For your visit to the enchanted islands, do not forget to pack the following:
MIGRATION CONTROL CARD
Visitors coming from abroad need a passport, valid for at least 6 months from the entry.
Foreign travelers coming from La CAN, Andean Community of Nations or Merco Sur and associated countries need a passport or other type of ID
Nationals of Ecuador need only an Ecuadorian ID
Galapagos Islands welcome visitors to stay up to 90 days with their valid passport
No visa is necessary.
The Migration Control Card must be purchased at the airport before approaching the airline check-in counter
All travelers going to Galapagos should approach SICGAL – the GALAPAGOS GOVERNING COUNCIL counter BEFORE the check-in in Quito or Guayaquil.
You will be asked to fill out a form (provide details about your stay like dates and your accommodation’s name and address) and you will receive a TRANSIT CONTROL CARD. The price is $20 dolars and needs to be paid in cash only. This document allows you to stay on the islands as a tourist up to 60 days without a work permit. The card is turned in at the end of the trip at the Galapagos airport. If you are unable to present your Transit Control Card at the end of your trip, you will be charged a penalty fee
To flight to Galápagos Islands you can land at 2 differents airports:
Seymour Airport at Baltra Island, close to Santa Cruz Island where is Puerto Ayora located.
San Cristobal Airport at San Cristobal Island, it is just 10 minutes of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Get ready for the trip:
1.- Coming from abroad, make sure you get to Guayaquil or Quito one day before departure (in case of delayed flights, lost luggage, etc.). All travelers should make sure they arrive at the airport at least 2 hours and 30 minutes in advance of their flight departure.
2.- All travelers going to Galapagos should approach SICGAL – the GALAPAGOS GOVERNING COUNCIL counter – BEFORE their check-in in Quito or Guayaquil. You will be asked to fill out a form (fill in details about your stay, like dates and your accommodation name and address) and you will receive a TRANSIT CONTROL CARD. The price is $20 dolars and needs to be paid in cash only. This document allows you to stay on the islands as a tourist up to 60 days without work permission. The card is turned in at the end of your trip in the Galapagos airport. If you are unable to present your Transit Control Card you will be charged a penalty fee. In order to speed up this process, you can visit the Governing Council of Galapagos website and enter your data. www.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec
3.- At the airport, your luggage will be checked by SICGAL operating control staff to prevent the entry of prohibited items and avoid introducing species that could affect the Galapagos ecosystem, such as vegetables and fruits, animals and animal products, and dairy products, live animals, pathological samples, dry coffee beans, genetically modified organisms, forestry and timber species and their propagative parts, grasses and propagative parts, fresh flowers, fresh herbs and propagative parts, banana leaves, microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, etc), soil and sand, and animal vaccines.
4.- Once the immigration process is complete you can approach your airline counter to check-in.
5.- At your arrival at the Galapagos airport you will be directed to the counter that corresponds to the Nationals or Foreigners, and you will be charged the Galapagos National Park entrance fee(s) per person in CASH, as follows:
6.- After claiming your luggage at the Baggage Claim, your hand bags will be scanned.
If your flight land into the Seymour airport in Baltra island the process will be:
7.- Upon leaving the terminal, you will find buses that will take you straight to the Itabaca canal dock. Make sure that you put your bags in the luggage compartment of the bus. Galápagos Tour Advisor guests have private van transportation in these way. It is an 8-minute ride.
Have your cameras ready because YOUR GALAPAGOS EXPERIENCE has just begun!!!
8.- Upon arriving at the Itabaca Canal dock, located on the side of the Baltra Island, you will be taken to Santa Cruz Island by a taxi boat in about 5 minutes.
Do not worry about putting your luggage on the top of the ferry – it is totally safe!
9.- Upon arriving to Santa Cruz Island, a taxi will take you to Puerto Ayora, located on the other side of the island. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes.
If your flight land in San Cristóbal airport in San Cristóbal island the process will be:
Leaving the airport terminal immediately will find taxis (white pick ups) that can take you to the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno which is located 5 minutes from the airport.
MONEY
You will need cash to pay at the entrance to the Galapagos National Park and for personal expenses on the islands.
You will need cash to pay in some of the restaurants on the islands, as not all of them accept credit cards.
On Isabela and Floreana Island, there is no ATM or a bank offices.
There are some ATMs and banks offices – Banco del Pacífico and Banco Pichincha in Santa Cruz and Cristóbal islands.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club
The Galapagos Islands have been named Natural Heritage ( 1979) Biosphere Reserve ( 1985) Marine Reserve (1986 ) and Best Place for Wildlife (2015 ) . Therefore they should be preserved and maintained.
You are going to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site and that is why the Galapagos National Park has developed series of rules and regulations which each visitor must follow. While visiting the Park, you must always be accompanied by a certified Galapagos National Park Guide.
The Galapagos Tourism Network provides the following booking, payment and cancellation policies mainly to maintain a good relationship with our guests. The services policy in the Galapagos Islands are pre-praid.
Reservations
1. Reservations must be made and confirmed by e- mail
2. To confirm a reservation of services, a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the final value must be made
3. A 100% of the total value must be paid 15 days before the date of start of reserved services
4. Any last-minute sales must be paid in full while making the reservation. Last minute reservation are considered the requests within 20 days before the date of commencement of services.
Payments
The value of all services most be paid as follow:
50% of the total amount must be deposited in advance at the time of booking to confirm it.
50% of the outstanding amount must be deposited until 15 days before the date of start services.
Payments Forms
Bank account transfer
Money Gram services
Western Union services
Cancellations