Keep 2 m (6 ft) from wildlife
On trails and in the water, camera and phone included. 4 m by kayak, paddleboard or panga; 100 m from whales and 50 m from dolphins, doubled with calves.
GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK · VISITOR RULES
Galapagos National Park rules, made simple
Twelve rules keep these islands wild. Here is what each one means on a real landing, with the 2026 updates and a quick quiz to test yourself.
Galapagos National Park rules — Reference image only.
01 / AT A GLANCE
The park in six numbers
The figures every visitor meets, from the official rules and fees. Tap through the rest of the page to see how they play out on a real trip.
0mfrom wildlife on foot or snorkeling (about 6.5 ft)
0mfrom shore and animals by kayak, paddleboard or panga
0visitors at most per naturalist guide
0hdaily visitor-site window, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
US$0park entry fee, foreign adult
US$0Transit Control Card, per person
02 / THE RULES
12 Galapagos National Park rules, explained
Summarized from Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0044-RM (official PDF), Article 4, and the park’s official visit rules. Wording simplified for US travelers.
Always with a licensed naturalist guide
Visits to protected areas are led by a park-accredited Galapagos naturalist guide, except at the few sites the park exempts.
Stay on marked trails
Walk only on signposted trails, beach areas and marine zones open to visits. If a sea lion blocks the path, wait; step around only if you truly cannot continue.
No touching, feeding or chasing
That includes dead animals and nests, resting and breeding areas. Never swim with or chase whales or dolphins.
No flash photography
Photos are taken without flash or any device that changes animal behavior.
No drones without a permit
Drones, professional filming, remote cameras and underwater rigs need prior authorization from the park (DPNG).
No snacks, alcohol or smoking on landings
Food brought into sites is subject to biosecurity rules, and alcohol, smoking, vaping and fire are banned in protected areas. Eat on board; carry water.
Biosecurity: no seeds, soil or live organisms
Bags are inspected on the way to and between islands. Clean boots and gear; declare fresh food.
Leave nothing behind
Carry out every piece of trash. Galapagos also restricts single-use plastics: bring a refillable bottle.
Take nothing away
Sand, shells, coral, volcanic rock, plants or animal parts stay where they are. No buying them either.
Time slots and group sizes
Sites open 6:00–18:00. Six sites now need an advance reservation, and each guide leads a small group.
Reef-safe sunscreen only
Sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate are restricted during water activities.
03 / DO AND DON’T
Do this, not that
The situations that come up on almost every landing.
✓ Do
- Walk single file behind your guide
- Use zoom, not your feet, for close-ups
- Rinse boots and check pockets for seeds
- Bring a refillable water bottle
- Use mineral, reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard
- Wear headphones if you play anything
- Report a dead animal to your guide, leave it in place
✕ Don’t
- Step off the trail for a better angle
- Touch a sea lion pup, even if it comes to you
- Use flash or fly a drone without a permit
- Feed birds or leave crumbs
- Pocket a shell, a pebble or a little sand
- Smoke, vape or drink alcohol at a visitor site
- Write or carve on rocks, trees or signs
04 / BIOSECURITY
Why your bag gets checked (twice)
Most of the species you came to see live nowhere else, and the biggest threat to them is something arriving by accident: a seed in a boot tread, an insect in fruit, soil on a tripod. That is why bags are inspected before the flight from Quito or Guayaquil, and can be inspected again between islands and at visitor-site control points.
Pack smart: clean hiking shoes and gear before you travel, skip fresh fruit and plants, use a refillable bottle (single-use plastics are restricted in Galapagos) and bring a mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate. Our 2026 park rules guide has the full label check.
05 / YOUR TRIP, STEP BY STEP
From arrival to departure
Where each rule shows up on a typical 2026 itinerary.
- 01
Before you fly
Book with a licensed operator; licensed vessels hold set itineraries and site permits. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a refillable bottle and clean gear.
- 02
Quito or Guayaquil airport
Buy the US$20 Transit Control Card (TCT) and pass the biosecurity bag inspection before the flight to the islands.
- 03
Baltra or San Cristóbal
Pay the park entry fee (US$200 per foreign adult, US$100 under 12) to park rangers on arrival. Keep your receipt.
- 04
Boarding and briefing
Your naturalist guide explains wet and dry landings, distances and the day plan. Fresh food goes through the boat’s own controls.
- 05
Every landing
Clean shoes, stay with your group, keep 2 m, no flash, take nothing. Rangers may check bags at control points.
- 06
In the water
2 m from turtles and sea lions, 4 m by kayak or panga, reef-safe sunscreen only, no chasing.
- 07
Island hops
Bags can be inspected again between islands to stop seeds and insects moving around the archipelago.
- 08
Departure
Leave shells, sand and rocks behind; they can be confiscated at the airport. Share photos taken legally only.
