How much does a Galapagos trip really cost? A full breakdown of cruise, land-based, and hybrid trip prices - plus a few creative ways to save.
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The cost of a Galapagos trip can range wildly, depending on your approach. I've seen trips that cost anywhere from $2,000 to well over $10,000 per person, and both of those numbers are completely normal. The biggest lever by far is whether you go cruise-based or land-based. Here's a real breakdown of both, plus the costs everyone pays no matter which route you choose.
The Costs Everyone Pays
Regardless of how you structure your trip, there are some baseline costs that apply to every visitor:
- International flight to Ecuador - Varies enormously by home city.
- Flight from the mainland to the Galápagos - Typically $300-500 round-trip from Quito or Guayaquil, though it can climb past $600 in high season or if you book last minute.
- TCT Card (Transit Control Card) - $20 per person, purchased online before your flight.
- Galápagos National Park entrance fee - $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12, free under 2. This fee is paid in cash on arrival. (This fee doubled in 2024, so older trip reports and blog posts will often understate it.)
That's roughly $520-720+ per adult before you've booked your international flights or a single hotel, tour, or cruise cabin. So yes, it can get expensive fast.
Note: Full details on all of the logistics and costs stated above can be found in our Getting There & Getting Around guide.
Cruise-Based Trip Costs
Cruise pricing is all-inclusive and quoted per person, per night, and it varies by ship class:
- Budget (Economy/Tourist): $450-650/night per person
- Mid-Range (Tourist Superior/First Class): $650-1,100/night per person
- Luxury: $1,000-1,700+/night per pereson
Cruise itineraries run anywhere from 4-8 nights. A typical week-long cruise can cost anywhere from $3,150 (budget) and $11,900+ (luxury) per person, on top of the baseline costs above.
That price includes your cabin, all meals, and daily guided excursions. There's very little left to pay for once you're on board, aside from alcohol and gratuities. For the full breakdown of what you get at each budget level, see How to Choose a Galapagos Cruise.
Land-Based Trip Costs
Land-based costs are more piecemeal - you're paying for hotels, day tours, and inter-island transport separately, which means more control over your total but also a lot more planning. Here are some broad ranges to get you started:
Hotels: Prices can vary widely based on hotel category. But you can expect to spend roughly $50-120/night for budget accommodations, $120-300/night for a mid-range hotel, and $300-600+/night for the luxury higher end properties. See our Where to Stay in the Galapagos guide for our hotel picks on each island.
Day tours: As most of the popular visitor sites require a guide, you will want to budget for several day tours. Tours can run anywhere from $65-320 per person, depending on the destination and length of the tour. A full day at somewhere like Los Tuneles runs toward the top of that range, but a short outing like a half-day at Tintoreras sits near the bottom. You can get a better idea of what's available on each island in our island-by-island guide.
Inter-island ferries: If you plan to move between the three major islands, you can plan on ferry tickets running $30-38 per person, each way (plus a $1 water taxi and small dock fees). Ferries typically run two times per day between Santa Cruz-Isabela and Santa Cruz-San Cristobal. Note that there is no ferry between Isabela and San Cristobal. It's simply too far - you have to stop at Santa Cruz in the middle. You can find more details on the ferries in our Galapagos logistics guide.
Inter-island flights (Emetebe): If you'd rather skip the ferry, you can find interisland flights for approximately $150-200 per person, each way. This is pricier, but generally more enjoyable than the ferry ride.
For a week split across two islands with a mid-range hotel and a day tour every other day, you're looking at roughly $1,500-2,800 per person, on top of the baseline costs.
Budget travelers who lean on DIY sites (free snorkeling at places like Concha de Perla or Tortuga Bay) and book fewer tours can bring that cost down further. And travelers who book a tour every single day and stay in nicer hotels will land at the higher end or beyond.
Combining Both: The Hybrid Trip
Of course, you don't have to choose one or the other. We did a bit of a hybrid trip ourselves, staying on Santa Cruz prior to embarking on a cruise, and it's a great way to balance cost against experience.
A 3-4 night budget-to-mid-range cruise paired with 3-4 land-based days can land somewhere in the $2,500-4,500 per person range, giving you both the flexibility of land-based travel and access to the remote, cruise-only wildlife sites.
Ways to Save
- Travel in shoulder season. Cruise pricing and flight costs both dip outside of peak months - see our Best Time to Visit guide for timing considerations.
- Book a budget cruise class. The wildlife and itinerary are about the ship's route, not the cabin or dinners! You'll see the same animals from a budget boat as a luxury one, so you can save some cash if you are willing to rough it a bit.
- Focus on DIY visitor sites for a land-based trip. Concha de Perla, Tortuga Bay, and Las Grietas are all excellent and cost nothing beyond getting yourself there.
- Take the ferry instead of inter-island flights. If you're not prone to seasickness - the ferry is a fraction of the cost.
- Do your own cooking. While I do suggest trying out the local cuisine, booking a rental with a kitchen or kitchenette can allow you to eat some meals at home instead of dining out three times per day. Picnic lunches are also great for beach days and hikes!
More Galapagos Trip Planning Resources
Still planning the rest of your Galapagos trip? Here's some more resources that you may find helpful:
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