Traveling the globe is one of the best choices I have ever made, and I will always share my experiences and recommend traveling to anyone who will listen! However, going to an unfamiliar foreign place can be daunting, especially if you have anxiety around situations like that. Additionally, almost every place has a wonderful selection of things to do and places to go, and the sheer volume can be overwhelming, leading to what I call “analysis paralysis.”
So if you are one of those individuals that have anxiety around new situations or you just like to know what you are getting into, then this article is for you
The Galapagos archipelago is one of the best archipelagoes you will ever visit. Speaking from my experience, the Galapagos Islands are my favorite. You get to enjoy almost everything here.
From snorkeling to swimming with sea lions, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises, the Galapagos has it all. However, a planned trip is usually better than an unplanned one.
Because Galapagos has over 120 islands, planning a trip to this place can take time and effort. I couldn’t even decide which islands to visit at first.
Some islands are close, and you can take a ferry, while others do not have a clear route, so you must travel by air.
But don’t worry; I’ll do my best to help you make the most of your trip. Now that I’ve been to these islands, it’s easy to advise you on the best places to go.
So buckle up and travel to the best islands in Galapagos with me.
Day 1 – Arrival in Santa Cruz Island (Baltra Island)
I am picking Baltra Island as the first stop on the trip because it’s the least attractive. Don’t get me wrong, I know people love this place, and so do I, but this cannot replace the fact that the other islands are much better. Moreover, an outbound flight to Baltra Island is cheaper.
So your first flight will be to Baltra Island (near Santa Cruz). Since you will be tired and might require rest, I have the best hotel in mind, i.e., the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel. The best part about this hotel is that you can see a lot of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and green sea turtles while you sit on your deckchair.
You must also know that there is an entrance fee for visiting this island. And this is something that might disappoint you, as you cannot enter most of the main islands without paying a fee. However, the entire trip will make it worth the money.
Once you get to that relaxed state, it’s time to take a ferry to Santa Cruz. There is little you can do on Baltra Island, but it is the best way to get to Santa Cruz. So this is one more reason for picking Baltra Island as the first stop.
The ferry ride is not expensive and takes just a few hours. Then off you go on the adventure of a lifetime.
Galapagos National Park
Once you get to Santa Cruz Island, your first proper touring site will be Galapagos National Park. This park is home to countless animals. From marine wildlife to fierce lions, this park is more of a wonderland.
You will see Galapagos penguins, land iguanas, sea lion pups, giant tortoises, and many more animals. Moreover, while traveling from the Santa Cruz ferry to this park, you might catch a glimpse of a blue-footed booby.
Dinner at La Paz Restaurant
Delicious food is one hallmark that elevates a traveling experience, so you need to choose wisely. There are many good options on the island, including some hole-in-the-wall places with great local food. However, there is something special about dinner and view. Therefore, I chose La Paz as my first ever dine-in in the Galapagos Islands. The best selection on the menu is the barbecue.
Day 2 – Bartolome’ Island
From Santa Cruz Island, you will take a bus ride to Bartolome Island. Before visiting, you must know there is no option for a night stay on this island. So you can call this a day trip.
The bus ride takes less than two hours to reach Bartolome Island from Santa Cruz. Once you’re here, the next trip is waiting for you. If you want, you can contact the travel operators in the region and plan your day trip with them. It’s a better option since you don’t know about the roads and mountains there. But if you are confident and want to save money, you can explore independently.
There are a lot of activities involving scuba diving at Santiago Island. And remember to visit the green tortoise breeding center. You’ll love it!
Ride Back to Charles Darwin Research Station
Once you finish the activities at Bartolome Island, you’ll take a ride back to Santa Cruz. You could take this opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin Research station.
Now everyone knows Charles Darwin or has heard the name once in their life. And you get an opportunity to see his work on plants and animals from a different and interactive perspective.
And let’s not forget the best part: There’s no entrance fee for Charles Darwin Research Station. That means you can watch most Galapagos animals in one place without paying a single penny (excluding the traveling cost).
Once you are done with this, have dinner and return to your hotel because you have a long ferry ride the following day.
Day 3 – Transfer to Isabela Island
Note that it is not the best Galapagos cruise ship ride, so if you get seasick, come mentally prepared. But it’s all worth it because you have a destination to reach for your next excellent experience. However, the three-hour ferry ride from Santa Cruz Island to Island Isabela is terrific for other reasons. So while the vacation feel of a cruise ship is absent, the closeness to nature will still be there.
Once you arrive at Isabela Island, it’s time to drop your luggage off at a hotel of your choice for a few days. It’s hard to enjoy this island in two days, but I’ll make sure to mention the classics here.
Visit the Wall of Tears
Once you get a little rest in your hotel room, it’s time to pack a small bag and walk to the wall of tears. Well, obviously, don’t walk there. Take a car ride to the starting point of Wall of Tears. From there, it depends on you to choose between cycling and walking.
I suggest walking through the trail as you want to focus more on the beauty around you and less on keeping the cycle on track. Before visiting this place, I recommend reading about its dark history so your experience can involve much more than just viewing a wall.
