When visiting the Galapagos Islands, a National Park and World Heritage Site, all visitors are expected to act responsibly and to treat the environment with respect. To help protect the unique wildlife and ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, all visitors must follow the regulations established by the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD):
- Travel with an authorized naturalist guide. Visitors to protected areas must be accompanied by a naturalist guide authorized by the GNPD, except at visitor sites specifically designated by the GNPD as not requiring a guide.
- Use authorized tourism services. Activities within protected areas must be provided by authorized tourism operators, boats, and services.
- Stay on designated trails and in permitted areas. Follow official signs and remain within designated trails, beaches, marine areas, and other visitor areas. Do not damage or misuse park infrastructure.
- Maintain a safe distance from wildlife. Keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) from wildlife during hiking, snorkeling, diving, and freediving activities. During kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and panga rides, maintain at least 13 feet (4 meters) from the shoreline and animals being observed. If wildlife approaches you, do not move closer or interfere with it.
- Never touch, feed, chase, or interfere with wildlife. This includes animals that are resting, feeding, nesting, breeding, or caring for their young. Do not swim with, dive with, pursue, or harass cetaceans. If you encounter dead or injured wildlife, do not touch or move it; report it to GNPD personnel when appropriate.
- Follow wildlife-watching rules. Wildlife must be observed without altering its natural behavior. During panga rides, boats must operate at reduced speeds and avoid creating waves. Specific approach, distance, speed, and time limits apply to whale and dolphin watching.
- Do not use flash photography. Photography must not disturb wildlife. Professional photography, filming, drones, remote cameras, and certain aerial or underwater equipment require prior authorization from the GNPD.
- Do not publish material obtained through unauthorized activities. Photographs, videos, or other digital material obtained through prohibited or unauthorized activities within protected areas may be subject to administrative proceedings.
- Camp only in authorized areas. Camping is permitted only at sites specifically authorized by the GNPD. A permit must be requested at least 48 hours in advance.
- Respect Galápagos biosecurity regulations. Do not introduce plants, animals, seeds, microorganisms, biological material, or other organisms that are foreign to the ecosystems of Galápagos. Food, equipment, materials, and other goods are subject to inspection and quarantine requirements.
- Do not remove natural materials. Do not remove, purchase, transport, or keep natural materials originating from protected areas, including sand, coral, shells, volcanic rock, plants, animal parts, endemic wood, or other natural elements.
- Leave no trace. Do not write, paint, carve, or mark rocks, trees, walls, signs, or other natural or constructed features.
- Pack out your waste. Take all waste generated during your visit with you and dispose of it at authorized locations outside the protected area. Never leave trash on trails, beaches, or at visitor sites.
- Alcohol, smoking, vaping, and fires are prohibited. Alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, smoking, vaping, and fires are prohibited within protected areas.
- Keep noise to a minimum. Radios, speakers, megaphones, phones, and other sound-producing devices must not disturb the natural environment. Personal headphones may be used.
- Respect visiting hours. General visiting hours in Galápagos National Park areas are 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Diving activities are permitted until 5:00 p.m. Night diving is permitted only at designated sites and from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Use marine-friendly sunscreen. During aquatic activities in protected areas, sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other compounds that may negatively affect marine ecosystems are restricted.
- Motorized watercraft, tourist submarines, and aerial tourism are prohibited within protected areas, subject to the conditions and restrictions established by applicable regulations.
Check out our Top Ten Travel Tips for helpful info on planning your trip to Galapagos!
