{"id":149208,"date":"2023-02-13T13:09:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T13:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=149208"},"modified":"2024-04-05T15:26:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T15:26:48","slug":"solo-travelling-in-the-galapagos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/solo-travelling-in-the-galapagos\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know: solo travelling in The Galapagos"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Galapagos is a bucket list destination for most of us. Where better to be immersed in nature than the archipelago made famous by Darwin?! Understandably, it\u2019s a pricey place and due to requiring a return flight, visitors have a finite amount of time there. As a result, I did a heck of a lot more planning than I usually do. <\/span>I was ready to live out my itinerary, be at one with the wildlife and was content with the fact that it probably wouldn\u2019t be a social spot. How wrong I was! You can absolutely go solo travelling in the Galapagos and have an awesome social experience too.<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you’re looking to learn about <\/span>flying solo in this famous wildlife paradise,\u00a0you’ve come to the right place! I\u2019ve compiled everything you need to know below, from where to meet fellow backpackers to the best one person activities.<\/span>
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What to know before solo travelling in the Galapagos<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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One thing the Galapagos isn\u2019t famed for is being a sociable backpacker hotspot. However, I was really surprised by how prominent the backpacker community was there and bumped into many of the same travellers on multiple islands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What time of the year is best for solo travelling in the Galapagos?<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Any time! Whilst I was surprised at how built up Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz was, the towns on all the inhabited islands are fairly small. The <\/span>budget backpacker accommodation<\/span><\/a> options are limited and all the places I stayed were fully booked in advance. <\/span>
\n<\/span>With <\/span>regards to seasons<\/span><\/a>, January to June is warm and wet leaving July to December cooler and drier. The general consensus is that the warmer season is preferable but wildlife can be seen year round here. I visited in June and the days alternated between windy and overcast and extremely sunny with clear skies. I found the water to be pretty cold for most of my snorkelling – I\u2019d definitely recommend accepting a wetsuit if you\u2019re offered one on a tour!<\/span><\/p>\n

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How much does solo travelling in the Galapagos cost?<\/span><\/h3>\n

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There are two ways to travel there – by cruise or on land. The latter is notoriously cheaper and is the way I chose to do it (partly because I get horribly seasick!). I think solo travel around the Galapagos would be great with either option but you\u2019ll meet a wider variety of people on land.\u00a0<\/span>I backpacked here on a budget, making the most of all the free and cheap activities on the islands, cooking as much as possible and choosing the cheapest hostels. I spent \u00a3750 in 9 days, including flights. For a detailed cost breakdown, feel free to check out the Galapagos highlight on <\/span>my instagram page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Is the Galapagos safe for solo travellers?<\/span><\/h3>\n

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The Galapagos has a <\/span>lower crime rate than mainland Ecuador<\/span><\/a> and as a solo female, I felt safe there. Tourism on the islands has created a secure community for <\/span>travellers of different ethnicities<\/span><\/a>, there are tour <\/span>options for wheelchair users<\/span><\/a> and Ecuador is known to be an <\/span>LGBT+ friendly country<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Be mindful of tour agencies trying to rip people off. It\u2019s best to get multiple quotes before booking and go with your gut on whether you trust the service. Unlike the mainland, everybody on the Galapagos speaks English so don\u2019t worry if your Spanish isn\u2019t up to scratch.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to travel the Galapagos solo<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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I\u2019ve already mentioned choosing between a cruise and land hopping. If you do land hop, you can split your time between Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal islands. Fly into Santa Cruz and out of San Cristobal. You\u2019ll meet other backpackers doing the same and bump into the same people on multiple islands. <\/span>I\u2019d recommend planning your itinerary and booking accommodation in advance (certainly not my usual travel style) as the WiFi is nearly non-existent so you\u2019ll have a hard time googling and <\/span>booking on Hostelworld<\/span><\/a> while you\u2019re there!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Best things to do when solo travelling in the Galapagos<\/span><\/h3>\n

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