06 / RESERVATIONS
The six sites that now need a reservation
Article 6 of the resolution: entry must be booked in advance through the park’s system by a tour agency registered in Galapagos, and your guide shows the slot at the entrance. The park can add sites later.
| Visitor site | Island | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Tortoise Route) | Santa Cruz | Tortoise breeding center |
| Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center | Isabela | Tortoise breeding center |
| David Rodríguez Breeding Center | San Cristóbal | Tortoise breeding center |
| Las Grietas | Santa Cruz | Visitor site |
| Volcán Chico | Isabela | Visitor site |
| Sulfur Mines (Minas de Azufre) | Isabela | Visitor site |
Visitor sites are open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; diving until 5:00 p.m. Each site also has a visitor capacity, which is why licensed boats keep to assigned times and small groups led by one guide.
07 / RULE CHECK
Quiz: are you ready to land?
Six real situations. Pick an answer to see what the rules say.
Question 1 of 6
A sea lion pup waddles right up to your feet. What do you do?
Keep your distance and avoid any interaction, even when the animal approaches. If it blocks the trail, wait.
Question 2 of 6
You brought a small drone for aerial shots. Can you fly it at a visitor site?
Drones, remote cameras and professional filming need prior authorization from the Galapagos National Park Directorate.
Question 3 of 6
Which sunscreen should go in your snorkel bag?
Sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate are restricted in water activities. Check the label for benzophenone-3 too.
Question 4 of 6
A perfect white shell lies on the beach. Can you keep it?
Taking, transporting, buying or keeping sand, shells, coral or rocks from protected areas is prohibited.
Question 5 of 6
You want to visit Las Grietas on Santa Cruz. What is new since August 2026?
Las Grietas is one of six sites (with three tortoise breeding centers, Volcán Chico and the Sulfur Mines) that need an advance reservation.
Question 6 of 6
At what distance must a boat stay from a mother humpback with her calf?
Boats keep 100 m from whales, doubled to 200 m when calves are present.
08 / SOURCES
Official sources
We check the rules against the official texts. Fees and site lists can change; always confirm before you travel.
- Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0044-RM (official PDF)
- Galapagos National Park Directorate: visit rules
- Galapagos National Park Directorate: entry fee
- Galapagos Government Council (CGREG): visit rules
Last checked: October 19, 2026.
09 / FAQ
Galapagos National Park rules: FAQ
What are the main Galapagos National Park rules for visitors?
Visit protected areas only with a licensed naturalist guide, stay on marked trails, keep at least 2 m (about 6 ft) from wildlife, never touch or feed animals, take photos without flash, take nothing natural away and leave no trash. Drones need a park permit. The current text is Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0044-RM (official PDF).
What is Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0044-RM?
It is the Galapagos National Park Directorate’s “General Visit Rules and Behavior Standards for the Protected Areas of Galapagos”, signed in Puerto Ayora on August 12, 2026 and published in Ecuador’s Registro Oficial (Third Supplement No. 368) on September 14, 2026. It sets distances by activity, the reservation system for six sites, sunscreen limits and visiting hours. Our post on the Galapagos National Park rules 2026 explains it in detail.
Is the 2-meter rule really enforced?
Yes. The 2 m distance applies on walks, snorkeling, freediving and diving, and it includes your camera or phone. Rangers patrol visitor sites, can check bags at control points and can review social media posts when there are signs a rule was broken.
Can I fly a drone in the Galapagos?
Not at visitor sites without prior authorization from the Galapagos National Park Directorate. The same applies to professional filming, remote cameras and underwater or aerial rigs. Footage obtained without permission may not be published.
How much is the Galapagos park entry fee in 2026?
At the time of writing, US$200 per foreign adult and US$100 per child under 12, paid on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal, plus the US$20 Transit Control Card bought at the mainland airport before you fly. Fees can change, so check the official Galapagos National Park Directorate: entry fee page before you travel.
Can I bring food to the islands?
Food and gear brought into Galapagos go through biosecurity inspection, and fresh fruit, seeds, soil and live organisms are restricted. On a cruise or charter you eat on board; on landings you carry only water, and alcohol, smoking and fires are banned inside protected areas.
Do these rules change how a cruise or charter works?
Not much in practice: licensed boats already sail approved itineraries with a naturalist guide and set site slots. If you want a private boat for your group, see Galapagos yacht charter options, or compare Galapagos cruises on shared boats.
PLAN WITH THE RULES IN MIND
Ready to see Galapagos the right way?
A private charter or a well-chosen cruise keeps you inside every rule without thinking about it. Tell us your dates and group.
Galapagos is unlike anywhere else on Earth because these rules work. Ingenio created this site to share clear, independent information; write to hola@galapagosislands.cruises with any question.