{"id":9615,"date":"2019-07-05T14:30:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T14:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seeker.io\/?p=9615"},"modified":"2019-07-05T14:30:36","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T14:30:36","slug":"galapagos-budget-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seeker.io\/article\/galapagos-budget-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Galapagos on a Backpacker’s Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 1835, the HMS Beagle dropped in on a chain of Islands off the coast of Ecuador. \u201cYou guys think these finches look weird?\u201d muttered Charles Darwin, a young naturalist on board. \u201cYeah, a bit,\u201d said the crew. And thus our understanding of the natural world changed forever.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who has ever watched a David Attenborough documentary will likely have the Galapagos Islands on their bucket list\u2026until they start shopping. Cruises of the archipelago generally cost thousands of dollars, making it appear to be one of those natural wonders, like Everest and Antarctica, that\u2019s only open to those with a heavy enough purse.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an Attenborough freak, \u2018the Galap\u2019 <\/em>has always been on my list. So when I found myself aimlessly wandering around South America a couple of years ago, I decided to attempt a visit. Unfortunately, my purse weighed a little less than one of those famous Galapagos finches. I had to figure out a way to do it on the cheap. And that I did.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turns out that the Galapagos is perfectly accessible to those of modest means, as long as you have a couple of tricks up your sleeve. So here, for your reading pleasure, are the keys to seeing Mother Nature\u2019s best work on a budget.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book flights late, book flights local<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, Ecuador. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first challenge is to get there. The cheapest and most regular flights leave from the major Ecuadorian centres of Quito and Guayaquil, so you\u2019re wise to depart from there. Return flights are commonly around US$500\u2014 not extortionate, but still pricey for what is only an hour\u2019s flight each way.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key to getting value for money is to book late and with a local travel agent. Ecuadorians get discount tickets, as low as half price, so if you buy through a local, they may be able to get you a far cheaper fare than anything you find on the internet. If you don\u2019t have the flexibility to hang around for the next available flight, you may feel the need to go safe and expensive by pre-booking seats yourself.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I was already in Ecuador and was blessed with plenty of flexibility, I booked my tickets with a local travel agent a week before the trip and got them for about 40% less than what I would\u2019ve paid online.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip: <\/strong>TAME, Avianca, and LAN each have two flights daily to the Galapagos. Set up a price watch on SkyScanner<\/a> in the months leading up to your trip to catch any deals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t pre-book anything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anxious Annies and Cautious Craigs <\/em>might feel a little hesitant about rolling up in a foreign land and sorting everything out there, but if you\u2019re the sort of cat who values thriftiness over prudence, you\u2019d be wise not to book ahead. You\u2019ll get far better deals on tours, accommodation, and transport on the day of travel than you will in the weeks and months leading up to it, and speaking in person will allow you to haggle in bad Spanish, which is always fun (don\u2019t fret\u2014English is widespread).
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I landed late in the afternoon, I pre-booked the first night\u2019s accommodation, which I got rather cheap through the travel agent who booked my flights. The rest, as I\u2019ll soon explain, was perfectly easy to sort out.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip: <\/strong>If you, like me, are worried about finding a bed for the first night, book something in Puerto Ayora. I stayed at Galapagos Dreams<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the accommodation come to you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, Ecuador. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While the archipelago is made up of 21 islands, most tourists will split their time between the main three: Isla Santa Cruz, Isla San Cristobal and Isla Isabela, each of which has one main city\/town. When your plane\/boat\/bus arrives at these towns, you’ll be swarmed by offers for beds, and if you\u2019re not expecting the Ritz Carlton, you\u2019ll be pleasantly surprised at the value on offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple of years ago, the going rate during low season (any time outside of school holidays) was around US$20 to $30 a night, which got you a private room with a comfy bed and an en suite. The towns are small, so you can follow a spruiker to their hotel to check it out, then just wander back to the drop off point if you\u2019re not happy with the state of affairs.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRO TIP:<\/strong> Check out La Jungla<\/a> on Isla Isabela for some cheap and cheerful accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guide yourself on land<\/h3>\n\n\n\n