Flights to Galapagos depart from the coastal city of Guayaquil or the capital city Quito (via Guayaquil) in mainland Ecuador. There are two main airports in Galapagos, one on Baltra island (just north of Santa Cruz) and the other on San Cristobal. To ensure that the risk of introducing foreign animals, plants, seeds and bacteria is minimal, make sure that you follow all quarantine procedures. For more information on arrival and departure procedures for Galapagos, visit the IGTOA website.

Please note there are no commercial boat services between Galapagos and the mainland.

There is no real ‘off’ season in Galapagos, but be aware that during El Niño years, seasons can vary considerably, and the animals’ breeding seasons and behaviours are often greatly affected.

December to May: This is the warm season with higher temperatures and occasional heavy rains. The hottest month is March with an average maximum temperature of 30⁰C. The sea is warmer and calmer, with large schools of hammerheads and the chance to see giant manta rays off Isabela, and the Islands turn green as the arid lowlands bloom. At this time of year many of the land birds and reptiles begin to breed.

June to November: The weather is relatively cool and dry, with sunny or overcast skies and occasional drizzle or mist (garúa) in the highlands. Daily temperatures range from a minimum of 19⁰C to a maximum of 24⁰C. Ocean temperatures are cool and the sea can be rough. During this period, most of the animals which rely upon the ocean for their food will be breeding, including sea and shore birds, marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals. For divers, this is the best time of year to see whale sharks, when these gentle giants come to feed on the plankton around Wolf and Darwin islands in the north of the Archipelago.

Most visitors, including travellers from the UK, do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 12-month period. Your passport must have an expiry date of at least six months after your arrival date. For more information on immigration controls in Ecuador, visit the Migración Ecuador website (in Spanish).

Upon arrival in Galapagos, you must pay an entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park in cash (currently US$200 for adults and US$100 for children) which is used to fund management and conservation in the Islands.

All tourists must also purchase a Transit Control Card (TCT) for US$20. This card must be presented upon your departure from Galapagos, so it’s a good idea to keep it with your passport and other travel documents. As of May 2025, this card must be purchased online in advance via the official website.

We are unable to give health advice, but we recommend you check the current guidance on vaccines for Ecuador at least 8 weeks prior to your trip. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office suggests consulting the Travel Health Pro website. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers aged one year or over arriving from destinations where yellow fever is present.

The Transit Control Card (Tarjeta de Control de Tránsito, or TCT) is an immigration control measure that is used to keep track of who is entering and leaving the Galapagos Islands, and how long you are staying. The card is mandatory and you will not be allowed to board your flight to Galapagos without one. You must also show the card on your departure, so make sure you keep it safe during your stay. The TCT costs US$20 per person and you must purchase one for every traveller in your group. Please note that as of May 2025, this card must be purchased online in advance via the official website.

The Galapagos National Park entrance fee must be paid on arrival in Galapagos, unless it is included in your cruise package (please check with your operator). Although payment by credit card may be possible at some entry points, cash is still recommended in case your card is declined. Please ensure you take enough cash with you, as there are no ATMs available until you have cleared customs. The fees are currently as follows:

• US$200 per person for international visitors
• US$100 per person for visitors from CAN/MERCOSUR countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay)
• US$30 per person for Ecuadorian nationals

A reduced fee is payable for children aged 12 years and under, and for Ecuadorian visitors aged 65 and over or registered as disabled. There is no fee for infants under 2 years.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Even the biggest cruise ships in Galapagos only carry a maximum of 100 guests, and most are much smaller than this. All cruises are accompanied by officially licensed naturalist guides. A larger ship has the advantage of greater stability in choppy seas, more onboard amenities and more naturalist guides, while a smaller ship offers a more intimate experience with smaller groups and quieter shore excursions. Research has shown that revenues from cruise tourism are less likely to remain in the local economy, but you can do your bit to give back by buying locally-made souvenirs and eating in local restaurants when you’re on the populated islands, or by adding on a few nights on land at the beginning or end of your cruise.

