{"id":5811,"date":"2023-10-28T10:11:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T10:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/?p=5811"},"modified":"2024-02-22T16:31:03","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T16:31:03","slug":"how-to-visit-the-galapagos-islands-without-a-cruise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/how-to-visit-the-galapagos-islands-without-a-cruise\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Visit the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands Without a Cruise"},"content":{"rendered":"

With clear crystal waters, sumptuous sands, and weird and wonderful wildlife, a trip to the Gal\u00e1pagos is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! It\u2019s no wonder then, that a visit to these idyllic islands is top of many a traveler\u2019s bucket list.<\/p>\n

While cruises have traditionally been the go-to way to experience the Gal\u00e1pagos, here at Academy Bay Diving we\u2019re seeing more and more people choosing to stay on one of the islands instead. And given all the benefits, we\u2019re not surprised!<\/p>\n

Sleeping on solid ground gives you the freedom to pick and choose exactly where you want to go and what you want to see and do. It\u2019s also a better choice if you suffer with seasickness, and it\u2019s cheaper to boot.<\/p>\n

So, whether you\u2019re on a budget, or just want to experience the wonder of the islands at your own pace \u2013 keep reading to find out exactly how to visit the islands without a cruise, and why a land-based stay makes for a great Gal\u00e1pagos vacay! And if we inspire you to explore the Gal\u00e1pagos with us, check out our Daily Galapagos Land Tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Transport Tips and Tricks<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning a DIY trip to this dream destination, the first thing you\u2019ll need to know is how to actually get here.<\/p>\n

The only way to reach the Gal\u00e1pagos is to fly in from Ecuador, as there aren\u2019t any international flights to the islands. So, you’ll need to book a flight into Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador first, then another flight to and from one of the two airports in the Gal\u00e1pagos.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re staying on Santa Cruz Island, Baltra Airport is your best bet. It\u2019s the closest, and from the airport you can get a free shuttle to the ferry that\u2019ll take you to Santa Cruz, then a bus or taxi onwards to Puerto Ayora.<\/p>\n

Are your sights on staying in San Crist\u00f3bal? Just fly into San Crist\u00f3bal Airport on the south-west edge of the island.<\/p>\n

And if island-hopping sounds ideal, book a flight into Baltra and out of San Crist\u00f3bal (or vice versa) \u2013 that way you get to experience both of these beautiful islands.<\/p>\n

\"People

Photo: Kiyoshi<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to Stay in the Gal\u00e1pagos<\/h2>\n

The first question we often get asked by visitors considering a land-based stay in the Gal\u00e1pagos is: \u2018Which island should I choose?\u2019
\nAnd the good news is, picking where to stay isn\u2019t as difficult as you might think. Of the 13 major islands that make up the Gal\u00e1pagos, there are only a few you can actually sleep on overnight \u2013 the most popular of which are Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Crist\u00f3bal.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019ll get to experience the magic of the Gal\u00e1pagos by staying on any of these islands, we recommend opting for Santa Cruz. As well as being a tourist hotspot with plenty of things to see and do, its main town, Puerto Ayora, is a prime departure point for popular day tours to other nearby islands. For example, you could stay in Santa Cruz but take our Isabella Island Day Tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One huge plus of going for a land-based stay is that you can tailor your trip to your preferences. So, whether you want to explore endless dive sites, see the awesome animals that live on the Gal\u00e1pagos\u2019 varied terrain, or both, a combination of guided day tours to other islands and self-guided tours in and around Santa Cruz is the way to go.<\/p>\n

\"A

Photo: Kiyoshi<\/p><\/div>\n

Guided Tours in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands<\/h2>\n

With numerous day trips and tours departing from Puerto Ayora daily, the wondrous world of the Gal\u00e1pagos is your oyster!<\/p>\n

Although you can book most trips in person when you arrive, booking in advance can save you time and hassle, and make sure you get to visit the places that are top of your must-see list.<\/p>\n

One of the dreamiest diving destinations in the archipelago, you\u2019ll find lots of daily snorkeling and scuba diving tours on offer in Santa Cruz, like the chance to splash in the surf with sea lion pups on our Academy Bay Day Tour,<\/a> or dive with white tip reef and hammerhead sharks on our Floreana Day Tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prefer to stay on solid ground? From swimming with green sea turtles at Tortuga Bay, to ogling marine iguanas on Santa Fe \u2013 our daily Gal\u00e1pagos land tours<\/a> are every bit as good as our diving excursions.<\/p>\n

If planning daily trips sounds like too much of a hassle, you can opt for a multi-day trip instead, like one of our multi-day Gal\u00e1pagos diving packages<\/a> or Gal\u00e1pagos land tour packages<\/a>. Ranging from a few days to an extensive two-week extravaganza, these tours often include accommodation, food, and travel between sites \u2013 so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the Gal\u00e1pagos getaway of your dreams!<\/p>\n

\"Four

Photo: Deb Dowd<\/p><\/div>\n

Self-Guided Tours<\/h2>\n

As if being home to some of the best dive sites in the islands wasn\u2019t enough, there are also loads of things to see and do on Santa Cruz without needing to book a tour.<\/p>\n

From getting up close and personal with iconic Gal\u00e1pagos giant tortoises at the El Chato Reserve, to learning all about the ecosystem and endemic species of the Gal\u00e1pagos at the Charles Darwin Research Station<\/a>, exploring on your own allows you to be more flexible and go at your own pace.<\/p>\n

See some of our favorite places to explore without a guide, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No Cruise? No Problem!<\/h2>\n

As you can see, visiting the Gal\u00e1pagos without a cruise isn\u2019t as tricky as you might think!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to start planning your dream stay, why not have a look at our daily Gal\u00e1pagos diving tours<\/a>? Departing from our dive shop in Santa Cruz daily, we\u2019ve handpicked the best spots for swimming among the islands\u2019 enigmatic sea life.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019ve got a bit more time on your hands and want to elevate your Gal\u00e1pagos experience, check out our multi-day Gal\u00e1pagos diving packages<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wherever you decide to visit, be sure to follow any guidelines to help preserve and protect the natural environments, ecosystems, and wildlife that make these wonder-filled islands so special.<\/p>\n

If you have any questions about our tours, or anything else, just get in touch<\/a> and we\u2019ll be happy to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With clear crystal waters, sumptuous sands, and weird and wonderful wildlife, a trip to the Gal\u00e1pagos is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! It\u2019s no wonder then, that a visit to these idyllic islands is top of many a traveler\u2019s bucket list. While cruises have traditionally been the go-to way to experience the Gal\u00e1pagos, here at Academy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":533,"featured_media":5805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-galapagos-national-park"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/533"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5811"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5885,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5811\/revisions\/5885"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/academybaydiving.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}