Even though I was aware that the Galapagos is the most biodiverse region in the world, I was still amazed by the sheer number of animals that I saw every day: sea lions, pelicans, sally-light-foot crabs, iguanas, finches, baby sharks, hammerheads, tortoises, sea turtles, blue-footed boobies, and more. I absolutely loved everything about these islands (minus the ferries!)

Important Things to Note

It is definitely possible to do this trip without a tour if you are looking to save money. That’s how I did the three main islands, and it worked out great. There are day trips that you can do if you are interested in visiting any of the other islands or doing snorkeling excursions while you are there, but I would definitely recommend booking these in advance because they tend to sell out.

You will need lots of cash on the Galapagos Islands. First, you need $200 cash when you arrive at the Baltra airport on Santa Cruz or San Cristobal airport (for the National Park entrance fee). Then there is the transit control card which is $20 cash, and then you need cash for buses, taxis, and the ferry process as well.

The whole ferry process is extremely stressful, time-consuming, and sea-sickness provoking, so be prepared with patience and Dramamine! Make sure to book the ferries in advance. Another thing to note is that you will need cash to tip the water taxis that bring you to and from the ferry, so you will need $2 cash per person for every ferry trip you take, AND you also have to pay a $10 fee (cash) when you arrive on Isabela Island. This all adds up, so carry more cash than you think you need! The good news is that most of the Airbnb’s, hostels, and hotels are very affordable, so this helps to balance out the expenses.

Recommended Itinerary:

Santa Cruz (Fly into Baltra Airport)- 2-3 days

Isabela– 2-3 days (Important to note: there is not a ferry directly from Isabela to San Cristobal. You have to make a stop in Santa Cruz, so I stayed overnight, but you could do it all in one day if you wanted to. Another option is to take a small plane, but of course this is more pricey. Might be worth it though!)

San Cristobal– 2-3 days (Fly out of San Cristobal Airport)