos trip.
In simple terms, this means getting out to the islands as cheaply as possible, staying in budget, no-frills hostels or camping, eating out at local “huecas” (holes in the wall), and visiting free sites where no local guide or tour is required.
While it’s true that you won’t see as much as on a cruise itinerary, you will be surprised by how many Galapagos animals and birds you’re able to tick off by doing it yourself.
How to do a DIY Galapagos trip? Pre-planning goes a long way, as does flexibility as you travel.
Invest Time in Planning your DIY Galapagos Trip
There are lots of free resources on our Galapagos Travel Planning page, so have a browse around to get started.
You’ll want to base yourself on a combo of the inhabited islands, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and/or Isabela.
Here are some of the elements you’ll want to consider carefully and plan...
Budget Accommodation in the Galapagos
You will need to book Galapagos accommodation in advance, as proof of stay is required for your TCT card immigration access to the islands.
Where to find cheap Galapagos hostel listings? Try Booking.com or Expedia.com, or have a go at contacting establishments directly by email. It may be possible to bargain prices down if you plan to stay for multiple days.
Another option is to bring your own tent and camp in Galapagos. However, this is only allowed in very limited locations away from main towns, and with prior permission from the National Park Authority.
Budget Food in the Galapagos
Wander around the main towns and you’ll find cheap eats without too much difficulty. From street food vendors to restaurants frequented by locals, you just have to shop around.
Try heading a few blocks away from the main tourist areas, where food prices quickly become more affordable for everyday living.
Each main Galapagos town also has a simple supermarket to buy and prepare your own meals.
Cheap Activities in the Galapagos
We recommend to focus on visitor sites that can be visited without a tour or guide. This way it’s easy to save pennies by making visiting by yourself.
Here is a list of cheap or free Galapagos visitor sites to get your started:
Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora:
San Cristobal, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno:
Las Tijeretas
Interpretation Center
Playa Mann
Punta Carola
La Loberia and El Barranco
Isabela, Puerto Villamil:
Tortoise breeding center
Humedales wetlands
To add variety, it’s also easy to rent bikes, snorkel gear, and wetsuits for the day at local travel agencies in each town.
The same agencies offer navigable day tours too, sometimes at negotiable rates.
Getting Around the Galapagos on a Budget
Galapagos speedboat ferries offer affordable transportation between inhabited islands.
Buses run across Santa Cruz Island, while taxis can be shared to get to beaches or other sites that are further afield.
Also, check out our detailed blog post on how to get from Baltra to Puerto Ayora cheaply by yourself.
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From a Galapagos destination expert todayVolunteering Opportunities at the Galapagos
What about Galapagos volunteering as a way to visit the islands on the cheap?
Volunteer projects are available, but often you’ll be asked to pay from your own pocket to cover expenses.
A good source of information to investigate Galapagos volunteer positions is the Darwin Foundation.
For DIY visitors, I hope these resources help you in Galapagos trip planning. One final tip from me is to allow enough time and flexibility at the islands to make this option work effectively.
Photo taken from: Charles darwin foundation Website
When is it Cheapest to Visit the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are a popular year-round destination, so there is no off-peak season per se.
The best advice, therefore, is to avoid travel during the Galapagos high-season months. That is, during Christmas, New Year's, Spring Break, Easter, and the summer months of July & August.
The months with the lowest demand at the islands typically come right after the summer, in September, October, and November. Also, February and March see lighter travel demand. That is not necessarily to say that prices will drop by much, though.
When is it Cheapest to Book a Galapagos Vacation?
Our usual advice to Galapagos travelers is to book as far ahead as possible. Why? Spaces on cruises, tours, and at hotels are limited, and demand is high. For most visitors, Galapagos is a bucket list vacation, so why risk missing out or doing it the wrong way?
For budget travelers, however, it’s worth waiting until a couple of months prior to travel to begin shopping around. If you spot a compelling special offer, then book it. If not, let the weeks tick by, and keep checking Galapagos availabilities.
Last-minute deals do happen, and you can see amazing cost savings. This could mean booking online in the week prior to travel, or even chancing your arm and shopping for deals in person in Quito or at Galapagos on the days before you want to cruise.
Note that Last Minute deals only apply to Galapagos cruises, not to other tours or hotel stays.
