What makes Galápagos stand out as a destination?
Galápagos is an archipelago in the Pacific, roughly 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Around 97 % of the land area is national park, the animals show little fear of humans, and visits to the protected areas run with an accredited naturalist guide. On top come a 200 USD park entry fee and 20 USD for the transit control card (as of September 2026).
Of the 127 islands, islets and rocks, four are inhabited: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana. Around them lies a marine reserve covering 133,000 km². Travel is either aboard a cruise ship or by staying in hotels on land with day trips by boat. In 2025, 290,404 guests visited, 79 % of whom stayed overnight on land.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos
What does a trip to Galápagos feel like?
Galápagos is first and foremost a protected area and only secondarily a beach destination. Sea lions lie around the harbour, marine iguanas rest on black lava, boobies nest right next to the path — yet every visitor site has rules: stay on the trail, keep a 2 m distance, take nothing with you.
The islands are young and volcanic: Isabela and Fernandina in the west are less than a million years old, Española and San Cristóbal in the east three to five million years old. Dry, cactus-covered coasts give way to humid, green highlands on the larger islands. Underwater, three ocean currents converge; of 2,909 recorded marine species, 18.2 % occur nowhere else.
Politically the islands are a province of Ecuador. A special law from 1998 regulates migration, quarantine, fishing and tourism, which is why the islands have their own entry controls. Settlements are confined to 3 % of the land area; Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, with more than 12,000 residents, is the largest town.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Galapagos Conservation Trust
Which islands are there, and which are worth visiting?
Accommodation exists only on the four inhabited islands: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana. Uninhabited islands such as Española, Genovesa, Fernandina, North Seymour or Bartolomé can only be entered at designated visitor sites with a guide, on a cruise or a boat excursion.
Inhabited islands
- Santa Cruz (986 km², up to 864 m): the hub, with Puerto Ayora, the Charles Darwin Research Station and the park administration; all speedboats depart from here. Scalesia forests grow in the highlands, and one lava tunnel runs more than 2,000 m long. The most-visited sites in 2025 were the Fausto Llerena tortoise station (148,499 visits), Tortuga Bay and Las Grietas.
- San Cristóbal: the easternmost island, with the provincial capital Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, its own airport and many sea lions. Darwin landed here in 1835; the El Junco lagoon is considered the islands' only permanent freshwater source. Near the town lie Cerro Tijeretas, Punta Carola and La Lobería.
- Isabela: the largest island, formed from six shield volcanoes fused together; the Sierra Negra caldera measures 10 by 9 km. Around 1,800 people live in Puerto Villamil. Popular activities are the hike to Volcán Chico and the Concha de Perla bay; Galápagos penguins live mainly here and on Fernandina.
- Floreana: around 160 residents, Post Office Bay with the whalers' barrel used as a mailbox since 1793; speedboats run on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Uninhabited islands
- Española: the southernmost island, never settled; from April to December the Galápagos albatrosses breed here. Mockingbirds and lava lizards found here are distinct species. Punta Suárez is one of the most popular visitor sites.
- Genovesa: a collapsed volcano in the northeast with a crater more than 600 m wide; tour ships anchor in Darwin Bay. Nowhere in Galápagos do red-footed boobies nest more densely.
- Fernandina: the youngest and most active volcanic island, with more than a dozen eruptions since the national park was founded, and a single visitor site, Punta Espinoza: marine iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants. Introduced mammals such as rats have never existed here.
- North Seymour: a flat island next to Baltra with the largest magnificent frigatebird colony in Galápagos and many blue-footed boobies.
- Bartolomé and Santiago: Bartolomé, with the Pinnacle Rock formation and a small penguin colony, lies off Santiago, where 3,000 land iguanas were released in 2019.
Sources: Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos
When is the best time to visit Galápagos?
Galápagos can be visited all year round. From January to May, air and sea are warmer, showers fall, and the sea is calmer. From June to December, stronger winds bring cooler water from the Humboldt Current and drizzle to the highlands, with more swell from July onward; on the plus side, blue-footed boobies court and whales pass through.
