The first decision of a Galápagos trip is where you will sleep: in a hotel on one of the inhabited islands, or on board a ship that moves from island to island. This guide sums up the differences with the information we have today.
On land, island by island
You sleep on land, on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela or Floreana (the four inhabited islands with places for visitors to stay), and visit the sites on day trips. Between islands you travel by boat, about two hours.
- Santa Cruz: home to Puerto Ayora, the town many day trips and itineraries leave from. A practical base for sleeping on land.
- San Cristóbal: a seafront town and a calm pace. It works as a way into or out of the archipelago.
- Isabela: volcanic landscapes. You reach it by boat from Santa Cruz (about two hours) and can sleep there.
- Floreana: usually combined with the other islands.
On a cruise
You sleep on board and the ship brings you to each site as the itinerary moves along. It is the only way to reach Española, Genovesa, Fernandina and western Isabela, which cannot be reached from the inhabited islands. Between June and November the sea can be rougher.
Some sites, such as Seymour Norte (the island our agency takes its name from) and Bartolomé, are visited both on day trips and as part of a cruise.
The differences at a glance
- Where you sleep: in hotels on the inhabited islands, or on board the ship.
- Islands you can reach: on land, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana plus the nearby sites on day trips; on a cruise, also Española, Genovesa, Fernandina and western Isabela.
- Pace: on land it is more flexible and you can choose free days; on a cruise the itinerary moves along while you sleep.
How to choose
Going by land usually suits those who prefer to sleep on land and mix activity with rest. A cruise suits those who want to reach the farthest islands and do not mind living on board. You do not have to pick only one: the two can be combined in the same trip.
What we do not publish yet
Cruise durations, prices and each operator’s conditions are defined with you when we design the trip, so they do not appear here. Some details in this guide, such as the seasons, are still to be confirmed.