Land-based tourism in Galapagos has grown dramatically in recent years, which is contributing to the increasing strain on local infrastructure, including waste management, water and energy. However, the money you spend is more likely to stay within the local community, and you will enjoy a level of cultural immersion that few cruise travellers experience in Galapagos. A land-based stay on one of the four populated islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana) can offer you more flexibility and independence, with many of the other islands accessible on a day trip, though you won’t be able to visit some of the more remote locations that you can reach on a cruise, which means you may miss out on seeing species such as penguins and flightless cormorants.

The growing number of guesthouses and hotels, along with more informal accommodation offered through platforms such as Airbnb, means that a land-based stay can be more affordable for those on a limited budget. However, you should check that your accommodation is legally registered by visiting the official Galapagos Tourism Observatory website.

The Galapagos Archipelago can be quite a harsh environment, situated on the Equator way out in the Pacific Ocean. It pays to be prepared for the climatic conditions and rugged terrain. It’s also important to know what not to pack, ensuring that you do not exacerbate problems such as plastic pollution and the Islands’ overburdened waste management systems. You must not bring single-use plastics to Galapagos, and there are strict biosecurity controls to protect the Islands from damaging invasive species. To find out more, check out our in-depth guide to packing for your trip.

You are only allowed one checked-in bag weighing up to 23kg and one cabin bag on most flights to Galapagos, but please double check with your airline. It may be possible to leave additional bags at your hotel in Quito if you are returning after your trip to Galapagos.

The other important thing to note is that your luggage will be subject to inspection by the Quarantine and Inspection System of Galapagos (SICGAL) at the airport before you depart from the mainland. They will inspect it for any kind of fruit, seeds or nuts, which you are prohibited from bringing to the Islands. This is due to the risk of introducing damaging invasive species, which can have a disastrous impact on native flora and fauna. You should also carefully check your clothing to make sure there are no seeds or other plant material stuck to velcro straps or lodged in the tread of your boots. It’s a good idea to give all footwear a thorough wash before you arrive.

Please note that you must complete a sworn biosafety declaration up to 48 hours before your flight – you can find the form here.

This will depend to some extent on which islands you visit and what time of year you are travelling, but you are pretty much guaranteed to see sea lions, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and Darwin’s finches. Waved albatrosses are usually only seen on Española, and only between April and December. To have a good chance of seeing flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins, you will need to visit the westernmost islands of Fernandina and Isabela.

There are some animals, such as the pink land iguana and the vampire finch, that you will not see at all as they only live in locations that are off-limits to tourists. But you certainly do not need to worry about missing out: wildlife is still so abundant here that you are going to see so many amazing things, whenever you visit.

There are a number of specialist dive operators in Galapagos, with liveaboard boats that take you to some of the most incredible dive locations on the planet, including remote Darwin and Wolf islands, where hammerhead sharks school in their hundreds. Diving in Galapagos is not for beginners or casual divers, however, due to strong currents, swells, cold water and large animals such as whale sharks. Please also check that your dive operator has been authorised to run dive trips by the Galapagos National Park Directorate.

Ninety-seven percent of the land area of Galapagos is protected by the Galapagos National Park. If you are visiting any of the protected areas, you must be accompanied by an authorised naturalist guide. Any business advertising cut-price trips to areas in the National Park or the Galapagos Marine Reserve without a guide, including taxi drivers and boat owners, is operating illegally and is putting the fragile natural environment of the Islands at risk.

Tourists are not allowed to fly camera drones anywhere in Galapagos, to avoid disturbing or harming the wildlife. Drones may only be used for research or commercial purposes with prior authorisation from the Galapagos National Park Directorate.

You should avoid drinking tap water in Galapagos, but most hotels and cruise ships will provide filtered water, and there are an increasing number of water refill stations in the towns. Please bring a reusable water bottle and avoid bringing or purchasing bottled water, which creates more plastic pollution and contributes to the increasingly overstretched waste disposal system.