The flip side is that the risk of waiting until the last minute is the risk of missing out on a cruise altogether, so do have a plan B in place if you take this route. What will you do if all cruise spaces have sold out already by the time you are ready to shop?
If you do plan to book on the fly in Ecuador or Galapagos, come prepared with lots of cash, or expect to pay 4-5% in additional credit card fees on top of your purchase. Also, allow a full day for the process of shopping around and confirming your cruise.
How to Get to Galapagos on a Budget
We are often asked about cheap flights to the Galapagos Islands.
Bottom line, flights will be one of the biggest expenses on a Galapagos budget trip, so of course any potential savings are welcome.
Return flights to the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador typically cost in the ballpark of $500-550 per person, but can be found for as little as $300-350.
Here are some tips to find the cheapest Galapagos flight rates:
- Book flights as far in advance as possible; rates usually start out lower. Google Flights is a handy travel planner to compare flight prices across multiple dates. Once you find your flight, go directly to the airline webpage to make your booking.
- Keep your dates and flight route flexible until you find the right deal. Flight routes to/from Guayaquil are usually a little cheaper than those from Quito, and may fit into your mainland Ecuador itinerary.
- Both Latam and Avianca airlines offer cheaper rates for those traveling without hold luggage. While this may not be suitable for everyone, it can be an easy way to save on your flight. For light packers, this is a great option, or, for example, for a couple who could take just one shared suitcase to the islands between them.
- One word of warning – beware of online rates that are for local Ecuadorians. If a rate is just too good to be true, then it’s likely applicable for locals only who have an Ecuadorian ID card for citizens and residents. International travelers who buy these tickets without an ID card are usually charged the difference at check-in.
For more information about Galapagos Flights, check out our posts on How to get to Galapagos and Galapagos Airports.
Galapagos on a Budget – A Typical Cost Breakdown
So, let’s pull all of the above information together.
First, though, there are 2 more unavoidable Galapagos expenses that we have so far not mentioned.
Galapagos National Park Fee – this is a flat fee per person of $200, regardless of how many days you stay at the islands. Discounts are available for under 12’s ($100), and Ecuadorian ID card holders ($30).
Transit Control Card (TCT) – Every visitor must pay the $20 fee for this immigration pass.
Important Note: These budget examples are for comparison purposes only. You might be able to save or spend more depending on your travel dates and personal travel preferences.
A Typical DIY Galapagos Trip Budget
(All prices are per person)
Flights booked in advance $350.
Entry fee + TCT $220.
Hostel $15 per person per night in double/twin.
Activities $0 (assuming you only visit free sites without a guide).
Gear rental $40 (bike + snorkel gear for 2 days).
Transport costs $70 (2 local ferries, various water taxis, bus & boats to Baltra airport).
Meals allow $15-20 each day.
TOTAL PRICE for 8 days: from $900-1000 per person.
A Typical Galapagos Land Trip Budget
(All prices are per person)
Flights booked in advance $350.
Entry fee + TCT $220.
8-day Tour (Galapagos Explorer, 2 people, backpacker rate) $1,890.
Food $15-20 each day (lunch and dinner)
TOTAL PRICE for 8 days: from $2,580-2,700.
A Typical Galapagos Cruise Budget
(All prices are per person. I assume a cheap to mid-range yacht that is booked 1 month prior to travel)
Flights booked in advance $350.
Entry fee + TCT $220.
8-day Cruise $2,375 budget to $3,900 mid-range
TOTAL PRICE for 8 days: from $2,945 to $4,470 (more savings may be possible for last-minute deals)
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In conclusion, yes, it certainly is possible to visit the Galapagos Islands on a budget.
While the Galapagos are undeniably one of the most expensive travel destinations in Latin America, there are ways to visit without breaking the bank.
I hope there are enough tips and suggestions in this post to get you started. Advance planning will be critical to your success, as will the decision between a DIY trip, land tour, or Galapagos cruise.
One last word of advice: Galapagos is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime travel destination. So, do whatever is necessary to squeeze your budget and get your self out there! But, don’t skimp on the parts of the experience that are most important to you.
Good luck in finding the right balance for your dream bucket list Galapagos vacation 😊
