Galapagos Islands to start charging double for visiting the destination

20-03-24

Starting this year, tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands will have to pay double entry fees, amid concerns that rising visitor numbers are putting pressure on the ecologically sensitive destination.

The entry fee will increase from $100 to $200 for nationals of almost all countries, except for other members of the South American trade bloc Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

Mercosur members will now have to pay $100 per person, up from $50 previously. Children under the age of two will be admitted free of charge, regardless of nationality. This is the first increase in Galapagos entry fees since 1998.

"The Galapagos Islands are not only a national treasure, but a world treasure. It is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve this unparalleled ecosystem for future generations," said Niels Olsen, Ecuador's Minister of Tourism, in a statement shared with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.