Galapagos Alternative
Galapagos Alternative
5
Multi-day ToursScuba & SnorkellingFishing Charters & ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full view
About
At Galapagos Alternative we specialize in personalized land-based tour packages. We offer unique experiences of the islands the way we see them: as locals. Choose the sights and activities most interesting to you, stay at local places, eat at local restaurants, and of course, get up-close experiences with the amazing animals that make the Galapagos Islands so special. We can help you find the best options to fit your timeframe, budget and preferences. We can help with all aspects of your trip, from booking unique accommodations to daily activities and transport between the islands. We are Jill and Javier Moreno, and we'd like to welcome you to our home. We look forward to treating you like family, showing you our favorite places, and ensuring that you have the experience of a lifetime in the amazing and beautiful Galapagos!
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
376 reviews
Excellent
337
Very good
22
Average
8
Poor
5
Terrible
4
magnumpi032003
Daphne, AL20 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
First, This was one the best adventure of our lifetime, and we’ve been fortunate to go to Spain, Jamaica, many areas in Mexico. Galapagos, Santa Cruz and Galapagos Alternative tops all of them. They take care of you from when you arrive at the airport until you get on the plane to leave. If you or anyone you know is deciding to take a trip be sure to contact Galopagos Alternative. Next, We stayed at Monte mar villas Coffee plantation which is a migration pathway for the Giant tortoises, and the wonderful Reyna with her incredible Chefs that will take great care of you. I got to do a coffee tasting, and a tour of her eco-friendly farm. Next, We took some snorkeling tours which were amazing, and to swim up to Sea Turtles, Sea Lions, Reef Sharks, and all kinds of beautiful fish was an experience one can’t describe in a review, but only actually doing it will work, Also, We took a Foodie tour which I thought was a great experience, because you get to go around to 5 different Restaurants, and try Galopagos food with a farm to table experience. One of our best Restaurants in Galopagos Sante Cruz was Anker Restaurant. A farm to table restaurant that has some of the best Chefs and service on the island that you can’t find anywhere else. Finally, again It’s hard to to describe the amazing experience in a short review with out actually doing it, so I say “what are YOU waiting on”? Also, A special thanks to Karina Galopagos Alternative, Reyna and her amazing chefs at Monte mar Villas, David our guide, Freddy the driver who was always on time, Anker Restaurant and the Chefs, Sante Cruz Brewery and that wonderful Galopagos beef. Until next time Galapagos!
Best Regards,
John and Holly Robertson
Best Regards,
John and Holly Robertson
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karen H
2 contributions
Feb 2020
Galapagos Alternative setup a perfect 3day trip of Quito and Cotopaxi. Sabine was our Galapagos Alternative agent who did such an outstanding job of every connection during our stay. Really can’t say enough good things about Sabine and the job she did for our party of 4. Starting from the arrival in Quito at 11:45pm at Mariscal Sucre International Airport where we were picked up by Ivan our driver and Quito tour guide for the following morning. Ikala Hotel Quito was superb in comfort, cleanliness, hospitality and dining. The tour of the city was given by Ivan and the driver was Angel that was all entertaining, efficient and interesting. The following day we toured Cotopaxi that was given by Luis. It was a 2hr drive to the parking lot by the entire way we were given detailed information about the surrounding areas and how to prepare for the altitude of 5,000meters. It was a beautiful trip and a wonderful lunch. The last day in Quito was a free day that we enjoyed by visiting the museums. Two nights we dined at Achiole Ecuador Cuisine that was recommended by Ikala Hotel that was delightful. The morning we departed we were picked up promptly at 5:45am and arrived at the airport in plenty of time and well informed to depart to Baltra. Thanks Galapagos Alternative for everything!
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill R
5 contributions
Jan 2021
My favourite part of the trip was going to Isle Lobos and snorkelling with sealions. Galapagos Alternative was a supurb group to work with for many reasons . They went above and beyond being our travel agent many ways . For instance , when one of our group lost his cell phone the head guy traced it to a house and confronted the people there to return it and they did! He met us at our hotel evert morningl and made sure we knew the plan for the day and walked us to our boat or bus and often met us later for dinner. During Covid the availability for doing excursions took more effort than I suspect is usual and even though our group was small they hooked us up with excellent guides , boats and excursions that were first rate . The diving company we used was probably the best on the island (Iguana Divers) and this is important for safety reasons as its not for beginner divers. They made us feel especially welcome and made it a trip of a lifetime. I recommend them and don t think you will find a better choice highly
Written February 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine E
San Rafael, CA8 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I recently used Galapagos Alternative for a land based tour focused on snorkeling and seeing a wide variety of animals on the islands. I initially found it very daunting trying to figure out what islands to go to and how to get there. I was priced out of a Marine tour because I only wanted to spend a total of $10,000 for 2 people, my adult son and I to have an eight day vacation on the Galapagos. The cost of the tour planned by Galapagos alternative allowed for us to have enough funds for our airfare and hotels in Quito.