Coastal climate figures: Santa Cruz (readings from the Seymour station on Baltra) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
| Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 |
| Low °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Rainfall mm | 44 | 64 | 53 | 60 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Rainfall mm | 36 | 54 | 48 | 52 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 16 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SEYMOUR (33 km, 63 m), auf 10 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SAN CRISTOBAL (2 km, 19 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The table shows the pattern: from January to April it is warmest on the coast, February to April are the wettest months, and from June to November barely any rain falls there. In the highlands, however, a cloud layer with drizzle often sits over the windward slopes during the cool season. The seasons don't run the same length every year, and strong El Niño years hit wildlife hard: in 1982, 77 % of Galápagos penguins starved.
Three major ocean currents converge around the islands. For travellers, sea conditions matter most: from January to June the sea is calmer, from July to December the waves are higher.
| Months | What you can see | Where |
|---|---|---|
| April to December | Galápagos albatross breeding season, from January to March they are out at sea | Española |
| June to August | courtship and breeding of blue-footed boobies | North Seymour and other islands |
| June to November | whale sharks, mostly pregnant females | near Darwin and Wolf |
| July to October | migrating whales such as humpbacks and blue whales | between Isabela and Fernandina |
In 2025, most foreign visitors arrived in March and April; September was the quietest month.
Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos
What do you need to enter Galápagos?
Swiss, German and Austrian nationals enter Ecuador with a passport and no visa, for tourist stays of up to 90 days per year; other nationalities are subject to separate rules. For Galápagos, add the transit control card (TCT) for 20 USD, a round-trip flight ticket, a hotel booking and, on arrival, a 200 USD park entry fee from age 12 (as of September 2026).
| What | Amount or rule | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| Transit control card (TCT) | 20 USD, free under 2 years | Quito or Guayaquil airport before departure; register online at least 48 h in advance |
| Park entry fee | 200 USD from age 12, 100 USD below that, free under 2 years | on arrival at Baltra or San Cristóbal |
| Goods declaration (DJM) | digital via SIABG, for adults | from 72 h before travel; checked on arrival |
| Length of stay | at most 60 days per year on the islands | keep the TCT until departure |
The park entry fee has applied at this level since 1 August 2024. Besides the passport, the TCT requires a round-trip flight ticket; travel agencies can apply for it at least 48 hours in advance.
Germany: the national ID card is not valid; the passport must still be valid for 6 months on entry. Austria: the BMEIA advises checking the entry stamp, as it is often not issued for the full 90 days. Switzerland: Switzerland is not on Ecuador's list of countries requiring a visa; the FDFA refers entry questions to Ecuador's representations.
Other nationalities: the visa list of Ecuador's foreign ministry includes, among others, China, India, the Philippines, Cuba and Venezuela; holders of such passports must apply in advance for a tourist visa valid for up to 90 days. The TCT and goods declaration are required of all guests; citizens of the Andean Community and Mercosur pay a lower park entry fee.
The relevant authorities are the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA; for all other nationalities, Ecuador's representations and the foreign ministry in Quito. Rules and fees can change at short notice.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana, gob.ec · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos (ABG) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (Cancillería del Ecuador)
What vaccinations and health precautions do you need for Galápagos?
According to the CDC, Ecuador only requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers who spent more than ten days in Colombia, Peru, Brazil or Bolivia, or who are arriving from the DR Congo or Uganda. For trips limited to Galápagos, healthytravel.ch and the CDC do not recommend a yellow fever vaccination, and malaria does not occur. Recommended are routine vaccinations and hepatitis A, plus mosquito protection, since dengue and Zika are considered a nationwide risk in Ecuador.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, medical care is very basic, and evacuation to the mainland is not always possible quickly; treatment usually has to be paid for immediately. Travel insurance with repatriation cover is therefore strongly advised.
Austria's BMEIA warns of sharks when snorkelling, swimming and diving, and Germany's Federal Foreign Office recommends a diving medical examination before diving holidays. Medication for seasickness and personal vaccinations should be discussed with a doctor.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · CDC Travelers' Health · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How safe is Galápagos?
The travel advisories of Switzerland's FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA mainly concern the mainland: they advise against non-essential travel to coastal cities such as Guayaquil, Durán and Esmeraldas and to the border area with Colombia. For Galápagos they cite poor safety of local boats, limited medical care and shark attacks.
Ecuador has structurally high crime, above all in the coastal cities of Guayaquil and Durán, whose airport handles many island flights. Those who change flights there allow enough time for the airport transfer and stay in transit. On the islands themselves, the situation is much calmer. The current classification is published by Switzerland's FDFA, Germany's Federal Foreign Office and Austria's BMEIA (links below).
