Oh no! It’s the last day of your cruise through the Galapagos Islands, and you realize there’s still so much left to see. Whether you’ve chosen a four-night cruise or a 14-day cruise, the Galapagos Islands always leave you thirsting for more; so consider extending your stay in the archipelago to do a little land exploration.

Or much worse, oh no, my flight was delayed and I missed my cruise. What a nightmare!

The simple solution, stay an extra night or two before and/or after your Galapagos cruise. Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal  Islands are home to some of the most spectacular hotels in the tropics from where you can explore parts of the islands not visited on cruises.

Booking a shorter cruise and extending it with stays at hotels is also an excellent way to make your travel budget go further, as hotels tend to be less expensive than cruises.

How long should you spend in Islands?

The first step is deciding how long you plan to spend in the Galapagos Islands. Cruises vary between four days and 14 days, and the growing land-based tours and excellent quality hotels are a popular way for travelers to extend their stay in the Islands for a few days after their trip.

If you are planning to do a cruise/ hotel combo, then four to eight day cruises are ideal plus some days in a hotel, depending on how much time you have for your vacation.

It is recommendable to stay one night at a hotel in Galapagos before your cruise, just in case there is a problem with your flight from mainland Galapagos. Cruises have itineraries that are fixed in stone, or more precisely dictated by the Galapagos National Park.