I was pleasantly surprised when we were met at the airport in Baltra by the Galapagos Alternative representatives. This created a smooth entrance to the islands as well as a taxi ride directly to our hotel. At our hotel we were met by Sabine from GA,who went over our entire visit with all the details. She made excellent recommendations for restaurants and other points of interest on the island. We were in close communication with her regarding renting wetsuits, organizing a dive for my son, and arranging taxis to and from the pier where we were traveling from for our day trips.
She escorted us to the ferry when it was time to travel to our next islands, Isabella. This made for a very smooth transition in a bit of a complicated scenario at 6:30 AM. We were met at the dock by beautiful Emilie on the island of Isabella. She picked us up in her car drove us to our next hotel. Again she let us know where to be what to bring and what would be entailed in our tours that were arranged for us on the island of Isabella. She also recommended restaurants and helped us with renting wetsuits and fans.
We flew to our third island, San Cristobal where we were met at the airport by Juan Karlos. He brought us by taxi to our new hotel and again reviewed our planned activities over the next few days that were spent on the island. Again we were in close communication with him about details and questions that we had. Restaurants were recommended and he actually helped us significantly when my son lost his wallet. I can’t say more about the service that was rendered by all the representatives of Galapagos Alternative. I highly recommend them for anyone who is interested in doing a land tour of the beautiful islands of the Galapagos.
I was pleasantly surprised when we were met at the airport in Baltra by the Galapagos Alternative representatives. This created a smooth entrance to the islands as well as a taxi ride directly to our hotel. At our hotel we were met by Sabine from GA,who went over our entire visit with all the details. She made excellent recommendations for restaurants and other points of interest on the island. We were in close communication with her regarding renting wetsuits, organizing a dive for my son, and arranging taxis to and from the pier where we were traveling from for our day trips.
She escorted us to the ferry when it was time to travel to our next islands, Isabella. This made for a very smooth transition in a bit of a complicated scenario at 6:30 AM. We were met at the dock by beautiful Emilie on the island of Isabella. She picked us up in her car drove us to our next hotel. Again she let us know where to be what to bring and what would be entailed in our tours that were arranged for us on the island of Isabella. She also recommended restaurants and helped us with renting wetsuits and fans.
We flew to our third island, San Cristobal where we were met at the airport by Juan Karlos. He brought us by taxi to our new hotel and again reviewed our planned activities over the next few days that were spent on the island. Again we were in close communication with him about details and questions that we had. Restaurants were recommended and he actually helped us significantly when my son lost his wallet. I can’t say more about the service that was rendered by all the representatives of Galapagos Alternative. I highly recommend them for anyone who is interested in doing a land tour of the beautiful islands of the Galapagos.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind response! We are very pleased you had such a wonderful time in Galapagos and that our representatives on each island were able to help you feel welcomed, connected, and cared for. Thank you for trusting us with such a special experience for you and your son.
Written October 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terri O
Eugene, OR18 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
My friend and I planned this very special trip for our birthdays. Galápagos Alternative provided tremendous service from the minute we initially contacted them via the Internet throughout the entire journey in the Galápagos Islands. The individualIzed care was superb.
Karina helped custom design our trip to meet all of our desires and match our travel preferences. Every staff member that attended to us as Hosts on each Island and Tour Guides was charming, kind, attentive and genuinely caring. Sabine, Daniella, Camila, Juan Carlos, and the owners Jill & Xavier, are all like family now. I plan to bring a group next year and will gratefully leave the coordinating of all details to Galapagos Alternatives.💖
Karina helped custom design our trip to meet all of our desires and match our travel preferences. Every staff member that attended to us as Hosts on each Island and Tour Guides was charming, kind, attentive and genuinely caring. Sabine, Daniella, Camila, Juan Carlos, and the owners Jill & Xavier, are all like family now. I plan to bring a group next year and will gratefully leave the coordinating of all details to Galapagos Alternatives.💖
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terri! The Galapagos Alternative team was very impressed by you and Pam! We are so grateful that you crossed our path here and that we were able to connect with you. We were so excited about your arrival and you left such a buzz within our team. Everyone was so impressed by your positive energy that brought the animals to you! We have always noticed that the travelers that complain (not many) about not seeing enough animals tend to keep them away with the negative vibes they put out without realizing it. You are the total opposite! The fact that you are conscious of this connection and are able to really communicate with the animals is so profound and inspirational. You make me want to better connect with myself and the animals too! I think I speak the same for all of our staff that you touched while you were here.
