Like most islands, the Galapagos is expensive in general for just about everything, including lodging and food. The easiest and probably best way to see the chain of 18 islands is by taking a multi-day (4-10 day) cruise, but they are several thousand dollars per person depending on the company and the length of the trip. Based on our budget and time frame, we decided to stay on land and take day trips to a few islands close by.
Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz is the main hub. We rented a small two bedroom guesthouse on the outskirts of town called Casita Muyuyo. It was quiet but within walking distance. Overall, it was nice and comfortable, but we did experience problems losing electricity and water, which is common in town apparently.
The small kitchen and dining room were convenient for making breakfast and dinner. Two of the nights, we made pasta bought and packed from the mainland, paired with some fruit provided as a welcome from our host. It was not anything special, but it ended up being $1-$2 per person for dinner which is not bad considering food is about 4x the normal price here. For cost comparisons, a bag of pasta at the grocery store on the mainland was ~$1 while on the island it was ~$4-$5.
Matt and I searched the grocery store to find items for a cheap, protein-filled breakfast. We selected a large container of peach yogurt (to pair with granola brought from the mainland) and farm fresh eggs. I paid $1.06 for 10 eggs. Not a bad deal for a place known for astronomical prices!
The bedrooms were spacious and air-conditioned, although when the electricity was out, it was useless.
We did eat out for a few meals here. Many of the restaurants are costly, but by going off the beaten path a bit and doing some research ahead of time, we knew which places were affordable and had favorable reviews.
After seeing pizza for $30 right on the water in San Cristobal, we walked a little further and came across this local place which offered a full meal for $3.50.
For dinner one night, we ordered burgers, fish, and fries at Isla Grill. If I remember correctly, my chicken burger and fries were ~$8 while Dustin's fish was ~$13. Some of the other entrees were more expensive, but overall this restaurant was reasonable and tasty.
Another find, tucked down a side street, was the Galapagos Deli. The prices were reasonable, and the quality was quite good. We ate lunch and dinner here, complete with ice cream.
Fish and chips for lunch.
Delicious pizza and fish and chips for dinner. But in my opinion the fresh squeezed mango juice won the prize.
Although the Galapagos Islands are known for being pricey, from our experience it is definitely doable to visit while staying and eating within a budget.
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