There are many reasons, I have been told, but we keep getting pegged for little fees and costs all over the place in Galapagos. While the place itself is truly amazing and I am geeked out by things I see all over, little fees keep popping up and everyone has their hand out. I don't care if it's 50 cents to take a water taxi to the boat, it's just that one time it's 50, then 70, then 50, then a dollar. It seems dishonest.
We paid a dollar $10 Galapagos tax on mainland Ecuador, then another $100 Galapagos park fee when arriving on the islands by plane, which is just fine. Then, we went to Isabella, the big island, and there was another $5 fee, which is not a big thing, but no one mentions it until you land at the dock. a bit annoying after the 2 1/2 hour thrill/terror inducing speed boat ride (we did ride on top, which was very cool. Thank you, weird nameless Ecuadorian motion sickness pills!), but not really a big thing in the end. However, when we left 2 days later, that fee was now 4 times as much: it was now $20.
On night, we paid $12 for 2 crappy rum and cokes, which again would be fine, except the place was crappy, service poor and ambience lacking. The next night, we mixed our own rum and cokes, sitting on the beach at sunset, having this incredible beach to ourselves. At dusk, a small group of sea lions gathered at the shore and played around. It was amazing, and basically free.
Our long walks to lagoons, trails, and to see animals, were amazing and free. A great contrast to the watered down 2 for 1 drink specials all over.
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