Galapagos - worth the expense?

jobless

Hey All,

I'm visiting ecuador in a couple of months and am thinking about visiting the galapagos islands. I know its very expensive so i'm just looking for people's opinions of what they thought of it. Was it worth forking out all the money for?... I'm in two minds whether to visit or not down to the cost of it

mac123

Im sure it would be worth it if you have the money. Im going to be in Ecuador fairly early on my trip so im going to pass on it. It looks like it costs over a grand for a week!

Id prefer to go back in a few years and do it right! I think the best way would be on a liveaboard dive trip.

If you dont think you would go back though id probably go for it.

jobless

i wont be going back to ecuador but i'm finding it hard to justify in my mind spending 1k for a week there...
I like wildlife, beautiful scenery etc but is it really that good there or over hyped?...
I dont want to go just because its reputed to be 'unmissable'..

steamsey

The Galapagos Islands are fantastic.

I did a 3 day, 2 night cruise 2 years ago. It cost $1,100 on a good boat and this was at a slightly discounted price as we were working there and the boss put us in touch with a friend. This trip was normally being quoted at $1,350 or thereabouts. It was well worth it. If you are into nature, scenery etc then I highly recommend it. It is a unique place with a unique feel to it – quote otherworldly. Keep in mind that all food etc was included so we hardly put our hands in our pockets (except for tips for the guides).

With that said, if you’ve been to Ecuador or South America before, you’ll know how much $1,100 is over there - you can live for probably 2 months on this if doing it on a very low budget and one month good living.
.

Seeing the Blue Footed Booby was great and a long snorkelling trip around one island including snorkelling with the friendly sea lions was a highlight.

Lustrum

It's definitely worth it, but it can be done as a bargain.

We flew from Guyaquil-Galapagos-Quito, arrived to Guyaquil on a Monday evening, straight into the airport and booked onto a flight on Tuesday to return to Quito a week later. We figured this would give us plenty of time to organise a boat on the islands, with a days grace either side just in case it took a bit longer. When we got out to Puerto Ayora, we had no bother getting 2 spaces on the boat we wanted (maybe we were lucky, but there were plenty to choose from) and I think we paid $550 each for what was advertised online as $1300pp for 6d/5n onboard.

I can't remember the name of the office we booked in (it was in the lonely planet as the place to go for last minute deals, well worth it), and if possible, try get to Espanola, and amazing island

jobless

what time of year was that Lustrum?.... i'll probably be over there at peak season July so i dunno if there will be many bargains

Lustrum

That was mid-June, and I think the agency in Puerto Ayora could have been called Moonrise maybe

themacman

are you backpacking or is it a holiday? the way i looked at it was that €1000 was about a months worth of backpacking in south america, so i couldnt justify the cost, thinking of where the money could be spent elsewhere. (wildlife has never been my thing mind you).

however if i was in ecuador on a 2 week break, coming back to a job etc, id almost certainly go for it.

jobless

its a holiday but an extended one (almost 3 months).... yeah i can understand your reasoning... i'm kinda thinking that way myself... i do like wildlife but still not sure if its worth forking out that cash for which as you said would see me good for a lot of the 3 month holiday... then again i'll more than likely never visit ecuador again.... decisions decisions

breadmonkey

I haven't been to the Galapagos Islands but this is the way I see these things:

As you say yourself, there is a high probability that this is the only time in your life that you will be in Ecuador. In the grand scheme of things, $1000 is not that much money, especially for the privilege of experiencing a truly unique part of the planet. I would rather be -$1k and disappointed with the Galapogos Islands than wonder for the rest of my life if it would have been a worthwhile visit. And when you think about it, it's probably going to be class

Notch000

I was in Eduador last year near an end of a years trip (12months travelling & not 9in Oz + a holiday), I checked prices & last minute stuff and decided that it wasnt worth doing for the prices. A travel budy of mine went here and said it was cool but I missed nothing special, he said it was full of honey moons & yank walking round dreuling with the mouths open........Supposed to be amazing if you scuba dive tho,
I dont regret not going 1 bit

jobless

thanks for the input guys..... i agree 1k isnt much in the greater scheme of things. I guess i'll have to go with my gut feeling when i get there...

a nice problem to have though!