Additionally, talk to the locals around the area as there is an eerie and spiritual mythos around the wall of tears. But if you are not into that, the view and the history will still be worth the trip.
Have Dinner at a Restaurant by the Beach
Dinner after a long walk/ride is the best. And when it’s dinner after visiting the Wall of Tears, it better be near the beach so you can enjoy the calmness.
There are several restaurants along the beaches on this island. You can choose one according to the menu and enjoy the sounds of waves while they prepare your food.
After that, it’s better to get back to your room and get a good night’s sleep.
Day 4 – Explore the Beauties of Island Isabela
It is difficult to see the beauty of Island Isabela in a day. If you’re a nature lover, I should say that Island Isabela will feel like home to you. But since you’re only spending two days here, let’s start with our day two plans.
Although there’s a lot to do on this island, you cannot miss the Sierra Negra Volcano. If I ever go back, I’d spend my entire stay at Island Isabela near this volcano. It gives a vibe you don’t get anywhere else. Floreana Island may be known as the disappearing events island, but it cannot compete with the mystery Island Isabela keeps.
In my case, I paired up with a company providing Ecuador tours. And I recommend you do the same. Why? Mainly because you won’t be able to explore the entire region alone. Moreover, it is better to have someone who knows their way around the volcano.
Apart from the view, the history of this region is excellent too. As expected, touring a volcano is tiresome. So I have the perfect plan for you to relax after your trip to Sierra Negra Volcano.
Relax at the Beach and Watch Sea Lions
The best thing one can do after a long tiring day is to sit on a beach and watch those lovely sea lions play around. You can go in the water with those sea lions if you feel like it. One thing I love about them is the fact that they are friendly.
It was one of my favorite experiences at a beach. There are many beaches on this island. And you can visit any of these beaches on your way back from the volcanos. You can sit there as long as you like. Have some local snacks and get the perfect tan.
Day 5 – Take a Ferry to Fernandina Island
Day 5 means saying goodbye to Island Isabela. It was the most painful goodbye of my entire life. I even made friends with a few sea lions. Nevertheless, I had to move on. And that brings us to booking a ferry that takes you to Fernandina Island.
It takes a couple of hours to reach this island from Island Isabela. But there is no other option to travel to Fernandina. Once you reach this island, book a hotel if you haven’t already booked one. In my case, I chose my hotel after reaching the island. It gave me time to decide which was cheaper and closer to the beach.
Once you get to your hotel, take a bag with the necessary equipment and leave to wander around the island.
If you don’t know, Fernandina Island is home to the most volcanic eruptions in the world. Look around the island, and you will feel like you are taking a step into history, and it is calming and beautiful.
Day 6 – Snorkeling and Trekking On Fernandina Island
There are many snorkeling and trekking options on Fernandina Island. I went straight for snorkeling. However, there’s no harm in choosing trekking over snorkeling. It’s a matter of taste and what one loves.
Suppose you feel like having a solitary excursion. In that case, you can book a day trip with some local company that’ll show you around the best snorkeling and trekking destinations in Fernandina Island.
I liked being alone here. Google proved helpful but didn’t work at times. The primary reason was the lack of signals. And this is something you’ll face all around the Galapagos Islands.
Side note having travel insurance is prudent in this case. Your travel insurance is the main thing you must have apart from your snorkeling equipment. And this is something I mention in most of my articles. Without travel insurance, you are playing with your life.
Snorkeling on Fernandina Island allows you to see rare breeds of marine life fishes you can never see in other places. I was tempted to bring one of the colorful fish home, but that would be illegal. And it probably wouldn’t have passed through airport security, but a girl can dream.
As for trekking, the beautiful views you will experience will astound you; it is breathtaking. Words are not enough to explain the colors of Fernandina Island. But you can experience that by trekking for a day around this island.
Day 7 – Transfer to San Cristobal Island – Punta Carola – Interpretation Center and Las Tijeretas
There is no route from Fernandina Island to San Cristobal. So for this, you will have to fly by air. Remember to look down while the plane flies above the most beautiful islands in the world. My words can not do justice to the beauty of the islands; it’s something that you can only experience to believe.
It is not a long flight so you won’t feel tired. You can mark day seven as the hiking day. By hiking, I don’t mean those boring hikes which only show you a little greenery. Starting from the San Cristobal Interpretation Centre, the track will lead you to Las Tijeretas.
You can stay there for a while and enjoy the mesmerizing scenery around. After getting your breath back, you will continue your journey to Punta Carola (main destination). If I could define Punta Carola in a single word, it would be “Lovely.” The beach is so big; by big, I mean enough to make the place spacious. No matter how many people are there, you can always find an isolated spot in Punta Carola.
This beach has many animals—sea lions, tortoises, iguanas, and whatnot. If you go with a travel company, they will probably arrange lunch for you. However, if you go alone, there are many local food stalls that serve the best food in San Cristobal. Even though I had my lunch arranged by my travel company, I chose the stalls over my fancy lunch.
Day 8 – Tour 360 around San Cristobal
The 360 tour around San Cristobal was something I did not know at the time of my trip. Thus, I missed most of the beauty San Cristobal had. But learn from my mistakes and book a 360 tour around San Cristobal.
