A Must-Do But Expensive Trip

The Galápagos Islands had been on my bucket list since I was 6 years old, and after some careful planning, I finally made it!

It’s known for being an expensive destination, so we had to be strategic to make the trip more budget-friendly. If you’re looking for a detailed, no-nonsense guide based on real experience, you’re in the right place!

Getting to Guayaquil from Cuenca

There are two main airports from which you can fly to the Galápagos: Quito (Mariscal Sucre International Airport) and Guayaquil (José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport). Since we were already in Cuenca, we chose to fly from Guayaquil, as it was the more time-efficient option.

A Warning About Scammers on the Bus:

Unfortunately, we had a bit of an altercation with a scammer on the bus. A man (who was not from the bus company but acted as if he was) tried to claim our seats, saying they were his. At first, we complied and moved, but then he and his accomplice tried to take our bags, telling us to move to another seat.

DO NOT COMPLY! 

These scammers can be very persistent and may use this tactic to steal from unsuspecting travelers. We firmly stood our ground, loudly said “No!”, and kept our belongings close. They got off the bus just minutes later, almost like they had been caught in the act. This was our first scam encounter in Ecuador, and it’s a good reminder to always be cautious.

Despite this, the bus ride itself was absolutely stunning. This was, by far, the most beautiful bus journey we had in Ecuador. The road go through Cajas National Park, offering amazing views of hills, mountains, and high-altitude lakes. In the beginning, the landscape gave us major Rohan vibes from The Lord of the Rings.

Pro tip: Sit on the right side of the bus for the best views!

As you go further towards Guayaquil, the scenery shifts dramatically. Guayas Province is a bird-lover’s paradise, with tons of bird species inhabiting the wetlands and rice paddies. With tuk-tuks everywhere, it also felt more traditional Ecuadorian.

Guayaquil

Once you arrive at Guayaquil Terminal Terrestre, be prepared for a massive and busy station. It’s one of the largest bus terminals in Ecuador, but thankfully, it has tons of food options and places to sit down if you need a break. 

We chose to stay one night in Guayaquil before catching our flight to San Cristóbal, Galápagos the next morning. While it’s possible to fly out on the same day, we preferred having a break first.

Transportation in Guayaquil:

• Uber is available in Guayaquil again!

• We paid $4.30 for an Uber from the bus terminal to our hotel.

• A taxi would have cost around $5.

• Even if you’re staying close to the airport, we’d recommend taking an Uber or taxi, Guayaquil is a very car-centric city.

We booked a room at Hosteles en Guayaquil which cost $36 for two people (one of the cheapest options). It was a bit on the expensive side compared to other Ecuadorian accommodations, so if you’re on a tight budget, you might want to skip staying overnight in Guayaquil.

However, for us, it was worth it because the hotel let us store our large luggage for free while we traveled to the Galápagos. Since extra baggage fees on Galápagos flights can be pricey, this saved us some money and hassle.

Flight to San Cristóbal

There are two main airports in mainland Ecuador where you can catch a flight to the Galápagos Islands:

Quito – Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

• Ecuador’s capital city.

• Good option if you’re already in the northern part of the country.

• Flights to the Galápagos usually have a stopover in Guayaquil.

Guayaquil – José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE)

• Located in southern Ecuador.

• The best option if you’re traveling from Cuenca, as it’s closer.

• Direct flights to San Cristóbal (SCY) or Baltra (GPS), Galápagos.

Since we were already in Cuenca, flying from Guayaquil made the most sense for us.

Galápagos Airport Guide

Arriving in the Galápagos: Step-by-Step Guide

Go a little earlier to the airport for the pre-registration and luggage check (we spent 30-40 minutes waiting in line).

1. Pre-Registration for the Galápagos Transit Control Card (TCT) Online

• Pre-registration is NOT mandatory, but it can save time at the airport.
• If you pre-register, staff will find you in their database (you won’t receive an email confirmation, so don’t worry!).
• You can also register on the spot at the airport counter (takes longer).

The link to the official pre-registration website:

https://siiws.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/siicgg_web/ 

A guide to help you with the registration:

https://www.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/step-by-step-tct-online/ 

2. At the Airport: Getting Your TCT & Luggage Check

• Before checking in your luggage, go to the counter labeled “Tourists Traveling to the Galápagos.”
• Pay the $20 TCT fee, this must be paid in cash.
• Proceed to quarantine and inspection (near immigration).
• Officials will check your bags for fruits, seeds, and other prohibited items. DO NOT bring food into the Galápagos! We saw passengers having coffee beans confiscated, and officials do thorough checks.
• You get a red inspection tag for your checked baggage, but not for your carry-on.

3. Flight & Immigration Upon Arrival in the Galápagos

• Flight Duration: ~2 hours from Guayaquil.
• Time Zone: The Galápagos Islands are one hour behind mainland Ecuador.
• All visitors must pay a $200 entrance fee (cash or Mastercard), children pay $100. This fee supports conservation and park maintenance.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tijeretas Bay

We stayed at Casa Puka, a budget-friendly place for $15 per person per night. It has a big kitchen where you can cook yourself (if you want to safe money), airconditioning, warm showers and free snorkeling gear. 