Chickus

I loved Galapagoes, we were on a budget in RTW trip but kind of had decided before we left that we would do it, put a bit of money aside for it...
We booked it through a travel company attached to the 'Secret Garden' hostel in Quito..stay here if you can,its cool...The travel company are great (carpe diem) they give great last minute offers etc..there is nothing worse than meeting people who are going somewhere you wish you could be going to, I experienced this in Ushuaia when I met people who were going to the Antarctic...
e paid about 699 for 6night cruise around the southern islands, then flights from Quito to Galapagos via Guayaquail... We went in September though and we got flights just at start of low season so a bit cheaper...100 dollar entry fee into parks also...
It is the most amazing and interesting place i have ever been, we were on a great boat with about 7 other backpackers, we only saw honeymooners when we bumped into other groups on islands...our boat (the Encantada)was great as was our guide..he tried to get us on islands before other groups got there..we got to snorkel with sea turtles, rays, etc ..its amazing..Although if you can scuba dive, go to Isabella island and dive with the Hammer Head sharks!!
Good luck, put a bit of money aside for it just in case, and shur you can spend it on something else

jobless

thanks Chickus, will check that place out...
hopefully we might find a good deal out there..

killedsirius

my mom (late 50s) and Aunt (70) are planning a once in a lifetime trip to the Galapagos islands and Ecuador. Anyone know of good tour operators working out of Ireland/London?
So far they are trying to choose between staying on a boat or doing a land only trip? Anyone have suggestions on what's the better deal there? My mom is a very competent swimmer and has done snorkelling before.
Also considering the ages backpacking packages won't be suitable, they'll be looking for a more comfie kind of holiday. THey are looking for something for 14+ days considering the hassle it is to get there
Any suggestions welcome

ps we have been googling and have some options ear marked already so just looking for people who've had experience and their opinions on whats good

jobless

well i did go in the end and it was brilliant, worth every penny....

with regard to the last post we booked it over there so no info on booking it from here just that you'll probably pay more.
As for doing it over land....there is no way to do a land only and see many of the islands because the the islands are very spaced out and getting to them from the main island can be at lest an hour by speed boat. I would not recommend the speed boats for older people because they are a very rough crossing.
To see the some the islands they will have to go by cruiser i'm afraid. We went tourist class which was the cheapest but i would only recommend this for younger people who dont mind roughing it a bit

doriansmith

I don't know about any tour operators in Ireland but you can book online through the operators based in Ecuador. I booked my boat with Happy Gringo & found them excellent to deal with, would recommend booking a tour through them.
www.happygringo.com

doriansmith

Oh and as jobless said, they should do a boat tour rather than a land one. There's very few islands you are allowed to visit independently & it would be time consuming & doesn't really work out much cheaper than a boat tour.

NomadicMe

Did the Galapagos 3 years ago and still remember the holiday vividly- it was absolutely amazing!

I did a cruise for about 5 days and it covered some of the islands- seeing the various birds, the giant tortoises, the awesome colours, the tranquility is just something else- it is absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth a visit. In the scheme of things, you may be able to spend less on some things but I suspect when you hear of other people's adventures, you might regret not doing it.

Sometimes you get amazing bargains in the country so perhaps don't book till you get there if you are flexible with dates etc?

But my advice would be to DO IT!

killedsirius

thanks guys! they've made their decision and are going with Explore

NomadicMe

killedsirius wrote: »

Anyone know of good tour operators working out of Ireland/London?
So far they are trying to choose between staying on a boat or doing a land only trip? Anyone have suggestions on what's the better deal there?

They will have a blast!
I used Trailfinders to do my booking- they got me a real good deal with a company in Ecuador- happygringo, I think but not sure if thats just sounding familiar because its on the thread or because it was one of our options or because we went with them in the end

Definitely do the boat- if they really want to see the place and get a feel- they can also book out a whole boat for them and identify their own route if they really want to tailor make it for themselves but that costs a few bob more.

Land one keeps you restricted to the island and getting between islands is not as convenient and you miss out on a lot. Hope they have a fab trip!