Both get you to the Galapagos — but the experience is quite different. A cruise keeps you on a boat each night, moving between islands while you sleep. Island hopping means you stay in actual hotels in the island towns, eat at local restaurants, and move between islands by public ferry. The practical differences matter: island hopping costs significantly less than a comparable cruise, you have more flexibility in your schedule, and you get to experience the local communities rather than just the visitor sites. The tradeoff is that some of the more remote islands are only accessible by cruise. For most travelers, especially those who prefer a bed that doesn’t rock and the option to explore a town at night, island hopping delivers an equally rich wildlife experience at a fraction of the price, with a local guide who knows these islands like their own backyard. Pahoehoe has been running island hopping tours since 2013 and has been TripAdvisor’s highest-rated Galapagos operator every year since.