Taking a cargo boat for 1,400 kilometers to get to the Galapagos Islands was certainly an adventure!
It had always been a dream of my friend and I to visit the Galapagos Islands. On a tight budget, we simply could not afford flights, so we looked for other alternatives. Our Couchsurfing family mentioned that if you are lucky you can take a boat there, but not just any boat, a large cargo boat that takes three days to cross the pacific and arrive at the islands.
Finding a Cargo Boat
Being told to go to the pier in the city of Guayaquil, we patiently asked ship captains if, firstly, they were going to the islands, and secondly, if they could take us. Taking a cargo boat requires patience. After a few hours of waiting and asking, we were eventually allowed to board a cargo ship free of charge. The ship was called The Benjamin Franklin, and if the name was anything to go by, we were in for a life changing experience for sure! An extremely friendly captain led us to a small room where the employees normally sleep. There was a small mat and a fan on the floor which we were extremely pleased about.

Our boat for the voyage
Soon getting hungry
That evening, with our food supplies getting low, the captain on board was generous enough to invite us to eat with the other shipmates. A special experience of eating rice and meat with the guys, they really embraced us as one of their own. Having a decent level of Spanish definitely helped as well!
Washing on board
We were happy to find out that the showers used fresh water and not sea water, which was the norm for cargo ships from what we had read. The water is also hot, as on cargo boats water is run past the engine and heats up nicely!
Passing the time
The days passed by very slowly as all we had was our bags and a pack of playing cards. Making our way up to the ship deck and looking out over the endless expanse of the ocean, along with the constant rocking sway, was something neither was used to, let alone for three days.

View from the upper deck
Arriving at the Galapagos
Normally, from the airport, foreigners have to pay $100, however when the boat docked we went straight through and didn’t have to pay anything at all.
At a glance | Tips for arranging a stay on a container ship
- Never approach the captain of the ship to arrange your stay. He will always say no and might even be offended.
- Get in touch with the company using the ship, the owners of the ship or the operators of the ship to make an enquiry.
- Express that you can be on your own and wouldn’t get in the way of the crew and the operations. It would need to be clear that you can be ‘invisible’.
- Sometimes you can call the port authorities or find who you need to contact on LinkedIn.
- Offer the ship something in exchange for your stay on board…ie write about your experience onboard and share it with the company.
- Social media helps. I always try to promote the shipping companies that support me on social media.
Source: Torbjørn C. Pedersen