Current situation: FDFA, Federal Foreign Office, BMEIA. Emergency number: 911.
Sources: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Aeropuerto de Guayaquil (TAGSA)
How do you get to Galápagos and between the islands?
Long-haul flights end in Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE); a domestic flight then continues to the islands. In 2025, 71 % of guests landed on Baltra, 29 % on San Cristóbal. Between the inhabited islands, speedboats run daily for 30 USD per leg, taking 2 to 3 hours, alongside small aircraft operated by EMETEBE and Fly Galápagos.
Nonstop flights to Ecuador run from Europe from Madrid (Iberia, Air Europa, Euroairlines) and Amsterdam (KLM), from North America from hubs such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Atlanta, New York or Toronto, and within Latin America from Panama City, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires (as of September 2026). Travellers from Asia, Africa or Oceania connect through one of these hubs. LATAM and Avianca fly on to the islands. Only residents of Ecuador can book the cheapest fare; everyone else pays a surcharge at the airport. Before departure you buy the TCT, then the biosecurity agency inspects your luggage; the cabin is disinfected before landing.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltra – Canal de Itabaca | free shuttle bus | around 10 min | free |
| Canal de Itabaca | ferry | around 10 min | 1 USD |
| Canal – Puerto Ayora | bus or taxi | around 45 min by bus | around 2 USD, taxi 25 USD per vehicle |
| Airport – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno | bus or taxi | around 10 min | 1.50 to 3 USD |
According to the park administration, the speedboats hold up to 20 passengers and depart at 1:45 p.m. from Santa Cruz to San Cristóbal and Isabela, returning at 7:00 a.m. from San Cristóbal and 6:00 a.m. from Isabela; to Floreana on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. All connections run via Santa Cruz. According to UNESCO, the airport on Isabela serves mainly inter-island traffic.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Aeropuerto Internacional de Quito · Aeropuerto de Guayaquil (TAGSA) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · UNESCO World Heritage Centre
What does a trip to Galápagos cost, and how do you pay?
Payment is in US dollars. Per adult, a fixed 200 USD park entry fee and 20 USD for the transit control card apply, plus transfers and speedboats at 30 USD per leg (as of September 2026). 50 and 100 USD notes are often refused due to counterfeiting concerns.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Park entry fee from age 12 | 200 USD |
| Park entry fee under 12 | 100 USD |
| Transit control card (TCT) | 20 USD |
| Ferry across the Canal de Itabaca | 1 USD |
| Speedboat between two islands | 30 USD |
The park entry fee rose in 2024 for the first time in 26 years; the money funds the protected areas and community services such as water and waste management. According to the Federal Foreign Office, foreign cards, including European ones, do not always work; the BMEIA recommends carrying US dollars in cash along with credit cards.
Sources: Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
Cruise or island hopping: where do you stay?
Eight in ten guests stay overnight on land: in 2025, 79 % stayed in hotels and guesthouses on the inhabited islands, 21 % aboard a ship. Island hopping with day trips is more flexible, while a cruise also reaches remote visitor sites, such as Darwin Bay on Genovesa, where the tour ships anchor.
| Criterion | Cruise | Island hopping |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight stay | on board, route follows an itinerary set by the park administration | hotel in Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Villamil or on Floreana |
| Excursions | shore landings, snorkelling, dinghy (panga) rides | day tours by boat and visitor sites near the towns |
| Moving between islands | included in the itinerary | speedboat, 2 to 3 hours, 30 USD |
| Share of guests in 2025 | 21 % | 79 % |
Anyone staying on land presents a hotel reservation on entry. Camping is only allowed at designated sites, such as El Garrapatero on Santa Cruz, and with a permit.
Sources: Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Charles Darwin Foundation
What do you eat on Galápagos, and what can you pack?
Meals are taken in the restaurants of the port towns or on board the ships. Bringing your own food is restricted: unprocessed products of plant or animal origin are strictly controlled by the biosecurity agency ABG, because they can introduce pests and diseases.
The ABG distinguishes between processed goods, which are allowed but inspected, unprocessed products subject to conditions, and prohibited products that are especially dangerous for the islands. Fresh fruit, plants and seeds should therefore not be brought along. Guests may only fish from licensed boats.
