Galapagos
Islands Hotels
Galapagos
hotels offer an
alternative to cruises and there is a range of accommodation available
in the islands. You
might also like to book hotel nights before or
after your
cruise to explore the social history of the islands, to spend more
time photographing the wildlife or just to lie on the beach.
Tourists
on a tight
budget may choose
to base themselves in a cheaper Galapagos hotel and take a series
of walks
and day trips. Those who suffer from sea sickness but
don't want to miss out on the famous wildlife have a
choice
from basic to luxury hotels on the Galapagos Islands for a comfortable
non-cruise
option.
Accommodation
in the
Galapagos Islands ranges from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels,
though hotels here are more expensive than their equivalents on the
mainland. You may be able to negotiate a
discount in the off-season but not all will oblige - try asking when
you call to book hotel nights, or ask your tour operator if a package
including hotel accommodation would be cheaper.
Be
aware that on arrival
you will need to inform the authorities of your cruise boat or
Galapagos hotel, which they may check. If staying with
friends,
you will need to give their name and address, and in a small island
community, the officials do know everybody. It is not a good
idea
to arrive in the islands
without having pre-booked accommodation, especially in high season such
as the Christmas holidays, when there could literally be no vacant
rooms. If you are determined to "play it
by ear", at least book hotel accommodation for your first night and
check room availability for the rest of your stay.
Sustainable
tourism in
the Galapagos is very important in terms of protecting these unique
ecosystems. The two hotels in the Galapagos which gained
SmartVoyager sustainable tourism
certification are the luxury Finch Bay
Hotel and the
super luxury Royal Palm Hotel, both on Santa Cruz island.
Whether
or not you decide
to take a Galapagos
cruise in addition to your hotel
stay, the weather
in the islands will impact on
your holiday and you might find
that the cooler second half of the year will be more comfortable if you
plan on doing much walking. Galapagos
flights have limited
availability, so book in plenty of time for your trip to the islands,
and check flight availability before you book Galapagos hotels.
The
birds and animals you
might
see vary throughout the year so the Galapagos
wildlife behaviour calendar may
help you to decide when
is best to visit the islands.
Sea lions are common throughout the islands and you
will probably see them all year round, perhaps even just outside the
window of your Galapagos hotel.
Useful
Spanish Vocabulary to book hotel stays in the Galapagos
Islands, Ecuador:
Las Islas Galápagos: The Galapagos Islands
descuento: discount
hotel de lujo: luxury hotel
Galapagos
Hotels
Galapagos Islands accommodation, hotels and hostels for land-based
Galapagos tours, book hotel accommodation in the islands as an
alternative to a cruise, Galapagos hotels by the beach before or after
an islands cruise.
Website www.ecuadortravelsite.org, text and photos by Sarah Clifford.
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