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Original poster

People who have been to the Galapagos please

12 replies

moveoverye · 26/03/2023 17:06

I really want to go to the Galapagos but I don‘t have a huge budget. I have found a tour which is affordable for me, but it I am almost afraid to do too much research about the itinerary or compare to other tours, because I am almost sure that there will be things that I am likely to miss out on, as some trips are many thousands more expensive.

Is the Galapagos the sort of place where you can’t really go wrong even if you don’t see every island or hidden beach or breed of bird? Or is it the sort of place where it’s not worth going unless you’re going to go ‘all out’?

If the former I will feel happier about going ahead to book and ticking this amazing place off my bucket list, but if the latter, perhaps I should be looking at a different destination altogether, if you see what I mean?

Grateful for any thoughts.

OP posts:
ProfessorLayton1 · 26/03/2023 17:10

I haven't been to Galapagos but would love to go one day..

We were about to go in 2020, but that didn't happen for obvious reason.
Most tours do three islands and some day trips from each island. Which tour are you planning to go with and what's your budget ?

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/03/2023 17:11

Post it in holiday section, May get better response

MrsCat1 · 26/03/2023 17:11

Hello. I've done the Southern loop of the islands and it was wonderful. All the islands were great, but different. I'm sure you will have a magical time whichever islands you visit. Which islands are included on the itinerary?

Original poster
moveoverye · 26/03/2023 17:19

Thanks, it’s mainly based on Santa Cruz and Isabella Islands, with hiking and cycling to various sights and beaches and with a day trip out to ‘Islote las Tintoreras’ which I think are a group of small islands.

OP posts:
Original poster
moveoverye · 26/03/2023 17:20

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/03/2023 17:11

Post it in holiday section, May get better response

thanks

OP posts:
BeanCounterBabe · 26/03/2023 17:29

I went pre DC in about 2005 with Explore tour company. It didn’t cost much more to tack on a tour of Ecuador which was wonderful. We were on a small boat which we slept on each night waking up at a different island each morning. Santa Cruz was perfectly nice but you would miss a lot by not doing a boat tour of the islands. It was a once in a lifetime for me as we didn’t have DC then I was in a position to save hard for it.

MrsCat1 · 26/03/2023 17:35

All the islands are beautiful but I do agree that some sort of boat tour is the best thing to do if possible. On a boat you are likely to get to remoter places and spend time in the water with the sea life. But I would still highly recommend it even if you can't do that. Attached is our route - we spent 6 days on a boat. Holiday of a lifetime (except I am desperate to go back to do the Northern loop)!

People who have been to the Galapagos please
Original poster
moveoverye · 26/03/2023 17:42

Thanks this is all very helpful! Your tour looks amazing @MrsCat1 ! I have read that a cruise is the best way to do it, but the ones I have seen are just a bit too dear for me. So it’s whether I should go for a lesser option, or do something else entirely, or keep saving (but I am afraid that with climate change and increasing costs of travel it might be a now or never situation).

Thanks!

OP posts:
Aprilx · 26/03/2023 17:58

We went in 2007, it had been my top bucket list destination for about ten years. We did a small boat tour, maybe ten cabins, for seven nights.

Truthfully yes I think you will miss out a lot by being land based as you can only get so far on a day trip to an islands, you really need to be travelling through the night to get a good selection of islands and also to reach the ones that are les visited.

I’d maybe keep looking for a cheap boat tour, they do come suited to different budgets. I see somebody has mentioned the adventure travel companies like Explore, Exodus, Intrepid etc. I didn’t book with any of these in the end, but I did look at them during that ten years when I was considering it and I think it is a good option.

Original poster
moveoverye · 26/03/2023 18:01

Aprilx · 26/03/2023 17:58

We went in 2007, it had been my top bucket list destination for about ten years. We did a small boat tour, maybe ten cabins, for seven nights.

Truthfully yes I think you will miss out a lot by being land based as you can only get so far on a day trip to an islands, you really need to be travelling through the night to get a good selection of islands and also to reach the ones that are les visited.

I’d maybe keep looking for a cheap boat tour, they do come suited to different budgets. I see somebody has mentioned the adventure travel companies like Explore, Exodus, Intrepid etc. I didn’t book with any of these in the end, but I did look at them during that ten years when I was considering it and I think it is a good option.

Brill, thanks!

OP posts:
PurpleEmpress · 26/03/2023 18:11

I went to the Galapagos with Naturetrek in 1991 so many years ago. They included a 2 week tour of the islands as the main part of the trip with a couple of nights in Quito. Not the cheapest but a fabulous trip and I believe they still run it.

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/03/2023 21:13

You could try local companies for the cruise, always less expensive if you book in Quito - you may not get the itinerary you want but if you are going out of peak time, you can get good deals.

Try trailfinders and g adventures as well..

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