It should not come as a surprise that fresh seafood is the star attraction on every menu in the Galapagos Islands. Not much grows naturally on the barren Galapagos Islands, but regular ships deliver the food required to feed the tourist masses, so you won’t be forced to dine exclusively on fish and lobster.

The cuisine in the Galapagos Islands resembles that of many Central and South American coastal nations, particularly Ecuador. The dishes are simple, light and fresh, combining the elements of Ecuadorian highland dishes with meat, potatoes and grains, along with coastal ingredients like yucca, fish and seafood.

A local breakfast in the Galapagos Islands typically involves fried dumplings of green plantains (bolones) or fresh fruit. The fruit juices here are quite interesting, offering some rarities like tree tomato, guanabana and passion fruit. While many of the exotic fruits are actually brought in from Ecuador, they are still worth enjoying on a daily basis.

Thick fish-based soups like encebollado are a common element in most Galapagos Islands restaurants and involve yucca, chilies and onion. Of course, there are plenty of amazing seafood options as well, with several must-haves like lobster, shrimp ceviche, and if you’re brave enough, sea cucumber.

All of the restaurants in the Galapagos Islands are located within the towns on the main islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isla Isabela. There are a number of international menus on hand as well if the seafood and plantains start to wear thin. Santa Cruz’s main town of Puerto Ayora has several western-style cafés with hearty breakfasts, pizza, pasta and other comforts from home.

Prices to eat in the Galapagos Islands are very affordable considering the remoteness of the islands. If you stick to native dishes, your meals will be the cheapest aspect of the trip. The nicer hotels like the Finch Bay Hotel have excellent restaurants where you can really splash out for a special meal.