We certainly look forward to welcoming you back and hopefully we can join you on an excursion next time!
And thank you for the very kind review! :)
And I realized I forgot to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both. I suppose the animals did!
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brenda R
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Couples
My husband and I have travelled a lot; this was, without a doubt, the most incredible trip we have ever done. From the moment we arrived at the airport on Baltra Island until we left a week later, everyone took such amazing care of us and all the details. Every one of our excursions was memorable, the guides were knowledgeable, personable and enthusiastic. They made sure that we had a positive experience and saw all that we could. We were very impressed with their concern and respect for the animals, reptiles, flora and indeed the entire ecosystem in their beautiful Islands. Special shout out to Federico (Highlands of Santa Cruz) and Emilie (our contact person and provider of excellent snorkelling gear on Isabela Island).
And lastly, sweet Sabine! She was extraordinary in her planning of our excursions to North Seymour Island, Santa Cruz and Isabela. She was so welcoming and helpful; we simply cannot thank her enough for her guidance and knowledge of the things that we had to see and do. We will absolutely recommend her and the GA team to friends and family that might have the Galápagos Islands on their bucket list.
And lastly, sweet Sabine! She was extraordinary in her planning of our excursions to North Seymour Island, Santa Cruz and Isabela. She was so welcoming and helpful; we simply cannot thank her enough for her guidance and knowledge of the things that we had to see and do. We will absolutely recommend her and the GA team to friends and family that might have the Galápagos Islands on their bucket list.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WOW! We are very flattered to know that we were in-part responsible for making this the most amazing experience yet for you. We can't take credit for the amazing animals but we are pleased we could get in the right place at the right time and with the right people. : ) Thanks for the kind praise. We love sharing this magical place. The highest complement is recommending us to others. Thank you!
Written February 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
povilas11
3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Javier and Lauren are wonderful. Lauren was easy to work with and very responsive during the planning process. Javier took great care of us while we were there, including helping with little things like restaurant recommendations, snorkeling equipment, getting our luggage from one island to another. Getting into Galapagos is complicated (planes, vans, ferries, taxis), but thanks to Galapagos Alternative it was very smooth process from being greeted at the airport to arriving at our hotel. They work with and recommend locally owned hotels and tour companies. Their packages are price competitive, but you still get value. Ideal for people who don't do well on extended cruises due to sea sickness or just not wanting to be stuck on a boat with the same people for days on end. Their packages include guided land tours, with occasional boat day trips, plus free time along with recommendations what to do (for those who don't want to be with guides at all times).
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David & Marie
1 contribution
Mar 2022
We booked our trip- first to the Galapagos- through Galapagos Alternative(GA). They are an exceptional company to work with. We had only 5 days to spend on the islands and wanted to make the most of the time that we could. We worked via internet with Sabine, who tailored our trip based on our preferences and put together a fabulous experience visiting Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands. She was responsive and knowledgeable and provided us with the best guides, excursions, and hikes. The staff are all locals who love their island home and loved showing it to us. In addition to seeing the incredible flora, fauna, and geology of the islands, we enjoyed learning a little about the local people there. We ate really well at recommended restaurants and even had a gourmet meal at a Peruvian chef's home.
A GA representative was there when we arrived at the airport, transported us to our hotel and met with us at our hotel every evening to make sure we had everything we needed and to plan the next day’s activities. We were provided with a map of Puerto Ayora, restaurant and activity recommendations, and advice about what we needed for each activity and how to stay healthy. Of note, Javier, Daniela, and Juan Carlos were exceptional. There was just the right amount of help without being the least bit intrusive.
We highly recommend this company, without reservation, for an experience that you will never forget.
