You don’t have to cruise the Galapagos; stay on the islands and explore at your own pace

I went to the Galapagos for three weeks and didn’t set foot on a cruise ship.

Three weeks? No cruise? Don’t you have to go on a cruise when you go to the Galapagos?

With all the advertising for cruises, it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s possible to explore the Galapagos from a home base. I was an island girl for three weeks, stayed on three different islands and paid a lot less than I would have had I taken a cruise. I spent about $1,300 during my visit and had a great experience.

What did you do? you might ask.

I took day trips, snorkeled, met locals and tourists, spent a lot of time hanging out, visited beaches and wildlife, and taught myself to draw animals I met on each of the islands.

An islander’s view of the Galapagos.

My decision to be an islander instead of a cruiser was the result of a conversation I had with an Ecuadorian naturalist in Cuenca. He advised me that I would be freer to pursue my own interests if I was not restricted to a cruise ship routine. He also pointed out that the ships have a destructive impact on the environment. It was easy to take him at his word since he had trained on cruise ships to be a guide. His advice was to stay on the islands.

Following his advice, I did some internet research and found hotels and ideas galore about how to be in the Galapagos without a cruise.

Hanging out with a sea lion.

Instead of the several-hour island stopovers you get when you take a cruise, I got to know three islands in some depth and could spend as much time as I wanted drawing giant turtles and scruffy iguanas — and just staring off into infinity. As much as I learned as an islander, there’s still much more to explore on Santa Cruz, Isabela, or San Cristobal, and a I look forward to a return visit.

I understand that my approach is not for everyone and that some folks prefer the planned itinerary and comforts of a cruise ship. But for me, island hopping, staying in a hotel, not getting sea sick, and being in places as long as I chose, drawing, and relaxing provided a magical time.

For those considering staying on the islands, you’ll find a large range of lodging options through a Google or TripAdvisor search. There are hostels and hotels for all budgets.

When I go back to the Galapagos, I look forward to a day hanging with sea lions on the beach and a morning watching iguanas cross the road. Or, I might spend money on Spanish lessons. Or, I might spend nothing and volunteer for a nature project. These are options you won’t have onboard a ship.

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Karla Freeman, expat, traveler, tango dancer, writer, currently lives in Cuenca and is the author of Creating Magic in Midlife: 101 Questions and Answers to Reinvent Your Work, Relationships and Life! Available on Amazon Kindle and at Carolina bookstore on Calle Hermano Miguel in Cuenca.