After an exhausting but absolutely amazing week in Peru, we packed up and made our way to our last South American stop—Ecuador! Planning Ecuador was tough because we had two tempting options: explore all of mainland Ecuador or spend most of our time in the Galápagos Islands. After a ton of research and getting quotes for different itineraries, we went all in on the Galápagos. I mean, it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip! Quito will always be there, but who knows if we’d ever make it back to these magical islands?
As always, here’s my Going plug: Most of the flights Ricky and I take are thanks to Going’s cheap flight alerts! Our three-week roundtrip flight to South America from Kansas City was less than $300. If you use my code, you get 20% off your membership too—join Going!
Arrival in Ecuador
We flew from Cusco to Guayaquil and landed around 6 p.m. Since flights to the Galápagos only leave a couple of times a day, we knew we’d need to spend one night on the coast. We booked an Airbnb in Guayaquil that had a rooftop pool and an indoor hot tub—literally the perfect setup for unwinding after a long travel day. We only had a few hours there, but it was a nice little transition before heading to San Cristóbal. We grabbed some street food, and I had the best empanadas ever—flaky, crispy, and filled with the most flavorful beef. A perfect last meal on the mainland!
Journey to the Galápagos
Our morning flight from Guayaquil took off without a hitch, and I have to say, this was hands down my favorite South American airport. To fly to the Galápagos, you have to buy a transit control card (either in Guayaquil or Quito) and get your luggage scanned to make sure you’re not bringing in plants or anything that could disrupt the ecosystem. They also check that you have a return flight booked—you literally can’t get in without one. The process was smooth and easy, and before we knew it, we were off! Guayaquil’s airport was modern, efficient, and even had a great food court, which was a huge upgrade compared to some of the Peruvian airports we experienced.
When we landed in the Galápagos, it hit me—I had no idea how tiny San Cristóbal actually was, despite all my research! As soon as you arrive, you have to pay a $100 entrance fee (cash only!), and then your luggage goes through another round of K9 checks before you’re officially in.
There’s no Uber here, but taxis are easy to find. We hopped in a cab, told the driver our hotel name, and he said it would be $5. I was honestly shocked because I expected everything on the islands to be insanely expensive, but considering the ride was just six minutes, it made sense. Our driver also pitched us a tour—he’d take us to three locations on the island, wait for us at each stop, and only charge us $30 total. We went for it, and let me tell you—it was SO worth it.
First Impressions of San Cristóbal
After checking into our hotel, we walked down to the pier and, within minutes, were completely surrounded by sea lions. Like, they were everywhere—on benches, sidewalks, the middle of the road—you name it! Some were peacefully napping, others were loudly barking at each other, and a few definitely looked like they were plotting against us. It was absolutely surreal. We spent the afternoon wandering the island, eating delicious ceviche loaded with fresh shrimp and lime, and getting fitted for wetsuits for our big 360° tour the next day. That night, we had dinner at Muyu Galápagos, a farm-to-table spot that was perfect for a romantic night out. Highly recommend!
The 360° Tour
Bright and early, we met our tour guide at the pier—just a two-minute walk from our hotel. We stayed at Hotel Casa Opuntia, which included breakfast and had a great location. The only downside? The WiFi was nonexistent. But hey, sometimes being disconnected is a good thing!
The 360° tour was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. It takes you around the entire island, and we knew it would be beautiful, but WOW—it completely blew our expectations out of the water.
First stop: snorkeling at Kicker Rock. This was intense but absolutely worth it. We swam with turtles (cue my screaming), a stingray, a hammerhead shark (!!), and some very playful sea lions. The water was crystal clear, and I could see the sheer size of the sharks—both terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time. Next, we stopped at Cerro Brujo and Bahía Sardina for another round of snorkeling, this time in waters teeming with coral and the most vibrant fish I’ve ever seen. More turtles showed up, which, honestly, I was not expecting.