Sources: Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos (ABG) · Charles Darwin Foundation
What history do the islands have?
The crew of Tomás de Berlanga reached the islands on 10 March 1535, Ecuador took possession of them in 1832, and Charles Darwin arrived in 1835. His observations of finches, mockingbirds and giant tortoises fed into the theory of evolution by natural selection; the national park was founded in 1959.
The name comes from the Spanish galápago, a saddle that the shell of some giant tortoises resembles. In 1793, whalers set up a barrel as a mailbox on Floreana. In the 1930s, the island was rocked by the "Galápagos affair", a mysterious series of deaths among the first settlers. The Charles Darwin Research Station opened in 1964. Tourism grew from around 11,000 visitors in 1970 to 290,404 arrivals in 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Galapagos Conservation Trust · El Universo · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos
What can you experience on Galápagos?
Most visitor sites offer hiking, snorkelling and dinghy rides. On top come giant tortoises at breeding stations, volcano hikes on Isabela, seabird colonies, kayaking and diving with whale sharks near Darwin and Wolf.
- Giant tortoises at the breeding stations Fausto Llerena (Santa Cruz), David Rodríguez (San Cristóbal) and Arnaldo Tupiza (Isabela).
- Snorkelling and swimming at Tortuga Bay, Las Grietas, Concha de Perla or La Lobería.
- Volcano hike to Sierra Negra and Volcán Chico, with 24,967 visits in 2025.
- Seabirds: magnificent frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies on North Seymour, red-footed boobies on Genovesa, albatrosses from April to December on Española.
- Kayaking: in 2025, 8,385 guests paddled on Santa Cruz and 6,780 on Isabela.
- Diving: from June to November, whale sharks appear near Darwin and Wolf; besides day trips there are dedicated dive cruises.
The park rules require a reservation for the Fausto Llerena and Arnaldo Tupiza stations, Las Grietas, Volcán Chico and the Minas de Azufre. Whales are observed from at least 100 m, dolphins from 50 m.
Sources: Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Expreso · El Universo · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust · Galapagos Conservation Trust
What rules apply in the national park?
The park administration prescribes fixed rules for visiting the protected areas: protected areas only with an accredited guide, at least 2 m distance from animals when hiking, snorkelling and diving, 4 m in a kayak, on a stand-up paddle board or in a dinghy, no flash, drones only with a permit.
- Do not touch, feed or chase animals, and do not disturb breeding and nesting sites.
- Professional footage and drones only with a permit; the Charles Darwin Foundation states at least two months' lead time.
- Take nothing away, no smoking, no alcohol and no fire in the protected areas, use reef-safe sunscreen.
Around 300 park rangers are tasked with enforcing the rules. According to UNESCO, introduced species are the greatest threat to the islands. Española shows how much protection can achieve: in the 1960s only 14 giant tortoises remained there; since then almost 2,000 juveniles have been released.
Sources: Registro Oficial del Ecuador · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Expreso · El Universo · Charles Darwin Foundation · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Galapagos Conservation Trust
How can Galápagos be combined with mainland Ecuador?
All scheduled flights to Galápagos start in Quito or Guayaquil, which makes it natural to combine the islands with the Andean highlands or the Amazon lowlands. Three points matter for planning: yellow fever protection for the lowlands, the security situation in Guayaquil, and the morning opening hours of the TCT counters.
For the Amazon lowlands below 2,500 m, healthytravel.ch recommends yellow fever vaccination. The TCT counters in Quito open from 5:00 to 12:00, in Guayaquil from 6:30 to 13:30. Because of the high crime, it is better not to plan the night before the island flight in the city of Guayaquil.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos, gob.ec · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland
Who is Galápagos suited for, and who less so?
Galápagos suits people who want to observe animals at close range, snorkel or dive, and who accept strict rules. It is less suited to tight budgets, travellers who get seasick easily or depend on medical care, and anyone who wants to explore remote islands independently.
Park entry fee and TCT alone cost 220 USD per person, and every speedboat trip costs 30 USD. Anyone prone to seasickness will suffer on the two- to three-hour crossings, especially from July to December. Families pay half the park entry fee for children under 12.
Sources: Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Registro Oficial del Ecuador
