Galápagos Islands Entry Requirements: Everything You Must Know

Are you ready for your trip to the Galápagos Islands? Even if you already have your dates, flights, accommodation, and itinerary planned, you might be overlooking some essential requirements and rules that could prevent your entry into this natural paradise.

The Galápagos Islands are a protected National Park, and the Government of Ecuador has established a series of mandatory procedures to preserve their unique ecosystem. Knowing and following these requirements will allow you to enjoy your vacation without any setbacks.

Below, we explain everything you need to know to enter the Galápagos Islands in 2025:

✈️ Confirmed Flights and Accommodation
🛂 Valid Passport
📋 Pre- registration form
📇 INGALA Tourist Card | Transit Control Card (TCT)
💰 Galápagos National Park Entrance Fee
❔ Frequently Asked Questions and Important Tips

Things you need to know before your trip to Galápagos

✈️ Confirmed Flights and Accommodation

It is mandatory to have a reservation for every night of your stay on the islands. You can book through platforms like Booking.com or directly with the property if you know the name or received a recommendation. You also need a round-trip ticket to and from the Galápagos. Without these documents, you won’t be allowed to enter.

At Galápagos Low Cost, we not only offer tours and itineraries but can also recommend accommodation options based on your preferences and budget. Feel free to contact us for suggestions.

🛂 Valid Passport

In order to access the Galapagos Islands a visa is NOT necessary, unless you are from to a very small list of countries that require an ecuadorian visa. Good news is that id you do need a visa to enter Ecuador, you are exempt of paying the Galapagos Entry Fee.

If your country is not listed, you’ll only need your passport but it must be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry. Therefore, it is important for you to verify that your passport is not about to expire before traveling to the Galapagos islands.

📋 Pre- registration form

This form is very similar to the one requested at the entrance of other countries, but this one is necessary to obtain your transit control card, which is mandatory in order to travel to the Galapagos. It asks for the reason for the trip, length of stay and where you are going to stay. To avoid unnecessary waiting, you can complete the form through the following link: https://siiws.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/siicgg_web/

The web sometimes gives problems and in some internet browsers it is not possible to access it. In case you cannot do it online, don’t worry, you can do it at the airport during the process of checking in and inspecting the luggage you will go through at the airport. The form has the following fields:

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📇 INGALA Tourist Card | Transit Control Card (TCT)

Before boarding your flight to the Galápagos (from either Quito or Guayaquil), you must visit the Galápagos Special Regime Government Council offices at the departure airports to obtain your TCT. Here, they will verify your completed pre-registration form (or have you fill it out on-site if you haven’t done so) and inspect your luggage to ensure you are not carrying restricted items.

This inspection happens before checking in your bags. Don’t worry—the airline staff will direct you to the right place for this process. It’s highly recommended to arrive early, even though it’s a domestic flight.

Here are some pictures to familiarize yourself with the inspection site at Guayaquil Airport, the TCT card, and a sworn declaration form you’ll need to sign.

The office hours at each airport are:

Guayaquil: 6:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Quito: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM

To speed up the process, avoid carrying animal or plant products. You can check the full list of prohibited products here.

The TCT costs $20 USD, payable by card or cash. However, keep in mind that the Galápagos National Park entrance fee can only be paid in cash, so we recommend paying the TCT by card to save your cash for the park fee.

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IMPORTANT: Once you receive your TCT, do not lose it! You’ll need it upon arrival in Galápagos (either in San Cristóbal or Baltra) and again when departing. Store it safely and avoid damaging it.

💰 Galápagos National Park Entrance Fee

You’re almost there! After landing at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island next to Santa Cruz or San Cristobal, picking up your bags, and clearing passport control, you’ll need to pay the National Park entrance fee. This is the main source of funding for preserving this incredible natural site. The rates that apply are as follows, depending on age and nationality and country of residence:

As of August 1, 2024, the updated fees are:

Galápagos Entrance Fee: How Much Does It Cost to Visit the Islands?

Foreign tourists not ecuadorian residents over 12 years old: $ 200 USD
Foreign tourists not ecuadorian residents younger than 12 years old: $ 100 USD
Foreign tourists not living in Ecuador, older than 12 years old from one of the countries belonging to the Andean Community of Nations or Mercosur * : $ 100 USD
Tourists, foreign students not living in Ecuador who are enrolled in national educational institutions $ 50 USD

Foreign tourists not residing in Ecuador under 12 years of age, nationals of one of the countries belonging to the Andean Community of Nations or Mercosur * $ 50 USD
National or foreign tourists residing in Ecuador, over 12 years old $ 30 USD
National or foreign tourists residing in Ecuador, under 12 years old and over 65 years $ 15 USD

*CAN = Andean Community Nations: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
*Mercosur = Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela

❔ Frequently Asked Questions and Important Tips

Is travel insurance mandatory for the Galápagos?

During the COVID 19 pandemic it was mandatory to have health insurance to travel to Galapagos. However, since things have improved this is no longer a requirement to enter the Galapagos Islands.

