Short answer: foreign visitors pay a $200 Galápagos National Park fee ($100 for children under 12, free under 2), collected by park rangers when you land at Baltra or San Cristóbal, plus a $20 transit control card (TCT) bought at Quito or Guayaquil airport before check-in or online. The fees doubled on 1 August 2024 (the foreign adult fee was $100 before).
What will you pay?
The fee table
| Visitor | 12 and over | Under 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor | $200 | $100 |
| Andean Community or Mercosur national | $100 | $50 |
| Ecuadorian or resident of Ecuador | $30 | $15 (also over 65 and CONADIS card holders) |
| Any visitor under 2 years | Exempt | |
Set by Resolución 002-CGREG-24-02-2024 of the Galápagos Governing Council, in force since 1 August 2024. The transit control card is $20 for everyone except children under 2.
How and where you pay
- Transit control card (TCT), before you fly: at the Galápagos government (CGREG) counter at Quito or Guayaquil airport, before you check in with the airline. You can pre-register or buy it online on the government's portal and show it at the counter.
- Luggage check: your checked bag is inspected by the biosecurity agency (ABG) before you board; hand luggage is checked again on arrival.
- Park fee, on arrival: park rangers collect it at Baltra or San Cristóbal airport. Bring the exact amount in US dollars cash; cards are not guaranteed.
Entry rules
- Return ticket: you need a round-trip ticket between the mainland and the islands, shown at the TCT counter.
- Health insurance: the Galápagos special-regime law (LOREG, Article 49) says foreign tourists must hold private health insurance. The current counter checklist does not list it, but carry proof of cover anyway.
- Hotel booking: a 2015 government guide says visitors must have a reservation at an authorised lodging; the current checklist only asks for the TCT, passport or ID and the return ticket. A printed booking costs nothing to carry.
- Length of stay: tourists may stay up to 60 days a year in the islands.
- Food and plants: unprocessed plant and animal products (fresh fruit, seeds, meat and similar) are banned or restricted. Pack none.
- In the park: most visitor sites can only be visited with an authorised naturalist guide; keep at least 2 metres from wildlife; recreational drones are not allowed.
New visit rules were announced in August 2026; check the Galápagos National Park's website before you travel.
What the rest of the trip costs
The fees are the smallest part. Flights, hotels, ferries and tours: trip cost calculator. The flights and the airport steps: getting to the Galápagos.
Sources (14)· checked 2026-11-06
Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.