While most visitors to the Galápagos Islands prefer to spend their time cruising around by boat, booking a hotel on the mainland is a great way to relax and experience the simple joys of island life. Those with slightly shaky sea legs can spend their whole trip on shore. Despite the hype of cruise boat tours, there is as much to see and do on land as there is in the water, and the islands' inhabitants (human, that is) are just as welcoming as the animals themselves.

Like the boats, Galápagos hotels and resorts cover just about every price range; from backpacker-on-a-budget hostels to mint-on-your-pillow resorts. Should you start to feel a little landlocked, most of the higher end places can help you book day tours and sea excursions, including cruise tours.

There are two main Galápagos islands that offer accommodation: Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Isabela and Floreana also have smaller settlements, and there are limited hotel facilities there. Often these two smaller ports are offered as stops on a multi-day tour.

A bustling hub for tours, Puerto Ayora offers the greatest variety of hotels and hostels in the Galápagos, as well as a wide range of restaurants. During high season (June 15 - October 31), it pays to book in advance, as the islands swell with tourists and it may be harder to find a room of your choice.