I’m a pretty transparent person, and I’ve learned so much from others who have let their guard down and shared openly. So, while money is often a taboo topic, let’s discuss it. 😁 I am going to share with you how much it costs in the Galapagos to help you budget for this epic adventure.

I could be wrong, but here is what I think 97% of people think when they hear that we’re traveling the world… 

“HOW CAN THEY AFFORD THIS?”

To be honest, we’re still figuring some of this out. We’ve “only” been traveling for about 2 months now, but we are confident that we will be spending extended periods of time abroad indefinitely.

So, while we have this initial 6-month stretch covered between a combination of rental property income, potential ongoing real estate commissions, and savings, we will be tracking our expenses in each of our stops very closely in order to help us plan appropriately for future travels. 

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Breakdown Of The Costs In The Galapagos

These prices are for a family of four for one month of staying on the Galápagos Islands.

Lodging Expenses

Total: $2,459

• $75.28 a night – Airbnb for 32 nights
• $     50 – Hotel in Quito between flights

Round-Trip Transportation

Total: $2,461

• $   100 – Flight from Chicago to Quito (used credit card points – average round-trip flight costs between $300-$400 per person)
• $1,830 – Flight from Quito to Galapagos (ouch – round-trip for 4 people)
• $   380 – Fees to enter the Galapagos National Park
• $   151 – Ubers, boat taxis, taxis

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Day-To-Day Costs In The Galapagos

Total: $1,535

• Groceries, supplies, laundry, meals out 

Touristy Excursions

Total: $3,173

• $   953 – Bartolome Island day trip
• $   888 – North Seymour Island day trip
• $1,125 – Isabella overnight trip
• $     35 – Darwin Institute afternoon activity
• $     40 – Garrapatero Beach afternoon trip
• $   132 – Tortoise Ranch afternoon trip

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Total Galapagos Travel Expenses

We spent $9,628 for one month in the Galapagos. Yikes! Read more below to hear our thoughts on why we ended up spending this much on a month long trip in the Galápagos Islands.

Takeaways…

The Galapagos is EXPENSIVE! Trust us, we were not living like royalty, and we almost blew through $10,000.

Lodging Expenses

Our lodging in the Galapagos was in an excellent location with 3 bedrooms and air-conditioning. We were in Puerto Ayora and a short walking distance to everything in the town. It was nice to be able to easily walk to the pier or a restaurant for dinner.

However, it was not luxurious. It was in a basement apartment with minimal light with hot water that only lasted a short time. For the price, it was definitely a great option for us.

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Transportation Fees

Getting to the Galapagos is an adventure with small little costs that add up with the largest cost being the flight from Quito to the Galapagos. Once you are there, the costs for transportation reduce significantly.

Day-To-Day Costs In The Galapagos

Even using points to offset a chunk of our airfare, we still spent nearly $5,000 just to get to the islands and have a place to stay. With that as the base cost, it was hard to justify too many $1,000 day-trip excursions or even purchases of $9 boxes of cereal. We really made an effort to cut down our day-to-day expenses.

Tip: If you are looking to save a little money on groceries and other household items, avoid the bigger grocery stores near the pier. Instead visit the markets and the stores a little further down the street away from the touristy section of town. The selection won’t be as good, but it will be cheaper!

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Touristy Excursions

We took advantage of the touristy attractions that the Galapagos has to offer. While we would have liked to save money, the Galapagos is a once in a lifetime location. We didn’t know if we would ever return and we wanted to see as much as possible. Since the majority of the archipelago is a National Park and you need a naturalist guide with you, it is hard to explore a lot on your own. This adds to the costs.

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Summary Of Galápagos Islands Costs

We will always remember the things we did and saw in the Galapagos… and haven’t written off a future visit, but we probably wouldn’t plan another month-long stay in the Galapagos. 

Read more about how much we spent in the other locations on our trip:

• What is the Cost of Living in Quito, Ecuador?
• What is the price of living in Medellin, Colombia?
• Cartagena Costs Broken Down: Is It Expensive to Visit This Beautiful City?
• Panama Travel Expenses: How Affordable is a Family Trip?