The purpose of this tour is to show you every corner of San Cristobal. It starts early in the morning, so you must be the proverbial early bird. You won’t only be sitting in a bus looking at the beauty from behind the windows. The tour includes snorkeling, professional photography, and much more.
So if you want those perfect Instagram photos, you can get them during this tour. You will also get to visit the best-uninhabited islands during this tour. Doing this feels more like island hopping. It takes around 8 hours for this tour to reach your final destination. But it is worth every penny and second.
Day 9 – Spend a Day With Mountain Bikes
The San Cristobal Highlands are the best in Galapagos for mountain bikes. The perfect road provides an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
The only place we can compare it with is Switzerland. Can you conjure up the image? Do you have it? You will see that during your bike ride through the San Cristobal highlands. Since you have access to bike and foot, you can experience and visit the hidden treasures of this island. This place will make you feel like the main character of an Uncharted game.
Obviously, you won’t have dozens of creatures running after you, but the view and surroundings are similar. It is hard to explain, but this island’s greenery is not what you see anywhere else. It is entirely different and better and almost mythical.
The best part is that you do not need a travel guide to help you on this one-day trip. You can explore the San Cristobal Highlands on your own.
Day 10 – Departure flight from San Cristobal
There are a lot more islands which you can visit on your Galapagos tour. But not everything can be done in a0 days, especially when countless islands are available. This itinerary does not include the white sand beach, i.e., Gardner Bay. Why? Because it’s a little too far away and requires more time.
But what you experience on the above five islands is better than spending a day traveling to Gardener Bay. So, it’s time to pack your bags and enjoy the last few hours on San Cristobal Island.
If you want and have the energy, visit Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (sort of beach) and enjoy your time there. It is in the south of San Cristobal.
You can enjoy an unrestricted view and a couple of local foods. However, I won’t suggest doing that if your flight home is long. It is better to rest for a day before going home to avoid travel fatigue. However, it may be worth it, so that is up to you.
That’s it for a 10-day trip to Galapagos Islands. Read about some important things you must know before you leave for this trip.
Things to Know Before Traveling to the Galapagos Islands
Traveling to Galápagos Island would be the best decision you ever make. To ensure you enjoy it to the fullest and get the most out of the trip, you must know some essential things.
Cost and Budget
The financial aspect is one of the most important things you need to know when traveling to Galápagos Island. That is because there is a chance that the cost of visiting the island can change.
And this can make you spend more than your budget and leave you stranded. You must find out the cost of entry and other activities you want to partake in.
Time and Season
When you visit the Galápagos Islands, the season also matters. The season determines the type of clothing you would take, the materials to take, and how to prepare. Also, you should know how long you intend to spend on the island so you can make good use of your time.
What You Want To See
Though this might be your first time visiting the island, it is better to research some of the exciting things and activities you can do. Doing this will allow you to make a schedule so you will not miss one thing or another.
Know the rules
It would be very annoying to go to the Galápagos Islands to have a fun time or for research and then end up getting into legal trouble.
That is why, before you go, you should know the various rules and regulations of the place. When you know it, you can decide if it is something you can abide by or not.
Know what you’re bringing along
Sometimes, we visit places, and when we return, we realize we may have left a few things behind. To ensure you don’t forget anything on the Galápagos Islands, you should know what you brought there. When you know what you brought, you can cross-check to ensure you take everything back with you.
Creating a list of items would be an easy way to do this.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit the Galapagos on Your Own?
There is no definitive amount we can give when it comes to visiting the Galapagos Islands. The cost differs and depends on what you want. For instance, the hotel you stay in and how long you stay there would affect how much you spend. The type of food you buy and other various things would also affect how much you spend.
The average person would spend about $100-$200 daily. However, if you want more fancy accommodation and also go for the more expensive lifestyle, you would spend about $500 and above daily.
However, there are still many ways to enjoy yourself if you don’t even have a big budget. There are many free and cheap activities that you can do at the Galapagos.
In my case, I spent around $400 per day. Mostly because I took part in a lot of paid activities, but you can reduce this amount to $300 per day by choosing your daily activities wisely. Spend less on food. There are countless cheap options, but they require some digging to find.
But no matter what you do, make sure to include the snorkeling excursion just to save money. You’ll know what I mean the moment you take your first dive.
Summarizing the Galapagos Trip
With spectacular views and countless fun activities, Galapagos is the top choice for long trips. Moreover, a Galapagos trip is not only about beaches and watching sea turtles. There is much more to this trip. It is the experience of a lifetime.
Be it the western islands or eastern ones, Galapagos tours are incomplete without visiting the Charles Darwin Research Center. While many might not accept his theory of evolution, his work is well displayed in this center, and he did impact the scientific world. You’ll learn a lot about the animals you see in the Galapagos Islands here.
You will visit a total of five islands on this 10-day trip. Your trip to these enchanted islands will involve more than you can imagine.
Now: It’s time for me to say goodbye and allow you to pack for the best trip of your life. Bon Voyage!
