When planning an important vacation for your family, nothing should be taken for granted. Even more when planning to visit a remote and exotic destination like the Galapagos Islands.

The internet bombards you with tons of information and travel deals, new hotels, new yachts and new types of tours. Information is not always accurate and it is difficult to qualify or validate. There are several myths and misconceptions. Every now and then the myths get confirmed (such as the fact that Galapagos Island hopping programs do not visit the Galapagos national park), while others get debunked. In this blog post we will discuss about the most popular Galapagos travel myth and we will explain why it is nothing but a misconception.

Galapagos Last Minute bookings are cheaper...

Several travel agents and former travelers suggest that by booking at the very last minute you can get a better price for the cruise you want. It has come to the point that some people wait to arrive at the Galapagos Islands and try to book their cruise. Of course by doing so, they end up booking on whatever is available and not only do they end up not doing what they planned but also hurt the cruise operator and irritate other travelers who planned their vacation in advance.

How to get the best price for a Galapagos cruise ?

Our suggestion is to not focus on paying cheap, but to get the most out of each dollar. Search for value, below are some important value tips.

It is important to take into account all the costs involved in traveling to the Galapagos Islands:

a)      International airfare: Perhaps one of the most costly factors in a Galapagos trip is the international airfare to get to Ecuador (unless you have air miles). It all depends where you are flying from, how far in advance you are booking and what time of the year you plan to travel to Ecuador.

Flights from Miami and Houston are not that expensive, and it is even cheaper if you are flying in from countries nearby like Colombia, Peru, Chile or Panama. It may be advisable to combine your visit to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with other nearby destinations (it will not be cheaper) but you will get more bang from your buck by enjoying more attractions.

By being located at the Equator line you can visit the country any time of year and you will find similar weather, if you plan to save money, you can book your airfare at the time of the year prices are lowest and you will still enjoy a great vacation.

Finally, if you book in advance air tickets are cheaper.

Other factors are of influence, like travel on weekends or weekdays, length of stay, etc.

If your dates are flexible, your best bet is to shop around and get the best prices for your flight.

b)      Ecuador hotels, pre and post tours: The fact is that there are no direct international connections to the Galapagos Islands. You need to stay at least 1 night before (in Quito or Guayaquil) your Galapagos cruise and depending on where you are going next 1 night after. If you wish to continue on to Peru or another neighboring country, you can manage to fly out on the same day you fly from the Islands back to mainland Ecuador.

Some travelers prefer to save on their hotel in mainland Ecuador and splurge on their Galapagos cruise. After all, this makes a lot of sense, when on mainland you can spend time outside your hotel and not worry if it is not so luxurious; on a boat you cannot spend time in the ocean and return to sleep…

If you want to add value to your trip you can add a few days visit to Ecuador mainland. There are many attractions that are overlooked: Amazon rainforest, Indigenous markets, cloud-forests reserves, colonial cities (Quito and Cuenca are Unesco heritage sites), Andean mountain lodges and other interesting places to visit.

c)       Flight to the Galapagos Islands: The price is fixed. There are really not many bargains you can get here, so be prepared to dish out about 400 USD in average. You may be able to find a deal by buying it as part of your international ticket with TACA or LAN, there are some good discounts here… but be sure to coordinate your flights well, you may end up being late for your cruise boats departure if you book the wrong flight and I guarantee you that they will not wait for you and definitely will give no refunds. Hiring a speed boat to catch up with a missed cruise boat can cost anywhere from $600 to $900 USD.

You want value? Stay on the Islands for at least 1 week (do not forget that you also have to pay $100 USD as Galapagos park tax + $10 USD for the immigration card).

d)      The Galapagos cruise: It is always possible or maybe not… to get a good deal on a last minute cruise.

We have encountered travelers who on peak dates have intended to book their cruise after arriving in Ecuador, just to find there no longer are spaces available! Then they have to wait a week or two or even three to find a yacht or cruise ship that has availability, if you do not mind what boat you get  on you may find something sooner than later. Cheaper boats offer less comfort. The comfort and experience factor has to be put into context here:

-          sponge mattress vs. orthopedic mattress

-          bunk beds vs. regular beds

-          delicious gourmet meals vs. canned food

-          a well prepared vegetarian meal vs. lettuce + tomato + lettuce

-          an English speaking guide vs. a Spanglish speaking guide

-          hot water showers vs. cold or maybe no water showers

-          Oceanview upper deck cabins vs. cabins next to noisy engine room and bellow water level

-          etc., etc., etc.

What happens if you booked your airfare as part of an international ticket and have fixed dates...?

What happens if you are traveling with a family of 4 and you find 2 spaces on one boat 2 on another...?

You might go home without taking a cruise...:-(

Of course if you have enough time and resources to wait it out for a couple weeks, you may be lucky and get a deal. Not everyone can extend their vacation for time on end, plus you will be paying just as much in hotels, food and other expenses by hanging around waiting for a cruise to be available. I am sure your time is more valuable than just saving money…

There are some beautiful yachts and cruise ships in the Galapagos Islands, they offer tremendous experiences and have a great reputation. I can assure you that more often than not, they are booked out in advance.

Book Galapagos travel in advance, save money and get value

By booking your Galapagos cruise in advance there are many advantages:

-          Less stress, you have everything planned in advance and just need to arrive.

-          You get to choose the boat and itinerary you want, based upon your preferences of comfort, activities and experience.

-          Ask for an early bird discount, many boats are now offering discounts for people who book in advance.

-          You can do your own research on the travel agent and boat you are booking with.

-          You can plan your pre and post trip excursions to meet your pace and taste. There are unique places in Ecuador and Peru that should be booked in advance as well: Specialty Amazon lodges, Amazon cruises, the Inca trail.

-          Add value to your program by enjoying an all around trip (include several attractions like the Otavalo market, Machu Picchu, Amazon rainforest) that could be the experience of a lifetime and not just another check mark on a bucketlist.

-          Save money, your all around well planned trip will cost less, you will have booked your airfare at the best rate possible, chosen not so expensive yet nice hotels in Quito or Guayaquil, booked excellent pre and post tours, chosen the cruise you wanted at a fair price, saved a bundle on international airfare and mistakes not made.

At Voyagers we are committed to making your Galapagos travel experience a true success, we can help you book the cruise program that is right for you. If you wish we can also customize a full itinerary that includes pre-post tour arrangements in Ecuador and beyond (including Peru and Bolivia). Compare us for value and the quality of our services, we are sure you will find several advantages of booking in advance and yet more by choosing Voyagers.