About Galapagos Alternative
We started Galapagos Alternative as a way to allow people from abroad to experience the Galapagos Islands through the eyes of a couple locals.
Javier, whose family has a rich history in these islands, developed his comprehensive understanding and expertise as a Galapagos resident. Javier deeply appreciates the ecology and geology of the islands. He also worked many years in the Galapagos Marine Reserve as a PADI certified Dive Master and guide. He prides himself on selecting experienced and knowledgable naturalists to be your guides, and boats with responsible practices.
Jill was born in the United States and came to Galapagos to teach English. She fell in love with Javier and the islands, and the two were married in 2008. Jill has the unique perspective of coming to the Galapagos as an American with poor Spanish skills. She now speaks fluently, and enjoys helping English speakers feel at home in the islands.
Liz, Rita and Lauren are an important part of the Galapagos Alternative crew. Along with many other behind-the-scene tasks, they help check-in daily with the groups and make sure you are having a gratifying Galapagos experience.
Rita and Liz are Galapagüeños, their families have been taking care of these islands for generations.
Lauren lives part-time in the Galapagos. She wrote her graduate thesis about Isabela Island and has been working with Galapagos Alternative ever since. You will find that all of our friendly Galapagos Alternative representatives have a wealth of local insight, tips, and stories to share with you.
We believe that we have a truly unique perspective to offer guests in the Galapagos because of our ability to bridge the gap between tourists and locals. The people of the Galapagos are one of its greatest treasures and we hope to introduce you to them as our guest.
We specialize in arranging tours for guests who prefer not to spend all their time or money on a big boat. Sleeping onshore allows you to support local businesses and experience the local nightlife, and builds flexibility into your travels.
We are based in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz. Our centralized location allows easy transport between mainland Ecuador and many islands of the Galapagos. We are currently offering tours to Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana, San Cristobal, Bartolome, and Seymour.
Each island offers unique opportunities. Some are available only on day trips by boat, while others offer a variety of accommodations for a multi-day visit. All accommodations are clean, friendly, and well-staffed and we can provide lodging options according to your budget and preferences. We will be happy to help arrange flights from Quito or Guayaquil and arrange inter-island transfers by air or by sea.
We find it deeply gratifying that we can support local business and restaurants while introducing our guests to all our favorite places. Because you'll have access to the restaurants, lodging and transportation providers that we've come to know and trust, you can be assured that your trip will be filled with good food, lovely accommodations, and great new friends at the most reasonable price around.
We find it a great honor and privilege to reveal the true Galapagos Islands to our guests. Let us show you the islands we love.