Santa Cruz Island

The RTW Trip Giveaway: A Winner's Update (Part 1)

"I spent ten days in the Galápagos and found the islands insanely beautiful and well protected; the water was crystal clear and snorkeling with sea lions and turtles felt surreal because the animals were so unafraid and curious. The trip was hard on my budget — last-minute cruises run about $1,000 for four days or $1,700 for eight days, and hostels on the island run about $20 USD (roughly double mainland rates) — so I opted out of a cruise and did a more challenging self-tour instead. I did find ways to save, such as a restaurant on Santa Cruz Island that served a great $5 lunch, and I felt okay about the splurge because I was saving elsewhere (for example, I booked my flight out of South America on points)." - Matthew Kepnes