A GA representative was there when we arrived at the airport, transported us to our hotel and met with us at our hotel every evening to make sure we had everything we needed and to plan the next day’s activities. We were provided with a map of Puerto Ayora, restaurant and activity recommendations, and advice about what we needed for each activity and how to stay healthy. Of note, Javier, Daniela, and Juan Carlos were exceptional. There was just the right amount of help without being the least bit intrusive.
We highly recommend this company, without reservation, for an experience that you will never forget.
Written April 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cgolas
18 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
I’ll start by stating that we are adventurers and are budget conscience travelers. Doing a Galapagos trip is not an inexpensive thing so plan accordingly. The only way to get trip costs down is to not plan ahead and then negotiate a cruise when you arrive last minute to get the best deal possible. We didn’t have that luxury in our case as it was a planned trip. We had tried planning an island hopping trip completely without a tour company before leaving but it was next to impossible, hence the reason for booking with a service. (The reason for this is because of the protected status of the Galapagos to do anything of substance as far as seeing the islands, it is required to have a guide to ensure the protection of the environment and animals. These guides are very experienced and the only way to become one is to have residence on the islands by being born there or married to an islander. Organizing this with guides who don’t exist online makes it rather difficult to plan ahead on your own) Out of the gate this company offered the best customer experience and had the fastest response times of anyone we contacted. Their itineraries and lodgings were by far the most detailed and perfect for us and they understood what we were after on our trip.
From the moment we landed on Baltra we received an unexpected and yet very welcome VIP lounge in the airport in which we enjoyed a buffet of food and a full service luggage and all of the passport and paperwork dealings in an expedited way. We were then wisked away w a private guide to visit the tortoise sanctuary and then our hotel where we were greeted by Javier who reviewed our entire trip with us as we enjoyed some fresh squeezed juice in the dining room of the hotel. We were already impressed with everything by this point but the experience Galapagos Alternative provided never ceased to impress us and add so much value to our trip and afford us the maximum amount of time to do every single thing we wanted to do. Without them we would have seen only a small fraction of the natural wonders of the islands because of their superior organizational planning and execution.
Down to the last detail (including some Galapagos grown and roasted coffee that Javier himself grew) we were very satisfied going with GA and cannot think of a single negative thing to say.
Much appreciated to the team and guides who made our experience unforgettable! The trip of a lifetime!
-Chris and Darlene
From the moment we landed on Baltra we received an unexpected and yet very welcome VIP lounge in the airport in which we enjoyed a buffet of food and a full service luggage and all of the passport and paperwork dealings in an expedited way. We were then wisked away w a private guide to visit the tortoise sanctuary and then our hotel where we were greeted by Javier who reviewed our entire trip with us as we enjoyed some fresh squeezed juice in the dining room of the hotel. We were already impressed with everything by this point but the experience Galapagos Alternative provided never ceased to impress us and add so much value to our trip and afford us the maximum amount of time to do every single thing we wanted to do. Without them we would have seen only a small fraction of the natural wonders of the islands because of their superior organizational planning and execution.
Down to the last detail (including some Galapagos grown and roasted coffee that Javier himself grew) we were very satisfied going with GA and cannot think of a single negative thing to say.
Much appreciated to the team and guides who made our experience unforgettable! The trip of a lifetime!
-Chris and Darlene
Written June 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeeBee R
Gainesville, VA29 contributions
Jul 2021
We had a wonderful experience booking our land based tour with Galápagos Alternative (GA). Starting with Susanna who helped us create a customized itinerary tailored to our interests with lodging with water views/waterfront to the hands on support we received on each of the three inhabited islands we visited. On Santa Cruz, we were greeted by Jill, one of the owners of GA, at our hotel, after having received a private guided tour of the tortoise farm and a VIP welcome to the Galápagos. In fact, this level of personal interaction was afforded to us on all three islands. Every evening, the GA representative spent a little time chatting with us about our day of touring and briefing us on the activities the following day. We felt thoroughly spoiled and no request was too small for them to try and fulfill. When my spouse was unwell, they made sure he received the care needed and at every juncture they made sure we were taken care of. In fact, on Isabella, when the plane changed its schedule at the last minute and tried to take off early without us, the GA representative charged down the tarmac to talk to the pilot and ensure we were on it. Thanks to her, we were able to continue without a hitch and keep to our itinerary. If you decide to go land based in the Galápagos, go with GA. They are hands down the best tour agency we ever worked with. Thank you Jill and Javier for the gift of delicious Galápagos Alternative coffee beans to take home with us. It didn’t last long enough.
