Galapagos FAQ
Short, fact-checked answers on entry rules, park fees, seasons, wildlife, getting there and packing, written for first-time visitors from the US. Start typing or filter by topic.
30 questions
Foreign visitors age 12 and older pay a US$200 Galapagos protected-areas entrance fee; children under 12 pay US$100, and children under 2 are exempt.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesThe Transit Control Card (Tarjeta de Control de Tránsito, TCT) is a US$20 registration card every tourist needs to enter Galapagos province; children under 2 are free.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesNo. US citizens can enter Ecuador as tourists without a visa for up to 90 days in total in any 12-month period, and the Galapagos are part of Ecuador, so no separate visa applies.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesGalapagos runs strict biosecurity checks to keep invasive species out.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesKeep at least 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) from wildlife when you walk, snorkel or dive, and that includes your camera, phone or selfie stick.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesNot as a casual visitor. Under Galapagos National Park rules, drones, remote cameras, aerial or underwater filming equipment, filming and professional photography need prior authorization from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (DPNG).
Entry, Permits & Park RulesYes, for most of the park. Visits to Galapagos protected areas must be led by a naturalist guide accredited and authorized by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, except at sites the park has designated as not requiring one, mostly beaches and trails near the inhabited towns on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela.
Entry, Permits & Park RulesThere are no direct flights from the US to the Galapagos.
Getting There & LogisticsFly into the airport your trip starts from.
Getting There & LogisticsYes, plan to. Flights to the islands usually leave Quito or Guayaquil in the morning, and cruises start soon after you land, so a late or cancelled international flight can mean missing the boat, which does not wait.
Getting There & LogisticsThe Galapagos are a year-round destination with two broad seasons rather than one best month.
Weather & SeasonsIt depends on the season and the side of the archipelago.
Weather & SeasonsEl Niño years warm the eastern Pacific and weaken the cold upwelling that feeds Galapagos food webs.
Weather & SeasonsSome people do, mostly on longer open-water crossings, which many itineraries make at night.
Health, Safety & AccessibilityOn almost any itinerary you can expect sea lions, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, Darwin’s finches, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and, while snorkeling, sea turtles and reef fish.
Wildlife & NatureWaved albatross nest almost exclusively on Española, the southeastern island, and are present roughly from late March or April until about December.
Wildlife & NatureGalapagos penguins, the only penguins that live naturally at the equator, are found mainly along the western coasts of Isabela and Fernandina, where cold upwelling keeps fish close to shore.
Wildlife & NatureYes. Snorkeling with Galapagos sea lions and green sea turtles is one of the most common experiences in the islands, on cruises and on day trips from the inhabited islands.
ActivitiesFor a first trip, most travelers are happiest with about a week in the islands.
Planning & BookingA cruise lets you sleep while the vessel moves, so you reach outer islands such as Española, Genovesa or Fernandina at good hours with fewer people around, usually with two guided visits a day.
Planning & BookingGalapagos vessels fall into a few classes.
Cruises, Charters & VesselsA private charter means your group books every cabin on a permitted Galapagos vessel, together with its crew and naturalist guide.
Cruises, Charters & VesselsYes. Many families visit with children, and the calm wildlife makes the islands especially rewarding for kids.
Planning & BookingMany travelers in their 70s and 80s visit the Galapagos, but the trip involves more movement than a typical cruise.
Health, Safety & AccessibilityEcuador uses the US dollar, so US travelers do not need to exchange money.
Money, Costs & TippingTipping is customary on Galapagos cruises and charters and is usually not included in the fare.
Money, Costs & TippingPack light layers, not bulk. Essentials: a sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF reef-friendly sunscreen and a long-sleeve rash guard, since the equatorial sun is intense; a light rain or wind jacket and a fleece for cool-season evenings and deck time; and quick-dry clothes.
Packing & GearFour Galapagos islands have towns where visitors can stay overnight: Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora, the largest town), San Cristóbal (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital), Isabela (Puerto Villamil) and Floreana, a tiny community of roughly 100 to 150 people.
Islands & Visitor SitesGenovesa, also called Tower Island or Bird Island, is a small, low island in the far northeast of the Galapagos, just north of the equator.
Islands & Visitor SitesThe easiest place to see wild giant tortoises is the highlands of Santa Cruz, where they graze in park land and on farm pastures; most cruises and land-based trips include a stop there.
Wildlife & NatureNo question matches yet. Try a shorter word (for example “fee” or “kids”), clear the filters, or email your question to hola@galapagosislands.cruises; we add new answers every week.
Each answer is short on purpose: the direct answer first, then the detail that changes a decision. Rules, fees and entry requirements are checked against official sources such as the Galapagos National Park Directorate, the Galapagos Governing Council, the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency and the US State Department, and every answer shows the date it was last checked. Fees and regulations change, so confirm with the linked official page before you travel.
Want more depth? Our Galapagos planning guides compare routes, vessels and seasons in detail.