Is Galapagos Islands expensive to visit?
In Galapagos Islands, budget travelers spend $65 per day on average, mid-range travelers spend $160 per day, and luxury travelers spend around $386 per day. These costs are calculated from the reported expenses of previous travelers to Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos Islands is a smaller spot that entices a mix of tourists, showcasing various travel styles, financial habits, and budget considerations. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels to high-end luxury properties.
You can find Galapagos Islands to be very expensive if you're not careful, but methods like looking for discounts and coupons can help you save money.
Within South America, Galapagos Islands is a very expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in South America for its travel costs. There are only a few cities as expensive as Galapagos Islands in the region, such as many other destinations.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Galapagos Islands Expensive?
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
How much money do I need for a trip to Galapagos Islands?
The average Galapagos Islands trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Galapagos Islands travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Galapagos Islands cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
Having realistic expectations for your budget when visiting Galapagos Islands is important. While it's tempting to aim for a shoestring budget, most travelers don't find that style of travel to be enjoyable. Think about your priorities and how you've traveled in the past. Do you prefer staying in budget accommodations or enjoying more luxurious options? Do you like to explore attractions and dine out at local restaurants? These choices will influence your travel costs and itinerary.
The Truth on Budget Travel
You might consider yourself a budget traveler, but if you're not ready to give up some comforts, prepare to spend a lot more than the $65 per day that younger budget travelers manage.
Backpackers will usually stick to this shoestring budget by staying in hostel dorms, dining at the cheapest spots such as fast food places, using public transit, and mostly visiting free attractions.
Luckily, Galapagos Islands has plenty of hostels, including Hostal Galapagos by Bar de Beto, Hostal Vista al Mar, and Hostal Gardner. Here, you can enjoy budget dorm accommodation along with a friendly, social vibe, but amenities are quite limited.
Do You Identify as an Average Traveler?
If you're a couple or family taking a fun trip, you'll probably prefer a mid-range hotel, enjoy meals at favorite restaurants, and visit the main museums and attractions that require entry fees. Exploring the major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks is a must for most visitors to Galapagos Islands. Most activities have costs involved. Thus, it's realistic to expect your daily budget to be closer to $160 per person, per day.
Want to Experience a Luxurious Trip?
For a trip that encompasses every convenience with outstanding service, get ready for a daily cost nearing $386. To experience nicer hotels, enjoy award-winning cuisine, indulge in extravagant outings, and use taxis or private drivers for your journeys in the destination, be prepared for premium pricing.
Accommodation Budget in Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands offers a broad range of hotel prices, from budget to luxury. Higher-end hotels come with more amenities and higher prices, particularly during peak season. Off-season, you'll find average rates around $, but during peak season, they can average $. Prices range from $ to $, and hostels tend to be much cheaper. Save money by visiting during the low season or by taking advantage of early booking and special promotions.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Galapagos Islands for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $131. For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $65 per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Galapagos Islands? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
By traveling in the off-peak times like the low or shoulder season, and steering clear of , you'll find cheaper lodging and smaller crowds.
Transportation Budget in Galapagos Islands
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $54 per person, per day, on local transportation in Galapagos Islands. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Galapagos Islands is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$54
To reach the Galapagos Islands, you must get to mainland Ecuador by flying into either the capital city of Quito or Guayaquil. If you have the option, fly to Guayaquil to save time since the islands are nearer to Guayaquil and most flights from Quito have a stopover here on the way to the Galapagos. American Airlines, Continental/Copa and Delta all fly to Ecuador from the U.S. Visiting the Galapagos is not cheap, owing to travel restrictions and the remote nature of the archipelago. Most Galapagos flights are either early morning or evening, so you'll probably need an overnight stay on the mainland. Your best bet for getting to the Galapagos is to fly into Baltra Island before taking a bus and ferry ride to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the most popular tourist hub. Another option is to fly into the capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, but most cruises start in Santa Cruz. You can book through domestic airlines such as TAME, LAN, or Aerogal.
Private yachts can arrive into any of the 5 ports in Galapagos while in transit and remain at that port for a maximum of 21 days. Boats wishing to visit more than one site or cruise the islands may do so but only by special permit from the national park and by working with a licensed yacht agency.
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is pricey but it will be easier to craft a less expensive Galapagos experience if you choose to be land-based. There are many hotels and restaurants offering different price points on San Cristobal Island, Santa Cruz Island, and although to a much lesser extent, on Isabela and Floreana islands. Live-aboard boats come in a range of price points too; however, all still add up to more than a land-based vacation. If you choose a land-based vacation, you will spend a lot of your time in the Galapagos getting from your hotel, onto a day-trip boat, out to the day's destination, then back to your hotel. On the other hand, travelers on live-aboard boats sleep in cabins on the boat, which does most of the navigation during the night, meaning that passengers wake up in a new destination ready for a full day of exploration. Because land-based explorations are limited to the five islands that can be reached in one day, land-based travelers will never be able to visit the more distant islands that boat-based itineraries include. Opting for live-aboard boat trip means that you will waste less time running back and forth, and you will see more areas of the Galapagos Islands.
Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Transfer in + Visit to the giant turtle nature reserve for $205 details
- Exclusive Transfer to Tortuga Bay Beach for $16 details
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island for $56 details
How much does it cost to go to Galapagos Islands? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Galapagos Islands will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Galapagos Islands
Cuisine often serves as a primary motivation for travel, so make sure to indulge in the local dishes.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Galapagos Islands can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Galapagos Islands is $55 per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$55
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Galapagos Islands is around $55 ($55) per person, with previous travelers spending from $21 to $147. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Galapagos Islands are as follows:
- Breakfast: $5 to $16
- Lunch: $8 to $22
- Dinner: $16 to $38
- Coffee: $4
- Fast Food or Street Food: $8
In the heart of one of the most abundant marine ecosystems on the planet, it's no wonder that the majority of the dishes in the Galapagos are seafood based, including a diverse, flavorful mix of fish and shellfish including shrimp, oysters, lobster, squid, and octopus. The most popular dishes include Ceviche, which is one or more types of fish or seafood covered with thinly sliced tomatoes, onions and a lot of lime juice, Viche, a soup with a creamy peanut base with chopped vegetables and a white fish and Arroz marinero, a seafood rice, which is a favorite among travelers and locals alike. Sides frequently include a variation of plantains or yucca, locally grown vegetables and a soup, accompanied by freshly squeezed juices, cocktails, or organic coffee that is grown right in the highlands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal.
Several hotels include breakfast with your stay, while others charge separately for it. The cost and quality can vary significantly depending on the hotel. Knowing this in advance can guide your budget decisions. It could be worth it for the tasty buffet available at the hotel, or you may wish to find a cheaper option at a local bakery or cafe.
Opt for a reusable water bottle to avoid buying drinks everywhere. It's beneficial for the earth as well.
If you're considering a tour, double-check which meals are included in the package. There may be instances where you'll have to pay for your own meals, potentially stretching your budget.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Galapagos Islands
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Galapagos Islands typically cost an average of $35 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$35
Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a melting pot of marine species. Amongst many other beautiful creatures, here are a few that you must see during your visit to the Galapagos. Head to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centers to see these prehistoric-looking creatures. Most tours stop at Santa Cruz and San Cristobal Islands, and you can also see them at the Charles Darwin Research Center in Santa Cruz or the Galapagos Interpretation Center in San Cristobal. However, the less crowded and more interesting breeding center is in Puerto Villamil on Isabela. You will be able to hold a baby tortoise egg and learn about the distinct tortoise types that are linked to the different volcanic areas on the island. You'll find the biggest population of Galapagos penguins as well as about 35 percent of the archipelagos' giant tortoises, around Tagus Cove on Isabela, where you can also see The Wall of Tears, a stone wall from the old penal colony built by prisoners with no purpose other than to serve as punishment. Fernandina, the youngest and most volcanically active island, has the largest colony of marine iguanas in the archipelago, a big sea lion colony at the visitor spot Punta Suarez and flightless cormorants. Punta Espinosa in Espanola is the place to go to spot the largest seabird, the Albatross, especially from April through November, when almost the entire population nests on this island.
Visits to most of the islands aren't allowed without a guide licensed with the Galapagos National Park. You can book day trips to some of the islands from the main tourist hub of Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz, but taking a cruise on a small boat is the best way to see the more remote islands and wildlife in the Galapagos. The national park restricts the size of boats to 100 passengers, but try to prioritize smaller boats with groups of 16 to 32 passengers. It is also best to book at least a few months in advance because boats often fill up, especially during high season. Wildlife watching is one of the main activities on the Galapagos Islands. Many species are unique to the Galapagos because of its isolation and remoteness. However other activities such as diving, snorkeling, or even hiking, kayaking and surfing are great ways to discover the Islands. The best dive spots are found on Wolf and Darwin Islands, where you might see hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, eagle rays, large schools of jack fish and much more. No matter which island you're snorkeling off of, you'll likely be swimming alongside sea lions and Pacific sea turtles. Isla Lobos and Kicker Rock off of San Cristobal are excellent spots. You can rent kayaks without a guide at Tortuga Bay in Santa Cruz and surfing boards in port towns such as those in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Trek over dried lava beds along the rim of one of the archipelago's active volcanoes or into the highlands to see a variety of vegetation. A good bet is hiking around Sierra Negra, the world's second largest crater, on Isabela, the biggest island which also boasts 6 volcanoes. The Galapagos Islands also offer a few volunteering options such as the opportunity to work on a farm or helping with habitat restoration in exchange of free accommodation and meals with a local family.
A nice way to explore destinations in Galapagos Islands is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist for $179 details
- Tintoreras Islet Tour from Isabela - Hiking & Snorkeling for $108 details
- Santa Cruz Highland Tour: Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnel & Gemelos for $158 details
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
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.