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi I was wondering if there are any day trips to North Seymour from Santa Cruz without snorkeling. I am traveling with seniors who wish to see the island. Thank you!
Written February 19, 2019
Hello again. Did anyone who went to Isabela w/ GA see the Flightless Cormorant? This is the bird my son most wants to see so I need to make sure it's possible on a land-based trip. Thank you!
Written March 22, 2019
Hi, what would you like to know about this attraction?
Can anyone tell me what GA charges for there services. I am looking at a 7 day trip next april and find the trip planning to be daunting.
Any feedback would be very much appreciated
TK , Raleigh NC
Written September 2, 2018
GA is great. Worth the money to ensure quality. There are a lot of truly local guides that you probably wouldn't want to spend a day with.
Written September 20, 2018
Hello! This is such a bucket list for me! I'm already in touch with Sabine, but wanted to ask the community a question or two ( I have no idea when we'll be able to do this - 2019 or 2020 I am hoping! Anyway...is 6-7 days long enough to see a lot of the wildlife? What were the must-dos you found, especially in terms of good snorkeling and seeing the most unique wildlife? Anyone go end of March? What was the weather like?
Written June 7, 2018
You definitely can, but will have to pick and choose what you want to do - and may be a little rushed, but doable. We went for 8 nights total I think, and got a chance to go to 3 islands and see everything that was “top” on our list. You can customize your tour so I would just do your research, figure out what you want to do, and work with them to plan.
Written June 7, 2018
Hola tiene un telefono con whatsapp para pedir informacion? Gracias
Written September 12, 2017
Hola si, +593 996455018 Javier
Written September 13, 2017
Hola, vamos a estar por fin de mayo en Galápagos y queríamos saber qué ofrecen para hacer bautismos de buceos. Si bien no estamos certificados hicimos ocho clases el pileta para naui en una escuela en Argentina. Nos interesa saber a qué lugares nos podrían llevar y qué especies o atracciones podríamos ver. Muchas gracias!
Written May 4, 2017
Hola Pablo,
Por favor envíanos un correo para poder ayudar con mayor información.
Written May 5, 2017
We have tried to contact but aren't receiving any response? Is there a better way to get in touch with this company? We leave in 2 days and are still looking at last minute options! Thanks!
Written February 7, 2017
The best way to contact us is through our website or email us directly.
Written June 2, 2017
claudia i
San Juan, Argentina
Hola, viajamos en enero de 2017, somo 5 personas y me gustaría contactarlos y así tener mas información sobre el servicio que ofrecen. Gracias. Saludos
Written October 2, 2016
Gracias por contactarnos. Por favor envíanos un email para poder ayudarle con su pedido.
Written October 2, 2016
Hi.
We are travelling to Galapagos Islands in January 2017.
We have been trying to contact you for arranging a tour on the islands.
Can you inform about the best way to get in contact with you ?
Best regards,
Henrik Bjerring
Written June 29, 2016
Thanks Sean! Yes we are happy to help. We recently had problems with our email but it is back up now. Info at galapagosalternative . com is the best way to get started with us for an itinerary catered to your travel style.
Written June 29, 2016
I want to know if it is feasible to have a 4 or 5 day meaningful trip to Galapagos islands on day trips without having to sleep on a boat. We are a couple in our 60s and do not need diving or snorkeling but just want to have a worthwhile experience and see enough to feel we haven't shortchanged the experience. Thank you. Marty Gordon
Written April 22, 2016
I'd say "Yes" to your question, though it'd be a real pity to miss out on some snorkelling, as it is really wonderful, and really very easy (except perhaps at Kicker Rock). We were there for 2 weeks and had a wonderful time.
A couple of suggestions:
1) Contact "Galapagos Alternative" - Jill Blythe (see our review of them). We worked with them to set up our custom, land-based itinerary, and I'm sure they would be very helpful - let them know what you want and work with them to come up with an itinerary that meets your needs.
2) Stay some of you time on San Cristobal - you leave your waterfront hotel and have to share the promenade with 100s of docile sea lions and marine iguanas.
3) Stay some time on Isabella if you can fit it into your limited time, but fly (extra $s) - the speedboat trip is long and at times uncomfortable.
4) Stay some time on Santa Cruz.
5) Do fit in some boat day or 1/2 day excursions, and please re-consider not snorkelling
Written April 24, 2016
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