Important Changes to Galapagos Travel in 2024
January 2025
The travel industry is constantly changing and so are travel requirements. Last year has brought many important changes that affect Galapagos travelers, so we have summed them up for you here.
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New Galapagos National Park Entrance Fees
The Galapagos National Park authority increased the entrance fees for the Galapagos National Park, after maintaining prices for 26 years. The Galapagos National Park entrance fee is a mandatory fee that must be paid upon arrival to Baltra or San Cristobal Airport. The prices have doubled for foreigners and increased five-fold for Ecuadorians. The funds from this entrance fee are distributed among various local entities and used to finance:
- the conservation of the flora and fauna
- administrative tasks associated to the protected areas
- sustainable human development of the local communities
“Guided Visits” Rule for Iconic Sites on Inhabited Islands
Since July 1, 2024 tourists can only visit the following sites when they are accompanied by a guide that is certified by the Galapagos National Park.
- Fausto Llerena Breeding Center for Giant Tortoises (Charles Darwin Station), Santa Cruz Island
- Las Grietas, Santa Cruz Island
- Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center for Giant Tortoises, Isabela Island
- David Rodríguez Breeding Center for Giant Tortoises, San Cristóbal Island
Until June 2024, visitors could explore these sites on their own. The new rule that only permits guided visits, should help control visitor numbers and promote conservation. It is possible that other sites will be added to the list because of a rise in travelers that don’t respect the national park rules.
Online Biosecurity Declaration
Starting December 1, 2024, all Galapagos travelers must submit their sworn declaration of goods online within 48 hours of entering the Galapagos Islands.
The declaration form is available in Spanish and English under the following link:
https://declaracion.abgalapagos.gob.ec/
It shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes to fill out the form, but you should have your passport and Galapagos flight information at hand.
Shift in Cruise Offers and Booking Behavior
From a travel agency point of view, we have seen two major shifts, starting in 2023:
- A shift toward first-class and luxury vessels, with fewer budget and mid-range options
Budget and mid-range class cruises are disappearing and lots of brand-new first and luxury class ships are introduced. One explanation for this phenomenon is that maintenance of older boats is expensive and operating a high-end cruise is more lucrative. But boat operators are also looking to offer more sustainable cruises. - Reduced last-minute discounts, with better early booking offers
Most operators will offer good discounts already a few months ahead of departure but won’t lower their rates much more at the last minute. This way, they are shifting away from last-minute bookings. We have seen lots of last-minute bargain hunters disappointed and even shocked when they realized that prices are much higher than a couple of years ago. Sometimes, exceptional last-minute offers pop up, but they are not very common anymore.
At first glance, Galapagos cruises are becoming more expensive due to these shifts. However, there is more competition in the first and luxury class segment and boat operators try to fill up their spaces in advance. Therefore, you can get nice discounts ahead of time, which was not common before.
Visa Requirement for Travelers from China and eVisa
Since July 1, 2024, citizens of the People’s Republic of China need a tourist visa to visit Ecuador. People from more than 40 countries need a visa to travel to Ecuador now, including Albania, Cuba, Egypt, Philippines, Ghana, India and Venezuela. You can check the complete list, which is always subject to change, here.
On a brighter note, Ecuador has introduced an eVisa service and travelers who need a visa to visit, can request and receive one online.
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