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Book your flight in advance

Flights to visit the Galapagos Islands depart from Guayaquil or Quito. It is not exactly a cheap trip, but sometimes you can find discounts if you book in advance. If you are going to make a trip on your own to several islands, a good idea is to arrive at one of the airports (Baltra or San Cristobal) and depart from another.

Do not worry about the entrance to the park

You do not have to make any preparations when purchasing the entrance fee to the Galapagos Park. When you arrive at the departure airport you will pay a $20 transit fee at the INGALA booth. Without this document you will not be able to board. Then, upon landing, you will have to pay the $100 park entrance fee to continue your trip.

Choose between cruise or self-drive

The most popular option to visit the Galapagos Islands is aboard a cruise ship that stops at different islands. These usually last between 4 and 7 days. Although it is the easiest option, it is also the most expensive.

If you opt for the second option, you will basically make a base on the islands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela and from there you can hire excursions to nearby islands. The trips between these 3 islands are made in the so-called fibers. They cost about 30$ and leave early in the morning and at 14:00 or 15:00.

Take into account the weather

There is no bad season to travel to Galapagos (although between January and April there is more chance of rain), but the season does influence the fauna and flora you can see when visiting the Galapagos Islands. If you are looking forward to diving with hammerhead sharks, for example, a good time is in April or June. There are mating seasons for animals such as blue-footed boobies or marine iguanas that are also impressive, so it is important to be informed beforehand.

Booking accommodation is not so important

If you think that sleeping in Galapagos is expensive, in the islands we have mentioned you will find accommodation from 30$ a double room. If you do not go during high demand periods such as Easter, Christmas or summer vacations, you will have no problem booking when you arrive. In fact, this way you can get some discounts.

Choose your excursions wisely

Don’t panic, if you decide to visit the Galapagos Islands on your own, you should know that the normal price of a daily excursion is around $150. Therefore, if you do not want to spend your entire budget, choose well which excursions you want to do. We highly recommend the Túneles y Tintoreras in Isabela, León Dormido from San Cristóbal and Santa Fe, Bartolomé and Plaza Sur from Santa Cruz.

Don’t worry, there are also accessible places where you will see a lot of wildlife without paying too much. For example, the Lobería, Tortuga Bay or the Manzanillo farm are impressive and visiting them is free or costs less than $30.

Respect nature

These islands are a natural paradise that we have the duty to preserve. Therefore, follow the rules of the park and do not touch or feed the animals, do not introduce food that is not allowed, do not take anything from the park… In short, practice responsible tourism.