Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Galapagos Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Galapagos Islands. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Galapagos Islands?
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador.
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Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Prices
Caribbean Netherlands PricesGalapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $225Galapagos Islands $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $225, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $160. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Galapagos Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92Galapagos Islands $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184Galapagos Islands $130
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Galapagos Islands
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Galapagos Islands? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70Galapagos Islands $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- St. Kitts Beach Transfers Round trip: $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $137
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $137
- Transfer Airport - Hotel in Santa Cruz including a Highlands Tour: $175
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $56
- Transfer in + Visit to the giant turtle nature reserve: $205
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Galapagos Islands?
Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $89Galapagos Islands $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius).
- St.Kitts Downtown Basseterre Walking Food Tour: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37Galapagos Islands $35
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Hours Private Royal Highlight Tour in St. Kitts: $260
- ATV Tour of St Kitts: $110
- An Exciting, Scenic and Historical Island Tour: $160
- Basseterre Plantation Half Day Tour: $60
- Best of St. Kitts Highlight Tour and Beach: $280
- Best of St. Kitts Highlight Tour.: $250
- City Tour, Timothy Hill Lookout and South Friars Beach: $55
- Coastal Boat Tour on St. Kitts and Nevis with Snorkeling: $135
- Exotic Island Tour from Basseterre: $78
- Full Island Panoramic Tour of St Kitts: $68
- Full Island Private Tour: $60
- Half-Day Island Adventure of St Kitts: $95
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Giant Turtle Watching and Lava Tunnels Tour: $40
- Santa Cruz Craters and Tunnels Tour of Lava and Turtles: $40
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
- Isabela Island Tour in Galapagos with Kayak: $64
- Giant Tortoises & Lava Tunnels Experience with Dome Stay: $66
- Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano: $67
- Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island: $75
- BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Kayaking Experience in Franklin Bay: $95
- Walk Inside an Active Volcano: Sulfur Mines Fumaroles Experience: $99
- Tintoreras Islet Tour from Isabela - Hiking & Snorkeling: $108
- Santa Cruz Highland Tour: Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnel & Gemelos: $158
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26Galapagos Islands $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Galapagos Islands, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Galapagos Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands and Galapagos Islands is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Galapagos Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Galapagos Islands and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) than you might in Galapagos Islands.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is Galapagos Islands Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.