However, even before pandemic, we always recommended people to have a health and travel insurance because even though Galápagos Islands are safe its landscape sometimes can cause accidents and you dont want to be in an inhabited island with a twisted ankle waiting for a helicopter to reach you and be thinking about the bill. Good news is that there are many options as cheap as $4 a day that cover all you need including covid-19. We recommend Mondo Insurance Company and if you book there you’ll get 5% discount for being a Galapagos Low Cost reader. Get you 5% discount here.

What can I bring and what is forbidden in my luggage?

Here’s our recommendations of things you can bring to Galápagos that would make your trip easier

If you go to Galápagos Islands you’ll find that you will need to pass through several luggage controls. First one on the Guayaquil or Quito airport before they even let you pass through the door. Then, the whole plane cabin will be disinfected and then, another check when you land. This is to make sure you don’t involuntarily bring any seeds, bugs or things that can alter the Galápagos environment. You have the full list of restricted items to bring to Galápagos but it’s mostly seeds, fruits, any animals (even meat). Make sure you take a good look at the list and avoid wasting time on the airport.

What should I pack for the Galápagos?

You already know what you’re not allowed to bring, but here are our recommendations for items that will make your trip easier and safer.

Sunscreen: Don’t let the ecuadorian sun ruin your holidays. Being in the equator the usn hits very hard so make sure you always wear a cap and a high SPF sunscreen to prevent you from getting sunburned on the first day.
Comfortable sport shoes: Your first instinct for a beach holiday would be to pack flip flaps, but remember that Galapagos is a unique destination and you’ll need shoes that can adapt to complicated rocky or volcanic surfaces so don’t forget to pack sport shoes too and even some water shoes would be very useful on your snorkeling tours.
Cash: The uniqueness of Galapagos comes from the sense of being on an untouched nature settlement and this is what gives you the real opportunity to disconnect and discover unique places. However, this also comes with the fact that some technologies are harder to find and thats why theres not a lot ATMs on the islands and not every places accept cards as a payment method so make sure to bring enough cash and to book in advance accomodation and tours so you don’t have to carry all that cash with you.

Bugs repellent: Specially during the rainy season, there’s a lot of mosquitos and an efficient repellent can prevent you from bites while you are hiking or taking a sunbath.
Snacks and a bottle of water: If you can bring snacks such as protein bars or cereals, tuna and other snacks from the continent, it is almost better, since in the Galapagos, since everything is imported, certain products are more expensive.

Your own snorkeling mask: Is the best way to make the most out of your Galápagos Trip. There are many amazing beaches in Galápagos where you can snorkel on your own, and by bringing your own mask, you won’t need to rent one.While most snorkeling tours include a mask in the price, we recommend bringing your own to avoid using one that has already been used (even if disinfected) or that might not be comfortable for you.There are many options available at different price points. Here are our recommendations:

Sports camera: definitely the best accessory and must pack to have great memories of your Galápagos trip. There’s a few cameras available on the market, some are more expensive like the GoPro and others very affordable from $50 like this one. This option is very good because they are water resistant, very small so easy to carry and you can adapt them to all the activities you’ll do.

How is luggage inspection carried out?

As we mentioned earlier, the Galápagos Government has several measures in place to prevent the introduction of species or items that could harm the islands’ ecosystem. For this reason, a thorough luggage inspection is always conducted.

The first inspection takes place before entering the Galápagos, at the departure airport (either Guayaquil or Quito), before entering the boarding area and before security checks. However, the inspection process doesn’t end there.

To travel from one island to another, the most common method is by taking ferries that depart early in the morning or late in the afternoon from the main docks on each island.

Because the vegetation, geology, and wildlife of each island are very different, it is extremely important not to transport any organic materials between islands, as this could damage the local ecosystems.

To prevent this, inspection checkpoints have been set up at each port. This process can slow down boarding slightly, so we recommend arriving early for your transfers. At each dock, you’ll find National Park staff who will check your luggage to ensure it doesn’t contain any organic remains. For this reason, it’s important to clean your shoes thoroughly before boarding a ferry to another island — this will help speed up the inspection process.

Can I take a “souvenir” from the Islands in my luggage?

If you’re referring to souvenirs like magnets, a T-shirt, craft beer, or anything purchased from an authorized store, the answer is YES.

However, under no circumstances are you allowed to take sand, rocks, animals, shells, or anything else from nature as a “souvenir.” The Galápagos Islands receive over 300,000 tourists each year, and if each person took a bit of sand, a few rocks, or any natural item, the cumulative impact could seriously harm the fragile balance of the islands’ ecosystem.

Carrying such items in your luggage can lead to heavy fines, and in serious cases, even jail time.

Still have questions?
If you have any questions about your trip to the Galápagos or need help planning your itinerary, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact Galápagos Low Cost — we’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you create a personalized travel plan.

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Get a custom itinerary at no cost — we’ll also help you book tours and clear up any doubts.