If you’re staying in the center of town, you can walk everywhere (15–20 mins max). We opted to walk to save money rather than take taxis.

Tijeretas Bay & Playa Mann - Wildlife Encounters:

1.  Playa Mann: First stop, sea lions and marine iguanas.
2. Tijeretas Bay: Frigate birds, lizards, pelicans, and snorkeling with Galápagos reef sharks, sea lions & green sea turtles. This bay is one of the best places to snorkel. It can get quite crowded. On the way there, you can spot many different 'Darwin' finch species and mockingbirds, including: different species of ground finches, tree finches, San Cristobal Mockingbird, Galapagos flycatcher and the yellow warbler.
3. Punta Carola: Sunset spot with blue-footed boobies, pelicans & LOTS of marine iguanas.

Wildlife Respect Reminder:

• Recommended distance: 2 meters, but sometimes animals come up to you. The close interaction with animals was our favourite experience on Galápagos.
• Bring mosquito repellent! The area near Punta Carola has tons of mosquitoes at sunset.
• It can be really hot and sunny, so bring enough water and sunscreen.

For finch species identification, you can use this booklet:

https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/documents/414/fcd_field_guide_landbirds_2022.pdf 

Day 2: Island Tour & Playa Loberia

You can do the Island Tour by Taxi. The starting Price was $80, but we negotiated to $70 (sometimes you can go as low as $60), you can flag them down on the road. We departed at 7 AM as early morning is best for fewer crowds & more active wildlife. The Galapagos Turtle Center (Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado)

opens at 6 AM and morning visits are definitely best! We were the only ones there, and by the time we left, huge tour groups came in.

Stops on the Tour:

1. Laguna El Junco: Freshwater crater lake.
2. Turtle Conservation Center: Giant tortoises, hatchery, and conservation efforts.
3. Puerto Chino Beach: Beautiful secluded beach with wildlife.

Why Go Early (6-7 AM)?

• No crowds: we passed by the laguna again on the way back at 10 AM, and it was packed!
• Cooler temperatures: we avoided the afternoon heat and afternoon rain can be intense.
• Turtles are more active in the morning: we saw them trying to mate and their feeding starts at 9 AM.

Alternative Budget Option: Instead of the full tour, you can hire a taxi to individual locations for ~$30–$40. Unfortunately, there are no other options than taxis or bike to get to the other side of the island.

Afternoon Snorkeling at Playa Lobería:

Wildlife Encounters:

• Green sea turtles & hawksbill turtles
• Playful sea lions (but be cautious!). Sometimes they want to play but remember: they are strong and can bite. They are wild animals, so it is recommended to stay 2–2.5m away, especially in the water. If a sea lion gets too curious or aggressive, slowly move away.

Nighttime Tip: the main dock (harbour) is a great place to see sea lions swimming at night and you might spot tiny sea lion pups weaning. Marine iguanas can also be found on the rocks and you can try to spot some stingrays in the water.

Day 3: Snorkeling & Playa Baquerizo

Tijeretas Bay - Morning Snorkel:

We started the day with another snorkel at Tijeretas Bay, a great spot for beginners since the water is usually calm. The highlights of our swim:

• 5 green sea turtles in just 15 minutes
• Playful sea lions 

Playa Baquerizo:

Next, we tried reaching Playa Baquerizo, a secluded and less crowded beach. The hike was tough: rocky, hot, and took longer than expected (about an hour), but arriving at a nearly empty beach was worth it.

Snorkeling highlights:

• Green and hawskbill sea turtles: just remember to keep a respectful distance and avoid chasing them. Playa Baquerizo is a really good place to see both species up close. Just float calmly and let them approach you, they get spooked and swim away if you chase them.
• Large schools of tropical fish: we saw plenty of king angelfish, parrotfish, and yellowtail surgeonfish.

• This is also a really good place to see frigate birds up close (the closest we got to them so far).

Other recommendations

• Kicker Rock Diving: Spot hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and rays at this famous dive site (around $200 for two dives) if your budget allows. We didn't do it unfortunately.
• Punta Pitt Boat Tour: A boat trip to see red- and blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas. Great for birdwatchers.

Budget

Our Spending in the Galápagos (4 Days / 3 Nights)

Here’s a breakdown of our total expenses for a 4-day, 3-night trip to the Galápagos, along with the average daily cost for food and accommodation.

This is based on two people traveling together and sharing accommodation costs. The biggest expenses were flights and entry fees, but if you’re on a budget, you could reduce costs by cooking your own meals, skipping tours, or finding even cheaper stays (what we did). Our total spending was around 1,250.00 USD.

Final thoughts

Visiting the Galápagos was a great experience, and despite the high costs, it was absolutely worth it for me. I never got so close to animals, and our close interactions with them were amazing. If you’re passionate about wildlife and conservation, the Galápagos is a great destination.