For lunch, we pulled up to Punta Pitt, where we got to see the famous blue-footed boobies up close. Their little mating dance was hilarious! But my favorite stop after Kicker Rock was definitely Bahía Rosa Blanca. This place was unreal. It was so remote and stunning that I didn’t even bother taking a picture—no camera could do it justice. We hiked through the sand to another beach, and halfway through, we spotted yet another hammerhead shark. Once we got in the water, our guide led us straight to a group of reef sharks and more turtles. The turtles and stingrays in this area were massive! We wrapped up the tour absolutely exhausted but so, so happy.
Exploring Solo
By Day 3, we felt comfortable enough to explore on our own. First stop: Playa Mann, a local beach known for (you guessed it) sea lions. They were all over the place! Despite the chilly water, I jumped in and swam with them, which was both adorable and slightly intimidating. Some were curious, swimming right up to my face, while others just ignored me completely.
Next, we started the self-guided walking tour at the Centro de Interpretación Ambiental, where we learned all about the Galápagos. We stopped at Muelle Tijeretas, where we found an amazing swimming spot with a pier to jump off of. We also saw the Charles Darwin Monument, followed by Playa Punta Carola, where marine iguanas were sunbathing on the sand. That night, we went back to our favorite restaurant and I had the best octopus dish ever, served in a volcanic stone—perfection!
A Day with the Tortoises
The next morning, we met up with the taxi driver from the airport for our final island tour. Our first stop was El Junco, a stunning volcanic crater. The hike was peaceful, filled with tiny birds flitting around, and when we reached the water’s edge, the frigate birds put on an incredible show, diving into the lake to bathe. It felt like nature’s private performance just for us. Then, we visited the Galápagos National Park nursery, arriving just in time for feeding of the Galapagos giant tortoises. Watching the massive tortoises lumber over for food was like stepping back in time—I swear they looked like ancient dinosaurs! To wrap up the tour, we visited Puerto Chino, yet another jaw-dropping white sand beach with that signature electric blue water.
That afternoon, we treated ourselves to a seaside café, enjoying crepes and frozen coffee before indulging in the best couples’ massage we’ve ever had. If you’re ever in San Cristóbal, ask for Santi—absolute magic! We ended the night watching Costa Rica play Brazil in the Copa América at a local sports bar because, obviously, I never miss La Sele play.
Resting Up Before the Chaos
Our last day was meant for rest, and I’m so glad we planned for it. I woke up feeling rough, so we grabbed some cold medicine and took it easy. Little did we know, we’d need all the energy we could get for our chaotic journey home!
Travel Diaries of Hell
We flew from San Cristóbal to Quito, expecting a 12-hour layover before our midnight flight to Atlanta. After six hours, we got an alert—delayed to 2 AM. Annoying, but manageable. By 9 PM, it was pushed to 4 AM, and that’s when frustration set in. No one could leave the airport due to customs rules, so we were stuck. Delta offered VIP lounge reimbursement, but the lounge was packed, we were exhausted, and I wasn’t feeling great.
Then, at midnight, the worst update yet—delayed to 8 AM. People were furious. Babies were crying, seniors were stranded, and Delta had no answers. By 2 AM, it moved again—to 10 AM. At this point, 300 people were sprawled out on the floor, just trying to rest.
At 10 AM, we finally boarded. Relief! But 15 minutes later, the pilot announced we weren’t cleared to fly to Atlanta and would detour to Florida. Frustrating, but at least we were moving. Then, another delay—a mechanical issue. After 30 minutes, the pilot delivered the final blow: “Just kidding, we can’t fly at all. Please deplane.” Chaos erupted.
Finally, Delta gave us hotel rooms and rebooked us for 11 PM. I bonded with a group of sweet senior citizens on their first flight—we still chat on WhatsApp. When we finally took off—30+ hours later—I could’ve cried from relief. We missed our Kansas City connection but got rebooked quickly. A day late, a few gray hairs richer, but with an unforgettable travel story.
Final Thoughts
My Tourette’s was barely noticeable during this trip and since the Island had very little tourists, it wasn’t an issue whatsoever. No one asked or stared or made me feel uncomfortable. Total 10/10 on Tourette’s friendliness, although I doubt it wioild be the same in the high season.
Can’t wait to keep sharing with you all what our summer brought us, we really did ring in our 30s with a bang and I am so proud of that.
