Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or San Fernando?
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 San Fernando or Galapagos Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Galapagos Islands, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Galapagos Islands?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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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San Fernando Prices
Trinidad and Tobago PricesGalapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $188Galapagos Islands $160
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $188, 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 San Fernando and Galapagos Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Galapagos Islands $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Galapagos Islands $130
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Galapagos Islands
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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.San Fernando $50Galapagos Islands $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in + Visit to the giant turtle nature reserve: $205
- Transfer Airport - Hotel in Santa Cruz including a Highlands Tour: $175
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $137
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $123
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Galapagos Islands?
Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $83Galapagos Islands $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Galapagos Islands $35
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Isla Pinzón - Day Tour - From Santa Cruz - Islas Galápagos: $250
- Underground Adventure Lava Tunnels and Giant Turtles: $70
- Tour of the city to Isabela + Tintoreras from Santa Cruz: $256
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
- Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist : $179
- Bike Tour + Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnels: $50
- Cabo Rosa (Tuneles) Hiking & Snorkeling Tour from Isabela: $199
- Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks: $280
- Day Tour to Floreana Island with Highland Tour and Snorkeling: $259
- Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing: $259
- Day Tour to Isabela Island with Tintorera Islet, Snorkeling Wetlands & Flamingos: $269
- Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing: $229
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Galapagos Islands $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Galapagos Islands, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Galapagos Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando 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.